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 1 – The Penukonda Palaces
My first stop was Penukonda. This town was once the summer capital of the Vijaynagar empire of Hampi. Emperor Venkatapathi Rayalu, Krishnadevray’s successor, appointed Koneti Nayadu as the governor of Penukonda. Koneti Nayadu and his lineage ruled the region for several centuries. Following the catastrophic battle of Talikota, which saw the fall of Vijaynagar, Penukonda even became the capital of the remaining empire. Today, it’s a small town with historical monuments peppered throughout.