Molangur Fort is located in Mulanguru village (also known as Molangur), Shankarapatnam Mandal, Karimnagar district, Telangana India is another invincible bastion belonging to the Kakatiyan era.The Molangur fort was constructed on a hillock by Voragiri Moggaraju, one of the chief officers of Prathapa Rudra of Kakatiya dynasty. It was constructed as a transit halt for Kakatiyas while travelling from Warangal fort to Elgandal Fort in Karimnagar. The Molangur fort is listed as protected site by the Archaeological Department.
The fort is constructed on a huge granite hill that made it difficult for anybody to climb it from any side. On the way to the top of the hill, an inscription carved on a boulder mentions that there are two ways to the fort. At the entrance of the fort there is a Dargah of Molang Shah Wali, a muslim saint. It is reported that the original name of the village was Mudugar. It appears to have been renamed as Molangur after the name of the Muslim saint Molang Shah Wali.
In addition to the Dargah, the fort also houses two temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. There is a beautiful tank on the fort and also on its foothills along with a well called Doodh Bowli (milky well)
The ramparts of the fort still bear the remnants of garrisons, stables that remind it's glorious past. The ruined walls, gates, bastions, moatsculptures and several other remains in the fort still attract the attention of the visitors.
At a distance of 1.2 km from Molangur Bus Station, 31 km from Karimnagar and 169 km from Hyderabad.
Molangur Fort under threat
Rampant granite quarry operations in the vicinity of historic Molangur Fort constructed by Kakatiya Kings in Shankarpatnam mandal is taking a heavy toll on the structure.
Listed as protected site by the Archaeological Department, the fort was constructed on a hillock by Voragiri Moggaraju, one of the chief officers of Prathapa Rudra of Kakatiya dynasty. It was constructed as a transit halt for Kakatiyas while travelling from Orugallu fort in Warangal to Elgandal fort in Karimnagar.
The fort is constructed on a huge granite that made it difficult for anybody to climb it from any side. There is a beautiful tank on the fort and also on its foothills. A special well called ‘Doodh Bowli’ (well as pure as milk). Time has taken a heavy toll on the fort which is damaged and polluted by granite quarrying. Several megalithic burials inside the fort have been destroyed.
Molangur sarpanch Tirupathaiah said blasting undertaken for quarrying granite damaged the fort. There was severe sound pollution due to rampant granite quarrying. Locals were also falling ill due to the dust raised by the quarrying. He lamented that despite several representations to the district administration, no action has been initiated so far.
Telangana Bhoomi Rakshana Sangham convenor S. Sujatha said that hoisting of national flag on Golkonda fort alone would not solve the purpose of protection of ancient history and heritage of Telangana. The government should also protect other ancient structures.
Demanding that the government stop quarrying, she urged the government to declare all hillocks as tourist spots so that revenue could be generated from the heritage structures. Retired principal of Government Degree College Jagtial and historian. Dr Jaikishan said that there was no check on quarry operations, he said and added that the fort would collapse if frequent blasting and quarrying went on unchecked.
Doodhbowli, a well at foot of the Molangur Fort
It is said locally that the milk-like water of the Doodh Bowli has great medicinal value and it cured several diseases.
This well at the foot of the Molangur Fort springs milk and not water. Though it is not milk in the strict sense of the term, the water smells and looks just like that and the villagers believe that it has nutritional value. The well, known as Doodhbowli in local parlance, is located about 30 km from Karimnagar. People treasure the water as if it is milk and use it for drinking and other regular chores.
The interesting feature of the well is that even in mid-summer it does not dry up. The “milk” keeps regenerating and it is always seen touching the brim. Even though Mission Bhagirtha water is available, people prefer the water from Doodhbowli. Locals say that during the Nizam era, water used to be transported from this well to Hyderabad on horse-drawn carts for use by the Nizams.
A villager Mallesham says in astonishment: “It is always a mystery that the milky water is very pure, more purified than the so-called purified water sold to us in cans.” For the last 20 years, his family has been using Doodhbowli water for drinking purposes. “During the Covid-19 pandemic, people used to come to this well from far-off villages to draw water and take it back as they believed it had not only nutrients but also has therapeutic value.”
As the “milk” from this well has become popular, officials with the Municipal Corporation of Karimnagar (MCK) officials have collected samples and sent it for analysis to understand its magic.The District Groundwater Board deputy director Ch Shailasree Mallika Devi says: “We are trying to find out what minerals are there in the water from this well. At the moment, samples have been sent for analysis. Once we get the report, we would know for sure what the “milk” is all about.”
The fort is 13 kilometres away from Huzurabad and 16 kilometres away from Jammikunta railway station. Thus, it is very convenient to reach this marvellous historical fort by road or by rail.
1518 AD - 1687 AD : Qutb Shahi dynasty or Golconda or Golkonda Sultanate
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This well at the foot of the Molangur Fort springs milk and not water. Though it is not milk in the strict sense of the term, the water smells and looks just like that and the villagers believe that it has nutritional value. The well, known as Doodhbowli in local parlance, is located about 30 km from Karimnagar. People treasure the water as if it is milk and use it for drinking and other regular chores.
The interesting feature of the well is that even in mid-summer it does not dry up. The “milk” keeps regenerating and it is always seen touching the brim. Even though Mission Bhagirtha water is available, people prefer the water from Doodhbowli. Locals say that during the Nizam era, water used to be transported from this well to Hyderabad on horse-drawn carts for use by the Nizams.
A villager Mallesham says in astonishment: “It is always a mystery that the milky water is very pure, more purified than the so-called purified water sold to us in cans.” For the last 20 years, his family has been using Doodhbowli water for drinking purposes. “During the Covid-19 pandemic, people used to come to this well from far-off villages to draw water and take it back as they believed it had not only nutrients but also has therapeutic value.”
As the “milk” from this well has become popular, officials with the Municipal Corporation of Karimnagar (MCK) officials have collected samples and sent it for analysis to understand its magic.The District Groundwater Board deputy director Ch Shailasree Mallika Devi says: “We are trying to find out what minerals are there in the water from this well. At the moment, samples have been sent for analysis. Once we get the report, we would know for sure what the “milk” is all about.”
The fort is 13 kilometres away from Huzurabad and 16 kilometres away from Jammikunta railway station. Thus, it is very convenient to reach this marvellous historical fort by road or by rail.
Qutb-ul-mulk Dakhani
1494 AD - 1518 AD : Kawas Kahn or Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk Governor
1494 AD : In 1493-1494 Bahadur Gilani rose in rebellion at Goa and attacked ships belonging to the Sultan of Gujarat, Mahmud Sah Begada. The Sultan now ordered the provincial governors to send forces to suppress the rebellion of Bahadur Gilani. In one of the actions fought near Jamkhindi, Qutb-ul-mulk Dakhani, the governor of Telangana was killed. His title along with the fiefs enjoyed by him were conferred on Sultan Quli, alias, Khavas Khan. Sultan Qulb was the founder of the Qutb Sahi dynasty of Golconda.
Qawam ul Mulk in Elgandal and Mulungoor or Molangur Fort in Karimnagar
During the absence of Sooltan Koolly Kootb Shah in his late campaign, his northern districts had been attacked and laid waste by Kowam-ool—Moolk Toork, an officer of the Bahmuny Government, who, during the late convulsions, had rendered himself master of the forts of Elgundel, Mulungoor, and some other districts, and collecting a force of six thousand horse and about ten thousand infantry, invaded the countries of his neighbours.
On the return of Sooltan Koolly, he received accounts of Kowam-ool-Moolk's incursions. He accordingly addressed letters of advice to him, and demanded restitution of the property he had plundered in the Kootb Shahy territories. The ambassadors who waited on Kowam-ool-Moolk were directed to inform him, that their master was sorry to hear what had happened ; and that it Was his wish to be on terms of friendship with all his Mahomedan neighbours, since it is written in the Koran, that " all the faithful are brethren ". Kowam-ool-Moolk, elated with his success in declaring his independence, and despising the power of Sooltan Koolly, shortly afterwards sent his troops again into his territories to plunder. Sooltan Koolly Kootb Shah could no longer restrain his rage, and immediately ordered his army into the field, and marched towards Elgundel. He was met by Kowamool-Moolk at the distance of one day's march from that place at the head of his army. On the following day an action ensued, which lasted from dawn till noon, when the King charged in person, at the head of two thousand cavalry, and defeated Kowam-ool-Moolk, who fled in confusion, and threw himself into the fort of Elgundel. To this place the King proceeded, and invested it; but Kowam-ool-Moolk, finding himself unable to contend with his enemy, fled to Berar, and solicited assistance from Alla-ood-Deen Imad Shah. Elgundel, shortly after, fell into the hands of the King, and many of the Mahomedan troops of Kowam-ool-Moolk entered his service. Having now occupied the forts of Elgundel and Mulungoor with his own soldiers, the King returned to his capital.
1518 AD - 1543 AD : Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk
https://www.newindianexpress.com/good-news/2022/Jun/19/doodhbowli-a-well-at-foot-of-the-molangur-fort-that-gives-milk-and-not-water-2467275.html
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/molangur-fort-under-threat/article6301492.ece
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/molangur-fort-under-threat/article6301492.ece
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