Chandragiri Fort is a historical hill fort built around the 11th century; it is located in which present day Indian state?

Introduction / Context:
India has many forts with similar sounding names, and questions often check whether you can correctly match a specific fort with its present day state. Chandragiri Fort is historically associated with the rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire and later the region around Tirupati. This question focuses on that famous Chandragiri Fort and asks you to identify the state where it is located today.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The fort is named Chandragiri Fort and is described as being built around the 11th century. • It is a historical hill fort linked to later Vijayanagara rule. • The options provide several states from southern and central India.

Concept / Approach:
The best way to approach this question is to recall where Chandragiri is frequently mentioned in relation to tourist sites and pilgrimage places. Chandragiri Fort is located near Tirupati, which is a major pilgrimage centre in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The fort lies in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh and is connected with the later rulers of Vijayanagara after Hampi. Although there are other places named Chandragiri in India, the famous historical fort referred to in standard general knowledge books is the one near Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Tirupati and the Tirumala hills are key pilgrimage destinations in Andhra Pradesh. Step 2: Remember that Chandragiri Fort is often mentioned along with Tirupati as a nearby historical site and former capital of the Vijayanagara rulers for some time. Step 3: Identify the state that contains both Tirupati and Chittoor district, which is Andhra Pradesh. Step 4: Compare the options. Andhra Pradesh fits this context perfectly, while Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana relate to different regions and cities. Step 5: Conclude that Chandragiri Fort in this question refers to the one in Andhra Pradesh, so select Andhra Pradesh as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Travel guides and state tourism websites for Andhra Pradesh commonly promote Chandragiri Fort as a heritage attraction near Tirupati. The fort walls, palaces and museum are described as part of the Vijayanagara legacy in Chittoor district. No major reference describes the well known 11th century Chandragiri Fort as being in Maharashtra or Madhya Pradesh, which confirms that Andhra Pradesh is the correct state in exam context.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Karnataka: Although the Vijayanagara Empire originated in the region of present day Karnataka, the specific Chandragiri Fort in this question is not located there. Maharashtra: Contains many forts associated with Maratha history, but not this particular Chandragiri Fort near Tirupati. Madhya Pradesh: A central Indian state without a major landmark named Chandragiri Fort in common exam material. Telangana: Contains Hyderabad and surrounding forts, but the Chandragiri Fort tied to Tirupati lies across the state border in Andhra Pradesh.

Common Pitfalls:
A common confusion arises because the name Chandragiri can appear in more than one state. Students may also associate anything related to the Vijayanagara Empire directly with Karnataka because of Hampi, and then incorrectly guess Karnataka. To avoid such mistakes, it is useful to remember that the later capital shifted to Chandragiri near Tirupati, which is in Andhra Pradesh, and that is the Chandragiri Fort usually asked about in general knowledge exams.

Final Answer:
Chandragiri Fort, the 11th century hill fort near Tirupati, is located in Andhra Pradesh.