Tandur red gram

Tandur red gram is a variety of pigeon pea (Tur dal) that is grown in the Tandur region in Vikarabad district of Telangana, India has got geographical indication (GI) tag.

The Geographical Indication tag was granted in December 2022 to the Yalal Farmers Producers Company Ltd, which had applied for 'Tandur red gram' with the support of Prof. Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU). It is the first agricultural commodity in the state to get the GI tag.

The specialty of the Tandur red gram is that it "tastes better, cooks faster and has a longer shelf life of cooked dal" as it is grown in the fertile deep black soil of this region which has huge deposits of Attapulgite clay mineral along with huge limestone deposits.

Tandur red gram contains around 22–24% protein, which is almost three times the protein content of cereals.

Individual farmers and dal mill owners in Tandur will now have to register themselves as authorized users and begin branding Tandur red gram with the GI tag to secure better prices, as the tag is a guarantee of quality. Approximately 63,500 households in the area are currently engaged in Tandur Red Gram farming.

The perennial legume known as the pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) belongs to the Leguminaceae family (Fabaceae). It also goes by the names pigeonpea, arhar, and tur. Since its introduction in India at least 3,500 years ago, its seeds have spread throughout Asia, Africa, and Latin America and are now a staple food grain. It is mostly consumed on a huge scale in south Asia and is a significant source of protein for those living there.
Importance:

Red gram is a staple meal with high in protein.

1. It has a protein content of roughly 22%, which is nearly three times that of cereals.
2. A significant portion of the country's vegetarian population's protein needs is met by the red gram.
3. Due to the complementary nature of the necessary amino acids, when wheat or rice is coupled with red gram, the biological value increases significantly.
4. Lysine, riboflavin, thiamine, niacin, and iron are particularly abundant in them.

The major markets for this crop in Telangana are Badepalli, Devarakadra, Gadwal, Mahabubnagar, Narayanpet, Sadasivpet, Zaheerabad, Suryapet, Tandur and Warangal. The major markets in neighboring states are Kadiri, Narsaraopet, Tiruvuru, Kurnool, Yeminiganur and Ongole in Andhra Pradesh, Gulbarga, Sedam, Yadgiri, Bidar, Bijapur, Bellary and Bagalkote in Karnataka, and Akola, Latur, Jalgaon and Nagpur in Maharashtra.

In Telangana major redgram growing districts are Vikarabad 57660 ha (142480 acres), Sangareddy 33757 ha (83416 acres), Narayanpet 31177 ha (77040 acres), Adilabad 23051 ha (56961 acres) Asifabad 15107 lakh ha (37329 acres), Mahabubnagar 9044 ha (22348 acres) and Rangareddy 7137 ha (17635 acres). According to Telangana State Government 2nd advance  estimates, redgram production in 2022-23 is at at 2.06 lakh tonnes from 2.28 lakh ha (5.63 lakh acres) with productivity of 903 Kg/ha (365 Kg/acre).

World major redgram producing countries are India (42.80 lakh tonnes), Malawi (4.24 lakh tonnes), Myanmar (3.39 lakh tonnes), Tanzania (1.36 lakh tonnes) and Haiti (1.23 lakh tonnes).

https://krishijagran.com/agriculture-world/telanganas-tandur-red-gram-receives-geographical-indication-gi-tag/

Read More

Vikarabad District History

Vikarabad District in Telangana State, India is formed on October 11, 2016 with 18 mandals from erstwhile Rangareddy and Mahaboobnagar Districts 

Vikarabad is also known as Gangawaram(Ancient name) is a town named after 5th Amir of Paigah (1881-1902) and the Prime Minister of Hyderabad, Nawab Sir Vicar-ul-Umra Bahadur. Dharur and Ananthagiri hills were known as the mini hill stations of the Deccan.

Paigah family was a noble family from the former Hyderabad State. The family maintained their own court, individual palaces, and a standing army of about fourteen thousand infantry and cavalry troops.

Vikarabad had much natural beauty; hills and valleys, lakes and dense forests with abundant wildlife. “Hunting was a popular sport. But no outsider was allowed except Nizam and the Paigah family. The village of Machanapalli attracted lots of birds, including migratory birds and partridges. By 1898-99, the population of the newly founded town rose to 1029 - 441men, 269 women and 319 children,” Faiz Khan said.

Sir Vicar built Vicar Manzil, a palatial mansion for himself, Sultan Manzil for his son Nawab Sultan-Ul-Mulk besides a railway station, Paigah police station, post office, hospital, Vikarabad Bazaar, and a wooden hunting lodge which he had imported from London in 1882. He later gifted these to Nizam VI, Nawab Mir Mahboob Ali Khan Bahadur. 

Sir Vicar Ul Umra, known to be the founding father of the game of polo in India, established two polo grounds in Vikarabad too. There were five places of worship — Vikarabad Mosque, Aashoor Khana, Darga Alam Shaheed R.U.A, Anantha Padman-abha Swamy Temple (after which Ananthagiri Hills were named) and the church built by Rev. Gathwan. 

River Musi starts from Ananthagiri Hills and flows through the city of Hyderabad even today. But it is a mere trickle now.

Vikarabad District has 2 Revenue Divisions. 

Vikarabad Revenue Division formed with Marpalle, Mominpet, Nawabpet, Vikarabad, Pudur, Kulkacherla, Doma, Pargi, Dharur, Kotepally, Bantwaram mandals from Rangareddy District. 

Tandur Revenue Division formed with Basheerabad, Doulthabad, Tandur, Peddemul, Yelal mandals from Rangareddy District and Kodangal, Bommaraspet mandals from Mahaboobnagar District.

The district is spread over an area of 3,386.00 square kilometres (1,307.34 sq.mi). Its boundaries shared by the districts with Sangareddy, Rangareddy, Mahaboobnagar of Telangana state and the Karnataka state. As of 2011 Census of India, the district has a population of 927,140.

The ancient Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple which is located in Ananthagiri hills draws many visitors. Lord Vishnu is in the form of Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy and Ananthagiri is named after the main deity. The district is also home for many other temples viz. Pambanda Ramlingeshwara Temple, Bhavigi Bhadreshwara Temple, Bugga Rameshawaram, Bhukailas, Ekambareshawar, Jhuntupally Rama and Kodangal Venkateshwara Swamy temples.

Projects such as Kotipally, Jhuntupally, Laknapur, Sarpan Pally cater to the irrigation needs of the district besides being the places of tourists’ interest.

Tandur, one of the important towns in the district, is the industrial hub of the district. Tandur is the main producer and distributor for blue & yellow limestone. Tandur is also famous for Redgram (Pigeon pea) production. Laterite and other stone mines, cement factories and many toor dal mills located in and around Tandur employ many.

700 BC - 300 BC 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
Founder : Simuka
Languages : Prakrit, Sanskrit, Telugu
Religion : Budhism, Jainism, Hinduism

208 AD - c. 320 AD : Ikshvakus
Founder : Vashishthiputra Sri Santamula (Santamula I) 
Capitals : Vijayapuri (Nagarjunakonda).
Language : Telugu
Religion : Hinduism, Budhism
Ikshvakus were originally feudatories of the Satavahanas and bore the title Mahatalavara.

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 - 477 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.550 AD - 753 AD : Badami Chalukyas (543 AD - 753 AD)
Founder : Pulakeshin I
Capitals : Badami
Languages : Kannada, Sanskrit
Religion : Jainism, Hinduism

753 AD - 973 AD : Rashtrakuta Dynasty
Founder : Dantidurga Capitals : Manyakheta
Languages : Kannada, Sanskrit
Religion : Jainism, Hinduism

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

1158 AD - 1323 AD : Kakatiya Dynasty
Founder : Venna
Capitals : Anumakonda(Hanumakonda), Orugallu / Ekasilanagara (Warangal)
Languages : Telugu, Sanskrit, Kannada
Religion : Jainism, Hinduism (Saivism)

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 - 1350AD : Kapaya Nayaka (1333 AD - 1368 AD) Musunuri Nayaks 

1350 : Bahman Shah led his first campaign against Warangal and forced its ruler  to cede to him the fortress.

1350 AD - 1518 AD : Bahmani Sultanate / Kingdom (1347 AD - 1527 AD)

Founder : Zafar Khan or Hasan Gangu or Allauddin Hassan or Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah
Capitals : Kalaburgi /Aḥsanabad now Gulbarga (1347–1425), Muhammadabad now Bidar (1425–1527)
Religion: Sunni Islam
Languages : Persian, Marathi, Deccani Urdu, Telugu, Kannada

Mar 26, 1482 - Dec 27, 1518 AD : Mahmood Shah Bahmani II

He ascended the throne at the age of 12 years, when new-comers had been over thrown. New Regency was formed with Queen as president. Qasim Barid was entitled with Barid-ul-mumalik.

1495 AD - 1518 AD : Qutbul-Mulk was appointed as the Governor of Golkonda in Tilangana in 901 AH /1495-96 AD who controlled over Warangal, Rachakonda, Devarkonda and Koilkonda and was awarded the title Qutb-ul-Mulk (Pillar of the Realm) as military chief. 

1513-14 : Kodangal was part of Koilkonda.
Language : Persian and Naskh. This inscription on a Dargah of Nizamu`d-Din, slab in the southern wall from Kodangal in the Mahbubnagar District, states how the two villages called Awlin the big and Awlin the small were merged into one and named Husainabad which was endowed for running the langar of the twelve imams. The record constitutes a will executed by Malik Qutbu-l-Mulk, the progenitor of the Qutb Shahi rulers of Golconda in A.H. 919 (1513-14 A.D.). It is worth noting that the inscription, in as much as it does not mention Qutb Ul-Mulk with any royal title, is additional epigraphical evidence against Firishta's statement that Qutb Ul-Mulk assumed kingship in A.H. 918 (1512-13 A.D.).

1518 AD : He declared the independence of Golconda, after the disintegration of the Bahmani Kingdom into the five Deccan sultanates. Soon after, he declared independence from the Bahmani Sultanate, took the title Qutub Shah, and established the Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golconda (1518-1687 AD)

1518 AD - 1687 AD : Qutb Shahi dynasty or Golconda or Golkonda Sultanate
Founder : Sultan Quli Khawas Khan Hamdani or Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk
Capitals : Golconda (1519 - 1591), Hyderabad (1591 - 1687)
Languages: Persian, Telugu, Deccani Urdu
Religion: Shia Islam

1518 AD  - 1543 AD : Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk
Sultan Quli Qutb Shah was a contemporary of Krishana Deva Raya and his younger brother Achyuta Deva Raya of the Vijayanagara Empire. Sultan Quli extended his rule by capturing forts at Warangal, Kondapalli, Eluru, and Rajamundry, while Krishnadevaraya was fighting the ruler of Odisha. He defeated Sitapati Raju (known as Shitab Khan), the ruler of Khammam, and captured the fort. 

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
1798 : Hyderabad became the first Indian royal state to accede to British protection under the policy of Subsidiary Alliance instituted by Arthur Wellesley.

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

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 - Oct 31, 1956 : Hyderabad State, 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".

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.

December 7, 2023: Anumula Revanth Reddy (born 8 November 1969) second Chief Minister of Telangana since 7 December 2023. He represents Kodangal constituency in the Telangana Legislative assembly from Indian National Congress (INC).

https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/131016/vikarabad-is-a-gift-of-paigahs.html

Read More

Vikarabad Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple

Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple is a famous Hindu temple located in the beautiful hilly region of the Ananthagiri hills in Vikarabad district in Telangana dedicated to the worship of Lord Vishnu.

According to Hindu Mythology, Skanda Purana, it is believed that this Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy temple was constructed by the rishi Markandeya in the dwapara yuga on Ananthagiri hills. 

The rishi Markandeya came here for yoga sadhana every day because the splendid and pleasant atmosphere of Ananthagiri hills attracted him. After his Yoga and meditation, Rishi Markandeya used to go to Kasi to take a holy bath in the river Ganges through a cave. During the dwadasi season, Markandeya couldn't make it to Kasi in the early hours of the day. He was very upset with this and after seeing the rishi's concerns, Lord Vishnu himself appeared in Markandeya's dreams and arranged water from the river Ganges for the rishi's bath. Markandeya was blessed to take a permanent place in the world as a river by lord Krishna who disguised himself as Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy. 

This river which is now popularly known as the river Moosi flows through Hyderabad. Markandeya initially took dharshanam of Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy and converted a charka into Swamy. It is said that for the past four hundred years the Nizam Nawabs visited Ananthagiri hills for its peaceful atmosphere and would rest there.

The main temple of Lord Padmanabha Swamy was built by the Hyderabad Nawab as Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy appeared in his dreams and asked him to build a temple for him. This temple is situated in the village of Ananthagiri at a distance of seventy-five kilometers from Hyderabad and five kilometers from Vikarabad. There are regular private transport operators and frequent buses between Vikarabad and Ananthagiri hills.

Located nearly 85 km away from Hyderabad, Ananthagiri hills is well accessible by road transport.

Source

http://www.telanganatourism.gov.in/partials/destinations/divine-destinations/rangareddy/ananthagiri-hills-anantha-padmanabha-swamy-temple.html

Read More

Ananthagiri Hills (Vikarabad)

Ananthagiri Hills are about 90 kilometers from Hyderabad and 6 kilometers from Vikarabad. It is a forest area in Rangareddy District and the starting point of the Musi River.

The Ananthagiri Hills area is where Osmansagar and Himayathsagar originate and is some 100 km from Hyderabad and hardly 10 km from Vikarabad. Hundreds of families from the twin cities throng the hills on Sundays and holidays.

The lush greenery in the hills is captivating and attracts many visitors, who want to escape from city life. Ananthagiri is also home to a Vishnu temple called the Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple. During the weekends, devotees throng to the temple.

Ananthagiri offers many trekking and camping opportunities. There are two trekking trails in the forests, one that begins from the Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple and another that begins about 0.5 kilometres from the temple, towards Kerelli. Deccan Trails is the camping site in Ananthagiri Hills and offers a wonderful opportunity to spot the wildlife inhabiting the surrounding forests.

Ananthapadmanabha swamy Temple is one of the prime attractions in Ananthagiri hills. it had been build by nizam nawabs, 400 years ago and has big historic importance. Most of the people visit this temple 1st and then proceed to trekking.

Nagasamudram lake or kotipally reservoir is set at a distance of regarding 20km from ananthagiri hills. Lake is big, clear and it offers picturesque views in Monsoon, because it is completely filled with water.

Best time to visit Anantagiri Hills is rainy reason.

How to Reach Ananthagiri Hills

From Hyderabad, there are two ways for reaching ananthagiri hills through vikarabad. One route is Hyderabad – APPA Junction (outer ring road) – Chilkur – Moinabad -Chevella – Manneguda – Vikarabad (approx 60km from APPA junction).

And the other route is JNTU(KPHB) – BHEL – Patancheru – Rudraram – Sadasivpet(turn left) – Mominpet – Kothagadi – Vikarabad (approx 90km). After reaching Vikarabad, proceed towards Ananthagiri road.

Read More