Medicinal Plant Resources of Udayagiri Hills, Eastern Ghats: Andhra Pradesh

Udayagiri is situated at 96 km distance from Nellore. Previously the town was known as Udayagiripuram. There are forests, masjids and temples in the town. The forts were built by "Langula Gajapathy" of Gajapathy dynasty. Subsequently, it came under the rule of Krishna Devaraya during whose period there was 12 such forts. Then it came under the rule of Golconda Nawabs when Mir.Kankana Nawab becomes the ruler. Afterwards Hakmaran was ruling this fort. Nawab appointed Venkata Rao as the ruler of this Udayagiri Durgam and subsequently he was dethroned as he defaulted in payment of annuities. Till 1839 the Nawabs were ruling this Fort when the British took over. The Durgam in Venkatagiri range and the Penchalakona are the most prominent ones with an elevation of over 1026 meters and 914 meters respectively above mean sea level. Totally disconnected with this range is the Udayagiri Durgam in Udayagiri range which is an isolated hill with a height of 1033 meters and is a silent wittness to the down fall of many emperors. We find a deep longitudinal cleft from the top of the hill up to its base.