The famous growing Nandi was right in front of me. It’s said that the stone of which the Nandi is made possesses unique properties, causing it to grow 1 inch every 20 years. Legend has it that once upon a time, people could comfortably walk around the Nandi. Today, however, it is touching the temple pillars on all sides. When I looked closely, it did appear to be slightly out of shape. The Nandi rock was probably indeed expanding. It would be fascinating to investigate this further and find out what is causing the expansion of the rock.
A Thrilling Ride Through Rayalaseema’s Past – Part 3 – The saga of Gooty Fort
This fort was originally built in the 11th century by a Western Chalukya king, Vikramaditya VI. It later passed through the hands of the Vijaynagar Empire, Qutub Shahi, Mughals, Marathas, the East India Company, and British India, before finally becoming part of the state of Andhra Pradesh. Each ruler added something to the existing fortification, leaving an impression of their existence. The independent Republic of India, alas, has left its mark in the form of carved-out lovers’ names and failed attempts at restoration. So be it.