Telangana360

Gadwal Samsthanam was a vassal of the Nizam of Hyderabad.  Gadwal was one of the most prestigious of Hyderabad’s samsthanas, being among the oldest, largest, and wealthiest of them.   The rulers of the Gadwal belong to Mustipalli dynasty and they were Pakanati Reddis. They followed Veera Vaishnava tradition. Gadwal state was situated in the " Raichur Doab " between river Krishna and Tungabhadra. it had an area of 864 miles and had a population of 986,491 in 1901. Pudur or Pundrapura known as Keshavapuram or Keshavnagar was the fort capital of Gadwal Samsthan. He was a great warrior and expert in war strategies. He was appointed as ruler of Manalibeludoni, Raichur, Alampuram Adavani, Aija, Mosalakallu by Kakatiya Ruler Pratapa Rudra. Pedda Veera Reddy alias Buddha Reddy was the founder of the Gadwal Samsthan. Gadwal is is situated between the rivers Tungabhadra and Krishna over an area of about 800 sq.miles. Located on National Highway No. 44 in between Hyderabad and Kurn...

Pillalamarri is located about four km from the city and 90 Km away from Hyderabad City. There is a tomb of a Muslim saint under the tree. The tree presents the appearance of a small hillock with green foliage from a distance but on reaching closer, it looks like a large green umbrella under which about thousand people can easily take shelter.It is 700 year old banyan tree and its branches extend over an area of 3 acres. In Telugu, "Pillalu" means children & "marri" means a banyan tree.  The banyan tree is so widely spread that one could not see the main trunk of the tree. The Pillalamarri gives an appearance of a small hillock with green foliage from a distance, but as we reach closer it is viewed as a large green umbrella and assumed to be as a shelter for more than about thousand people. There is also an aquarium, a small zoo and an archaeological museum here. There is a boating facility in the premises of Pillalamarri available only during the rainy season. P...

Peddabankor is an early Buddhist site discovered in the 1960’s in  Peddapalli District  at the confluence of two small streams in Telangana, India.  Located 18 miles from Karimnagar. It is a place of archeological interest and the excavations here revealed apsidal rubble walled structures, brick structures, brick built and terracotta wolf.  The site also shows covered underground drains to channel waste water into soakage pits. Peddabankur is a small village now but was an important settlement during the Satavahana period extending over a 30 hectare area. About 10 kilometers, from Peddabankur was the fortified site which  is one of the 30 walled cities mentioned by Megasthenes. The stupa must date from the third century BCE because an inscription of the first quarter of the second century BCE records the veneering of the existing stupa. Roman coins and a terra cotta figure of a Roman trader have been recovered. There is no direct evidence of a monastery but a si...

Padmakshi Temple is dedicated to Goddess Padmakshi who is fondly referred as ‘Amma’ or ‘mother.’ She is the consort of Lord Shiva. The present shrine is believed to have been built during the 12th century by the Kakatiya rulers. The deity is also referred as Padmakshamma and the shrine is located atop a Gutta or a hill. The pond at the foot of the Padmakshi hillock is sacred. Pillar in the temple is a unique piece of architecture. The quadrangular column is made in black granite stone and is located at the entrance of the shrine. The four faces of pillar are imposing.  The padmakshi temple is one of the oldest temples of the city, The Kakatiya King Betaraju II was the first king in his dynasty to have converted to Veerasaivism. However, prior to that all Kakatiyan kings were followers of Jainism. It was under the rule of Prolaraju II that the Kakatiyans built a Jain temple or Badasi. This was later converted to the Padmakshi temple once the rulers converted to Veerasaivism...

The Buddhist Stupa dating back to 2nd century BC and one of the 30 walled cities mentioned by Megasthenes located in Dhulikatta village of Eligaid mandal in Karimnagar district, Telangana lies neglected for several decades due to lethargy on the part of the government.  Dhulikatta got its name from ‘Dhulikota’ that means a fort made of mud.  It is about twenty-five kilometres away from Karimnagar city. The nearest Airport is Hyderabad which is about 175 kms from Dhulikatta. From there one can hire private vehicles. Situated about 20kms away from Dhulikatta the nearest Railway Station is Peddapalli. One can hire private vehicles from those places to reach Dhulikatta. The Archaeology Department had discovered the heritage structure in 1975 along the shores of a picturesque rivulet on the outskirts of Dhulikatta village. Barring the discovery of this early Buddhist stupa, the authorities have failed to take up any measures for the development and protection of the heritag...

Kondapur Museum (Late.17.33' N 78.1'E) is  located on a small hillock about one km south of the village of Kondapur in Medak District, Telangana, around 70 kms from Hyderabad. It is a Pre-Satavhana site  dating back to 200 BC - 200 AD. Capital of Mahisamandala Discovered a 25-ft high mound spread over 100 acres which they presume to be a Buddhist stupa with myriad segments throwing light on the Buddhist link of the present Telangana region.  One of the fortified urban settlements of Satavahanas.  Proved to be an important kshetra of Brahmanical faith particularly Sakti cult of that time which was clearly shown through the exposed structures and other associated findings such as coins and sealings.  The excavation yielded a large number of glass vessels indicating Roman influence that indicate the existence of a separate settlement of Romans in Kondapur who had brisk contact and trade with India.  If a stupa is unearth...

945 AD : The Bommalagutta hillock, also known as Bommalamma Talli gutta  ( Vrishabhadri hill)  built in 945 AD during Vemulwada Chalukya king  Arikesari-II period  is an ancient Jain pilgrimage flourished about mid 10th century AD. This place is situated near Kurikyal village, Gangadhara mandal  in Karimnagar District of Modern Telangana state, India.  This place is about 18 kms from Karimnagar District headquarter in North West direction. The rock inscription underneath the Goddess Chakreshwari proclames the glory of Jainism and Adi kavi Pampa. There is no approach road to reach the 200-mt high hillock. One has to sweat it out to climb up as there are no steps, an experience which will certainly be nightmarish. Tourists need to creep through the gaps of gigantic rocks, in order to have darshan of the Jain deities, which are carved out in 945 A.D. This place contains natural caverns with some sculptures of Nirgantha Jinas and its subordinate godd...

Hussain Sagar is a lake in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It is spread across an area of 5.7 square kilometers and is fed by River Musi.  Maximum depth of the lake is 32 feet 1562 - 1563 Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah commissioned the construction of the lake in 1562. Sufi Saint Hussain Shah Wali, the son-in-law of the king, was entrusted the duty of overseeing the construction work of the lake. Apparently, the lake became so deep and big that it remained empty for a few years and they had to bring an additional channel of water from the Musi to fill it up. "Legend has it that one day, the King went to take a look at the lake after the construction and was more than irked to hear a bystander call it the Hussain Sagar Cheruvu. He had spent a fortune to build it and he was miffed that he got no credit for it. So, the king ordered the construction of Ibrahimpatnam Lake," says Salil Kader, a researcher and a former professor of History, Moulana Azad University. 12 Apri...

25th December 1924 :   Constructed  by Reverend Charles Walker Posnett during British Rule of India. From 1914 to 1924 the farmers toiled to erect the church and Thomas Edward Harding, the architect, left no stone unturned in building the cathedral. Located in the Medak Town about 90kms from Hyderabad, Telangana. The Medak diocese, under the Church of South India (CSI) is the single largest diocese in Asia and the second in the world after Vatican. The significance of the church is not only in its magnificence but also in the bond between poor and church. During World War-I, in late 1890s the district reeled under a famine. Moved by the plight of people, Rev. Charles Walker Posnett, proposed to build a great church in the year 1914. He evolved the 'food for work' programme so that the poor could find gainful employment. The villagers contributed to building the church, they could in turn earn food. That set the ball rolling for this renowned Gothic structure...

Gayatri waterfalls, a less known water body is situated on Kadam River away from the human eye, waterfalls found its habitat in a remote place inside a deep tropical forest. It is approximately 5 km from Tarnam Khurd village, near Neredigonda Mandal of Adilabad district in Telangana State, India. The Kadam river is a tributary of the grand Godavari River and  one of the many waterfalls in and around Nirmal town, along with Kuntala Waterfall and Pochera Falls. 

Kuntala Waterfall is waterfall located near Kuntala Khurd village, Neradigonda mandal, Adilabad district, Telangana State, India. It is located on Kadem river, 13 kms from NH 44. Kuntala Waterfall, set amidst the Sahayadri mountain range in Telangana, appear as a pleasant surprise, accessible through the twirling roads passing from dense forests. The Natural water falls were formed on Kadem river surrounded by the four reserve forests i.e., Kuntala reserve forest, Nagamalla reserve forest, Sirichelma reserve forest and Rolmamda reserve forest protected by two big hillocks. The water falls through 2 major falls Devkanne and somanna from a height of of 42 meters and 22 meters respectively which are stated to be highest in the state. The depth of these 2 falls are measured to 270 meters and 394 meters respectively. Identified as the highest waterfalls of the state, the cascade attracts visitors from far and wide. At a distance of about 40 kms from Adilabad city. At the bottom of somanna ...

Perini Shivatandavam (Perini Sivatandavam) or Perini Thandavam is an ancient dance form originated and prospered in Telangana during the Kakatiya dynasty.Perini is performed by males and it is believed that in ancient times this was performed before the soldiers set to war. Nataraja Ramakrishna was the person who revived this art form recently. Perini Dance form was developed at the time of Ganapathi deva, the king of Kakatiya Empire.The Perini Thandavam is a dance form usually performed by males. It is called 'Dance of Warriors'. Warriors before leaving to the battlefield enact this dance before the idol of Lord Śiva (Shiva). The dance form, Perini, reached its pinnacle during the rule of the 'Kakatiyas' who established their dynasty at Warangal and ruled for almost two centuries. The Perini Thandavam, Telangana It is believed that this dance form invokes 'Prerana' (inspiration) and is dedicated to supreme dancer, Lord Siva. One can find evidence of this dance ...

Keesaragutt Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Siva and his consorts Bhavani and Sivadurga at Keesaraguttain Rangareddy district. It is about 40 km from Hyderabad and 10 km from ECIL. It is located on a small hillock. The temple draws thousands of devotees on Shivaratri. Legend has it that Sri Rama installed the Siva lingam here to atone for the sin of killing Ravana, a Brahman. He selected this beautiful valley surrounded by hills and verdant greenery for the purpose and ordered Hanuman to bring a Sivlingam from Varanasi. Hanuman was late in arriving with the Siva lingam and as the auspicious hour was nearing, Lord Siva himself appeared before Sri Rama and presented a Sivilingam for installation. Hence the lingam in the temple is called Swayambhu Linga. It is also called Ramalingeswara as lord Sri Rama had installed the lingam. Hanuman returned with 101 lingams for selection from Varanasi and felt aggrieved at not having his lingam installed. Hence he threw them all over the...

Badankurti village in Khanapur mandal of Nirmal district in Telangana State, India was explored and remnants of a Buddhist monastery were found on a small island of Godavari river near Badankurti.  Buddhism is believed to have first come to the South through through this island village in Godavari river in Telangana region where the boundaries of Adilabad, Nizamabad and Karimnagar district meet. The famous marriage of shatavahana king Hala and Srilankan princess Lilavathi is believed to be occured near Badankurti. It is also known as saptha godavari region mentioned in the ancient books. Badankurti is also famous for Dattatreya temple, which is a very rarest of its kind.it is also famous for Agricultural and milk production.It is in a very strategic location and three districts namely Adilabad, karimnagar and Nizamabad can be easily accessed from here. The Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) wanted the government develop a Buddhist memorial at Badankurti village in Khanapur...

Gnana Saraswati Temple is a Hindu temple of Goddess Saraswati located on the banks of Godavari River at Basar , Telangana , India . It is one of the two famous Saraswati temples in India , the other being in Jammu & Kashmir . Saraswati is the Hindu Goddess of knowledge and learning. Children are brought to the temple for the learning ceremony called as Akshara abyasam . Basar is a census town in the Nirmal district in the state of Telangana. It is about 30 km (19 mi) from Bhainsa,15.5 km (10 mi) from Dharmabad, 34.8 km (22 mi) from Nizamabad, 70 km (43 mi) from Nirmal, and 205 km (127 mi) from Hyderabad. According to some myth, Maharishi Vyas and his disciples and sage Viswamitra decided to settle down in a cool and serene atmosphere after the Kurukshetra War. In the quest for a peaceful abode, he came to Dandaka forest and, pleased with serenity of the region, selected this place. Since Maharishi Vyasa spent considerable time in prayers, the place was then called ...