Attractions in Kadapa
Gandi
Popular for housing the well-known Anjaneya Swamy Temple, Gandi village is placed at the base of a hill towards the western side of the Papaghni River. It is believed that it is one of those place that Lord Rama visited when he was returning from Lanka. This village has Tirupathi Seshanna, erected in 1911, visited by devotees during Sarvana month.
Ontimitta
The village of Ontimitta is home to some very popular temples and also an interesting story about the origin of its name. One of the temples is Sri Kodandarama Swami Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Rama and has idols of the Lord, his consort Sita and his brother Laxman, carved from a single rock. There are 2 perennial pools too in this temple premises- Ramatirtham and Lakshmanatirtham. Another popular temple is Sanjeevaraaya temple, towards the east of the former temple, dedicated to Lord Hanuman.
Nandalur
Placed on the western bank of the River Cheyyeru, Nandalur was popular in the form of a Buddhist centre of Rayalaseema. In 1913, when the site was excavated several Buddhist viharas and caves were found. One of the main attractions here is the Sowmyanath Temple, which looks quite similar to Thiruvannamalai. There is another temple here, dedicated to Lord Sowmyanath.
Tallapaka
Tallapaka is a village that is considered to be the birthplace of Saint Annamacharya, who was famous for his devotional songs. The village has Dhyana Mandiram- a meditation center, in his remembrance. Sudarashanachakra temple with idols of Sant Gopalakrishna and Lord Vishnu is the major attraction here. Tallapaka also has a temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, known the Siddeshwara Swamy temple.
Ameen Peer Dargah
Famed as a representation of harmony during the ancient times, Ameen Peer Dargah is over 325 years old. Founded by Saint Peerullah Hussaini, it is visited by his devotees on Thursdays and Fridays who wish to pay homage to him. This is a popular religious site for the Muslim population of the region.
Gandikota Fort
One of the major attractions in the Gandikota village, Gandikota Fort was built way back during the 13th century. This fort is known for offering amazing views of the gorge that has appeared between the Erramalai Mountains. it is believed that this fort had an important role to play during the reign of Qutub Shahi, Chalukya rulers, Vijayanagara as well as Kakatiya dynasties.
Sidhout Fort
Located on the banks of the River Pennar, Sidhout Fort was constructed way back in 1303 AD and is a popular tourist attraction of the region. Famed as the gateway to Dakshina Kashi, this fort houses a number of temples in its premises. Some of the popular temples include the Bala Brahma temple, Siddheswara temple, Durga temple and the Ranganayaka Swamy Temple.
