Kondapalli

Kondapalli is a census town in Krishna district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located 4 km away from Ibrahimpatnam(town) mandal headquarters Ibrahimpatnam mandal under Vijayawada revenue division. It is located at 16 km from Vijayawada, on National Highway 221.EtymologyIn 18th century, Kondapalli was known with the name, Mustafanagar.CultureKondapally toysIt is very famous for Kondapally Toys known as Kondapalli bommalu. The toys are chiseled from locally available special light softwoods (Tella Poniki) and painted with vegetable dyes, and vibrant enamel colours. They are world-famous artistic wonders. They are made by local wooden and lay artisans. The most popular toys include Dasavatarams (ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu) elephants with Ambari, palanquin-bearers carrying the bride and bridegroom, toddy tapper, set of village craftsmen, as well as various animals. The papier mache swinging doll is a favourite with many.FortKondapalli Fort is a major tourist attraction. The historic fort, in the foothills of the Eastern Ghats, on the west of the town was built by Prolaya Vema Reddy of Kodaveedu during the 14th Century. It was under occupation of the Gajapati rulers of Orissa for a period of 150 years, Krishna Devaraya of Vijayanagar occupied but restored again as Gajapathi King of Odisha and it later fell into the hands of the Muslim rulers of the Qutubshahi dynasty in the 16th century. One can see the remains of the main fort and the prisons of that time. The fort is connected by road from Ibrahimpatnam and Kondapalli. Tourism development is now remodeling the fort, the prison, Ranimahal and Gajasala (i.e. the elephant stable).