Gooty Fort

Gooty Fort is a historic hill fort situated on a cluster of rocky hills in Gooty town, Anantapuramu district, Andhra Pradesh. Perched at about 680 metres above sea level, it consists of ruined ramparts, bastions, granaries, storehouses and citadels spread across several hilltops. Noted for its strategic location on the Bangalore-Hyderabad route and its layered history involving Vijayanagara, Maratha and Mysore rulers, the fort offers panoramic views and is a prominent trekking and sightseeing destination in Rayalaseema.

Visitors can expect a moderately strenuous trek up more than 300 stone steps to reach the hilltop fort complex. The site comprises extensive ruined fortifications, bastions, water cisterns, granaries and remnants of palaces spread across multiple hillocks. The terrain is rocky and exposed with little shade. From the summit, visitors get panoramic views of Gooty town, surrounding plains and the Penna river valley. There are no restored interiors; exploration is outdoors among ruins and viewpoints.

Gooty Fort has a layered history dating back to around the 7th century, with later developments under the Western Chalukyas and Vijayanagara Empire. It was subsequently held by the Qutb Shahis of Golconda, the Maratha chief Murari Rao Ghorpade who strengthened its fortifications in the 18th century, and later by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan of Mysore before coming under British control in 1799. The fort served as a strategic military stronghold controlling the route between the Deccan and South India.

The fort is a prominent heritage landmark of Rayalaseema and Anantapuramu district, reflecting Deccan military architecture with its hilltop citadels, granaries and water management systems. It is valued locally as a historic and scenic landmark and is promoted as a heritage tourism site within Andhra Pradesh.