One of the most ancient hill forts in
Andhra Pradesh, the Gooty Fort is situated in
Gooty, 52 km from Anantapur. It was an important strategic location from the reign of
Ashoka to the British. The fort was built during the Chalukyan times and strengthened during the Vijayanagara era. Located at an altitude of 300 meters, it is built in the shape of a shell and has 15 main entrances with massive doors. Two edifices are also seen. Of these, one is a gymnasium and a powder magazine. Also, a small pavilion of polished lime stone is found on the edge of the cliff. The amazing feature of this fort is the supply of water even at such a height.
The nearest airstrip is at
Bangalore and the nearby rail head is at
Anantapur on the
Hyderabad-Bangalore line.
