Peddapalli District History

Peddapalli District is carved out of erstwhile Karimnagar district on October 11, 2016. The headquarters of the district is Peddapalli town and Commissionerate is at Ramagundam.

Peddapalli town is an educational hub and Ramagundam for Industrial hub. Peddapalli is also famous for agricultural occupation.

The district has a closed airport at Kesoram Cement Factory in Basanth Nagar, Ramagundam. The largest city in the district and the 5th largest city in Telangana State, Ramagundam is an educational and industrial hub. It is known for its multicultural and linguistic diversity.The district is bordered by Mancherial to the north, Jayashankar to the east, Karimnagar to the south, and Jagitial to the west.

The district comprises 14 mandals and two revenue divisions – Peddapalli and Manthani. Peddapalli town is its headquarters.

The district is known for its historical and archaeological significance, and is home to holy shrines such as Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy at Odela and Sri Varahaswami at Kamanpur Mandal.


The district is of historical and archaeological significance. The Buddhist Stupa dating back to 2nd century BC and one of the 30 walled cities mentioned by Megasthenes, the Greek historian, is located in Dhulikatta village of Eligaid mandal.

Some of the popular tourist attractions in the district include Ramuni Gundalu, Sabbitham waterfalls. Ramagiri Qilah, a place of historical importance located in the village Begumpet is also often visited by tourists.


Historian Samudrala Sunil discovered 5,000-year-old rock art paintings from the Chalcolithic period at Ramagiri fort in the district.

The district is known for its high-quality cotton.




Buddhist locations at Dhulikatta and Peddabankur in Peddapalli district.The Nagamuchilinda Buddhist Stupa at Dhulikatta in Peddapalli district, which takes the Buddhist heritage of Telangana to 2nd century BC, got special recognition with the Department of Posts releasing its special cover to mark ‘nine years of Telangana Statehood’.


The Buddhist monastic complex at Vadkapur and Dhulikatta villages located on the right and left banks of Hussaini vagu lies at a distance of 30 krn from Karimnagar. The excavations brought to light a Buddhist Stupa, fortification walls etc. One of labels inscribed in Brahmi over a slab in this Stupa is Palaeographically datable to 2nd century B.C. The Stupa belonged to the Hinayana sect of Buddhism in which the anthropomorphic representation of Buddha was taboo. Here Buddha is showed in symbols such as his Chatra, Padukas, throne with Swastika, Pillar of fire etc.

The Stupa consists of lower pradakshana patha, circular drum with ayaka platforms on four cardinal directions i.e. on east, west, north and south and a dome. These ayaka platforms project from the main drum. This Stupa was beautified with carved lime stone slabs during the early Satavahna period and this embellishment is contemporary to the Barhut Stupa dated to the early Sunga period. Among the lime stone slabs Naga Muchilinda (a snake guarding the Buddha) is prominent.

Asmaka (One of the 16 Mahajanapadas)
Founder : Unknown (Believed to be Asmaka)
Capitals : Potana or Potali or Paudanya of Mahabharata or today's Bodhan.
Languages : Prakrit
Religion : Budhism, Jainism, Hinduism

c.300 BC - 232 BC : Mauryan Empire (322 BC –185 BC)
Founder : Chandragupta Maurya (320 BC - 298 BC)
Capital : Pataliputra
Languages : Prakrit
Religion : Budhism, Jainism, Brahmanism

c. 232 BC - c. 208 AD : Pre-Satavahana and Satavahana Dynasty
Excavations in kotilingala found punch marked coins of Pre Satavahana rulers
Rano Gobhadasa, Siri Kama, Sirivaya, Siri Naransa, Rano Sama Govasa
Siri Satavhanasa, Rano Siri Sataka Rinisa, Rano Siri Simukha Satavahanasa, Rano Siri Satakanasa, Rano Siri Pulomavisa, Mahatalavarasa, Maha Senapthi Sagamanasa, Salakasa, Mahatalavara Sivakhada, Maharathi Sivakanasa


c.208 AD - c. 280 AD : Abhiras / Abheeras (c. 208 - c. 375 AD)
Founder : Isvarasena
Language : Sanskrit
Religion : Hinduism (Saivism)

Abhiras were subordinate rulers of Western Satraps and declared independence after fall of Satavahanas.

c. 208 AD - 320 AD : Mahisha Saka Chutu Dynasty
Capital : Banavasi or Vanavasi in present-day Karnataka state.
Founder : Rano Chutukulanda
Langauges : Prakrit
Religion : BudhismEmblem : Chutu inscriptions contain the emblem of the cobra hood implying Chutu meant the "cobra crest"


c. 320 AD - 340 AD : Pallava Dynasty (275 AD - 897 AD)
Pallavas were initially feudatories of Satavahanas and later ruled independently from Kanchipuram.


c. 340 - 480 A.D : Vakataka Dynasty (250 AD - 500 AD)
Founder : Vindhyashakti (250 AD - 270 AD)
Capitals : Vatsagulma, the present day Washim in Maharashtra.
Languages : Maharashtri Prakrit, Sanskrit
Religion : Budhism, Hinduism

c.380 AD - c.611 AD : Vishnukundins
Founder : Indravarma/Maharajendrvarma (380 AD - 394 AD)
Capitals : Amrabad in Mahaboonagar and extended it to Bhuvanagiri, Ramannapeta in Nalgonda and Keesaragutta in Rangareddy. Built Indrapala in Nalgonda. Eluru, Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh
Languages : Telugu, Sanskrit
Religion : Hinduism (Vaisnavism)


c.450 AD - c.611 AD : Durjaya Dynasty
Founder : Rana Durjaya
Durjaya dynasty, was a descendant of Karikala, the great Chola monarch who started as vassals to Vishnukundins.

611 AD - 753 AD : Badami Chalukyas (543 AD - 753 AD)
Founder : Pulakeshin I
Capitals : Badami
Languages : Kannada, Sanskrit
Religion : Jainism, Hinduism

Pulakeshin I took over some regions of Telanagana from Vishnukundins in c.550 AD and remaining by Pulikesin II in 611 A.D.


c.753 AD to 973 AD : Vemulavada Chalukyas (vassals to Rashtrakuta Dynasty) ruled Karimnagar and Nizamabad. One of the famous chalukya dynasties, who ruled the North-Western part of Telangana region as feudatory kings of the Rashtrakutas, were the vemulawada chalukyas. Pulakesin-II, the Badami Chalukya king was the originator of this dynasty. Ten generations of this dynasty ruled the region with vemulawada of Karimnagar district as their capital. Their kingdom began with the Rashtra kutas and ended also with Rashtrakutas.


973 AD - 1158 AD : Western Chalukyas / Kalyani Chalukyas (973 AD - 1189 AD)
Founder : Tailapa II Capitals : Manyakheta, Kalyani (Basavakalyan in Bidar , Karnataka)
Languages : Kannada, Sanskrit
Religion : Jainism, Hinduism


1080 AD - 1160 A.D : Polavasa Chiefs Polavasa Dynasty / Polasa chiefs / Lengonda Dynasty
Capital : Polavasa (Current Polas, Jagitial District, Telangana State, India)
Founder : Madhava Varma
Language: TeluguReligion: Hinduism (Saivism and Vaishnavism), Jainism

Their reign in Telangana is described in the Banajipet, Palampet and Govindapuram inscriptions and were subordinates of the Western Chalukyas ruling parts of Karimnagar and Warangal, but revolted against their overlords. However, they were eventually subdued by Chalukya King Jagadekamalla II, with the support of Kakatiya King Beta II (1076 - 1108) for which he was awarded Sabbi-1000 region (modern-day Karimnagar district).

1116 AD -1138A.D : Gundaraja of Mantrakuta (Current Manthena)
Ruled Mulugu and Narasannapeta regions independently.
1138 AD: Kama son of Katana sent by Prola II of Kakatiya defeated Gundaraja, ruler of Mantrakuta (modern Manthani), pursued him to his capital where he had his head shaved and caused him to be branded on the breast.

Ramgir fort was under the control of Gundaraja of Manthani and Edaraja of Ramagundam. They were defeated by the Kakati Prola II and the entire area of Polavasa, Manthani and Ramagundam were under the control of Kakatiyas.

1138 AD - 1323 AD : Kakatiya Dynasty (1000 AD - 1323 AD)
Founder : Venna
Capitals : Anumakonda(Hanumakonda), Orugallu / Ekasilanagara (Warangal)
Languages : Telugu, Sanskrit, Kannada
Religion : Jainism, Hinduism (Saivism)

Kaktiya rule started in c.750 AD as subordinates. But, they ruled independently from 1163 AD.

1323 AD - 1336 AD : Tughlaq Dynasty
Ulugh Khan (also known as Muhammad bin Tughluq), the general that conquered Warangal, renamed it "Sultanpur" and remained as the governor of the region for a short period, thus ending the Kakatiya dynasty.

1336 AD - 1368 AD : Musunuri Nayaks (1325 AD – 1368 AD)
After the fall of Kakatiyas, Musunuri Kapayanayaka occupied Orugallu and appointed Muppabhupala as the ruler of Sabbinadu with his capital at Ramagiri during 14th Century A.D.

In 1336 Kapaya Nayaka took control of Warangal from Malik Maqbul. At this juncture, there was a sort of power quadrilateral in and around the present-day Telangana lands. To the west were the newly established Bahmanis; to the east were Kondavidu Reddis; In the Telangana land itself there were two power centres. The northern part centred at Orugallu was with Musunuri Kapaya Nayak while the southern part centred at Rachakonda was with Recherla Singama Nayak-II.

1368 AD - 1433 AD : Recherla Nayaks
Capitals: Rachakonda and Devarakonda
Founder : Singama nayaka-I


The Bahamani Sultan Ahmed Shah I (1422-1436 A.D.) invaded Telangana region in 1433 A.D. and occupied the Ramagiri fort.

1433 AD – 1518 AD : Bahmani Sultanate (1347 AD - 1527 AD)
Founder : Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah
Capital : Daulatabad, Gulbarga

1518 AD – 1687 AD : Qutbshahis / Golconda Sultanate
1636 AD : In 1636 AD Shah Jahan appointed Aurangzeb as the Viceroy of the Deccan and forced the Qutb Shahis to recognize Mughal suzerainty, which lasted until 1687 when the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb conquered the Golcondan sultanate.

1687 AD - 1724 AD : Mughal Empire
1713 : Mir Qamaruddin Siddiqi was appointed governor by the Mughals.
1724 : Mir Qamaruddin Siddiqi was granted the control of Hyderabad by the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah with the title Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah after defeating the rival from Maratha Empire.


1724 AD - 1948 AD : Asaf Jahis
1724 A.D - I748 A.D : Nizam ul-mulk
After death of Nizam ul-mulk's death that his son and grandson sought help from the British and French to win the throne. The Carnatic wars were a series of military conflicts in the middle of the 18th century in India's coastal Carnatic region, a dependency of Hyderabad State, India where British and French trying to gain influence in this region.

Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) was established in 1886 by the Nizam of Hyderabad, under the Asaf Jahi dynasty. The Nizam wanted to harness the coal resources of the region to fuel the economic development of Hyderabad State, which was an important princely state during British India.

Aug 15, 1947 : Indian Independence from British. Osman Ali Khan ASAF Jahi VII chose to remain independent.

Sep 17, 1948 - Oct 31, 1956 : Hyderabad State, India
Sep 17, 1948 : Operation Polo, was a military operation ordered by then Indian Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on Sep 13 1948 in which the Indian Armed Forces invaded the State of Hyderabad and overthrew its Nizam on Sep 17 1948, integrating Hyderabad in to India.

Sep 17 1948 - Dec 31 1949 : Major General J. N. Chaudhuri who led Operation Polo stayed on as Military Governor.

26 January 1950 - 31 October 1956 : Last Nizam, Osman Ali Khan ASAF Jahi VII as Rajpramukh. Rajpramukh was an administrative title in India which existed from India's independence in 1947 until 1956. Rajpramukhs were the appointed governors of certain of India's provinces and states.
26 Jan, 1950 - 6 March, 1952 : M. K. Vellodi was Chief Minister of the state appointed by Government of India.

6 March, 1952 - 31 October 1956 : In the 1952 Legislative Assembly election, Dr. Burgula Ramakrishna Rao was elected Chief minister of Hyderabad State.

Nov 1, 1956 - June 1, 2014 : Andhra Pradesh State, India
In December 1953, the States Reorganisation Commission was appointed to recommend the reorganisation of state boundaries. The panel was not in favour of an immediate merger of Telangana with Andhra state, despite their common language. With the intervention of the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Telangana and Andhra states were merged on November 1, 1956. Nehru termed the merger a "matrimonial alliance having provisions for divorce".

On 9 December 2009, the government of India announced the process of formation of the Telangana state.

After decades of protests and agitations, the central government, under the United Progressive Alliance, decided to bifurcate the existing Andhra Pradesh state and on 2 June 2014, the Union Cabinet unilaterally cleared the bill for the creation of Telangana. Lasting for almost 5 decades, it was one of the longest lasting movements for statehood in South India.

On 18 February 2014, the Lok Sabha passed the bill with a voice vote. Subsequently, the bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha two days later, on 20 February. As per the bill, Hyderabad would be the capital of Telangana, while the city would also remain the capital of the residual state of Andhra Pradesh for no more than ten years.

June 2, 2014 - Current : Telangana State, India
June 2, 2014 : Telangana became 29 state of India. On June 2, 2104, K Chandrasekhar Rao (born 17 February 1954) from Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) takes oath as the first chief minister of Telangana, India's 29th state representing the Gajwel Assembly constituency.

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Gajapati Empire

1458 AD - 1504 AD : Gajapati Empire (1435 AD - 1541 AD)

Founder : Kapilendra Deva. He ascended to the throne after staging a military coup against the preceding and the last ruler from the Eastern Ganga dynasty, Bhanu Deva IV. 

Coronation : 29 June 1435 AD

Capital :  Bhubaneswar

Religion : Hinduism

1423 AD : Ahmad I appointed Abdul Latif Khan as governor of Telangana

1425 AD : Abdul Latif Khan raided Recherla Nayaks for siding with Vijayanagara Empire.

1435 AD, the Rachakonda area was given by the Sultan to his brother Mohammed Khan

During the times of 1433 – 1438 AD, Bahamanis of Bidar occupied the forts of Medak, Warangal, and Bhuvanagiri

1458 AD -  1467 AD : Kapilendra Gajapati (1434 CE – 1467 CE)

1458 AD : Conquest of Telangana

Sanjar Khan General of Humayaun Shah confered Bhongir as Jagir on him

Humayun Shah ascended the throne of the Bahmani sultanate in  1458 AD. Upon his enthronement, Humayun appointed Mahmud Gawan lieutenant of the kingdom and governor of Bijapur, with the title of Malik-ut-Tujjar. Sikandar Khan, a cousin of Humayun, was given charge of Telangana. But, Still dissatisfied by the appointment, he began a rebellion, supported by his father Jalal Khan and Recherla Nayaks of Devarakonda. Sikandar was killed in the ensuing battle, and his army defeated, In an act of revenge the Bahmani sultan invaded the Telegana region and the Bahmani commander Sanjar Khan extracted vengeance on the common people. Native Hindus were sold as slaves Recherla Lingama Nayaka sought help from Orissa Gajapathis.The political situation in Telangana provided an opportunity for the Gajapati army to intervene and conquer the territory.  The victory over the Bahmani Sultanate forces at Devarakonda in 1458 CE enabled Kapilendra Deva to assume the title of Kalavargeśvara which meant the Lord of Kalaburagi or Gulbarga.

1460 AD : Warangal
The two epigraphs are engraved on the eastern and western gates of the fort at Warangal and refer to the capture of the fort by the Gajapati army. The one on the western gate belongs to Virabhadra Raghudeva, son of Parasurama, who was the younger brother of the Gajapati Kapileswara and the son of Jagesvara. The record is dated in the Kali year 4561, Pramathin (A.D. 1460) and states that Warangal lay within the dominions of Humayun Shah. Sultan of Kalubarega (Gulbarga). The other inscription, set up about the same time, on the eastern gate mentions prince Hamvira-mahapatra, son of Kapilesa Gajapati, and states that he captured the fort.

1460 AD - 1464 AD : Dharma Nayaka son of Singama Nayaka III
1462 A.D: Shayampet inscription - Dharmanayudu / Dharmanayaka, brother of Singama nayaka-III was appointed as the ruler of Warangal. However, now Recherla Nayaks became the tributaries of the Gajapatis of Orissa.

1467 AD - 1497 AD : Purushottama Gajapati

His father Gajapati Kapilendra Deva chose him as his heir to rule the Gajapati Empire at the banks of river Krishna where he breathed his last. This decision infuriated his elder brother Hamvira Deva who was a battle hardened and successful warrior fulfilling the task of conquering the southern territories and expeditions against the Vijayanagara Empire as wished by his father.

October 1472 AD - 1476 AD : Hamvira Deva 

A disgruntled Hamvira solicited a treaty with the Turko-Persian Bahmani Sultan Muhammad Shah III. Willing to capture Rajamahendravaram and Kondapalli, Muhammad Shah III placed conditions on Hamvira to accept his suzerainty when he becomes the ruler of the Gajapati realm and cede the desired territories from his father's empire. This deal between Hamvira and Muhammad Shah III has been mentioned in the works of Ferishta and Sayid AliTaba Taba. The Bahmani Sultan sent his commander Hussain Bheiry with troops to support Hamvira in overthrowing Purushottama. Gaining the support of the Bahmani forces, Hamvira Deva declared himself Gajapati in the year 1472. Purushottama lost more than half of his father's empire in the initial years to Hamvira and the Bahmani forces. Hamvira became a doppleganger Gajapati in the southern portions of Odisha and tried to invade the Gajapati capital ruled by his younger brother but was defeated.

1475 AD : Azim Khan

Bahamani Sultan Muhammad Shah II defeated Lingama Nayaka and occupied Rachakonda and Devarakonda. The Bahamani Sultan, then sent Malik Nizam Ul Mulk Bahri to conquer Telengana. This man not only took the forts in Telengana, but also Kondaveedu and Rajamahendravaram forts and occupied all of Telengana. The Orugallu kingdom was given by the Sultan to Azim Khan. This happened around 1475 AD.

1493 AD : Qutb-ul-Mulk

1496 AD - 1518 AD : Sultan Quli Khawas Khan Hamdani or Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk was awarded the title Qutb-ul-Mulk (Pillar of the Realm) as military chief and was made the tarafdar of Golconda in 1496.
 

c. 1497 - c. 1540 AD : Prataparudra Gajapati
1503 AD - 1515 AD : Chittapa Khana or Shitap Khan. 

Inscription date : 21st January, A.D. 1504.
Language : Sanskrit.
This inscription is on a pillar in the fort near the temple, dated S. 1425, Magha su. 5, Sunday, (A.D. 1504, Jan. 21). The famous Shitap Khan inscription (Hyderabad Archaeological Series No. 9) records the capture of Warangal called Ekopala and restoration of the temples of the god Panchala Raya and the goddess Kakati by Chittapa Khana. The genealogy and greatness of Chittapa Khan are given in detail. Chittap Khan was a subordinate of Prataparudra Gajapati and he figures in the Rayavachakamu as an opponent of Krishnadevaraya during his Telangana campaign Chittapa Khana was not a Mahammadan chief as his name indicates, but a Hindu ruler of Bhogi kula called Sitapati who was ruling over a certain part of Telangana from his capital at Rachakonda.

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Vijayanagara Empire

Vijayanagara Empire (1336 - 1646)
Founders : Harihara I and Bukka Raya I of the Sangama dynasty
Capital : Vijayanagar

Languages : Sanskrit, Kannada and Telugu

Religion : Hinduism

The kingdom of Vijayanagar was founded by Harihara and Bukka, two of five brothers (surnamed Sangama) who had served in the administrations of both Kakatiya and Kampili before those kingdoms were conquered by the armies of the Delhi sultanate in the 1320s. When Kampili fell in 1327, the two brothers are believed to have been captured and taken to Delhi, where they converted to Islam. They were returned to the Deccan as governors of Kampili for the sultanate with the hope that they would be able to deal with the many local revolts and invasions by neighbouring Hindu kings. They followed a conciliatory policy toward the landholders of the area, many of whom had not accepted Muslim rule, and began a process of consolidation and expansion. Their first campaign was against the neighbouring Hoysala king, Ballala III of Dorasamudra, but it stagnated; after the brothers reconverted to Hinduism under the influence of the sage Madhavacarya(Vidyaranya) and proclaimed their independence from the Delhi sultanate, however, they were able to defeat Ballala and thereby secure their home base. Harihara I (reigned 1336–56) then established his new capital, Vijayanagar, in an easily defensible position south of the Tungabhadra River.

In 1336 Harihara, with the help of his brothers, held uneasy suzerainty over lands extending from Nellore, on the southeast coast, to Badami, south of Bijapur on the western side of the Deccan. All around him new Hindu kingdoms were rising, the most important of which were the Hoysala kingdom of Ballala and the confederacy, led by Kapaya Nayaka in Telangana.

The Vijayanagara Empire saw the rise and fall of 4 dynasties.

1. Sangama Dynasty
2. Saluva Dynasty
3. Tuluva Dynasty
4. Aravidu Dynasty

Sangama Dynasty

21 June 1377 AD – 1404 AD : Harihara Raya II
1386 AD : This copper plate is dated S. 1308, belonging to Vijayanagara king Harikara in Nagari script and Sanskrit and Kannada languages, records the gift of some vrittis of land to Brahmanas of the Pampakshetra. The king Harihara is praised for his proficiency in the Shastras taught by his Vidyaranya Swami.

28th February 1397 A.D : Kaleshwaram
This inscription is on one pillar of 16-Pillared mandapa of Muktesvara temple from Kaleshwaram, dated Saka 1319, Isvara, 1st day of the year, Wednesday, corresponding to the 28th February 1397 A.D., states in a verse in Sardulavikridita that Devaraya, the son of Harihara, performed the tulapurusha on the occasion of his digvijaya. It was obviously under orders of his father Harihara that Prince Devaraya undertook this campaign of Conquest. The Velugoyivarivamsavali alludes to a number of clashes of the Velamas, who sided with the Bahmani Sultans, with the Vijayanagara kings (Further Sources of Vijayanagara History, Vol. I, pp. 82-83). The Panugallu inscription (cf. op.cit., Vol. II, pp. 38-39), dated 6 months later than this record, refers to the capture of the fort of Panungal by Immadi Bukka, assisted by his son Ananta.

30th December, A.D. 1397 : Pangal, Kollapur, Nagarkurnool District
The record refers to the reign of Harihara II, son of Bukka of the Sangama dynasty of Vijayanagara. The object of the inscription is to record the conquest of Panugallu by the Dviguna-Bukka. The details of the date of the conquest are given as Saka 1319 (expressed by chronogram), Isvara, Pausha (Sahasya), su. 11(Sambhor=dina), Sunday, corresponding to the 30th December 1397 A.D.

1406 AD - 1422 AD : Deva Raya I

1424AD - 1446 AD : Deva Raya II

1424 AD: Pangal - Dated in Saka 1346 during the rule of Devaraya, another epigraph records the construction of the temple of Mukti-Ramesvara by Devanarayana, belonging to a Brahmana family from Kasmira, who was the governor of the fort and who claims to have destroyed the army of Firuz Shah.

Two of Deva Raya's sons, named Mallikarjuna and Virupaksha I, are mentioned in various inscriptions.

1446 AD - 1468 AD : Mallikarjuna Raya 

Mallikarjuna was the son of Deva Raya II by the Queen Ponnala Devi.

The Bahmani Sultanate took over much of the Vijayanagara Empire by 1450 and grew closer to the capital of Vijayanagara. 

Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal District.
1464 AD : Language : Telugu and Sanskrit
This inscription is dated S. 1386 (9), Sarvajit, Magha, ba. 14, Monday, Sivaratri.Records the gift of the village Sarangapura to the head of the religious establishment ofSarangesvara Matha viz, Peddakuppasakanthadeva by Pedakachappodaya at the command ofthe king. The gift estate was approved by Kadali Bhikshavrtti Ayyangaru, the pontiff of Srisaila throne, by crediting 500 varahas into the treasury of Mallikarjuna.

27th February A.D. 1468 AD : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal District.
Language : Sanskrit and Telugu. Script : Telugu.
On the command of Mallikarjuna Raya and with the permission of Kadali biksha vritti lyyengar seated on Srisaila simhasana Peda Kachappodayalu garu, constructed a village called Sarangapura in the fields of Naramarilla and made it over to Kemidevuni veerayya, the Saranga matadhipati for the merit of his guru and parents.

1468 AD - 1485 AD : Virupaksha Raya II lost the Konkan coast (including Goa, Chaul, and Dabul) by 1470 to Prime Minister Mahamud Gawan of Turko-Persian Bahmani Sultanate, who was sent to conquer the area by the Sultan Muhammad Shah III. The Bahmani Sultan would also invade the Doab of Krishna and Tungabhadra, and the Raja Purushottama Gajapati of Odisha invaded Tiruvannamalai. Because of these losses, Virupaksha became increasingly unpopular and ignited many of the empire's provinces to rebel, eventually leading up to Virupaksha's death at the hands of his own son, Praudha Raya in 1485. Praudha Raya himself was not able to salvage the empire but an able general Saluva Narasimha I took control of the empire in 1485 and helped prevent its demise, though this change of power marked the end of the Sangama Dynasty and the beginning of the Saluva Dynasty.

The End of the Sangama Dynasty
Saluva Narasimha was single-handedly holding the great empire together without formally taking over the throne. In the meantime, after the debacle of the attempt to recover Goa on his own, Virupaksha II’s behaviour became even more erratic than before. He ordered random killings of his commanders for trivial charges and started to unleash a reign of terror amongst the nobles. Sick of this behaviour of his father, Virupaksha’s eldest son murdered him. However, he refused to assume the throne since he had committed patricide, a heinous crime according to Hindu scriptures. Therefore, he considered himself ‘unfit’ to be king.

1485 AD - 1486 AD : Praudha Raya
This prince therefore raised his brother, Praudha Deva Raya, to the throne. However, this Deva Raya turned out to be even more wicked and debauched than his father. Very soon after coming to the throne, he became suspicious of his elder brother who had gifted him the throne and personally killed him. It was obvious to all that Sangama power had run its course and that the Sangama scion had lost the moral authority to rule. The time was ripe to supplant this dynasty, whose fundamental roots itself had become rotten to the core.

Saluva Dynasty

1486 AD - 1491 AD : Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya

Saluva Narasimha realised that the time had come to assume the mantle of king. He wrote to all the chiefs, commanders and important nobles and secured their goodwill and then send his trusted general Narasa Nayaka to march on Vijayanagara, the capital. The dates of this take over vary in different accounts, but it can be placed as being within the span of 1486-90. Deva Raya, who had reinstated himself in Vijayanagara fled at the approach of the Saluva army—the Sangamas disappeared from the firmament of Vijayanagara, without even an audible whimper or creating any ripples.

1491 AD : Thimma Bhupala (died 1491 CE)

Elder son and heir-apparent of Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya, the Sovereign of the Vijayanagara Empire. During the reign of his father, he held the office of the Yuvaraja.Prince Thimma succeeded his father in 1491 but was soon assassinated by an army commander loyal to the Sangamas during a period of political unrest in Vijayanagara. He was succeeded by his younger brother Narasimha Raya II.
 

1491 AD - 1505 AD : Narasimha Raya II / Immadi Narasimha
29th February A.D. 1504 : Wanaparthy, Wanaparthy District.
The eldest son of his Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya's prime minister, Narasa Nayaka, had Narasimha Raya II assassinated and ascended to the throne himself in 1505, beginning the Tuluva dynasty, the third dynasty of the Vijayanagara empire.

Tuluva Dynasty

1505 AD - 1509 AD : Tuluva Narasa Nayaka  / Vira Narasimha Raya

1509 AD -1529 AD : Krishna Deva Raya Krishnadevaraya (17 January 1471 - 17 October 1529) was an emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire reigning from 1509 to 1529. He was the third monarch of the Tuluva dynasty, and is considered to be one of the greatest rulers in Indian history.

Krishnadevaraya's rule was characterised by expansion and consolidation. This was the time when the land between the Tungabhadra and Krishna river (the Raichur doab) was acquired (1512), ruler of Odisha were subdued (1514) and severe defeats were inflicted on the Sultan of Bijapur (1520).

4th May, A.D. 1516  : Nelakondapalli, Khammamet, Khammam District.
Language : Telugu.
The following inscription is on three sides of a pillar now planted in the compound of the local library at Nelakondapalli. It is in Telugu prose and records the grant of land to some shrines in Kondapalli, on the orders of Kondamarusayya, who ruled in this region as governor in the reign of Krsna-deva-raya of Vijayanagara.

The inscription is dated in Saka 1438, Dhatr, Jyeṣṭha, suddha, tritiya, Sunday. The date is a sound one and corresponds to Sunday the 4th of May A.D. 1516. The tithi on the previous day (that is, Saturday) was dvitiya, and trtiya did not commence till 98 of that day. The same tithi continued the whole of Sunday and lasted for I ghatika for 30 minutes after sunrise on Monday. The inscription is important as evidence of Krsna-deva-raya's conquest of this region.The Pillar containing this inscription was actually set up by Parvat-ayyamgaru.

1516 AD : Nalagonda (modern Nalgonda),Khammamet and Khandikonda (an Mabbababad taluk of the Warangal district), are referred to among others, important places in the Gajapati kingdom which Krsna-deva-raya captured.

Krishnadevaraya was preparing for an attack on Belgaum, which was in the Adil Shah's possession. Around this time, Krishnadevaraya fell ill and eventually died in 1529, succeeded by his brother, Achyuta Deva Raya.

16th January, A.D. 1521 : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwall District
Language : Kannada.
This inscription is dated S. 1443, Vrsha, Asadha Su. 12, (A.D. 1521, Jan 16 Sunday). Records the grant of two villages Chennunipadu and Velambodu by Gauradanayankara Basavapayya who was Amara dandanayaka over Alampurusima. He was so appointed by Krishnaraya after his subjugation of Rachuru.

3rd March A.D. 1527. : Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwall District 
Language : Telugu. Script : Telugu.
It is a copper plate at Brahmesvara temple. Registers the gift of a village Chennupalli of Alampura sima, for anga ranga vaibhava of Navabrahmesvara by Chinnapeddinayudu, son of Bhudaram Peddinayudu,. Śrī krishnadevaraya Chinnapeddinayudu a palegar of Alampur sima.

23rd April A.D. 1529. : Chennipadu, Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwall District
Language : Kannada. Script : Telugu.
This inscription is on the slab in the compound of Chennakesava temple. Records thegift of village Pusalapadu also known as Krishnapuram in Alampuri sima, for the Amurutapadi of Chennakesavadeva of Chennipadu on lunar eclipse by Chandrasekharayya son ofAnnaji Ayya, for the merit of his over lord Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara and his minister Timmarasayya. The record ends with lengthy imprecatory verses.

1529 AD - 1542 AD : Achuyta Deva Raya
2nd November A.D. 1538  : Kosangi.
Language : Kannada.  Script : Telugu.
This inscription states that while Achyutaraya was ruling his amara nayaka (name lost) Immadi Medi Naraya made a gift of a well and garden to the God Somesvara of Kosagi.

1542 AD  - 1570 AD : Sadasiva Raya

1552 AD - 1554 AD : This is a copper plate with two charters, dated Saka 1474 and 1476, registered grant of villages Jaduvalli and Rellundi respectively to Somanatha Bhatta and Venkatadri by king Sadasiva Raya.

1586 AD -1614 AD : Venkatapati Raya   

Polepally, Jadcherla, Mahbubnagar district.
This inscription is on a pedestal in the Chennakesava Temple. This inscription mentions that a pillar which was broken for a long time was replaced in the temple of Ahobala Narasimhasvami of Polepalli by Mudugallu Nurussa Chintamani.

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Chennur Silk Sarees

Chennur silk sarees shine brightly with their elegance and rich history. Hailing from Chennur, a small village in Nirmal District, Telangana State, India. These sarees are a representation of a beautiful and ancient craft. Let’s explore the story of Chennur silk sarees, their unique features, and why they continue to attract fashion lovers, especially the younger generation.

The Kalamkari Hand Painted Chennur Silk Saree is a masterpiece of Indian textile artistry. Crafted from exquisite Chennur silk, this saree features intricate hand-painted Kalamkari motifs that tell captivating stories of tradition and culture. The vibrant colors and detailed designs make it a visual delight, showcasing the skill of skilled artisans.

Chennur is famous for its silk weaving tradition. This craft has been passed down through generations, with families perfecting the art of making stunning silk sarees. The village is close to Tussar and Mulberry silk fields, which provide the high-quality silk threads used in these sarees. This connection to nature and tradition is a key part of Chennur silk’s story.

The tradition of Chennur silk has roots that go back to the prosperous Golconda Sultanate in Hyderabad during the Middle Ages. The Mughals, who supported this craft, referred to the artisans as "qualamkars," a term that eventually evolved into "kalamkari." This historical connection highlights the rich heritage behind Chennur silk.

These sarees are known for their intricate designs. Skilled weavers use traditional techniques to create beautiful patterns. Both handlooms and modern tools are used to achieve these designs.

Chennur silk sarees are versatile and elegant. They can be worn with elaborate gold designs or kept simple, depending on the occasion. Their graceful drape makes them suitable for weddings, festivals, and other special events.

Recently, younger generations have rediscovered Chennur silk sarees. 

1. Cultural Pride: Young people appreciate the cultural connection that Chennur silk sarees provide. They are more than just fashion; they are a link to heritage and tradition.

2. Sustainable Choice: Chennur silk sarees are made using eco-friendly methods, making them a great option for those interested in sustainable fashion.

3. Unique Style: The exclusive designs and luxurious fabric make Chennur silk sarees stand out from mass-produced clothes. They offer a unique and timeless style.

4. Flexibility: These sarees can be styled in many ways, allowing young people to mix traditional and modern looks for different events.

A basic seed multiplication and training centre belonging to Central Silk Board (CSB), in Chennur stood in the top in the country by registering production of 3.20 lakh tasar silkworm eggs in the last five years, bringing recognition to Telangana.

Tussar silk is one of the most sought-after fibres in the world owing to its rich texture and natural colour, it is also one of the rarest forms of natural fibre.

Cocoons of Tasar, a variety of silk, contain many insects that are processed to produce exquisite silk thread used in manufacturing saris and other clothing. The cocoons are traditionally grown by the tribals by camping in the forests as means of livelihood for many decades. They are cultivated on leaves of Terminalia Arjuna (Tellla Maddi) and Yeru Maddi trees spread in 2,100 hectares in Chennur area of Mancherial and 1,000 hectares of forests in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district.

More than 800 farmers in Vemanpelli, Kotapalli, Kannepalli and Nennal mandals of Mancherial district and Bejjur and Koutala mandals in Kumurambheem Asifabad district are cultivating cocoons in 3,100 hectares of land. Traders from Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Odisha come to buy the cocoons sold in an open auction in Chennur every year.

https://telanganatoday.com/silkworm-egg-production-csbs-bsm-pc-chennur-bags-award

https://thriyasilks.com/blogs/the-saree-journal/discovering-the-charm-of-chennur-silk-sarees

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Shankaramma Fort

Shankaramma Fort is located in Shankarampet village and Mandal, Medak District, Telangana State, India.

The fort, which was under Papannapet Samsthanam (kingdom), about 70 kilometres from the district headquarters, has been located in a hilly area of this small village. The locals inform that Rani Shankaramma constructed the fort in 1760 which consists of Devidi (residential place for the inmates of the fort) and Chavidi (meeting place).

Due to negligence, the fort has been covered with overgrown bushes and most of its structure has been ruined. One cooking room collapsed about six years ago and a small room, expectedly a pooja room, exists without roof. Some of the boulders, used for the construction of the fort, have been taken away for use by the locals.

http://avadhanir.blogspot.com/2012/12/shankaramma-fort-shrouded-in-negligence.html

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Sadashivpet - Sarvatobhadra town design

Sadashivpet  or Sadasivapet is a town in Sangareddy district of Telangana, was planned on the basis of ‘Sarvatobhadra’ town design. 

Sarvatobhadra is typically suited for big towns and villages, where the site selected for planning a town/village is a square If you log on to Google Earth to search Sadasivapet, a town in Sangareddy district of Telangana, you will be surprised to find an exhilarating chequered square locket studded with diamonds tagged to a black cord that is national Highway No.9 connecting Hyderabad and Mumbai, surrounded by natural landscape.

This town conceived and founded by Rani Lingayamma daughter of Sadashiva Reddy (1632-1650) during her regime between 1680-1692. Raminedu, one of the ancestors of Sadashiva Reddy was gifted Kalpagooru Pargana by Sultan Ferosah of Bahmani Sultanate during 1400 – 1450 AD after the downfall of Recherla Padmanayaka Kings, who ruled the present Medak area.

Kakatiya kings reigned this area prior to the conquer by the Sultans - Andole was the capital and Sadashiva Reddy was the 5th ruler in the hierarchy of Raminedu. The present population is 45,500 as per 2011 census. The town is located at 1755 ft from sea level and its latitude and longitude are 17.400N and 77.580E respectively. In the ancient Vaastu texts like Manasara, Silparatna, Mayamata and Viswakarma Vaastu Shastra, different types of plans for Pattana, Nagaraa and Grama were described.

According to Manasara there are eight types of plans for designing towns 

1. Dandaka
2. Sarvatobhadra, 
3. Nandyavartha, 
4. Padmaka, 
5. Swastika, 
6. Prastara, 
7. Karmuka, 
8. Chaturmukha. 

Sadasivapet is planned as Sarvatobhadra type. This type of plan is adopted to design larger villages and also towns, where the selected site is a square. It is chessboard pattern town (grid-iron) with 10 divisions on each side making total 100 divisions facing to coordinal points.

In the ancient days if it is adopted by a town then a fort wall was constructed around it with ramparts and moat all around, but for villages, rampant and moat were not necessary. 

The central space called Brahmasthana should be occupied by a temple. 

Sadasivapet is divided into 10 divisions on each side. It is surrounded by a fort wall with four gates on four sides. The roads are laid exactly facing North – South and East-West direction. In central Space, which is called Brahmastana according to the Vaastu Shastras, a temple for Shiva was constructed. 

The specialty of this town is, it is satisfying the requirements of Koorma Vrusta Vaastu. In this, the central place (Brahmastana) will be at a higher level and the four sides and four corner points will be at low level. 

The central point of Sadasivapet is 25 feet elevated from the periphery. This is an eye-opener to the present day Vaastu Pandits who preach day and night that south-west (Niruthi) of the site must be higher and Northeast (Eeshanya) should be at lower level. 

This town is occupied by houses of various descriptions and inhabited by all classes of people as prescribed by Manasara. 

Jaipur Four to five decades after the founding of Sadasivapet, the old Jaipur in Rajasthan, was founded on November 17, 1727 by King Sawai Jai Singh (1700-1743). The architect for conceiving the plan of that town was Vidyadhar Bhattacharya. Many scholars have attributed the basic concept plan of Old Jaipur as being a Prastara type of mandala mentioned in Manasara, one of the ancient treatises on Hindu town planning. The scholars say that Prastara plan is both square or oblong in form and divided into four, nine or 16 major wards by an appropriate number of roads, which run East-West and North-South and the wards in turn planned as a chessboard pattern. Wards with the larger size plots are for people of higher ranks while the smaller plots are inhabited by people of lower ranks. 

In 1946, M Fayazuddin, the then town planner to the Nizam’s local government published a surveyed map of Sadasivapet showing the road pattern and physical development. This plan shows vacant areas in South-East and North-East corners utilised for cultivation. A temple is shown in the centre of the city which is called Brahmastana(at present there is no such temple) and to the south East corner of Brahmastana ward is shown occupied by Gadi, which is supposed to be occupied by the ruler of the town. And different wards were shown as occupied by Vyshyas, Gold Smiths, Black Smiths, Stone Cutters, Kassabins (Katika), Hunters, Weekly Market, etc. 

The highest contour level is 1785 at the centre of the town, 1760 near the periphery of the town. The town was encircled with a fort wall comprising four gates on four sides leading to Nandi Kandi on East, Siddapuram on South, Kohir on West, Atmakur on North. Presently, there are no such gateways. 

After scrutinising the town map in Google Earth and the map prepared by M Fayazuddin, it is found that during the last six decades buildings have come up in the cultivated lands and spread outside the fort walls in a haphazard manner due to the urbanisation. One more unique thing of Sadasivpet is the usage of ancient land measuring unit called Nivarthana for each ward. 

Nivarthana is an area measuring unit in the medieval period. One 40 yds x 40 yds. This was mentioned in Abhona plates inscription of the Kalachuri ruler Sankaragana of 597 AD. (Source 1) Most of the wards of this town confirm to the Nivarthana measurement served by roads of 5 dandas (30ft) of width. Two main roads passing through the center of the town are 6 dandas (36ft). Generally, in town planning, the method of using rectangular blocks is in vogue. For instance, the contemporary Indian city, Chandigarh is planned with rectangular blocks measuring half a mile by three-fourth mile. But using square blocks is a unique concept. Further study regarding the sub-division of these blocks may reveal some innovative concept of ancient day Indian Planning. 

In independent India, no other ancient city other than Jaipur invited so much attention from the scholars, architects and town planners for its unique town planning based on the tenets of Vaastu Shastras. But only a few know that there is also one ancient town called Sadasivapet in Telangana built as per the principles of ancient science called Vaastu Shastras based on ancient land measuring unit, Nivarthana. 

The Government should take appropriate action to conserve this town for its uniqueness in town planning for the posterity. 

By: Avala Buchi Reddy The writer is former chairman of Indian Institute of Architects A.P. Chapter (1992-94).

https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Telangana/2017-03-18/Sadasivpet-A-unique-ancient-town/287741?infinitescroll=1

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Kailash Fort

Kailash Fort is just 160 km from Hyderabad on the Hyderabad-Sangareddy-Nanded road but hardly anyone knows about the 9th century fort constructed by Rashtrakutas. The fort has wells, temples, dargahs, cannons and godowns. 

1857-58 AD :  Raja Kunwar Deep Singh Gaur

The fort has a rich history and rose to prominence in 1857-58, Raja Kunwar Deep Singh Gaur trained troops inside the fort and was later poisoned for three years.

Col A K Singh, the 10th generation scion of the Gaur Rajputs is now fighting a lone battle to save the fort from crumbling. He says, “The fort is unique in many ways, it has the longest cannon in Telangana, has 52 bastions and the fort is oval shaped and is approximately 1500 mtrs long and 1000 metres wide.

It has the potential to become a major tourist attraction only if the government is willing.” Neglected and forsaken, the fort is surrounded by three water bodies and two temples; Balaji mandir and Ram and Hanuman mandir. “The 1000 year old Balaji mandir and the longest cannon can be major attractions.

The fort can be developed as an eco-tourist spot as there is jungle area, ample provision for trekking and enough flora and fauna, avers Jaswant Singh, a resident of Toopran.

https://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Hans/2015-06-06/A-unique-fort-lies-neglected/155708

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Nandi Vaddeman

Nandi Vaddeman formerly known as Vardhamaanapuram is a village in Bijinepally mandal, Nagarkurnool district, Telangana State, India.

Gona Buddha Reddy (author of Ranganatha Ramayanam), Gannaredddy and Vittala Reddy, ruled from Vardhamanapuram as the subordinate chiefs of the Kakatiyas in 12th and 13th centuries AD.

Vaddavani-500 or Vaddemana-500 may be modern Nandi Vaddeman, formerly known as Vardhamaanapuram and Kodur in Nagarkurnool district is part of Kandurnadu for sometime.

Haihaya Chiefs

1033 AD - 1042 AD : Kanduru Anemarasa or Anemarasa I or Yanemarasa I

Ayyarasa of Haihaya family was ruling Kandurnadu under Somesvara I.

1047 AD - 1049 AD : Sankarasa
25th August, 1048 AD : Malleswaram, Kollapur
Introduces a new subordinate chief named Sankarasar who was a crest jewel of the Chaluky family, who bears a string of epithets such as Bhupakandarpa, vairi kula kala sarpam, sangram viram, Raja marthandam, Kshatra pavitram, Ganda trinetram, Udara narayanam and Chakra kuta dharavar sa pura dahana, etc. which are almost similar to those met with in the inscriptions of Bijjarasa and Kanduru Anemarasar. The record further states that the above chief, on the auspicious occasion of pavitra arohana, made a gift of land 13 marttars in the village of Kulakuliya in Vaddemana-500, to the pontiff Chidisvara pandita of Agastheswara. The record was composed by Bijjaya who performed pattala karena and sandhvigrahi.

1050 AD - 1052 AD : Kumara Vijayaaditya I younger son of Somesvara I
1051 AD : As per Mallesvaram in the Kollapur Inscription Saka 973, Vijayaaditya I younger son of Somesvara I (1042 - 1068 AD) ruling Kandurnadu

Vardhamanapura Cholas or Chodas
1104 AD - 1157 AD : Bhimachoda III
Bhimachoda III was ruling with Vardhamanapura as his capital. Current Nandi Vaddeman in Nagar Kurnool District.

Thus, Kakatiya Rudradeva launched an expedition against Telugu Choda chiefs between 1157 and 1162. In this expedition rudradeva attacked Vardhamanapuram and drove Bhimachoda III along with his followers to forest.

Gona Chiefs

1190 AD - 1217 AD : Gona Buddha reddi I Gona Budda Reddy 

ruled a kingdom from Vardhamaanapuram (currently known as Nandi Vaddemaan) in NagarKurnool 

1219 AD - 1230 AD: Gona Ganapayya or Vithala son of Gona Buddha reddi I
1219 AD : Nagadevapalli, Nagarkurnool. This inscription is on a slab laying in front of Hanuman Temple. Very much damaged. It mentions the chief Gona Ganapayya who made a grant for the merit of his over lord Kakatiya 
Ganapatideva and his father Buddireddi, who is described as Eruva gonga, Kodvaluri puravaradhisvara and vitaranotsaha.

Malyala Chiefs

Budapuram, Vardamana Puram are the centres for Malyala Kings who were the Feudatories of Kakatiyas. 1245 AD - 1276 AD: Malyala Gunda Senani son of Bachavarudhini
Capital : Budapura, Vardhamanpura
Wife : Kuppambika (younger sister of Gona Ganna Reddy)
General of Ganapatideva, Rudramdevi

Atmakur Amarchinta Samsthanam

1278 AD - 1350 AD : Chinna Gopi Reddy I
Gopal Reddy’s sons Pedda Gopi Reddy and Chinna Gopi Reddy further established their supremacy in this region. They were also bestowed with several other villages in Amarachinta, Waddeman, Utkur and Kodechurparaganas by Gona Kata Reddy, the sons of Gona Buddha Reddy. Their position had increased from Nadagoud to Sarnadagoud.

1653 AD - 1675 AD : Emmedi Gopi Reddy II

Contemporary of Abdullah Qutub Shah (1626 to 1672) who acknowledged his help in the war.

1675 AD - 1680 AD : Sarva Reddy

1680 AD - 1687 AD : Chinna Reddy

Heritage Structures
Nature and Indian Culture Foundation (NICF) in association with Pleach India Foundation (PIF) cleaned up 12th century heritage structures at Nandivaddeman village in Bijinepalli mandal in Nagarkurnool district on Sunday on the eve of World Tourism Day in tune with this year’s theme ‘Inclusive Tourism Development’.

Dr. E. Sivanagireddy-Sthapati, archaeologist and PIF CEO and Patnam Krishnamraju, president, NICF, cleared vegetation around five temples – Bhadrakali Temple located amidst paddy fields without any access, triple shrines locally known as Trimurti temples abutting huge mud fort wall and Nandiswara temple where a huge bull sculpture carved out of black granite stone exists, located two km from the village.

The vegetation was cleared as part of the awareness programme called ‘Preserve Heritage for Posterity’. Nearly 30 activists from NICF Trust and 10 volunteers from PIF and 10 locals led by Vanga Sudarshan Goud and Sarpanch Nandivaddeman laboured the entire day and made the much neglected monuments presentable to local visitors and tourists.

Nandi Vaddeman Nandeeswara Saneeswara Swamy Temple

https://telanganatoday.com/heritage-structures-in-nagarkurnool-get-makeover

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Yamanapalli or Vemanpalli Dinosaur Fossil

Yamanapalli Dinosaur Fossil of Kotasaurus Yamanpalliensis, 16-foot-high (over 5 metres in height) and 14 metres in length from Jurassic age, dating back to about 160 million years was found during an excavation by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) in Yamanapalli region of Mancherial District, Telangana State, India.

Fossils of dinosaur bone fragments, tortoise and animal foot prints also found at this site in Yamanapalli, also known as Vemanapalli, is located in Godavari Pranhita valley of Mancherial district in Telangana. 

The fossils have been found in an eight-km radius of Pranhita river valley.

A composite skeleton of a dinosaur – Kotasaurus yamanpalliensis Yadagiri (named after Yamanapalli village and scientist Yadagiri) – was installed at the Birla Science Centre, Hyderabad. An articulated skeleton of a Rhynchosaur with the skull and other bone elements that was discovered in the Triassic rocks of the P-G Valley was also put up at the museum

Negligent Telangana government has no plans for a fossil park
While a fossil eco-park is being developed with fossils of trees, fish, leaves and animals from the Permian, Triassic and Jurassic ages in Sironcha, Maharashtra, Telangana state forest department has neglected the Kataram-Mahadevpur-Yamanapalli site despite a number of fossils found in the Pranahita-Godavari valley of the same area. Scientists from the Geological Survey of India had earlier excavated fossils of dinosaurs and other animals and plants, and had placed them in their museum at GSI Southern Region headquarters at Bandlaguda, and another dinosaur fossil at the Birla Science Centre, both in Hyderabad.

Despite the Pranahita Godavari Valley having a huge potential, no further excavation work has been taken. A composite skeleton of a dinosaur – Kotasaurus yamanpalliensis Yadagiri (named after Yamanapalli village and scientist Yadagiri) – was installed at the Birla Science Centre, Hyderabad. An articulated skeleton of a Rhynchosaur with the skull and other bone elements that was discovered in the Triassic rocks of the P-G Valley was also put up at the museum.

According to scientists, apart from dinosaurs, fossils of other reptiles, fish and micromammals were available at the site. “Plant fossils and charaphytes are also known to be found from the Kota Formation. Fieldwork was carried out in Jakkepalli, Lingala and Metpalli areas of Adilabad,” said a scientist. The fossil of a dinosaur – Barapasaurus tagorii – has been discovered by scientists of ISI, Kolkata, from the site near Sironcha on the eastern side of the Pranahita.

Paleo park
Fossils were exposed due to floods in the recent past. The tree fossils were of coniferous species going by the outer layer of the bark. “The tree fossils are darkening/blackening, possibly due to some fungal or biotic attack or exposure to the elements. The dinosaurs eggs were found in the area and partially buried in loose sand and mud, suggesting that they were washed up. The flooding that exposed the fossils is the likely reason why the dinosaur eggs had washed away from their paleo nests. Further investigations with expert digging would provide a wealth of information regarding the paleobotany and paleozoology. A portion of the area should be turned into a paleo park where the finds can be displayed to the people.

https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/281016/negligent-telangana-has-no-plans-for-a-fossil-park.html

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Cheriyal Rural Tourism

Cheriyal (or Cherial) is a town and a municipality in Siddipet district in the state of Telangana in India  an hour’s drive from Hyderabad and about 85 kms from Warangal city is known for its unique scroll paintings and masks created by artists called Nakashis. This art form is unique to the state of Telangana. 

The name that the art form is known by today, i.e., Cheriyal, is derived from the town it is currently practised in.The practice of the art form is much more limited than it was previously. Initially, these paintings were known as nakash or naqash, which translates to a drawing or a sketch.

Art and tourism often go hand in hand, with art being a popular tourist attraction. The people involved in the creation of these traditional nakash or Cheriyal paintings, are a community known as the Nakashis. Other than this community, there is another important group of individuals associated with this tradition. It is important to note that the actual purpose of these scrolls was to serve as visual aids when a storyteller narrated a particular folklore or mythological story in the form of a song. This community of balladeers is referred to as kaki padagollu. They travel from village to village narrating these stories.

Cheriyal paintings are long narrative scroll paintings that serve as visual aids to a musical storytelling tradition. A conventional Cheriyal scroll is vertical and is divided into different frames, with each frame depicting a scene from the tale that is being presented. Since these scrolls are meant to be rolled when not in use, they are made with fabric. Traditionally, a khadi cloth is used as the base for these paintings.

The paintings, made on khadi cloth treated with tamarind seeds paste, chalk powder, gum and starch, are mostly based only on epic themes (of Ramayana, Mahabharata, Sri Krishna Bhagavatam, Shiva Puranam etc), village life or festivals.

Like all traditional folk art forms, Cheriyal paintings too use only naturally sourced colours. Most of the pigments used in these paintings are mineral based, i.e., they are obtained from coloured stones. These stones are crushed into a fine powder and mixed with a natural binder and water. The natural binder used is gum arabic, locally called tirumani gond. This mixture is prepared with extreme attentiveness to make paint that is of the right saturation and has the ability to stick to the cloth base.

Paintbrushes are the only tools which are used by Cheriyal artists to draw, paint, and add details to their artworks. Traditionally, these paintbrushes were made using squirrel hair because of how fine the artists could paint with them. However, today this practice has been replaced by market-available synthetic brushes.

The main narrative involves scenes from the common rural life such as women performing kitchen chores, men working in fields or experiencing merry, festival settings, etc. The costumes and settings reflect the culture of Telangana. It offers a glimpse into the rich heritage of Telangana and India through art tourism. The colors and details depict mythological stories and daily life events.

Education

In Badampet village of Telangana’s Sangareddy district, NGO Kudali Centre uses a 3ft by 10ft scroll painting in vivid colours to educate farmers about the perils of mono-cropping. Moving away from organic cultivation of food crops to just cotton, the farmers have seen chemical pesticide costs rising through the roof every year. Farmer suicides are common in the area. Kudali uses a Cheriyal (or Cherial) painting made by national award winner artist D Vaikuntam Nakash to educate the illiterate farmers regarding organic farming.

In another part of the state, a microfinance company has put up six Cheriyal scroll paintings in its office to explain loan, digital marketing and other concepts to semi-literate people wanting to better understand microcredit and its uses.

Cheriyal Painting is widely popular due to the unique rural element which renders an aura of exclusivity and charm for the art items. It represents the pride of Telangana, especially the region’s tryst with such rare and unique art forms. 

For Cheriyal paintings, the background colour is mostly red though green or white may be used some times. The colours are derived from natural sources like white from seashells and black from soot. The most used colours are golden yellow, brown, white, green, orange, black and blue.

Vinay says it takes a month to finish a 3ft by 5ft scroll painting where the whole family is involved in painting. It sells for about Rs35,000 while bigger pieces can take about 6 months for completion.

Some Nakashi artisans have started relocating to Hyderabad in search of a better market. The demand is higher in bigger cities of Chennai, Bengaluru and Mumbai. The artisans also have tie-ups with e-tailers like Amazon besides local websites -- Craftiee, Tvami and Kala Chaupaal Trust, which directly purchase products from them.

The artists also participate in exhibitions and sell their products through various handicraft shops in government museums. “During the pandemic the handicraft stores were not functioning, we received most of our orders through social media. On an average, we got ten orders per month which generated around Rs8000,” says Sai Kiran.

The state government has supported these artists by issuing IDs to acknowledged artisans, giving them employment, buying their handicrafts, and offering them projects.

Geographical Indication (GI) tag

Cheriyal scroll painting also received Intellectual Property Rights Protection, commonly called the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in the year 2008. It is a matter of academic interest for painters all over India and the world, who study the art work with attention to detail and efforts are on to preserve this rich tradition for posterity by actively promoting the tradition of Cheriyal Painting.

A slice of Cheriyal is in Rashtrapati Nilayam,” says artist Dhanalakota Saikiran as he walks us through the 163-foot kitchen tunnel at Rashatrapati Nilayam in Hyderabad. Ever since the President’s official winter retreat was thrown open to the public after a makeover, people have been making a beeline to peek into the estate that serves as the Southern sojourn. A covered corridor connecting the kitchen and dining hall, is now resplendent with murals, masks, and animal heads in the Telangana folk art form of Cheriyal.

With changing times, the popularity of Cheriyal scrolls and the accompanying musical narrative tradition faced a decline. To sustain themselves, these artists have adapted themselves to the changing needs and tastes. Today, the size of these scrolls has been minimised and the number of frames per painting has been decreased too. This is because these paintings are now used more as decorative pieces in households, rather than as storytelling aids.

Cheriyal masks are made of sawdust and fine powder of tamarind seeds. Ganesh, another Cheriyal artist, says it takes six days to prepare these masks which travel hundreds of miles to beautify the corridors of huge mansions. His wife is also actively involved in the craft much like other women of the Nakashi community.

Creating these masks requires patience and attention to detail. Various clay or cement molds are prepared in advance to hasten the molding process.

A fine powder of tamarind seeds, river shells, or coconut shells is boiled in hot water. After an hour, the mixture is collected in a dish, mixed with sawdust, and neatly kneaded into dough.

This dough is then spread evenly onto the desired mold before other facial features are added to the light brown base structure. Sculpting the nose, eyes, and lips requires close attention.

The structure is dried until it becomes rock hard. Upon drying the base structure is smoothened using sandpaper and a thin cotton fabric is spread out on the entire surface of the mask.

A fine paste of rice starch, white clay, and tree lack is evenly applied over the cotton fabric. The paste leaves the surface bright white on drying thereby readying it for color application.

Bright colors like red, yellow, green, blue, white, are used for the base coat. Further detailing of eyes, lips, and ornaments are done using a brush made from squirrel hair. Lastly, varnish is applied to enhance durability.

The seven Nakashi families of Cheriyal create around 250 masks a month.

The process is quicker during summers while it takes these longer to dry during winter and monsoons. If not dried properly fungus can surface due to the presence of tamarind paste.

"We have 20-25 different molds which are used to make faces of mythological characters like kings, queens, village women, Ardhnareshwara, Ganesha, Rama, Sita, Hanuman," says Ganesh.

Among these, the masks for Rama, Sita, and Hanuman are high in demand and cost Rs500. The masks are about 3 inches to 12 inches long. 

The smaller masks cost around Rs300 while the bigger ones range between Rs2000 and Rs3000. The price can even go up to Rs6000, depending on the complexity of the piece.

Ganesh and others have also collaborated with government training centers, imparting the knowledge of mask-making to the younger generation. He has been actively training young students for two years with the help of the state government in an attempt to promote this art form.

Cheriyal masks were used by villagers of the region during festivals to honor the local Goddesses. Dancers wore these masks as a mark of respect for the deities. Gradually, they became popular and people started using them for home decor.

"Cheriyal masks have a national as well as an international appeal but there are only a handful of people who have mastered this art. It will empower women, and they can easily make around Rs20,000 by making the masks from the comfort of their homes," says Ganesh. He gives a daily wage of Rs300 to workers who work at his workshop.

The stories of ancestors beyond what granny knew or could remember, stories of heroes that made them proud, stories that they would sleep with and dream about. Today, the Kunapulis were coming to perform Markandeya Puranam for the Padmasalis and the show will go on anywhere from 3 nights to 20 nights. Later, the Dakkalis will come to perform Jamba Puranam for the Madigas and this cycle of performances will continue till genealogies of 7 local castes (the barber, toddy tapper, washerman, fisherman, leather worker, weaver and farmer) have been recited by bards from their sub-caste.

A non-descript village like any other in rural India and crowded with houses that has pretty wooden doors, Cheriyal is easy to find but not the Nakaashs. It took a lot of asking around and negotiating through narrow streets where one led to the other like a never ending maze to finally reach the humble house of an artist. Once inside his living room cum showroom cum godown, Mallesham carefully unwrapped the colourful frames of Cheriyal paintings depicting both the deities and the everyday life of people in the region.

Environmentally Friendly 

The stunning attraction of Cheriyal scrolls is due to their wholly environmentally friendly and sustainable components. The narrative is typically depicted in a sequence of horizontal panels. The flower border in the middle and resembles modern comic strips divide them. The scrolls are typically created in a vertical arrangement. The scrolls were frequently shown by hanging them from a tree and revealing them panel by panel as the events were narrated. Such type was most common during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

The process of creating ancient Cheriyal paintings was entirely natural in antiquity. Everything from the brush to the canvas or linen to the paints was manufactured from natural materials. The distinctive Cheriyal masks are fashioned from tamarind and sawdust, which are then dried into clay. Without using any moulds, craftsmen meticulously hand-cast the features, such as eyes, lips, and nose.

The processes still remain the same wherein the canvas is prepared after coating and drying a handwoven cloth (mostly khadi cotton) with boiled rice starch, white clay, gum and boiled tamarind seed paste in layers. Every coating is allowed to dry thoroughly before the next is applied. When the canvas is dry and hard, an outline of the painting is made using indigo on an essentially red background and later colours are filled in. The colours used are natural derived mostly from seeds, flowers and stones like black from lamp soot mixed with gum from the thirumany tree, white from sea shells, red from tamarind seeds, brown from geru. The frame is marked by a floral border indicating the end of a scene on a scroll. Now, it is merely ornamentation as the scrolls have miniaturized into frames meant for hanging on a wall. Yet the scenes retain a strong local flavor as it follows the tradition of oral story telling.

History

The origin of Cheriyal Paintings can be traced back to 5,000 years. This style of artwork uses these paintings as a visual aid to recite tales from 'Ramayana' and 'Mahabharata'. Also Read - Drivers of all VIP vehicles must undergo driving tests, says Ponnam Employing traditional techniques, Cheriyal paintings are created on cloth that might run to metres in length. In the present day, Cheriyal paintings are done in a variety of goods such as masks, marriage gifts, jewellery boxes, brass paintings and greeting cards. 

The story tellers would go to the ‘Nakaashs’ and recite their story that would be painted scene by scene, character by character onto a scroll. 

Employing traditional techniques, Cheriyal paintings are created on cloth that might run to metres in length. In the present day, Cheriyal paintings are done in a variety of goods such as masks, marriage gifts, jewellery boxes, brass paintings and greeting cards.

The traditions surrounding Cheriyal scroll paintings have contributed massively to our cultural memory. Hence, it is an art form that has garnered much fame, and rightfully so. People have been making these paintings for a very long time, creating both art and tourism. 

Some think they began in the 5th century. The earliest reference to this tradition dates back to the 12th century; the Kakatiya times where Ekamranatha in his literary text Pratapa Charitram indicates the presence of 1500 painter families living in and around Warangal. 

Even today the Nakaashs live in Cheriyal, a small village with winding alleys about 85 kms from Warangal city.

https://medium.com/@rooftopapp/10-aspects-of-cheriyal-paintings-39bf5f73a400

https://30stades.com/2021/02/15/cheriyal-telanganas-centuries-old-scroll-painting-masks-art-continue-to-educate-entertain/

https://blogvirasatehind.wordpress.com/2018/01/23/travel-shot-cheriyal-art-of-telangana/

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Khajaguda Hills

Khajaguda Hills located in Khajaguda also known as Khojaguda is a Village in Serlingampally Mandal, Rangareddy district, Telangana State, India. It is part of the old city of Hyderabad. The site is a popular spot for outdoor activities, such as hiking and bouldering.

Khajaguda hills is one of the most popular weekend spots near Hyderabad. It is known for its magnificent viewpoint of Golconda and Durgam Cheruvu, peacocks, and naturally formed rocks and boulders that facilitate thrilling activities like rappelling.

The hilltop offers a breathtaking view of the city below with its lush green surroundings. It is a perfect place to spend some quality time with your friends or family away from the hustle and bustle of the city life. The area also has several other attractions such as temples and caves that make it an ideal spot for nature lovers. With its pristine beauty and adventure activities, Khajaguda hills has become one of the most sought-after weekend spots in Hyderabad.

Hidden away from all the hustle and bustle of city life, these majestic hills offer breathtaking views and a chance to explore a fascinating part of history. Get up close and personal with nature while you learn about its ancient origins!

One of the finest prehistoric heritage sites, the Khajaguda Rock Formation is spread across 180 acres in Nanakramguda in Hyderabad, Telangana

The Fakhruddin Gutta granite rock formations, popularly known as the Khajaguda Hills, are a geological marvel that are estimated to be around 2.5 billion years old! It is a part of the Deccan Plateau and is also one of the oldest rock formations in India.

Telangana's Khajaguda Rock Formation is as old as the Earth's crust!

Around 4.4 billion years ago, the formation of Earth’s crust took place and soon after that, the formation of what we know today as the Khajaguda Rock Formation started. One of the oldest forms of rocks, these are formed of gneissic granite, one of the hardest forms of rocks on earth.

Usually, newer rocks form over these tough base rocks over a period of time. But, in Khajaguda, this didn’t happen and the billion years old rocks stand exposed till date, albeit in a poor condition.

As per the geologists researching the area, there are boulders, castle koppies, nubbins, inselberg, peneplains, kluftkarren, corestones, pans, fracture valley, runnels, balancing rocks, pseudobedding, pits, tafoni, plinths, rock doughnuts, caves, splits and wedges, and chaos – all these are different kinds of rock formations. What a field day it would be to get a chance to explore the site with researchers!. While we can’t say much about exploring the area with geologists, what you can certainly do is hike the area and take in the moment as you stand in the presence of something that is as old as our planet!

Khajaguda Lake, also known as Bhagirathamma Cheruvu was built during the reign of 6th Nizam Nawab Mahboob Ali Khan in 1897 and is spread over an impressive 618-acre. Surrounded by lush greenery and open skies, it provides a serene setting for visitors to sit back, relax and take in the natural beauty. Not only that, it also supplied water to 900 acres of Ayakattu in Kamareddy, Sarampally and Narsampally areas!

The tomb of Saint Hazrat Baba Fakhruddin Aulia — spiritual mentor of Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah (founder of the Bahmani Kingdom) who was buried here in 1353 AD

800-year-old Annatha Padmanabha Swamy Temple and a cave where the revered saint, Meher Baba had meditated are situated on Khajaguda Hills.

The caves in the area are another interesting thing to explore. Remember how we said earlier that these rocks are the hardest forms of granite? Cave formation would be the last thing to expect of these hard rocks. But they are there, much to the surprise of geologists. Something rare, is what they say about these Khajaguda caves.

The forest patch at Khajaguda is home to several species of plants, that just like the rock formations, are difficult to find near Hyderabad. The Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, popularly known as the parijata or the night-flowering jasmine, is found in abundance at Khajaguda (there are three national parks around Hyderabad and the Parijata cannot be found in any of these three parks).

The other important plant species at Khajaguda is the Helicteres isora, also known as the Indian Screw Tree. These trees have not been recorded by the Botanical Survey of India in any areas around Hyderabad. Khajaguda is the only place where these can be found.

Best Time to visit

Sunrise and Sunset. Sunrise as you can enjoy the breathtaking view of the sun rising above the hills with the rays piercing through the morning clouds Relish Sunset at the summit . Sunset point for photoshoot in Hyderabad

Monsoons are the time when nature is at its best. Mercury levels having dropped a few notches and the lush greenery make it the best time to visit any tourist destination. One such place, whose beauty is heightened in the monsoon, is the Khajaguda Hills in Hyderabad. 

How to get there

There are two ways to reach this place: take the ORR and drive to the bottom of the hill or reach Khajaguda village and follow the path that leads to the hills. The trek to the top of the hills is easy and does not require professional hiking gear.

Use Google Maps, not Apple. Map directly to Delhi Public School. If you map to the exact location, you may be brought in the back way, which is not a way at all. Take Old Mumbai Highway or Outer Ring Road to Khajaguda Road. Follow it to Lanco Hills Road (large silver structures on this intersection). Turn onto Lanco Hills Road. When the divided road ends, take the second right (the first is immediately at the ending of the division). After taking this right, take the first left. The road turns dirt here and heads up the hill. The road is rough but passable. If you wish to walk from here, it is maybe a 10-20 minute approach up hill. If you follow the road (by car or foot) stay right at the fork. You'll reach the top and there is an open area. Park here. The approach from here varies, but should be no more than 10 minutes (to the farthest rocks).

Improvements
In October 2023, Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) started work to fence the 2.5 billion-year-old Khajaguda rock formations and limiting access to motorists, visitors, an effort to keep the encroachers at bay.

Outer Ring Road -Lanco Hills link road is under construction as part of Corridor 39B. This 3.89 km long link road is constructed alongside the Khajaguda Heritage Rock Formation.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/telanganas-khajaguda-rock-formation-is-as-old-as-the-earths-crust/articleshow/95272121.cms

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Chennur Agastheeswara Swamy Temple

Chennur Shivalyam or Agastheswara Alayam is located in chennur village, Mancherial district, Telangana State, India on the banks of Godavari river around 30 kms from Mancherial town. This temple is dedicated to lord Shiva.

Chennur Sri Agastheeswara Swamy Temple is the ancient shivalayam in this area with very old inscriptions in Dravida language. it is said that Agasthya Mahamuni himself performed puja in this temple, was visited by Srikrishna Devaraya.

Maha Shivaratri is the major annual festival, celebrated with religious gaiety and pomp in Agastheeswara Swamy Temple.

Sage Agasthya Maharshi installed this lingam and did poojas to the Shivalinga’s on his journey from Kasi to Dakshina yatra and named it Agasteshwaram. Hence it was named as Agastheeswara Temple.

Public from different communities come from far places to immerse the remnant of the dead bodies in the form of ashes, in holy river Godavari which is called Ash Visarjan and have darshan of lord shiva.

Akhanda Jyothi is continuously glowing from almost 410 years. It was first lightened by a brahmin priest named as jakkepalli Sadashivayya. He used to offer prayers regularly in this temple. Later his sons and grandsons took the responsibilities of Akhanda Jyothi and present, his fourth generations grandson name Himakar sharma took the responsibility of Akanda Jyothi

Construction

In 1289 AD during Kakatiya reign King Pratap Rudra had reconstructed this temple and then after 20 years in the time of Alauddin Khilji Senani Malik kafur had destroyed the pyramidal tower of the temple. Later Sri Krishan Deva rayalu visited this place and he again reconstructed the temple. All these had been written in front of the temple in Telugu and Kannada languages

Panchkosha Uttara Wahini

Generally Godavari flows from west to east but the Godavari river in Chennur flows towards the north for 5 Kosa (15 km) hence it is known as "Panchkosha Uttara Wahini".

Temple Timings : 6.00 AM to 8.00 PM

Godavari Pushkaralu takes place once every 12 years, when the Jupiter is in the Leo sign. The Maha Pushkaram ("Great Pushkaram") takes place once every 144 years.

The last pushkaram is from July 14 - 25, 2015. This year it marks the ‘Maha Pushkaram’, which comes once in 144 years. Astrologically, Brihaspati (Jupiter) enters Simha rasi (Leo). It is called Maha Pushkaram as it is the 12th time, the 12-year Pushkaram cycle is being held starting with Ashadha month on Chaturdashi. The next Godavari Pushkaram is in 2027 and Maha Pushkaram will be celebrated in 2159.

Pushkaras are celebrated at 12 rivers, 1 river per year, according to which rasi Jupiter enters that year. Though the festival is theoretically ongoing throughout the year, only the first 12 days of Jupiter entering the rasi are celebrated. The last 12 days of Jupiter leaving the rasi are also considered auspicious.

The 12 rivers are: Ganga, Narmada, Saraswati, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri, Bhima (tributary of Krishna), Tapti, Tungabhadra, Sindhu, Pranhita (tributary of Godavari)

Pranahita Pushkaralu is a festival of River Pranahita normally occurs once in 12 years. The Pushkaram is observed for a period of 12 days from the time of entry of Jupiter into Pisces (Meena rasi).Pranahita Pushkaralu was celebrated from April 13 - 24, 2022

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