Telangana Flora and Sacred Groves

Sacred groves (SGs) are small groves that are specific places which are protected and conserved by the local communities as being the sacred residences of local deities and sites for religious and cultural rituals. They serve as valuable storehouses of biodiversity. They are part of biological heritages and systems that have helped to preserve the representative genetic resources existing for generations. Sacred groves are the important places in which biodiversity is preserved in mostly undisturbed condition because of certain taboos and religious beliefs. Sacred groves are ancient natural sanctuaries that have supported the growth of several interesting and rare species of flora and fauna of the past.

Sacred groves represent first major effort in conserving the biodiversity.

They are part of biological heritages and systems that have helped to preserve the representative genetic resources existing in the surrounding regions for the generation. Sacred groves were a feature of the mythological landscape and the cult practice.Altogether the taboos, self-imposed restrictions and extra care exhibited by the community have significantly contributed to preserving the groves intact and in good shape thereby conserving the whole range of biodiversity that is housed in it. The sacred groves offer manifold ecological benefits in the conservation of biodiversity. In fact, the sacred groves represent the first major effort in conserving the biodiversity. The sacred groves also provide an ideal surviving habitat to several species of endemic flora and fauna.

There are 65 sacred groves documented in Telangana but conservationists say the real figure is much larger and government should take up extensive documentation. In Kerala around 1,500 sacred groves have been documented.

1. Adilabad Dankanapally Sacred Grove
2. Adilabad Jainath Sacred Grove
3. Adilabad Keslapur Sacred Grove
4. Adilabad Kunthala Waterfalls Sacred Grove
5. Adilabad Mahagoan Sacred Grove
6. Adilabad Narnoor Sacred Grove
7. Adilabad Pochara Falls Sacred Grove
8. Adilabad Sadalpur Sacred Grove
9. Adilabad Sirichelma Sacred Grove
10. Adilabad Tangri Madra Sacred Grove
11. Adilabad Yekantapur Sacred Grove
12. Asifabad Ginnedhari Sacred Grove
13. Nirmal Basara Saraswati Temple Sacred Grove
14. Hyderabad
15. Babasharfuddin Pahad Sacred Grove miralam tank
16. Chiran Palace sacred Grove{Brahmananda Reddy National Park) 400 acres
17. Guruvayur Temple Sacred Grove, 3ha
18. Maulali Darga Sacred Grove
19. Nowbath Pahad Sacred Grove
20. O.U.Campus Sacred Grove – Nagadevata / Gyanalaxmi temple
21. Karimnagar
22. Kaleswaram Temple Sacred Grove
23. Konda Gattu Sacred Grove
24. Ramagiri Fort Srirama Temple Sacred Grove
25. Vemulawada Temple Sacred Grove
26. Khammam
27. Parnasala Sacred Grove
28. Nugur Fort
29. Sthambhadri, Khammam Fort Sacred Grove
30. Medak
31. AlIadurg Sacred Grove
32. Kumaravelli Sacred Grove Siddipet Mandal, temple of Mallikarjuna Swamy
33. Mallamma Temple Sacred Groves dubbak
34. YedupayaJa Sacred Grove - Durga Devi.
35. Nalgonda
36. Chandrumgutta(Arur) Sacred Grove
37. Ethipothala Sacred Grove nagarjunakonda
38. Narketpalli Sacred Grove - Ramalingeswara swami / Machiyagiri Laxminarayana swami
39. Yadagirigutta Sacred Grove - Narasimha Swamy
40. Nizamabad
41. Vellutla Sacred Grove
42. Rangareddy
43. Alwal temple area Sacred Grove
44. Ananthagiri area Sacred Grove
45. Chilukur Balaji temple area Sacred Grove 6ha
46. Keesaragutta bill area Sacred Grove Kusaiguda village
47. Kharmanghat Hanuman temple Sacred Grove osmania university
48. Maheswaram Sacred Grove
49. Majeedpur Venkateswara Temple Sacred Grove
50. Pahar-e-Sherief Sacred Grove
51. Parameswar Gutta area Sacred Grove – shiva
52. Sanghi temple complex Sacred Grove
53. Warangal
54. Kotilinga Kshetram Sacred Grove 11 acre Bollikunta village
55. Madikonda Sacred Grove Kazipet
56. Padmakshi Gutta Sacred Grove - 1 sq.km.- Padmaksharnrna
57. Mahabubnagar
58. Jellupenta
59. Kadalivanam
60. Koyalakonda area
61. Kurumurthi Konda
62. Maniyamkonda
63. Saileshwaram
64. Singavatnam
65. Umamaheswaram
66. Yettam

Adilabad Sacred Groves

Religious people Vidhyas/ Vejjus/ Pujaris/ Vaddegudus/ Gunyas etc. belonging to Kolams, Naikpods, Pardhans, Gonds, Thotis, Chenchus and Mathuras tribal communities of the district who are still practicing traditional medicine are identified, religious ceremonies were made to collect the information different ethnic group of people who use plants materials in different rituals, ceremonies, and any other religious purposes. The information on medicinal uses of the plants was also gathered from the local and tribal people residing in the interior areas of the district and the published literature. The data on the botanical names, family, vernacular names, religious virtues, parts used and medicinal uses along with active principle and status were also mentioned in the work.

Altogether 47 different plant species have been identified as sacred plants by different ethnic groups of Adilabad district. Though there is many more information about sacred plants but only some of the most commonly used plants having medicinal value are taken into consideration. During this project work, some important information has been unearthed. Fewsuch information are given here below.There is a long experienced traditional belief among the people that they have selected some plants which are edible or not edible during or after the religious works. According to Gautamiya Tantra during the religious works, a person should eat boiled sunned rice and ghee. The Agasthya Samhita opines that the following materials may be eaten during the religious works. These materials are Cocos nucifera, Musa sapientum, Mangifera indica, Phyllanthus emblica, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Terminalia chebula, Oryza sativa, Vigna radiata, Sesamum indicum, Hordeum vulgare, Chenopodium album, Chorcorus capsularis, Raphanus sativa, Citrus aurantifolia, Citrus aurantinum etc. Plants not edible before or during religious works: According to Yoginitantra, the following plants should not be taken before or during the religious works. The plants are Tamarindus indica (Teteli), Cajanus cajan (Urohi), Benincasa hispida, Cocos nucifera (Narikol) etc. The widows should not eat onion, all kinds of spices and chilly.

The study of sacred and religious plants may give an idea about the extent of concern shown by people of different eco-floristic regions about the conservation of plants. IT may be mentioned here that most of the sacred plants usually have great utility value. If every Mandir or Masjid committee, a committee will protect their sacred plant grown around these religious places automatically a gauge number of plant species will be conserved. Many sacred groves of India are the best examples of conservation of Biodiversity. Besides, the plants of the sacred groves or religious places have many plants of medicinal use. People have a belief that using the plants of the religious places can cure any kind of disease. This infusion of superstitious myths or beliefs and medicinal properties of plants plays a very significant role in their conservation and conservation of Biodiversity,The forest is now being maintained by forest management committee comprising of the local people. Maharishi Charak has said that there are no plant on the earth which does not have medicinal value, the same is the belief that if we use any plant for performing Puja the same will definitely have the dysentery.

Below is just provided for information purposes. Need to be taken only under doctor's advice. There were instances where people died with self treatment.

1. Uttareni Chettu - Apamarga - Chaff Flower - Achyranthes Aspera (Amaranthaceae) 
• The plant is offered to the Hindu deity Ganesh during the holy month of Badrapada masam
• Whole Tree : Fever, Tooth problem, Scorpion sting 
2. Maredu Chettu - Bilva - Bel or Bael (Stone Apple) - Aegle Marmelos (Rutaceae) 
• Shiva Pooja cannot be performed without its leaf (Bilwa)
• Leaves and Fruits : Diarrhoea, Dysenter and Skin Problems
3. Vepa Chettu - Aristha - Neem tree - Azadirachta Indica A. Juss (Meliaceae) 
• Twigs are used widely in the festival of Bonalu.
• Twigs and Leaves : Tooth Problems, Skin problems
4. Moduga Chettu - Palasa - Palash - Flame of the forest - Butea Monosperma (Papilionaceae)
• In Telangana, these flowers are specially used in the worship of Shiva on occasion of Shivaratri.
• Bark : Piles, Tumors and menstrual disorder, antiseptic and cooling, Fever
5. Erra Jilledu Mokka - Arka - Giant Milkweed or Crown Flower - Calotropis Gigantea (Asclepiadaceae)
high toxin plant, milk of its leaf is poisonous
• Leaves and flowers are used to worship lord Shiva and Ganesha
• Latex : Bone Fever
6. Hunjika Mokka or Bharangi - Bharngi - Tubeflower - Clerodendrum Indicum (L.) Kuntze (Indicum)
• Used for worshiping Fire
• Roots and Leaves : Asthma, Chest pain, Cough, Cholera, and Fever
7. Garika Gaddi - Durva - Bermuda Grass - Cynodon Dactylon Pers. Ln (Poaceae).
• Whole plant : Body Cooling and Diarrhea
8. Jeedi Chettu -  Kajutaka - Cashew - Anacardiaceae (L.)
• Used in death rituals
• Whole Plant : Cough and Fever
9. Marri Chettu - Vatavrksha - Banyan Tree - Ficus benghalensis L. (Moraceae)
• Used in Marriage ceremony
• Leaves and Roots : Hair Growth, Piles
10. Medi Chettu or Athi Chettu - Udumbara - Cluster Fig Tree - Ficus Glomerata Roxb. (Moraceae) or Ficus racemosa
• Stem Bark Fresh Fruits : Snakebite, Red discharge, Diarrhea
11. Ravi Chettu - Asvatta or Ashvattha or Ashwattha- Bodhi tree or Peepal tree - Ficus Religiosa L. (Moraceae) Ln.
• Gautama Buddha is believed to have attained enlightenment under a tree of this species.
• Stem bark : Wounds, Sprains
12. Ficus Retusa L (Moraceae) 
13. Pedda Gumudu Teku or Peggumudu Chettu - Gambhari- Gmelina arborea Roxb. Ln. (Verbenaceae)
• Leaf : Cough and Cold
14. Yavalu - Yava - Barley - Hordeum vulgure L. (Poaceae)
15. Gorinta Chettu - Henna - Lawsonia inermis L (Lythraceae)
16. Ippa Chettu - madhu - Mahua - Madhuca longifolia var. latifolia (Roxb.)AChev (Sapotaceae)
• Stem bark - Body Pains, Dog bite
17. Maamidi Chettu - amram - Mango - Mangifera indica L (Anacardiaceae).
18. Tulasi  Chettu - Tulsi - Holy Basil - Ocimum sanctum L (Lamiaceae)
• Leaves - Coughs, Ringworm, Skin diseases and Earache
19. Kanuga or Kaanuga Chettu - Karanja - Pongam Oil Tree, Indian Beech - Pongamia glabra(L.) Pierre (Fabaceae) or Pongamia pinnata
• Leaves - Fever
20. Jammi Chettu - Sami or Shami - Sponge Tree - Prosopis cineraria(L.) Druce (Mimosaceae)
21. Baranika or Barrenka chettu - Sakotamu Chettu - Shakhotaka or Sihor - Siamee Rough Bush or Sandpaper tree - Streblus asper Lour. (Moraceae)
• Leaves, bark, root - Ulcers, Sinuses, Swellings and boils, fevers, diarrhea and dysentery
22. Madiphalam - Matulunga - Citron - Citrus medica L. (Rutaceae) 
23. Kobbari Chettu - Narikela - Coconut Tree - Cocos nucifera L. Ln. Narikol (Arecaceae)
24. Pasupu Mokka - Haridra - Turmeric - Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae).
25. Ummethu - Datura - Datura metel L. (Solanaceae)
• Poisnous
• Leaves, seeds : Leaves used in Asthama, epilepsy, seeds are used in leprosy and dog bite.

Uttareni - Achyranthes aspera (Amaranthaceae) 

Common Names:  chaff-flower, prickly chaff flower, devil's horsewhip, Sanskrit: apāmārga

Uttareni plant grows as a common weed or wild in India and also considered sacred. The plant is offered to the Hindu deity Ganesh during the holy month of Badrapada masam
Whole plant : Fever, Tooth problem, Scorpion sting.

• Leaves possesses valuable medicinal properties and used in treatment of cough, bronchitis and rheumatism, malarial fever, dysentery, asthma, hypertension and diabetes in Indian folklore.
• Its roots and stems are cleaned and used as tooth brushes. It will clear all mouth problems

Flowering and Fruiting time : September to April

Maredu Chettu - Aegle marmelos (Rutaceae)

Common Name : Bel Patra Bilva Plant, bela, bili, bilva, belo, maredu, vilwam, sriphal, golden apple, indian quince and Bengal quince or stone apple in English, Sanskrit : Adhararutha

Bael tree is considered a sacred tree. Often, it is grown near temple of the Lord shiva in india. Its leaves are offered in prayers. Shiva Pooja cannot be performed without its leaf (Bilwa)

Leaves and Fruits : Diarrhoea, Dysentery and Skin Problems

Leaves should be soaked in water overnight and in the morning strain it and use it as beverage every day. Not only peptic ulcer it relieves dyspepsia, sinusitis, cold, gastritis and indigestion.

Bael Patra is full of nutrients such as vitamins A, C, B1 and B6 along with calcium and fibre. Many don't know, but these leaves are said to be beneficial for several health issues and this is why you must have Bael Patra daily. When you consume it daily, it can help provide relief in stomach-related problems, improve heart health and liver. Health experts also recommend consuming this leaf in the daily diet. Though, this leaf can be consumed any time of the day, but experts agree that when you consume it on an empty stomach, it provides countless benefits. This happens as the body absorbs its nutrients easily. 

Boosts immunity, Get rid of stomach problems, Improves heart health, Keeps blood sugar level under control, Provides coolness to the body

You can take Bael Patra in the form of a decoction in the morning on an empty stomach. For this, boil the Bael Patra in water and then filter it and drink it.
Bael Patra can also be eaten directly by chewing. You can also get many benefits from this.
Bael Patra can also be taken by mixing it with honey. Taking honey and Bael Patra together strengthens the body's immunity.

     

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Telangana Forests

The State of Telangana is endowed with rich diversity of Flora and Fauna. The State has dense Teak forests on the northern part along the banks of river Godavari. As per the Champion & Seth Classification of Forest Types (1968), the forests in Telangana belong to three Forest Type Groups, which are further divided into 12 Forest Types.  

Teak (Tectona grandis) no longer figures in the top five tree species in Telangana. Felling of the timber tree species has increased so much that the inventory indicates that teak no longer figures among the top five species. This is revealed by the latest report ‘State of Environment Report-TS’, sponsored by the ministry of environment, forests, climate changes. The report has recently been released in the state.

Telangana State is known for its rich heritage in biological diversity distributed in 9 agro climatic regions. Among the flora, the state harbours a total of 2,800 taxa belonging to 1,051 genera under 185 families. This accounts for 16% of the Angiosperms known from India. Of these, 2,071 species belonging to 150 families and 796 genera are Dicotyledons and 729 species belonging to 255 genera and 35 families are Monocotyledons.

Among the fauna, Telangana State is rich with 108 species of mammals that include Tiger, Leopard, Sloth Bear, Giant Squirrel, Hyena, Fox, Wild Dog, Wild Boar, Indian Bison(Gaur), Spotted Deer, Barking Deer, Black Buck, Four-horned Antelope, Blue Bull, Sambar, Mouse Deer, Honey Badger, Civets,Jungle Cats, Otter, Pangolin, Bats, Tree Shrew, Common Langur,etc.

Telangana's native vegetation can be broadly categorized into three types:

1. Tropical Deciduous forests
2. Tropical moist deciduous forests
3. Tropical thorn forests

Tropical Deciduous forests
Adilabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, and Khammam are home to tropical dry deciduous woods. Tree species, including teak, bamboo, tamarind, and mango, define these woodlands. During the dry season, the trees in these woods lose their leaves, covering the forest floor with a layer of dried leaves.

Tropical moist deciduous forests
Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, and Rangareddy are areas of tropical moist deciduous woods. These forests have many different types of trees, including mango, teak, sal, bamboo, and sal. Deer, wild boar, and monkeys are just a few of the many species of fauna that call these forests home.

Tropical thorn forests
The areas around Hyderabad, Medak, and Nizamabad are home to tropical thorn forests. Acacia, Prosopis, and Butea trees distinguish these woodlands. These trees contain thorns, and thorny bushes and shrubs are all over the forest floor.

Telangana is also home to a wide range of additional plants and trees, such as palm trees, banyan trees, and eucalyptus, in addition to these three primary forms of vegetation. Various flora and animals may be found in the state's national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, including the Kinnerasani and Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary. Telangana's natural vegetation is abundant and diversified, essential to the state's ecology and economy. Numerous tree species may be found in the state's woods, including teak, bamboo, sandalwood, and other floral plants, shrubs, and herbs.

The State Government has taken up a massive greening programme, 'Telangana Ku Harita Haram' in the State to plant and protect 230 crore seedlings over a period of 4 years. This initiative aims at achieving the twin objectives of increasing the forest cover and reduce pressure on the existing forest resources, through massive community participation by Vana Samrakshna Samithis (VSS) and Eco-Development Committees (EDCs) in Protected Areas and Watershed Development Committees in the Watershed areas.

Recorded Forest Area (RFA) in the State is 26,904 sq km which is 24.00% of its geographical area, of which 20,353 sq km is Reserved Forest, 5,939 sq km is Protected Forest and 612 sq km is Unclassed Forests. In Telangana, during the period 1st January 2015 to 5th February 2019, a total of 9,420 hectares of forest land was diverted for non-forestry purposes

The reserved, protected and unclassed forests are 75.65%, 22.07% and 2.28% of the recorded forest area in the State respectively. However, as the digitized boundary of recorded forest area from the State covers 26,989.00 sq km,

Geographical Area : 11,231 hectares

Forests : 2,540 hectares (22.6%)

State Animal : Jinka (Chital Deer)

State Bird : Palapitta (Indian Roller)

State Flower : Tandgedu (Tanners Casia)

State Tree : Jammi Chettu (Prosopis Cineraria)

State Fruit : Mango

State Fish : Korameenu or Korramatta (Murrel Fish)

State Tree - Jammi Chettu or Prosopis Cineraria
The Jammi Chettu, also called the Prosopis Cineraria, is the state tree of Telangana. This tree is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent and tolerates the hot, dry climate there. The Jammi Chettu is a small to medium-sized tree that can withstand brutal conditions because of its vast root system and rough, greyish-brown bark. Jammi Chettu trees produce tiny, yellow-green blooms in the spring and their fluffy, light green leaves. The wood from the tree is highly prized since it can be used to build, build things, and make furniture. Various animals, including birds and insects, can find shade and shelter under the Jammi Chettu, which is significant for the area's environment.

State animal- Chital or Spotted Dear
The Spotted Deer, often called the Chital or Axis Deer, is the state animal of Telangana. Native to the Indian subcontinent, this beautiful mammal is easily identified by its characteristic white spots on its reddish-brown coat. The spotted deer's main foods are grass, leaves, and fruits. It is a gregarious creature that gathers in herds of up to 30 people. The Spotted Deer plays a significant role in Telangana's ecology by regulating specific plant species' growth, and maintaining the ecosystem's equilibrium. Deer are hunted for their meat and hide and are another well-liked game animal. The Spotted Deer has been designated as the state animal of Telangana.

Three National Parks and nine Wildlife Sanctuaries constitute the Protected Area network of the State covering 5.08% of its geographical area.

National Parks 

1. Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park
2. Mrugavani National Park
3. Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park

Wild Life Sanctuaries

1. Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary
2. Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary
3. Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary
4. Manjeera Wildlife Sanctuary
5. Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve or Amrabad Tiger Reserve
6. Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary
7. Shivaram Wildlife Sanctuary
8. Paakhal Wildlife Sanctuary
9. Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary

Sacred grove

Sacred groves are small patches of native vegetation traditionally been protected on the grounds of religious faith, these are dedicated to deities, protected by the local communities considering it as the abode of their ancestral deities or spirits. 

There are 65 sacred groves documented in Telangana but conservationists say the real figure is much larger and government should take up extensive documentation. In Kerala around 1,500 sacred groves have been documented.

1. Adilabad Dankanapally Sacred Grove
2. Adilabad Jainath Sacred Grove
3. Adilabad Keslapur Sacred Grove
4. Adilabad Kunthala Waterfalls Sacred Grove
5. Adilabad Mahagoan Sacred Grove
6. Adilabad Narnoor Sacred Grove
7. Adilabad Pochara Falls Sacred Grove
8. Adilabad Sadalpur Sacred Grove
9. Adilabad Sirichelma Sacred Grove
10. Adilabad Tangri Madra Sacred Grove
11. Adilabad Yekantapur Sacred Grove
12. Asifabad Ginnedhari Sacred Grove
13. Nirmal Basara Saraswati Temple Sacred Grove
14. Hyderabad
15. Babasharfuddin Pahad Sacred Grove miralam tank
16. Chiran Palace sacred Grove{Brahmananda Reddy National Park) 400 acres
17. Guruvayur Temple Sacred Grove, 3ha
18. Maulali Darga Sacred Grove
19. Nowbath Pahad Sacred Grove
20. O.U.Campus Sacred Grove – Nagadevata / Gyanalaxmi temple
21. Karimnagar
22. Kaleswaram Temple Sacred Grove
23. Konda Gattu Sacred Grove
24. Ramagiri Fort Srirama Temple Sacred Grove
25. Vemulawada Temple Sacred Grove
26. Khammam
27. Parnasala Sacred Grove
28. Nugur Fort
29. Sthambhadri, Khammam Fort Sacred Grove
30. Medak
31. AlIadurg Sacred Grove
32. Kumaravelli Sacred Grove Siddipet Mandal, temple of Mallikarjuna Swamy
33. Mallamma Temple Sacred Groves dubbak
34. YedupayaJa Sacred Grove - Durga Devi.
35. Nalgonda
36. Chandrumgutta(Arur) Sacred Grove
37. Ethipothala Sacred Grove nagarjunakonda
38. Narketpalli Sacred Grove - Ramalingeswara swami / Machiyagiri Laxminarayana swami
39. Yadagirigutta Sacred Grove - Narasimha Swamy
40. Nizamabad
41. Vellutla Sacred Grove
42. Rangareddy
43. Alwal temple area Sacred Grove
44. Ananthagiri area Sacred Grove
45. Chilukur Balaji temple area Sacred Grove 6ha
46. Keesaragutta bill area Sacred Grove Kusaiguda village
47. Kharmanghat Hanuman temple Sacred Grove osmania university
48. Maheswaram Sacred Grove
49. Majeedpur Venkateswara Temple Sacred Grove
50. Pahar-e-Sherief Sacred Grove
51. Parameswar Gutta area Sacred Grove – shiva
52. Sanghi temple complex Sacred Grove
53. Warangal
54. Kotilinga Kshetram Sacred Grove 11 acre Bollikunta village
55. Madikonda Sacred Grove Kazipet
56. Padmakshi Gutta Sacred Grove - 1 sq.km.- Padmaksharnrna
57. Mahabubnagar
58. Jellupenta
59. Kadalivanam
60. Koyalakonda area
61. Kurumurthi Konda
62. Maniyamkonda
63. Saileshwaram
64. Singavatnam
65. Umamaheswaram
66. Yettam

 

Plants
Total plant species 2800
Plants used in traditional medicine 1800
Rice (Vadlu) 150
Jowar (Jonnalu) 75
Bornyard millets (Odalu) 5
Italian millets (Korralu) 10
Little millets (Samalu) 7
Kodo millets (Arikelu) 10
Pearl millets (Sajjalu) 10
Proso millets (Varigelu) 2
Finger millets (Ragulu) 7
Gingelly (Nuvvulu) 15
Chickpea (Sanagalu) 8
Green Gram (Pesalu) 8
Black Gram (Minumulu) 10
Cowpea (Alasandalu) 10
Pigeon Pea (Kandulu) 15
Horse Gram (Ulavalu) 6

Animals
Annelids 163
Arthropods 1337
Molluscs 480
Freshwater fish 180
Amphibians 22
Reptiles 103
Birds 486
Mammals 108

Urban Forest Blocks Developed/In Progress

1. Adilabad 
• Mavala 
• Kadam 
2. Bhadradri Kothagudem Punukula 
• Chatakonda 
• Uragutta 
• Suraram 
• Rathamgutta 
3. Hyderabad 
• Jublee Hills 
4. Jagtial 
• Venkatraopet
• Jagtial 
5. Jayashankar Bhupalpally 
• Kompally extn. 
• Mahadevpur 
• Jakaram-I 
6. Kamareddy 
• Lingareddy 
7. Khammam 
• Velugumatla 
• Lankapally 
8. Kumarambheem
1. Asifabad Ada RF 
2. Vempally 
9. Mahabubabad 
• Jammandlapally 
10. Mahabubnagar 
• Appannapalli 
11. Mancherial 
• Chennur 
• Rally 
• Indaram 
• Tandur 
12. Medak 
• Narsapur 
• Manoharabad 
• Wadiaram & Polampally 
• Parkibanda-I 
13. Medchal Malkajigiri 
1. Chengicherla
2. Medpally -I & II
3. Narepally - I & II 
4. Dulapally 
5. Kandlakoi 
6. Nagaram 
7. Yadgarpally-I & Yadagarapalli - II (UN)
8. Dharmaram & Upperpally (UN) Cluster 
9. Keesara 
10. Gajularamaram, Borampet 
11. Turkapally 
12. Lalgadi-Malakpet 
13. Gowdepally
14. Pochampally Kalan & Pochampally Khurd Cluster 
15. Tumkunta & Shamirpet (UN) Cluster 
16. Yellampet (UN) 
14. Mulugu 
• Tadwai 
• Nuguru 
• Laknavaram 
15. Nagarkurnool 
• Kollapur 
16. Nalgonda 
• Nellikal 
• Gollaguda I 
• Gollaguda II 
17. Narayanapet 
• Eklaspur 
18. Nirmal 
• Chincholi 
• Jam 
• Maskapur 
19. Nizamabad 
• Sarangapoor 
• Mamidipally 
20. Peddapally 
• Kundanpally 
21. Rajanna Sircilla 
• Pothireddypally 
22. Rangareddy 
1. Gurramguda 
2. Chilkur 
3. Maajidgadda 
4. Jalpally 
5. Gandiguda 
6. Hayatnagar, Kuntloor, Mansoorabad & Quttabulapur Cluster 
7. Domnair 
8. Mudmiyal 
9. Nadergul I & II 
10. Madannguda 
11. Kamadhan 
12. Sirigiripur 
13. Pallegadda 
14. Manyamkancha 
15. Amberpet Kalan 
16. Bacharam 
17. Srinagar & Padmati Kancha Cluster 
18. Maisaram, Nagaram & Nandpally Cluster 
19. Turkayamjal 
20. Gollur 
21. Kothaguda 
22. Mangalpally (RR) 
23. Gaganpahad 
24. Eliminedu, (RR) Gutalakancha, Kongarakalan (UN), Kongarakalan & Salonidubba Cluster 
25. Tummaloor 
26. Kawadipally 
23. Sangareddy 
1. Zaheerabad 
2. Jukal Khurd 
3. Mambapur & Nallavally Cluster 
4. Khazipally & Kistaipally Cluster 
5. Bonthapally, Jinnaram, Mangapet, Nagawaram, Palam & Rayapally Cluster 
24. Siddipet 
1. Marpadaga 
2. Chintamadaka 
3. Gajwel Shareef, Dharmareddypally, & Mailaram Cluster 
25. Suryapet 
1. Indragonda 
26. Vikarabad 
1. Ananthagiri 
2. Nagasamundar-I 
3. Anantharam 
4. Jafferpally 
27. Wanaparthy 
1. Wanaparthy 
28. Warangal 
1. Khanapur 
29. Hanumakonda
1.  Elkathurthi 
30. Yadadri Bhuvanagiri 
1. Lakkaram II 
2. Somajipalli 
3. Raigiri - I 
4. Raigiri - II 
5. Parvathapur 
6. Rachakonda 
7. Bibinagar 
8. Kondamadugu 
9. Jalalpur 
10. Choutuppal

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Telangana Mountains and Hills

There are 527 named mountains or hills in Telangana. The highest and the most prominent mountain is Doli Gutta.

At 965 m or 3166 feet Doli Gutta is the highest peak in the state of Telangana since the Chintoor and Vararamachandrapuram mandals of erstwhile Khammam district — where Pedda Konda rose to a height of 1360 m— were transferred to Andhra Pradesh. On 11 July 2014, the Lok Sabha approved a bill transferring seven mandals of Khammam district (Kukunoor, Velairpadu, Bhurgampadu, Chintoor, Kunavaram, Vararamachandrapuram and Bhadrachalam) back to Andhra Pradesh, in order to facilitate the Polavaram Irrigation project.

Highest Peaks

Doli Gutta 965 m (prom: 765 m), Venkatapuram Mandal, Mulugu District

Bedam Gutta 856 m (prom: 149 m), Venkatapuram Mandal, Mulugu District

Pātāl Toka 826 m (prom: 367 m), Amrabad Mandal, Nagar Kurnool district

Pedda Kurva 809 m (prom: 1 m), Amrabad Mandal, Nagar Kurnool district

Kodijutta Gutta 801 m (prom: 154 m), Venkatapuram Mandal, Mulugu District

Pothathoka Kurva 799 m (prom: 6 m), Amrabad Mandal, Nagar Kurnool district

Mallatirtamma Gutta 768 m (prom: 1 m), Amrabad Mandal, Nagar Kurnool district

Posūn Gutta 761 m (prom: 40 m), Amrabad Mandal, Nagar Kurnool district

Yerra Dari 757 m (prom: 52 m), Amrabad Mandal, Nagar Kurnool district

Vāni Konda 751 m (prom: 57 m), Achampet Mandal, Nagar Kurnool district

Western ghats or Satmala range in Telangana

In general western ghats are referred as sahyadri/satnala. They extend up to North & North Western districts of Telangana. In Telangana, we have the Satmala range located in Adilabad.

1. Satmala hills in between Adilabad and Asifabad districts.
2. Nirmal hills (locally called Mahaboob Ghats) in Adilabad district
A 10-kilometre (6.2 mi) road situated in Adilabad district. The road is scenic and surrounded by dense forest and crosses both Poccheru Falls and Kuntala Falls.
3. Sirpur hill in Komarambhim Asifabad
4. Sirnapally hill in Nizamabad and Kamareddy
5. Rakhi hills in Rajanna Siricilla
6. Jagityala hills in Jagityal
7. Pandava hills in Jayashankar Bhupalpalli
8. Kandikal/Kangal hills in Mahaboobabad and Kothagudem

Eastern Ghats in Telangana
The Eastern Ghats travel across Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana before ending in Tamil Nadu in the south. 

They extend in the Eastern & South Eastern districts of Telangana. In Mahaboobnagar, Nagarkurnool, we find the Balaghat range. 

1. Papikondalu, Raju hillocks, Yellandula guttalu in Kothagudem
2. Veran hillocks in Mahabubabad
3. Kanigiri Kondalu in Khammam
4. Rayagiri Kondalu in Yadhadri Bhavanagiri
5. Rachakondalu, Nandhi kondalu in Nalgonda
6. Ananthagiri hillocks in Vikarabad
7. Shabad hills, Koel hillocks in Mahaboobnagar
8. Nallamala hills/Amrabad hills in Nagar Kurnool

Kandikal hill ranges. They spread across old Warangal&Khammam districts and are the largest spread hill ranges in Telangana, Pakhala&Eturunagaram sanctuaries, Mahabubabad&bayyaram forests of Warangal, kinnerasani sanctuary&kallur forests of khammam fall under these hills.

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Adilabad Harithavanam - Mavala Ecological Park

Adilabad Harithavanam or Mavala Ecological park is located in Mavala village, Adilabad Mandal, Adilabad district, Telangana State, India is a green initiative of Telangana Forest Department developed as part of Urban Lung Spaces in Telangana.

It is providing much needed Environmental Education and Recreation to the people around the area besides protection and conservation of the forests.

Situated In Mavala Reserved Forest adjoining Adilabad Town along NH-44 spreading in an area of 1000 Acres.The Forest department will soon propose upgradation of Adilabad Harithavanam - 4,000 acres of forest surrounding it - into a National Park. The move will bring in all the support needed not only to protect the forest and its wildlife but to create a facility for people to get familiar with nature.

The patch of forest is located near Mavala village, about six km from Adilabad district headquarters. Already 1,000 acres of this patch abutting the NH-44 have been converted into a conservation zone.

At the moment, the park is a home to several wild animals like leopard, nilgais, wild boars, wild dogs, deer etc. With a large water body inside the park, the land is well-conserved and animals flock here. It also has a public park inside, which is separated from the forest area and many families visit it on a regular basis. The government also intends to create a service that will allow people to get familiar with nature while learning to not disturb the wildlife. We’re hoping this happens soon as we’ll get to safari all we like.

Lion Safari
Situated In Mavala Reserved Forest adjoining Adilabad Town along NH-44 spreading in an area of 1000 Acres, a tall chain link mesh with the height of around 15 feet has been erected. Further a big moat all round the chain link mesh fence has been created to avoid the tress pass of any wild animals living in the area. The animal house is provided with 11 holding rooms and all the 11 holding rooms are provided with retrieval area for the day time rest. The identified groups of animals are only allowed into safari on a rotational basis regularly for the benefit of visiting tourists.

Presently there are 19 lions (10 male and 9 females) are housed in lion safari

Tiger Safari
The peripheral boundary has been created for all the 3 units by digging open moat and erecting chain link mesh fence. Indira Gandhi Tiger Safari has the facility of 11 holding rooms. The Appaiah Tiger Safari has the facilities of 02 animal housing complexes. Both animal houses together has 10 animal holding rooms. The White tiger safari has the facilities of 02 animal housing complexes. There are totally 08 animal holding rooms. All the holding houses are provided with basic facilities of water and sanitation. The identified groups of animals are only allowed into safari on a rotational basis regularly for the benefit of visiting tourists.

Presently there are 26 (15 male and 11 females) normal tigers and 7 (3 male and 4 females) white tigers are housed in tiger safari

Special Attractions

1. Kids Play Zone
2. Party Zone
3. Relaxation AND Rejuvenation Zone
4. Nature Education Zone
5. Conservation Zone
6. Adventure Zone
• The adventure sports section consists of sky cycling, zipping and rope course. These would form added attraction for youth, who visit the park in large numbers almost every day.
7. Boating
8. Nature Walk
9. Jungle Safari
10. Bird Watching
11. Watch Tower
12. Canopy Walk
13. Cafeteria
14. Jungle Shop
15. Picnic Zone
16. Pay Homage to Forest Matyrs

August 23, 2019 : Mavala Harithavanam now boasts of adventure sports sectionForest Minister A. Indrakaran Reddy on Friday threw open for public an adventure sports section at Mavala Harithavanam, which serves as an urban forest park. The park already boasts of a wild animal safari, boating and other facilities. Mr. Reddy was accompanied by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests R. Shobha, who is the Head of Forest Force, Adilabad ZP Chairman Rathod Janardhan, Adilabad MLA Jogu Ramanna, Boath MLA Rathod Bapu Rao, Collector D. Divya, Superintendent of Police Vishnu S. Warrier, Chief Conservator of Forests C.P. Vinod Kumar, Mancherial District Forest Officer Shivani Dogra and Adilabad DFO B. Prabhakar. They planted saplings at the park as part of Haritha Haaram.

The adventure sports section consists of sky cycling, zipping and rope course. These would form added attraction for youth, who visit the park in large numbers almost every day.

 On the occasion, the Minister spoke about the importance of trees and forests. He said the government was committed to increasing the survival rate of saplings planted during Haritha Haaram this year to 85%.

12 Nov, 2019: Plant saplings to restore the glory of the forest: Minister Indrakaran
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said to develop the forest area, they are extending the forest cover area to about five kilometres from Mavala Park to Durganagar, KRK Colony to Tantoli road. The work has been taken up with the participation of people to bring back the glory to vanished forest for the welfare of future generations and for the protection of the forest.


Contact
District Forest Officer : 9440-810-098
Forest Divisional Officer : 7337-552-400
Forest Range Officer : 7337-552-401
info@adilabadharithavanam.com

www.adilabadharithavanam.com

https://www.thehansindia.com/telangana/plant-saplings-to-restore-the-glory-of-the-forest-minister-indrakaran-580646

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/mavala-harithavanam-now-boasts-of-adventure-sports-section/article29236290.ece

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Adilabad Khandala Lohara Hill Station

Adilabad Khandala Ghat or Hill Station is located in Khandala Village, Adilabad Rural mandal, Adilabad District of Telangana. 

Khandala and Lohara valley is located near Khandala and Lohara villages in Adilabad Rural mandal, Adilabad District of Telangana. Lohara comes under Khandala Gram Panchayat.

Once developed, the serene Khandala-Lohara valley with four waterfalls could serve as an ideal getaway.

Khandala Ghat, about 20 km from Adilabad, with hills, forests, and valleys has attracted many tourists during the Sankranti festival holidays, including from faraway Hyderabad.

The road which leads to Ankoli from Adilabad town goes to Lohara via Vanvat and Pippaldhari. The steep ghat road, locally known as Khandala ghat after the tribal village Khandala, starts at Pippaldhari and gives a glorious view of the spread of the valley below.

For nature lovers who find Adilabad’s famous waterfalls a little too crowded, the quiet Khandala-Lohara valley encompassing pristine vegetation could serve as a perfect getaway. Located about 25 km from Adilabad district headquarters, it encompasses four little known waterfalls in addition to some vantage points which give a view of the picturesque valley.

Khandala Molal gutta Waterfalls

Kopangidi and Yogidhara waterfall is located near molal gutta village, Adilabad Rural Mandal, Adilaba District, Telangana State, India.

From Molalgutta village you need to walk around 1 km to reach waterfalls. 

The waterfall is different from the regular waterfalls. It is too steep but can be accessed. Rocky terrain, too slippery, be extra cautious, take the help of locals if you want to go down. In case you go down you can view two more waterfalls. 

The way from Khandala village to the waterfall is about 1.9 mis. Not tough path. Once you get down to the flow, to your right is mollala or Khandala waterfalls and to your right is yogi Dhara and two more waterfalls. There are four waterfalls here. There is good flow of water only if the place has had ample rainfall the previous day or previous night. One should be lucky or plan for a visit after rainfall.

Lohara Waterfalls

Lohara Waterfalls is located near Lohara village, Adilabad Rural Mandal, Adilaba District, Telangana State, India.

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Nirmal Turkam and Venganna Cheruvu

Turkam or Turkan and Venganna Cheruvu is located near Dimmadurthi or Dimmadurthy and Naldhurthi or Naldurti tucked away amidst the dense forests in the Mamada Mandal, Nirmal District, Telanagana State, India.

Turkam Cheruvu and Venganna Cheruvu in the Dimmadurthy Range, considered hidden gems in Nirmal district, are proposed to be developed into eco-tourism attractions.

Turkam Cheruvu is tucked away amidst the dense forests in the district, while Venganna Cheruvu is described as a paradise for bird-watchers with a lot of perches for avifauna.

These two are the largest lakes in the region and they are located in close proximity to Nirmal town so developing them as ecotourism spots will boost the income of the locals.

Turkam Cheruvu is one of the biggest water bodies in the area spread across 55 hectares. It is a perennial water body as it gets water throughout the year from the Saraswathi Canal.

Venganna Cheruvu is spread across 25 hectares and it is home to different species of birds.

Proposal to install bird-watching towers, eco-cottages, night camping and stargazing, boating and kayaking in the lake, floating houses and stone signage along the nature trail without causing much disturbance to the ecosystem. 

Plans to initiate a Jungle Safari along the 10-km stretch by connecting both lakes. The proposal is yet to be approved by the head office.

These activities will provide employment to the locals as they can set up food stalls, work as guides in the safari, manage boats, cottages and other activities.

Unlike lakes, which form by natural processes, reservoirs are created by humans to provide water and hydroelectricity for our own needs.

A pond is a body of water less than 0.5 acres ( 2023.428 square metres) in an area or less than 20 feet (6 meters) in depth. A lake is defined as a body of water bigger than 1 acre (4,000 m²), although size is not a reliable indicator of its water quantity. 1 hectare is 2.471 acres.

August 30, 2022: Nirmal district's 'hidden gems' to become eco-tourism spots in Telangana

Turkan Cheruvu Location

Latitude 19.05143° or 19° 3' 5" north
Longitude 78.56575° or 78° 33' 57" east

From Nirmal take NH 61

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2022/Aug/30/nirmal-districts-hidden-gems-to-become-eco-tourism-spots-in-telangana-2493249.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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Telangana Tourism

Tourism in Telangana has very rich potential with its ancient history, art and culture, evidence of human habitation dating back to the Neolithic era. 

Telangana’s rich cultural heritage, history and topography have endowed the state with a variety of tourist destinations, from waterfalls and hills to temples and forts. With affordable travel and stay, a unique albeit delicious blend of South-indian and Nizami cuisines, amusement and adventure parks, hospitality, lakes, historical attractions and medical tourism, Telangana has a little something for every visitor.

The State also won four National Tourism Awards in the four categories of Best State (Comprehensive Development of Tourism), Best Golf Course (Hyderabad Gold Club), Best Railway Station (Secunderabad Railway Station) and Best Medical Tourism Facility (Apollo Hospitals) in 2022.

Heritage Tourism

From its ancient archaeological sites to its magnificent monuments, Telangana offers a fascinating journey through time.Telangana is home to numerous archaeological sites that provide a glimpse into its ancient past.

UNESCO world heritage site

The Rudreshwara temple also popularly known as the Ramappa temple (built during the Kakatiya period) situated in the Mulugu district of the state was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in June 2021. 

Telangana's First World Heritage Site: Ramappa Temple

Rural Tourism

Telangana has a tremendous potential for Rural Tourism and is a fascinating canvas of myriad colours, cultures and customs. Handicrafts represent perhaps the oldest traditions of living culture and Telangana has some of the richest sources of handicrafts. The rural handicrafts provide a valuable contribution to Telangana’s tourism product. 

Rural Tourism projects identified in Telangana, by the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India are Pochampally Rural Tourism Project, Nalgonda District, Nirmal Rural Tourism project, Adilabad, Cheriyal Rural Tourism Project, Warangal and Pembarthi Rural Tourism Project Warangal.

Best world tourism villages by UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organisation) 

 Pochampally, a village located in the Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district, best known for its beautifully woven ‘Ikat’ sarees was awarded as ‘one of the best world tourism villages’ by the UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organisation) in November 2021. 

National Best Rural Tourism Centres for 2023

Pemberthi, located in Jangaon district, is renowned for its exquisite handicrafts.

Chandlapur, situated in Siddipet district, is celebrated for producing prestigious Gollabhama sarees and its scenic charm, nestled amidst the Ranganayaka hills.

Adventure Tourism has lot of potential in Telangana, with many waterfalls and forest area with Rock Climbing, Camping and Trekking.

Rock climbing in Bhongir is quite popular near to hyderabad.

Cultural Tourism

The state is known for its vibrant cultural traditions, celebrated through music, dance, and festivals. Explore the folk dances of Telangana, such as Perini Sivatandavam, Bathukamma, and Lambadi, which reflect the essence of the region. Immerse yourself in the melodious strains of Telangana’s folk music, with its unique instruments and soul-stirring lyrics.

Telangana’s Living Traditions: While exploring Telangana’s heritage, encounter its living traditions that have stood the test of time. Witness the age-old craft of Bidriware, known for its intricate silver inlay work on metalware. Explore the handloom clusters of Pochampally and Gadwal, where master weavers create exquisite silk and cotton sarees. Engage with the skilled artisans who continue to preserve and promote these traditional crafts.

Ecotourism in Telangana is increasing with its green zone and hilly areas with very old hills and caves. Hiking, birdwatching, wildlife viewing, Water adventures, caves and climbing are some of the activities.

Religious Tourism in Telangana with its diverse culture has something for everyone, with its very old Hindu Temples, Jain Temples, Buddhist Temples, Gurudwaras, Churches and Mosques 

 

Shopping Tourism in Telangana has not been tapped much, has very old artisans making things generation after generation. We need to market the goods. 

Culinary Tourism 

Telangana is popularly known for its variety of food. Increase in the number of food bloggers is definitely indicative of the diversity of cuisine available in the state. The state offers different kinds of street food experiences, delicacies from different districts of the state and not to mention the ‘biryani capital’ of the country, Hyderabad.

Hyderabad, known for its Biryani and its incredible range of food was designated by UNESCO as a ‘creative city of gastronomy’ in 2019. Hyderabad’s Haleem first received the Geographical Indicator (G.I) tag in 2010 which made Haleem, the first meat based dish from India to win the honour. The tag was renewed again in 2022. Haleem also won the ‘most popular G.I food’ beating out 17 other dishes in the country. These accolades are testament to the rich culinary experience the state has to offer. Other than these, Telangana has an abundant variety of foods for foodies of different kinds.

Medical Tourism

Hyderabad, the country’s healthcare capital. Hyderabad is one of the most imporatnt places for medical treatment & patients not only from India but from abroad also visit Hyderabad for treatment.

Best Medical Tourism Facility (Apollo Hospitals) in 2022.

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Telangana Geographical Indication (GI) products

A Geographical Indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or reputation that are typical to that origin. Across the world, such select products are recognised and GI tagged. This tag signifies the product’s unique identity and genuineness. The GI tag helps spread awareness and build confidence amongst the buying community

GI tag get better prices as the tag is an assured symbol of quality.

Pochampally Ikat was the first product from the state to receive the GI tag in 2005.

A total of 432 products in India have been granted GI status in India, with Darjeeling Tea being the first product to receive GI status in 2004-05.

The registration of a GI is valid for 10 years from the date of issue and can be renewed every 10 years. The Geographical Indications Registry, which is administered by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, is located in Chennai.

1. Pochampalli Ikat in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district became the first product in the state to be awarded GI tag - 2005
2. Silver Filigree of Karimnagar - 2007
3. Cheriyal Paintings - 2008
4. Nirmal Toys and Crafts - 2009
5. Nirmal Furniture - 2009
6. Hyderabad Haleem becomes the first meat product of India to get the GI certification - Aug, 2010
7. Pembarthi Metal Craft in Jangaon district - 2010
8. Gadwal Sarees in Jogulamba Gadwal District - 2012
9. Siddipet Gollabhama Sarees - 2012
10. Narayanpet Handloom Sarees - 2013
11. Puttapaka Telia Rumal in Nalgonda district - 2015
12. Banaganapalle Mangoes - 2017 (Origin State – both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh)
13. Adilabad Dokra - 2018
14. Warangal Durries - 2018
15. Nirmal Paintings - 2019
16. Tandur Red Gram in Vikarabad District - 2022
17. Lacquer or lac bangles of Hyderabad - March 2, 2024

https://tweavesandcrafts.telangana.gov.in/

https://telanganatoday.com/heres-the-list-of-gi-tagged-products-from-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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Chandlapur Rural Tourism

Chandlapur is a village in Chinna Koduru mandal, Siddipet district, Telangana State, India. Located at a latitude of 17.72692 and a longitude of 78.00892, is renowned for its rich heritage of producing intricate handlooms, particularly Gollabama Sarees.

Weaving has become the primary occupation of many villagers, with these exquisite sarees finding recognition both nationally and internationally. The village boasts a cultural legacy rooted in the traditional art of handloom weaving, preserving ancient techniques and utilizing traditional materials.

The primary theme of tourism in Chandlapur is centered around promoting and showcasing its exceptional Handloom Craftsmanship, with a particular focus on Gollabama Sarees.

Chandlapur has been recognized as Best Tourism Village 2023 in Bronze category.

Chandlapur stands as a living testament to the timeless art of handloom weaving and this enchanting village is a treasure trove of intricate craftsmanship and cultural heritage.

Chandlapur's theme is a symphony of threads and traditions, where every weave tells a story. At its heart lies the exquisite Gollabama Sarees, a testament to the villagers' unwavering dedication to preserving ancient weaving techniques.

Village mesmerizes by its rhythmic clatter of looms, the skilled hands of local artisans, and the vibrant hues of their creations. Beyond the looms, the village also boasts a variety of attractions, from the historic Ranganayakaswami Temple to the tranquil Ranganayaka Sagar Reservoir.

Chandlapur actively participates in the Telangana Harita Haram initiative, passionately engaging in plantation drives and composting to enhance greenery and combat environmental pollution.

Promotion of Handloom Weaving

The village actively promotes and conserves its traditional handloom weaving techniques, with a particular emphasis on Gollabama Sarees.

Development of Ranganayaka Sagar Reservoir

Chandlapur, in cooperation with the Telangana Tourism Department, is developing the Ranganayaka Sagar Reservoir as a significant tourism destination.

Environmental Conservation

Chandlapur participates in the Telangana Harita Haram initiative, focusing on increasing greenery and reducing environmental pollution through plantation drives and composting.

Economic Growth

The tourism ecosystem built around handloom weaving and cultural attractions has contributed to economic growth, generating income for local artisans and service providers.

Employment

The tourism sector has provided both direct and indirect employment opportunities, benefitting the local community, including weavers, craftsmen, and service providers.

Cultural Preservation

Initiatives to promote handloom weaving have helped preserve and promote the village's cultural heritage, ensuring the continuity of traditional crafts.

Environmental Conservation

Measures to ban single-use plastic, increase greenery, and promote sustainable practices have contributed to environmental conservation and awareness.

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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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