Nagunur Fort & Temples

Nagnoor Fort (also spelled Nagunur) is in Nagunur Village, Karimnagar Mandal, Karimnagar district, Telangana, India.

Nagaruru, Previously it was known as Nagaroor had been one of the chief townships of Sabbinadu, once ruled by local chiefs, who were eventually vanquished by Kakatiya king Rudra in 1170 AD and appointed Gangaraja to administer it.

This city was alive with the emergence of Kakatiyas after the reign of Vemulawada Chalukyas, Kalyani Chalukyas for five centuries from 8th-13th centuries and its people as a centre of faith, a religious centre, a political centre, a spiritual centre also as a capital of morality, reaches to its extinction.

This great capital turned to ruin which was having about 400 temples and now only three are visible, among these three two are already in ruins and one is about to be ruined, which is situated about 8 km from Karimnagar opposite to the Prathima Institute Of Medical Sciences and close to the Karimnagar Railway Station.

The ramparts of Karimnagar's Nagnoor Fort were once alive with the thumping sounds of a bustling town and the people of Kakatiya dynasty. 

The fort stands as a testimony to the majestic powers of the great Kakatiyas. The Nagunur Fort is considered to be one of the most important forts of the glorious Kakatiya dynasty. The excavations have brought to light many ruins of a cluster of the Kalyana and Kakatiya temples.

The Nagunur fort is home to a host of important temples dating back to the 12th to 13th century such as Vaishnava Temple, Shiva Temple, Main Trikuta Temple, and the Ramalingala Gudi Temple. 

The inscriptions found at the fort testify its importance as both political and religious center in the medieval times. Inside the fort, there is cluster of ruined temples that were erected during the periods of Kalyani, Chalukya and the Kakatiyas.

The pillars and galleries around the Shiva temple here are worth seeing. The most important temple in the complex is the Shiva temple which has three shrines. The main entrance to the temple is on the northern side and the three shrines face the other three directions.

The beams of the temple have sculptured images of musicians playing on Mridangam and other instruments. Panels are carved with visuals of dancers in graceful poses.

A group of ruined temples has attracted tourists attention time and again. The origin and style of these temples can be traced back to the era of the Kalyani, Chalukyas and Kakatiyas. However, it is strongly believed to have been built during 1200- 1300AD under the patronage of the Kakatiyas. At one point of time the place was believed to house around 400 temples. Hence it came to be known as Nalugunovalu. This was later changed to Nagunur.

The biggest and the most prominent among these is the triple-shrine temple of Lord Shiva.The temple is made of red stone and comprises three shrines of Lord Shiva. The shrines are placed on a raised pedestal or Upapitha. The most enchanting part of the temple decor is the intricate and detailed sculptures gracing the frames of the doors and the beams resting on the central pillar. The detailing of these sculptures is exquisite. It tends to defy its age. There is one sculpture in particular which finds mention in several places which displays musicians surrounding Gods and Goddesses playing various musical instruments. One is also shown playing the Mrigandam ( an Indian drum).

The main entrance of the temple faces North. The three shrines face the other three directions. The temple lies within the precincts of the Nagunur Fort. The fort was once the seat of power of the Kakatiyas. Its interiors which would once echo the sounds of a lively and bustling city today chants the silent agony of ruins and debris. Several other temples in decrepit state lie strewn on the Telangana State highway from Karimnagar to Rayapatnam. Buried under administrative delay, the temples, which were once the source of great activity, have today turned into a mute audience waiting for the healing touch.

The Nagunur telugu inscription refers to one Jagaddeva, son of Medaraja

Special Attractions:

– The ruined temples bearing the splendid motifs are architectural marvels which attract tourists from near and far.

– The Nagunur Fort and the temples don the place with a unique character which is difficult for any tourist to resist.

Distance to Nagunur Fort, Karimnagar:

– Distance from Hyderabad to Karimnagar is 162 km

– Distance from Warangal to Karimnagar is 68 km

– Distance from Nizamabad to Karimnagar is 147 km

Nearby by Tourist Attractions:

– Lower Manair Dam, Karimnagar

– Ujwala Park, Karimnagar

– Elgandal Fort, Karimnagar

Where to stay:

Karimnagar provides a range of hotels, guest houses, lodges and tourist rest houses which provide comfortable accommodations for tourists. The accommodation facilities fit into every budget and are strategically located in order to provide tourists access to their preferred place of visit in Karimnagar.

Some of the Good Hotels in Karimnagar are:

– Swetha Inn – Ph 9676100333

– Hotel Manair – Ph 0878 2245879

– Srinivasa Hotel – Ph: 0878 2243201

– Hotel Kalpana – Ph 0878 650 3985

– Hotel Prathima Residency – Ph 0878 2233666

How to reach:

– Karimnagar can be easily accessed by road. It is well connected to Warangal, Nizamabad, Medak and other parts of the state.

– There are many State Transport buses from Jubilee Bus Stop to Karimnagar

– The nearest international airport is located at Hyderabad which is around 165 km from Karimnagar town.

– Nagunur Fort is located at a distance of 8 km from Karimnagar Bus Stand and can be easily accessed by public transport.

Nearest Railway Station:

Karimnagar has its own railway station which connects Karimanagar to major cities of Telangana.

Timings: 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM

Sources

http://www.telanganatourism.gov.in/partials/destinations/heritage-spots/karimnagar/nagunur-fort.html

https://www.groupouting.com/place/nagunur-fort/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagunur_Fort

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Kotilingala Fort & Temple

Kotilingala is a historical site nestled amid huge hillocks and thick green cover on the banks of the Godavari River, Velgatur Mandal, Jagtial district of the Indian state of Telangana.

Archaeological discoveries at Kotilingala indicate that it was an important town in ancient town, during the period of the Assaka mahajanapada and the Satavahanas, is a treat for pilgrims.

The site has a mud fort with several gates and running 1054 metres long and 330 metres wide. A watch tower located in the south-eastern corner measures 11.5 * 10.55 m.

Ancient pottery, beads, bricks querns, and other artifacts have been found at the site. 

Two hoards of punch-marked coins attributed to 2nd and 3rd centuries BCE have been found at the site. These coins were issued by Gobhada and Samagopa, who are believed to be local pre-Satavahana rulers.

The mud fortification, protected by a stream on its east and the Godavari river on its west, indicate its high political and commercial significance.

The archaeological evidence at Kotilingala suggests existence of long-distance trade.

Coins of Satavahana kings have also been found at Kotilingala. A few of these are copper and potin coins bearing the legend "Rano Siri Chimuka Satavahanasa". Some scholars such as A. M. Sastry and K. D. Bajpai have identified the issuer of these coins with Simuka, who is considered as the founder of the Satavahana dynasty based on the Puranic genealogies. However, others such as P. L. Gupta and I. K. Sarma have argued that the Kotilingala coins belonged to a later ruler with a similar or same name have disputed this identification. P.V.P. Sastry, who first discovered these coins and attributed them to Simuka in 1978, also changed his view and later stated that Chimuka or Chhimuka of Kotilingala was not same as the Simuka mentioned in Naneghat inscription.

Other coins include those issued by Kanha and Satakarni. The inscriptions of the early Satavahanas have been found only in present-day Maharashtra (at Nashik and Naneghat), based on which western Deccan has been proposed as the original home of the Satavahanas. 

However, the discovery of coins at Kotilingala and other sites in present-day Andhra Pradesh and Telangana has prompted some historians such as M. Rama Rao to theorize that the eastern Deccan was also a part of the early Satavahana territory. V. V. Krishna Sastry theorized that the site was once a stronghold of the early Satavahanas.

 D. R. Reddy and S. Reddy proposed that Kotilingala was the original homeland of the Satavahanas. However, the Satavahana coin samples from Kotilingala are small in size, and it is not known where these coins were minted. S. Chattopadhyaya argues that coins can travel via trade, and this is not conclusive evidence of the early Satavahana presence in eastern Deccan.

The State government has decided to construct a protection wall along the shores of river Godavari to protect the site from submergence under the backwaters of the Sripada Yellampalli project.

There were transportation facilities to the towns located on the bank of the river Godavari such as Godavarikhani, Jagtial, Mancherial, and Karimnagar.

It is also a Hindu Pilgrimage Site with traditional Shiva temple and the Koteswara Siddeshwara Temple.

The traditional Sri Koteswara Siddeshwara Swamy Devasthanam temple with picturesque background is about 60 km from the Karimnagar.

A good black-topped road from Karimnagar to Rayapatnam takes the pilgrims to the temple in Velgatur mandal. A three-km drive from the main road takes one to the temple.

Legend has it that sages used to meditate in the caves adjoining the hillocks called ‘Munula Gutta’ and visit the banks of the Godavari for bathing. The sages decided to construct a temple and asked Lord Hanuman to get a Siva Lingam. When Lord Hanuman failed to come on time, the sages installed a Siva linga made of sand granules.

By the time Lord Hanuman arrived the Siva lingam was completed leaving the former infuriated. Locals say, Hanuman was pacified and people were asked to first offer prayers to the lingam brought by Hanuman and later to the lingam made with sand granules. According to temple priest Sanjay Sharma, newly-wedded couples offer prayers at this shrine for happy family, good siblings and prosperity.

Koti Lingala has a hoary past as the Satavahana kings used the Godavari for navigation and transportation of goods. It is evident from the wharf on the banks of the river. Buddhism and Jainism also prevailed in the region on “Munula Gutta’ as was evident during the excavations made by the State Archaeology Department.

Pilgrims planning to visit the temple can stay in hotels that suit everybody’s pocket. There is not enough accommodation in the temple nor does the place have good restaurants. Some pilgrims prefer to visit the shrine and cook food in the nearby woods and return in the evening. It is also one of the convenient places during the Godavari Pushkarams because of less flow of pilgrims.

Sources

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/Koti-Lingala-a-major-pilgrim-destination/article11148987.ece

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koti_Lingala

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Dharmapuri

Dharmapuri is situated at a distance of about 48kms. from Jagityal town and 51 Kms. from Peddapalle railway station

Dharmapuri attained religious importance owing to the existence of the shrine dedicated to Narasimha Swamy, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Lord Siva With Dakshinamurthy, Vinayaka and Sapitha Mathrukas carved on a single slab of stone and Mahishasuramardhani, the sixty pillared temple, Mahalakshmi temple, Akkapalle Rajanna. 

An over five hundred year old Sri Sita Rama Swami temple are the other temples of importance that heighten the sanctity of this The
Ramalingeswara Temple which is of about 1000 years old, is in the proximity of the Narsimha Swamy Temple. It is said among local inhabitants that the Shiv Lingam installed in this temple was installed by Lord Rama during his exile and on way to Lanka in search of Sitha Maatha.

Dharmapuri was called so after King Dharamavarma, (Who was a staunch evotee of Lord Narasimha), it was known earlier as Dhamaraya, Dharmapuram, Dharmmanpuram, Dhammanvuru, Dharmavura and Dharmapuram80. 

It is famous for temples and artists, located on the banks of holy river Godavari. It is called Dhakshin Kashi.

The name of this place as Dharmapuri and Dharmapuram in the two Sthalapuranas both titled “Dharmapuri Kshetra Mahatyam”, dated 928 A.D82 and 1767 A.D.83 Historically we find the name of this place in an inscription of Arikesari-II (930-955 A.D) of Chalukyas of Vemulavada, at Kurikyala of Gangadhara Mandal. This place was known as Dhammanvura, Dhammampuram. 

Further, we see the name of this place as Dharmapuri and Dharmapura in an inscription of Vikramaditya IV (1076-1126 A.D) of Chalukyas of kalyani on the stone in the Rameswara temple at Dharmapuri. It records the gifts to the Rameswara. 

Malki Singana mentioned is this place as “Dharmapuram” in his Uttara Khanda of Padma Purana (1420 A.D). 

The great Telugu poet Bammera Potana (1400-1470 A.D) mentioned
this place as Dharmapuri in his Narayana Satakam. 

 Again, this place is also mentioned by Korai Goparaju (1430-1490 AD) in his Simhasanadwatrinshika. 

This place as “Dharmapuri” was mentioned in “Kalapurnodayam” by renewed Telugu poet Pingali Surana(1560 AD).

In 19th Century Sheshappa (1800 AD) wrote a Satakam on Narasimha of Dharmapuri and Narasimhadasu wrote “Rohilala pata” in 1858.

In which the sorrows of the victims of Rohillas at Dharmapuri are described. In the modern period this place was mentioned in “Dharmanagada Charitra” which is also known as “Pamupata” by Puri Narayana Raju, wherein the importance of river Godavari at Dharmapuri is given and mentioning Dharmapuri, a sacred place.

Dharmapuri boasts of the only temple for Yama in the country

Several hundreds .of devotees from various parts of the State and also from the neighbouring States have arrived in large numbers at Sri Laxminarasimha Swamy Devasthanam in Dharmapuri of Jagtial district on Tuesday to worship Lord Yama Dharmaraja (God of Death).

This is the only temple shrine in entire country where Lord Yama (God of Death) is worshipped.

The devotees who visit the Dharmapuri temple shrine first offer prayers to the Lord Yama at his temple before offering prayers to other deities. The devotees pour oil in the “Yamaganda deepam” to get rid of their sorrows and sufferings.

On “Yama Dwetheeya” which falls on the second day after the Deepavali festival, a visit to the Lord Yama temple attains lot of importance among devotees. It is believed that people who offer prayers at the Lord Yama temple on Yama Dwetheeya would not go to ‘hell’ after their death.

Temple priest Bojja Ramesh Sharma told “The Hindu” that the annual “Yama Dwitheeya” which is celebrated on second day after the Deepavali festival, marking the visit of Lord Yama to his sister Yamuna Devi’s house for lunch, attains more importance to appease the God of Death. On this occasion, the devotees perform the special pujas such as “Ayoosha Sooktham homam” for longevity and good health and special abhishekhams, he maintained.

It is also believed that Yama promises his sister that people who offer prayers on this day (Yama Dwetheeya) would not go to hell and they would get rid of all sorrows and sufferings. Similarly, it is believed that people having ‘Bhagini-hastha’ (food served by one’s sister) on this day would enjoy longevity and cleansed of their sins, the priest said.

http://tourismintg.com/Karimnagar_Dharmapuri.html

http://www.yatrastotemples.com/sri-dharmapuri-lakshmi-narasimha-swamy-temple/

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/devotees-worship-lord-yama-here/article9293778.ece

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