Mulugu · Sammakka Saralamma · Ramappa & the Godavari Forest Frontier
Name Origin & History: Mulugu District, also known as Sammakka Saralamma Mulugu district, is located in the eastern part of Telangana. The district was formed on 17 February 2019 by bifurcating the Jayashankar Bhupalpally District, which itself was previously part of Warangal District.
The district is often called the “Tribal Capital of Telangana” due to its significant tribal population and the world-famous Medaram Jathara, a tribal festival dedicated to the goddesses Sammakka and Saralamma. The region has been proposed to be officially renamed as Sammakka-Saralamma district.
Mulugu became the 32nd district of Telangana and the least populated district in the state, with a population of 294,671 as per the 2011 census. The district consists of 9 mandals: Mulug, Venkatapur, Govindaraopet, Tadavi (Sammakka Sarakka), Eturunagaram, Kannalgudem, Mangapet, Venkatapuram and Wazeed.
Earliest Recorded Evidence — Paleolithic & Mesolithic Godavari Basin
Archaeological discoveries confirm that the region of present-day Mulugu district preserves Lower Paleolithic human activity. In late 2023, floods exposed a dried stream bed between Gurrevula and Bhupathipuram villages, revealing quartzite hand axes, cleavers and other heavy-duty tools characteristic of early hominin technology.
A significant Paleolithic tool-manufacturing site was identified at Bhupathipur in Kannaigudem mandal, where archaeologists documented biconvex and bifacial tools along with hundreds of smaller Mesolithic microliths. These findings indicate continuous occupation from the Lower Paleolithic through the Mesolithic, demonstrating that the area functioned as a prehistoric tool-production hub for several millennia.
This is the earliest recorded evidence from the region now forming Mulugu District.
The district is a major megalithic locus, with hundreds of dolmen burial chambers and anthropomorphic menhirs. Jajirala Hill in Bommai Gudem village, Mangapet Mandal, has yielded three rare human-shaped menhirs dating to the Megalithic period. Each stone sculpture measures approximately 3.5 feet in height and features distinctly carved anthropomorphic details — a head, rectangular torso, shoulders and waist.
In the surrounding region — at Suragundaiah Gutta, Sudda Gutta and Kappalaiah Gutta — over 500 similar structures have been documented.
Prehistoric Burial Sites: A massive cluster of megalithic human burial sites was discovered in Motlagudem village, Damaravai mandal. Locally referred to as “Rakasi Bandalu” (giant stones) and “Rakasi Guhalu” (giant caves), these dolmen burials are believed to be one of the largest concentrations of dolmen burials in India. Spread across nearly 100 acres in the Kappalayi Gutta region, each structure consists of four large vertical stone slabs with a massive capstone weighing approximately 10 to 20 tons placed on top.
Satavahana Period — Mallur Gutta Fort
A significant archaeological discovery in the region is the massive Mallur Gutta Fort, located near Mallur village in Mangapet Mandal. The fort features an enormous 8 km-radius fortification wall with seven entry points, making it one of the largest of its kind in South India — reportedly even larger than the Warangal and Golconda forts.
Dating back to the Satavahana period (1st–3rd century CE), this sprawling structure highlights the region’s strategic importance along the Godavari river frontier long before the rise of the Kakatiyas. The site also includes the ancient Hemachala Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, which houses a Swayambhu (self-formed) deity, along with rock formations and caves, making it a site of immense historical and cultural value.
Early Medieval Context — Polavasa, Chalukya & Rashtrakuta Influence
The Polavasa chiefs ruled the Godavari–Mulugu–Eturnagaram belt before the Kakatiyas rose to power. While their inscriptions are found mainly in the Karimnagar region, their political sphere and influence extended into the Mulugu district. They were significant local powers who controlled the strategic forest and riverine tracts of the eastern Deccan.
No direct inscriptions from the Early Chalukya or Rashtrakuta periods have been discovered in Mulugu district yet. However, stylistic evidence found in temple fragments and architectural remnants indicates their cultural and architectural influence in the region. Such fragments have been observed at Ramappa region, Palampet and Govindaraopet.
These remnants suggest that the region was part of the broader cultural sphere of the early Deccan empires, even if direct epigraphical records are currently absent.
The Kakatiya Period & Feudatory Chiefs
The Kakatiya dynasty (c. 1158–1323 CE) left an indelible mark on the Mulugu region. While the Kakatiya kings ruled from their capital at Orugallu (modern Warangal), the actual administration and development of the Mulugu area were largely carried out by their powerful feudatory chiefs, primarily the Recherla and Malyala families. These chiefs were not just tax collectors but were semi-autonomous rulers who built temples, constructed irrigation tanks and maintained law and order in their respective territories.
Recherla Rudra, also known as Rudra-senani, was the most celebrated chief of the Recherla line. He served as the Commander-in-Chief of the Kakatiya army under King Ganapatideva. Around 1198 CE, when King Ganapati was captured by the Seuna (Yadavas) after his father Mahadeva was killed in battle, Rudra administered the kingdom in Ganapati’s name and successfully reinstated him on the throne after his release.
Rudra is best known for establishing the town of Palampet and commissioning the magnificent Rudresvara (Ramappa) Temple in 1213 CE. The temple’s inscription records his genealogy, tracing his lineage back to Brahma-senapati and listing his ancestors Kataya, Kama and Kataya II. His mother was Bejjama alias Bejjamba, and his father was Katreddi (or Kad-reddi) alias Kataya.
Recherla Kataya was another prominent Recherla chief who ruled over Mamdadi. According to the Machapur inscriptions (Nos. 119 and 318 in Vol. II of Epigraphia Telanganica), he granted lands for the daily services (dhupa, dipa, naivedya) of the deities Lokesvaradeva, Ekkesvaradeva and Patideva. This indicates his role as a patron of religion and his authority over the region.
The Malyala chiefs were another significant vassal family of the Kakatiyas, also claiming descent from Durjaya. They started their careers as army chiefs under the Kakatiyas and later rose to the position of Amatyas (ministers) during the reign of Rudramadevi. Their capital was Vardhamanapura.
Gunda Dannaya was the founder of the Malyala dynasty. He received power from the Kakatiyas and was succeeded by his sons. One of his sons, Gunda Dandanayaka, served King Ganapati and Queen Rudrama Devi as a military commander. He bore the titles Pedamuthuganda, Divilunthaka and Raya Garundaka, which were bestowed upon him by the Kakatiya king for his victories.
Chaundapa was a general under King Ganapati who led a successful campaign against the Cholas in the southern region. He married Mailama, who was born into the Viriyala family. The Katukuru inscription (dated 26 January 1206 CE) records that Mailama constructed three temples dedicated to Mallikarjuna, Annesvara and Aitesvara, named after herself, her father and her mother respectively. She also caused the digging of two tanks at Kattakuru. Chaundapa built the temple of Caundesvara at Kondiparti.
Kata Senani was a famous warrior in the Malyala line who conquered Dannalakota (or Dharanikota) as a commander of the armies of Kakatiya king Rudradeva. In recognition of his achievement, the king conferred upon him the epithet Kota-gelpata. His son was Chaundapa.
Besides the Recherla and Malyala chiefs, other feudatory families also played a role in the region, including the Viriyala, Natavadi, Cheruku and Kanduri Choda families. The Viriyala chiefs, for instance, had matrimonial relations with the Kakatiyas and helped them secure the Anumakonda-visaya from the Western Chalukyan emperor.
Key Inscriptions & Epigraphy
Documents the construction of the Rudresvara (Ramappa) Temple, installation of the deity, and provides a detailed genealogy of the Recherla family and the Kakatiya dynasty. It records the grant of the village Nradkude (Nadikuda) for temple maintenance.
Patron: Recherla Rudra (Rudri Reddy), Commander-in-Chief of Kakatiya Ganapatideva.
Records that while Recherla Kataya was ruling over Mamdadi, he granted lands for the daily services of the deities Lokesvaradeva, Ekkesvaradeva and Patideva.
Records that Mallireddi of the Manma-kula built a temple called Muppidisvara in memory of his father Muppareddi, and granted a village for the anga-ranga bhogas of the deity.
This record registers a grant of lands to the god Mallikarjuna of Taduvayi by Kat-Reddi for the spiritual merit of his sovereign and Kakatiya Ganapatideva.
Records the construction of three temples by Mailama and the digging of two tanks. It gives detailed genealogies of the Viriyala and Malyala families. It mentions Chaundapa’s campaign against the Cholas.
Attribute the origin of the Malyala chiefs to Durjaya. They record the construction of the Caundesvara temple by Chaundapa.
Medieval & Later Periods
Following the Kakatiya decline, the region came under the influence of the Bahmani Sultanate and later the Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golconda. However, the dense forests and tribal populations meant that central control remained limited. The region served as a buffer zone between the Deccan sultanates and the tribal hinterlands.
With the Mughal conquest of Golconda in 1687, the region came under Mughal suzerainty, and later under the Asaf Jahi (Nizam) dynasty of Hyderabad. The Nizams maintained nominal control over the forested tracts, but the tribal communities largely governed themselves through traditional systems. The region remained underdeveloped and isolated during this period.
Administrative Status: Throughout the Nizam’s rule, Mulugu functioned as a peripheral, tribal-dominated territory with limited administrative reach. It existed as a gram panchayat (village council) within the larger state structure. The dense forests and challenging terrain made effective governance difficult, allowing tribal communities to largely govern themselves through their traditional systems and customary laws.
Declaration of Agency Areas: In 1949, one of the last significant acts of the Nizam’s government was to notify 23 villages in the district as “Agency Areas.” This administrative designation was later upheld by the Indian government’s Presidential Order in 1950, recognizing the special status of these tribal-dominated regions and laying the foundation for future tribal welfare and administrative policies.
Modern History (1948–Present)
After Operation Polo (September 1948), the region became part of Hyderabad State, Indian Union. Following the States Reorganisation Act in 1956, it became part of the newly formed State of Andhra Pradesh. Mulugu remained a part of Warangal district during this period.
In 1952, shortly after the integration of Hyderabad State into India, the government took the notable step of declaring the Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary. This makes it one of the oldest sanctuaries in South India. The sanctuary, spread across dense forests along the Godavari river, was established to protect the region’s rich biodiversity, including tigers, leopards, sloth bears and numerous bird species. It remains a vital ecological and cultural landmark in the Mulugu district.
The region actively participated in both phases of the Telangana statehood movements (1969 and 2009–2014). In 2014, Telangana was formed as the 29th state, and Mulugu became part of the new state. In 2016, the Jayashankar Bhupalpally district was created, of which Mulugu was a part.
On 17 February 2019, Mulugu district was officially formed by bifurcating the Jayashankar Bhupalpally district. It became the 32nd district of Telangana and the least populated district in the state, with a population of 294,671 as per the 2011 census. The district consists of 9 mandals: Mulug, Venkatapur, Govindaraopet, Tadavi (Sammakka Sarakka), Eturunagaram, Kannalgudem, Mangapet, Venkatapuram and Wazeed.
The district has seen significant Naxalite activity. In 2001, Naxalites from the People’s War Group (PWG) attacked the Eturnagaram police station using directional mines, killing five people (one civilian, one forest employee and three police personnel). The road near the police station was subsequently blocked for 24 years.
On 1 March 2025, the blocked road was reopened for vehicles and pedestrians after Mulugu district SP Dr P Shabarish confirmed that no active Maoist cadres remained in the region. Residents expressed happiness over the reopening, as vehicles could now take the direct route instead of the two-kilometre diversion that had been in place for decades.
In August 2023, heavy rains and floods caused devastation in Mulugu district. Jampanna Vagu overflowed near Dodla in Eturnagaram mandal, resulting in the deaths of eight people. The floods caused widespread damage to infrastructure and crops.
The district has gained significant attention for its archaeological wealth:
- 2022: An ancient Shiva lingam was found during excavations in Mangapeta mandal, Ramanakkapeta panchayat.
- 2023: A rare anthropomorphic menhir dating to the megalithic era was discovered, depicting a human figure with a curly head, oblong chest, shoulders and lower waist.
- 2025: Three rare human-shaped menhirs were unearthed atop Jajirala Hill in Bommai Gudem village.
- 2026: A massive cluster of megalithic dolmen burials was discovered in Motlagudem village, believed to be one of the largest concentrations in India.
Medaram Jathara & Tribal Heritage
Medaram Jathara, held in the Mulugu district, is dedicated to the goddesses Sammakka and Saralamma and is one of the largest tribal gatherings in India. The district is often called the “Tribal Capital of Telangana” due to its significant tribal population and this world-famous festival. The region has been proposed to be officially renamed as Sammakka-Saralamma district.
Key Heritage Sites & Records
Legacy – From Prehistory to the Present
Mulugu district’s recorded history begins with the Lower Paleolithic tool assemblages at Bhupathipur in Kannaigudem mandal, exposed by floods in late 2023, and continues through the Megalithic burial and menhir traditions at Jajirala Hill and Motlagudem. The Satavahana-period Mallur Gutta Fort in Mangapet mandal attests to the region’s strategic importance along the Godavari frontier in the early centuries CE.
During the Kakatiya period, the region was administered by powerful feudatory chiefs of the Recherla and Malyala families. Recherla Rudra commissioned the Rudresvara (Ramappa) Temple in 1213 CE, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Katukuru inscription of 1206 CE records the temple and tank constructions of Mailama, while Recherla Kataya and the Malyala chiefs are known from the Machapur, Ramanapet, Kondiparti and Taduvayi inscriptions.
After the Kakatiyas, the region passed through the Bahmanis, Qutb Shahis, Mughals and Asaf Jahis, remaining a largely forested, tribal-dominated frontier. In 1949, 23 villages were notified as Agency Areas, a status upheld by the Presidential Order of 1950.
The modern district emerged on 17 February 2019 from the Jayashankar Bhupalpally District. Today, Mulugu is known for the Medaram Jathara, the Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, the Ramappa Temple, and its extraordinary prehistoric and megalithic heritage.
- Earliest Recorded Evidence: The Lower Paleolithic and Mesolithic tool assemblages at Bhupathipur in Kannaigudem mandal, documented in late 2023, are the earliest recorded evidence from the region now forming Mulugu District.
- Megalithic Heritage: Jajirala Hill (human-shaped menhirs) and Motlagudem (one of India’s largest dolmen burial clusters, spread over nearly 100 acres) document the Megalithic era in the district.
- Satavahana Fort: The Mallur Gutta Fort in Mangapet mandal, dated to the Satavahana period (1st–3rd century CE), has an 8 km-radius fortification wall and seven entry points.
- Kakatiya Feudatories: The Recherla and Malyala chiefs administered the Mulugu region. Recherla Rudra built the Ramappa Temple in 1213 CE; Mailama built three temples and two tanks (Katukuru inscription, 1206 CE).
- UNESCO Site: The Ramappa (Rudresvara) Temple at Palampet was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021.
- Key Inscriptions: The Palampet (Ramappa) inscription (31 March 1213 CE), Katukuru inscription (26 January 1206 CE), Machapur, Ramanapet, Kondiparti and Taduvayi inscriptions document the Kakatiya-period history of the region.
- Medieval to Modern: The region passed through the Bahmanis, Qutb Shahis, Mughals and Asaf Jahis before Hyderabad’s integration in 1948. In 1949, 23 villages were notified as Agency Areas.
- District Formation: Mulugu District was formed on 17 February 2019 from the Jayashankar Bhupalpally District, becoming the 32nd district of Telangana and its least populated district.
- Modern Landmarks: Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary (1952), Medaram Jathara, and the district’s identity as the “Tribal Capital of Telangana.”
- Epigraphia Telanganica (Volumes I–IV): Primary source for inscriptions from the Mulugu region, including the Palampet (Ramappa), Machapur, Ramanapet, Taduvayi, Katukuru and Kondiparti records.
- Government of Telangana, Mulugu District: District formation, mandals and administrative profile.
- UNESCO World Heritage: Ramappa Temple (Rudresvara Temple) — inscribed 2021.
- Archaeological Discoveries: Deccan Chronicle, The Hindu, Telangana Today (2022–2026), including the Bhupathipur Paleolithic site, Jajirala Hill menhirs and Motlagudem dolmen burials.
- Shodhganga: Research on Kakatiya feudatories, including the Recherla and Malyala chiefs.
- Hyderabad State Records; Presidential Order 1950; District Gazetteer: Agency Areas and administrative history.
- Forest Department Records; Eturnagaram Sanctuary Archives: Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary (1952).
- The New Indian Express: Eturnagaram police station attack (2001) and road reopening (1 March 2025).
- TV5 News: August 2023 floods and Jampanna Vagu overflow.
- Government Order: Formation of Mulugu district (17 February 2019).
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