Telangana360

The Gadwal Samsthanam Somandri Dynasty: The Legacy of the Raichur Doab (c. 1662 CE - 1948 CE) 1,200 Square Miles | Population: 110,000+ | Prestigious Vassal of Hyderabad The Gadwal Samsthanam was one of Hyderabad's most prestigious, oldest, largest, and wealthiest vassal states. Ruled by the Mustipalli dynasty of Pakanati Reddis following the Veera Vaishnava tradition, it occupied the fertile Raichur Doab between the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers. Celebrated as " Vidwad Gadwal " (Gadwal of the Scholars), the Samsthanam was renowned for its military strength, cultural patronage, and the development of the world-famous Gadwal handloom sarees. I. Origins and Early Allegiances (1290 – 1662 CE) The formative centuries under successive Deccan empires, beginning with Kakatiya patronage and navigating the turbulent transitions between Bahmini, Vijayanagara, and Bijapur powers. The orig...

🛕 Kurumurthy Temple (Sri Kurumurthy Srinivas Swamy Temple) 1350 AD hill shrine | “Second Tirupati” on seven hills | Cave darshan tradition | Uddala mandapam & unique chappal offering | Jogulamba Gadwal, Telangana 🏔️ Kurumurthy Temple (Sri Kurumurthy Srinivas Swamy Temple) is a historic 14th‑century shrine located on the Kurupathu hills near Ammapuram village, Chinnachintakunta Mandal, Jogulamba Gadwal District, Telangana . Built in 1350 AD , the temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara (Kurumurthy Swami) . Like the original Tirumala, this temple is also situated on a hill that is one amidst seven similar hillocks – earning it the title “Second Tirupati” . Devotees once had to crawl through a cave to have darshan; now a proper temple has been constructed at the same spot. One needs to climb about 200 steps to reach the main shrine, passing by a small Anjaneya temple and the Chennakesava temple along the way. The unique Uddala mandapam h...

🏰 Gadwal Fort: The 17th‑Century Citadel on the Tungabhadra Raja Somasekhar Ananda Reddy’s Legacy | Hindu‑Islamic Architecture | Stepwells | Panoramic Views 📍 Gadwal Fort (also known as Gadwal Killa ) is a historic hill fort located in the heart of Gadwal town, Jogulamba Gadwal district, Telangana . Built in the 17th century CE by Raja Somasekhar Ananda Reddy , a local chieftain under the Vijayanagara Empire and later the Qutb Shahis, the fort is a fine example of military architecture blending Hindu and Islamic styles . It is situated on a small granite hillock overlooking the town and the Tungabhadra River. The fort features massive stone walls, bastions, a grand entrance gate, palaces, temples, and unique stepwells (baolis) . It is a protected monument under the Telangana Department of Archaeology and Museums . The fort offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside and the Tungabhadra backwaters. ...

🏛️ Navabhrama Temples: The 9 Chalukyan Shiva Shrines of Alampur 7th–8th Century Badami Chalukyan Architecture | ASI Protected | Telangana 📍 Navabhrama Temples are a group of nine ancient Shiva temples located in Alampur, Jogulamba Gadwal district, Telangana , on the left bank of the Tungabhadra River. Built during the 7th–8th centuries CE by the Badami Chalukyas , these temples represent the Northern style (Nagara) of Chalukyan architecture – a style distinct from the later Dravidian temples. The nine temples are named: Taraka Bhramma, Swarga Bhramma, Padma Bhramma, Bala Bhramma, Garuda Bhramma, Kumara Bhramma, Arka Bhramma, Vira Bhramma, and Vishwa Bhramma . They are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) . Alampur is also home to the Jogulamba Temple (one of the 18 Shakti Peethas), making it a unique destination where Shakta and Shaiva traditions meet. 🏛️ 9 Shiva Temples 📜 ...