Location and History of the Khilla Ghanpur Fort
Khilla Ghanpur Fort is located in Ghanpur village & Mandal, Wanaparthy District, Telangana State, India. Khilla Ghanpur Fort was built by joining two mountains called Recharla Padma Nayakulu and Gona Ganapa reddy. The history of the Fort dates back to the 13th century.
Khilla Ghanpur fort has witnessed many great wars among kingdoms like Bahamanis, Vijayanagara Kings, Bijapur Kings, Qutb Shahi Kings, etc. The cannons used during the war were still present even today and have been kept on the topmost side of the fort. We can also get a chance to witness the palace and ministers’ houses ruins.
Significance of the Khilla Ghanpur Fort
The name of Fort, Ghanapuram Khilla was named after the name of Kakatiya Ruler Sri Ganapathi Deva. The original name of the village was Naginenipally before it was renamed by the Kakatiya Ruler Ganapathideva by Gona Ganna Reddy.
Historians say that there are two secret tunnels inside the fort that were once used. Out of the two, one tunnel is connected to the village at the bottom of the mountain and the other tunnel is connected to the foot of the Panagal fort. People say that after the victory in the Buddapuram war, Kakatiya’s last king Pratapa Rudra married Gona Ganna Reddy’s daughter in this Fort.
The Khilla Ghanpur fort has beautiful rockscapes with lush greenery and 2 ponds in its surroundings. The two ponds were used as a drinking water supply for the fort army once upon a time. Not only site seeing, one can get a chance to take part in many adventure activities here including rappelling, rock climbing, caving, etc.
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In the 13th century, Khilla Ghanpur, Wanaparthy district was ruled by Recharla, Malyala, and Gona dynasties. Historians say that the Recharla, Gona, and Malyala Dynasty Kings were once the feudatories of the Kakatiya Kings. Khilla Ghanpur fort and a lake also known as Ganapa Samudram was built during the Kakatiya dynasty rule. During Rudrama Devi’s rule, the lake, Ganapa Samudram, was built by King Malyala Gunda Dandadeeshudu (also known as Malyala Gundanna).
Family tree of Malyala Gunda Dandadeeshudu
Malyala Gunda Dandadeeshudu was married to Gona Budda Reddy’s daughter.
Gona Budda Reddy had 3 sons and 1 daughter. Their names are Gona Ganapa Reddy (also known as Gona Ganna Reddy), Gona Kacha Reddy, Gona Vitalanatha, and Kappambhika. Kacha Reddy and Vitalanatha Reddy emerged as poets in later times. They penned to complete the Ranganatha Ramayanam started by their father, Gona Budda Reddy. Ranganatha Ramayanam is considered the first Telugu Ramayanam wrote in Telugu literature by Gona Budda Reddy. Ranganatha Ramayanam was written in Dwipada Chandassu. Gona Budda Reddy’s daughter was married to Malyala Gunda Dandadeeshudu.
After Gona Budda Reddy’s death, His brother Gona Lakuma Reddy took over the kingdom under his rule. Gona Lakuma Reddy was not loyal to the Kakatiya kings in his regime. Observing this, his uncle Lakuma Reddy not being loyal to the Kakatiya kings, Gona Ganna Redd overtook the kingdom of Vardhamaanapuram. Later, he helped the Kakatiya kings to succeed in many wars. After Gona Ganna Reddy’s rule, his brother-in-law Malyala Gundanna was appointed as the king of Vardhamanapuram. During the time of Rani Rudrama Devi’s rule, Malyala Gundanna constructed several lakes with the help of his brother-in-law Gona Ganna Reddy.
Buddapuram (Present Bhoothpur) and Vardhamana Puram (Nandi Vaddeman, Near Bijinapalle) were once the centers for Malyala Kings to rule. Malyala kings helped Kakatiyas in many wars during the rule of Ganapathi Deva, Rudrama Devi, and Prataparudra. Malyala Kappambhika, wife of Malyala Gundanna has constructed a temple Budddeshwaralayam at Bhoothpur after her husband’s death.
