Khammam Fort

About Khammam Fort

Khammam Fort is located in Khammam District of Telangana. The fort was situated in a very vast area of 4 Sq. miles in the heart of the City of Khammam.

It is surrounded by a huge rock wall averaging between 40 and 80 feet in height and 15 to 20 feet in width. There are steps from each buruju (bastion) to enter into the fort. The main entrance is a 30 foot tall known as the Khilla darwaza. It has 2 cannons on either side of the entrance. The fort has 10 large gates. Each gate has cannons mounted on them along with a water pot made of rocks. They are built such that an impact of a cannonball could not break it. As soon as we enter the Khilla darwaza, one can see the Fort at a distance of 300 feet.

History

This fort was under the Kakatiya reddy kings for a very long period of 300 years. It is believed that the fort was built by Lakshma Reddy, Ranga Reddy and Velama Reddy of the Kakatiya dynasty in 950 A.D. A 100-acre massive lake was constructed during this period to satisfy the drinking water needs of the city called the Lakaram lake, named after its builder Lakshma Reddy. The fort was served as an impregnable citadel during various regimes of different dynasties, including the Kakatiyas, Qutb Shahi’s and Asaf Jahis. From Kakatiya rulers it was taken over by the Qutub Shahi rulers in 1512 A.D. Khammam fort fell into the hands of the Emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya during 1515 A.D.