voolavala

Voolavala is a marginal hill fort located in the Kadapa district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The fort is situated near the town of Vathamuru, approximately 129 kilometers northwest of the district headquarters, Kadapa.

The hill fort is perched on a hillock that rises above the surrounding landscape. The structure is of modest dimensions, covering an area of approximately 40 acres. Voolavala's most distinctive feature is its fort wall, which is constructed from rubble stone masonry. The fortification, comprising a rampart and a ditch, protected the interior complex, which housed temples and residential areas.

The inscriptions discovered on the site, primarily from the Kakatiya and Vijayanagara periods, are considered significant by historians and archaeologists for the insights they provide on the settlement's history. One notable inscription dates back to the reign of Prola II of the Eastern Chalukya dynasty, which points to the fort's prominence during the 11th century.

Geological research suggests that the hill of Voolavala is composed primarily of granite and thrust stones. These natural formations likely influenced the placement and the method of construction of the fortifications.

Archaeological investigations have also revealed evidence of Brahmanical architecture, the existence of meteorological artifacts, and the presence of conduits and facilitation tools.