Udayagiri Heritage Plan Awaits CSR Funding as Fort Seeks Revival
Updated: Oct 4
NELLORE: A Rs 7.25-crore conservation plan for Udayagiri's historic hill fort and Ranganayakula Temple in Andhra Pradesh is awaiting corporate or philanthropic funding, leaving proposed restoration work at the centuries-old heritage complex dependent on finding donors.
The Union Ministry of Culture disclosed the funding status in Parliament in response to a question from Nellore MP Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy, according to Deccan Chronicle.
The National Culture Fund has identified two separate projects at Udayagiri for potential support through Corporate Social Responsibility and philanthropic contributions. The first proposes Rs 4.25 crore for Udayagiri Hill Fort, primarily covering removal and resetting of the approach steps and associated development works. The second proposes Rs 3 crore for the historic Ranganayakula Temple.
As of the latest official information reviewed, no CSR contributor had confirmed financial support for either project. Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat told the Lok Sabha that implementation would depend on companies or philanthropists coming forward to support the projects.
Udayagiri Fort occupies a commanding hill in SPSR Nellore district. The fort and surrounding settlement preserve architectural remains associated with several periods of South Indian history, including Gajapati, Vijayanagara, Golconda and Nawab eras.
During a visit to Udayagiri on September 29, 2026, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan announced Rs 2.5 crore for a four-kilometre approach road to Udayagiri Fort. That road allocation is separate from the Rs 7.25-crore NCF conservation proposals.
For Telugu Americans and other members of the Andhra diaspora, Udayagiri represents a comparatively overlooked heritage destination combining military history, temples, Islamic monuments, hill landscapes and associations with the Vijayanagara era. The Rs 7.25 crore needed to carry out the two projects has not yet been secured.
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