Context

• Minister for Culture informed Rajya Sabha that 3 monuments of Andhra Pradesh have been Identified as “Adarsh Smarak” for providing additional facilities like Wi-Fi, Cafeteria, Interpretation centre, Brail signages, Illumination, etc.

About

• These Three monuments of Andhra Pradesh are

1. Monuments at Nagarjunakonda, District Guntur,
2. Budhhist Remains at Salihundam, District Srikakulam, and
3. Veerabhadra Temple at Lepakshi.

• Further, Fort at Gandikota has been included in the Adopt-a-Heritage scheme of Ministry of Tourism, which is PPP mode.

Veerabhadra Temple

• Veerabhadra temple is a Hindu temple located in Lepakshi, in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
• The temple is dedicated to Virabhadra, a fierce emanation of Lord Shiva.
• The temple was built in 1530 AD by Virupanna Nayaka and Viranna , both brothers who were Governors under the Vijayanagar Empire during the reign of King Achutaraya, at Penukonda.
• The architectural features of the temple are in the Vijayanagara style.
• It is one of the centrally protected monuments of national importance.
• The fresco paintings are particularly detailed in very bright dresses and colours with scenes of Rama and Krishna from the epic stories of the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Puranas and they are well preserved.
• There is a very large Nandi (bull), mount of Shiva, about 200 metres (660 ft) away from the temple which is carved from a single block of stone, which is said to be one of the largest of its type in the world.
• The temple has been built on the southern side of Lepakshi town, on a low altitude hillock of a large exposure of granite rock, which is in the shape of a tortoise, and hence known as Kurma Saila.

Gandikota Fort

• Gandikota fort is on the right bank of the Penna river, in Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh.
• The fort was the center of power for various dynasties, such as the Kalyani Chalukyas, Pemmasani Nayakas, and the Golconda Sultanate.
• Gandikota was the capital of Pemmasani Nayakas for more than 300 years.
• Pemmasani Ramalinga Nayaka constructed the huge fort at Gandikota with 101 towers.
• Various additions of Islamic architecture were made during subsequent Muslim rule.

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1737255

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