Page:A Family History of Venkatagiri Rajas.djvu/175

 and Kocherlakota. Venkatagiri taluk is rich in forests, the main variety of country wood being chandanam and yepa.

Venkatagiri town is the Headquarters of the Rajah and the capital of the Estate. It is nearly 100 miles north-west of Madras and 50 miles south of Nellore. Eight miles to the west of this town is situated on the hills a strong Durg. On it are built some Palaces and Water-sources. In the ancient days of fighting it was the seat of all records and treasury. It was also a place of shelter for Zenana ladies. Some buildings on the Durg had been repaired from time to time, and they are visited in summer for the cool weather by members of the Royal Family and Europeans. The name of the Durg is Kalimili Durg. Venkatagiri itself had a fort in the olden days and what now remains is a trace of the filled-up ditch. That part of the town is still called Pathakota meaning 'the Old Fort.' There were several big cannons in the possession of