Telangana360

Syed Shah Afzal Biabani (1793 – 1856 A.D) was a Sufi from Warangal, Hyderabad State (now Kazipet 132 km from Hyderabad, India). He was appointed as Kazi of Warangal during the reign of Nizam Ali Khan (Asaf Jah II). His dargah is among the pilgrimage centers of Warangal, Telangana. His Shrine (Dargah) at Kazipet is 2 km from Kazipet Railway Station in Warangal District, which is famous world wide. People come from all parts of the world and from all religions to attend the urs celebrations every year. These celebrations are held for 3 days beginning on 26, Safar (second month of the Islamic calendar), every year they are attended by the large masses from India as well from abroad. Islamic scholars say there are only three such dargahs, coloured in green, in honour of great personalities - one in Baghdad, the other in Madina and the third one - here in Kazipet. Annually, people in large numbers throng this dargah and fulfil their promises and make new wishes. The word "Biabani...

Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary is situated at Eturnagaram village in the district of Mulugu, Telangana, India. About: It is known to be one of the oldest sanctuaries in Telangana. In the year of 1952, on 30th January, the erstwhile Hyderabad Government declared it as sanctuary for its rich bio-diversity. Most of the statuary place is plain and one fourth is hilly. Godavari River passes through the sanctuary. Distance: The distance of this Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary from Hyderabad is about 200 km and from Warangal about 55 km. Park specifications : It is coverage areas about 812 km,Here Tigers, Panthers, Gaur, Sambar,Cheetal, Nilgiri and Blackbuck are the main attraction of the park. Flora and Fauna  Flora: The Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary has teak and other related plants such as thiruman, maddi, bamboo, mdhuca, terminlia and pterocarpus. Fauna: A perennial water source is known as ‘DayyamVagu’ which separates into two halves. It is a place of Tigers, Leopards,...

Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 1952 is located near Pakhalashoknagar Village, Khanapur Mandal, Warangal District, Telangana State, India. It is located by the boundary of Pakhal Lake / Cheruvu, so it was named on the name of lake. It was built to serve as source of water for irrigational purpose. About 10 km from Narsampet town and 57 km from Warangal city, Pakhal lake is one of the few unpolluted lakes in India. This Lake was constructed by Jagadala Mummandi , a son of Bayyana Nayaka , Minister of the Kakatiya King Ganapati Deva in 1213 AD. The sanctuary covers an area of 879.30 sq. km and is bestowed with rare flora and fauna. Some of the wild animals that can be spotted here at the Pakhal Wildlife sanctuary are Leopard, wild boar, panthers, hyenas, sloth bear, chital, mountain gazelle, blackbuck, four-horned antelope or chousingha and many others. Reptiles such as python, cobra, crocodiles, monitor lizard, etc., can also been seen in the sanctuary. One can also see a wide...

Name: Pothana or Potana (c.1370–c.1450)   Birth Place and Residence : Bammera Village, Palakurthy Mandal, Jangaon District in Telangana State.  Parents: His father was Kesanna and his mother Lakshmamma.  Teacher : Ivatuuri Somana Books : Bhogini Dandakamu, Virabhadhra Vijayamu, Narayana Satakamu, Bhagawatamu. Pothana is the first Indian poet who translated the Bhagavata Purana from Sanskrit to  his mother-tongue Telugu. He was a Telugu and Sanskrit Scholar. His work Maha Bhagavatamu, is popularly called as Pothana Bhagavatam in Telugu. He was considered to be a natural Poet (Sahaja Kavi), needing no teacher. He was known to be very polite and was an agriculturist by occupation. Though he was a great scholar, he never hesitated to work in the agricultural fields.  Pothana himself wrote that he used to live in Bammera and went to ‘Ekasilanagaramu’ to write Bhagawatamu. Koravi Goparaju (1430-1490)   who was a contemporary of Pota...

Name         :  Dasarathi Krishnamacharyulu / Daasarathi Born       :  July 22, 1925  Chinnaguduru, Maripeda, Mahabubabad Died       :  Nov 5, 1987 Education  :  B.A degree from Osmania University, Hyderabad. Profession :  Freedom Fighter, Poet and Lyricist Titles     :  Abhyudhaya Kavi and Kalaprapurna నా తెలంగాణ, కోటి రతనాల వీణ  ( Naa Telangaana, Koti Ratanaala Veena) An orthodox, but discreet, Vaishnava bhakta, he was an erudite scholar of Indian mythology (puranas). He was interested in linguistics and mastered Sanskrit, Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Urdu, Persian, English languages. He matriculated from the Khammam Government High School but gave up higher education to join the movement against the autocratic Nizam rule in the Hyderabad Kingdom. Freedom Fighter and Poet As a volunteer in the left-wing Andhra Mahasabha movement, Dasarathi travelled from village to...

Shitab Khan also spelled Chitapu Khan, was born Sitapathi Raju in the Telangana, South India. He was from a Hindu family of cow-herders of the Boya community, then considered "low caste". He joined as a foot soldier in the army of Humayun Shah the Bahmani Sultan, and rose up the ranks to acquire senior captaincy, his own jagir (a land fief) and the title 'Shitab Khan'. He always used the title in his inscriptions but never actually converted to Islam This warrior, regarding the reading of whose title there is no manner of doubt, is described in the Tarz'kh-i-Muhammad Qutab Shahi as“ the Raja of Khammamet, a fearless infidel." This description has much puzzled Lieutenant-Colonel Briggs who, in volume III of his History of the Rise the Muhammadan Power in India, makes Shitab Khan a Hindu, and confers on him the title of " Seetaputty." The historian of the Qutb Shahi kings is, however, corroborated by the Telugu inscription in the Hanamkonda Thousan...

The fort of Warangal referred to as Orugallu, Orumgallu or Ekasilanagaram in the inscriptions and literature rose to prominence, when it was the capital of Kakatiya kingdom during the reign of Ganapati Deva Maharaja (1199-1261). Warangal Fort is one of the main attractions of warangal due to its heritage significance. The fort is spread across 19 km between warangal and hanamkonda. It has seven concentric fortifications, with the inner stone fortification containing 45 bastions and gateways at the four cardinal points, and signifies essence of early medieval defence architecture. The remains of Swayambhu temple complex enclosed by four lofty toranas and the Kush mahal or the Shitab Khan mahal. Kush Mahal(Shitab Khan Palace): This rectangular palace (16x38x12 m), with an arched entrance, was built in Indo-Saracenic style. Its interior is marked by arches joining both walls and supporting the ceiling. This edifice was said to be raised by Shitab Khan, whose lengthy record dated 1504 AD f...

The magnificent temple of the thousand pillars at Hanamkonda  is one of the most important parts of the Warangal City. The temple was constructed in the 1162 - 1163 AD by the great  Prataparudradeva I/  Rudradeva and the deity is Rudreshwara Swamy, a personification of Lord Shiva. The temple has an old and long history and dates back to the Chalukyan era. Constructed in the 1163 AD by Rudra Deva, Thousand Pillar Temple in Hanamkonda is one of the finest specimens of Kakatiya architecture and sculp- ture. The temple depicts the typical Chalukyan style of architecture. While the gopuram (tower) was tragically knocked down by vandal invaders, the main structure itself has managed to survive the test of time. The pillars of the temple in particular are known for their detail, design, and resplen- dent polish. The temple base is a star shaped with three shrines devoted to Rudradeva (Siva), Vasude- va (Vishnu) and Surya (Sun). Siva’s shrine faces east and other shrines face...

Pandava Caves or Pandava Guttalu or Pandavaula Gutta is situated in Thirumalagiri village, Regonda Mandal, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Telangana, India. This is where the Pandavas spent their life in exile for a certain period of time. A chain of hillocks running north-south direction located about 50 kms from Warangal, 195 kms from Hyderabad, on Warangal-Mahadevpoor road and 3kms from Regonda are familliarly known as Pandava Guhalu (Caves) or Pandava Guttalu (Hills). The name is derived due to potrayl of the story of Pandavas of Mahabharatha on one of the boulders. The shelters are locally knowns as Mekkabanda, Mugessabanda, Pandi Parvatha, Shakthi Parvatham, Jyothi Parvatham, Puli Parvatham abd Yanadula Guha, Eduru Pandavulu, Kuntidevi, Pancha Pandavlu etc. It is an unique Rock Art Site with continous human occupation right from prehistoric to Medieval times. There are a few natural paintings on these rocks, depicting the lifestyle and their hunting methods.  The figures depicted...

Bheemuni Paadam Waterfalls is situated in Seethanagaram Village, GUDUR Mandal, Mahabubabad in Telangana State, INDIA. At a distance of 10 km from Gudur Bus Stand, 55 km from Warangal, 88 km from Khammam Bus Station and 200 km from Hyderabad, hidden inside a dense forest, is a picturesque waterfall known as Bheemuni Paadam (Bheema’s step) The Bheemuni Padam waterfall came into limelight recently when determined tourists began making their way to it. At the Bheemuni Padam, water falls from a hillock from about 20 feet in a semi-circular enclosure. Apart from the sound of falling water, it is quiet all around. It has has not been conclusively established where the water comes from. Even when the flow is less, it is used to irrigate local fields. Visitors say the waterfall has lot of scope if facilities are provided and the tourism department markets the place. Lack of security is a concern since the area can get lonely. This place is so beautiful. It is ideal for family picnics. When sun...

Mylaram Caves (Nallaguttalu) situated in Mylaram village, Ghanpur Mandal, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Telangana discovered recently by is located 200 k.m from Hyderabad is a new jewel in Telangana Tourism, ideal spot for trekking and adventure. In an important discovery, archaeologists have stumbled upon a treasure trove of ancient stalagmites and stalactites formations at Mylaram caves, 50 km from Warangal. Located in the north-south direction, the Mylaram guttalu are a new addition to the rich legacy of Telangana. These caves, numbering at least 10, are similar to Belum and Borra caves. They indeed have the potential to be developed as a mini tourist circuit as there are many caves, rock art sites, temples and lakes within a radius of 10 km. Sharing his views on the findings, State archaeological consultant S S Rangacharyulu said, “The caves are located inside the hillocks. One has to climb and enter the caves through a very narrow passage and climb down at least 20 feet to reach th...

Bhadrakali Temple at Hanamkonda is significant Devi temple located on the hilltop between the twin cities of Hanamkonda and Warangal in Telangana. The temple is held in high esteem by devotees of the of Goddess Bhadrakali popularly called the ‘Grant Mother Goddess’. Remarkable feature of the temple is the square shaped stone image of the Goddess (2.7 X 2.7 meters). In the image goddess is seen in a sitting posture with fierce looking eyes and face. The Goddess can also be seen wearing a crown and having eight hands holding various weapons. The Kohinoor diamond is believed to be originally installed as one of the eyes of the goddess by the Kakatiya kings. High point of Bhadrakali Temple is an artificial lake of 2 ½ kms radius in the vicinity of the temple. Number of natural rock formations in the surroundings add to the spiritual charm of the temple and are the most dominant feature of the temple. Some of the unique shaped rocks are said to carry immense spiritual powers. The struct...

1000 AD - 1323 AD Founder : Venna Capitals : Anmakonda (Hanumakonda), Orugallu / Ekasilanagara   (Warangal) Languages : Telugu was the preferred language, Sanskrit, Kannada Religion : Jainism, Hinduism (Saivism) Royal Emblem : Garuda, Varaha  c.800 AD - 995 AD is the first phase of Kakatiya Dynasty as vassals of Rashtrakuta Dynasty and ruled independently from 973 AD - 995 AD c. 1000 AD - 1158 AD is the second phase and vassals of Western Chalukyas Between 1149 AD and 1158 AD Kakatiya Prola II declared his independence 1158 AD - 1323 AD is the independent rule. Kakatiyas are descendants of Karikala Chola King of Durjaya clan, who initially started as vassals of the Chalukyas in India, and later emerged as a ruling dynasty, with their capital at Kakatipura (probably named after the village diety, Kakatamma) or present day Warangal, in the state of Telangana, India. The Kakatiya dynasty was an Indian dynasty that ruled most of eastern Decc...