Telangana 360

Name: Ramji Gond Born: Present Asifabad District, Telangana State, India (erstwhile Hyderabad Princely State) Died: 9 April 1860 Ramji Gond, who hailed from current Nirmal and combined Adilabad district of Telangana, was among the most prominent leaders of the First War of Independence in the erstwhile Hyderabad Princely State, who ruled the tribal areas in present-day Adilabad, Nirmal and Asifabad districts of Telangana. The areas under his rule included Nirmal, Utnoor, Chennuru, and Asifabad.  Ramji Gond and the Rohillas leader called Miya Saheb Khurd jointly fought a guerrilla campaign against the British, for which he was caught and hanged on 9 April 1860. 1857: Hyderabad Sepoy Revolt - First war of Independence Many regions in Nizam’s domains were aflame with anti-British sentiments when the mass insurrections broke out in 1857. Among these was the Adilabad district, where the resident Gond tribal community who were unhappy with the state’s oppression and exploitation of the peas

1220 - 1750 A.D: Sirpur-Chanda Gond Dynasty of Gondwana KingdomFounder : Kol Bhill or Kol Bheel or Kolkhil Capitals : Sirpur (modern Komaram Bheem Asifabad district, Telangana), Ballarsha, Chanda (Chandrapur district, Maharashtra)Languages : Gondi language is known as ‘Koyator’ among Gonds. Southern Gondi, Adilabad Gondi, Northern Gondi, Aheri Gondi are variants of the language. Religion : Brahmanical Hinduism or Cult of the Persa Pen (clan deities); ancestor spirit worship Royal Emblem : Lion and Elephant Family Name: Singh, Shah Sirpur-Chanda Gond Kingdom flourished along with Kakatiyas, Mususnuru, Recharla Padmanayakas, Bahmani, Golkonda, Moghul and Asaf-Jahi dynasties. The term ‘Gond’ is derived from Telugu ‘Konda’ which refers to a hill. Tribal communities living in hills of central India are called Gonds. They also call themselves Koitur / Koya, or “the ones who come from the green mountains”. They may be found in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Odisha.

Utnoor Gond Fort was constructed around 1309 AD and is spread on a 15-acre area consisting even of a step well modelled on the lines of the famous step wells of Rajasthan. The fort has seen centuries of neglect. The main entrance, completely crumbled, is located on the east and leads to an inner gate, a major portion of which stands even today. While the ramparts were built of brick and mortar, the inner walls were made of mud and the inner gate was constructed with stone. The inner gate is a tall arched structure which leads to the living quarters and the garrison inside the minor fort. Earlier, there was a staircase by the side of the inner gate which led to an elevated platform from where the king held a darbar or court. There is a beautiful well with steps to the left of the inner gate which is in a comparatively better stage of preservation. The well, apparently used by women in the family has changing rooms at different levels. “Though the style of arches looks like

Festival season for Adivasis has begun with ‘Bheemalpen’ festival which is popular as Bheemanna pujalu and they take ‘Devul’ (wooden deities) for bathing at sacred place ‘Demmala rajul’ near Dhammannapet in Utnoor mandal. Adivasis celebrate Bheemalpen festival in the month of ‘Margashira’ every year. Adivasis are busy in celebrating their traditional festivals these days in the district. Adivasis of Asifabad take their Devul to ‘Khariyar’ and Kerameri to ‘Patteda’, Tiryani to Danthanpalli ganga, Narnoor to Gundala ganga, Indravelli to ‘Pulikakchar’ and Adivasis of Neredigonda bathe their wooden deities in the Kuntala waterfalls. Most of the Adivasi jataras will follow their festivals in the Adilabad district. Adivasis do their cooking with the new crops or beans like ‘chikkudu’, ‘Anapa’, pulses like redgram, rice only after performing special puja called Satti to the Bheemalpen. Adivasis festivals continue with Jangubai to be held from January 11- February8 in the dense f

Dokra Metal craft is quite popular in the tribal regions of Telangana. Dhokra or Dokra also known as bell metal craft is a tribal metal craft widely seen in Jainoor Mandal, Adilabad District of Telangana.  Dhokra is an ancient bell metal craft practiced by the Ojha metal-smiths of Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Telangana – the style and workmanship of the artisan community being different in different states. In Telangana, the Ojha artisans are also known as Wojaris or Ojjis who create brass metal art objects using the tedious but perfect lost wax technique while casting the metal.

Kamdev temple is located in Narnoor village and mandal, Adilabad District, Telangana State, India. This temple is dedicated to Kamdev and the tribal Jathara which starts in January every year attracts the Thodasam tribe from all villages across the district. Lord Kamadev is the God of Love and is the husband of Rati, the Goddess of Love. Kamadev is known as the Indian Cupid. He is the Hindu God of love and sexuality. Kama means sensuous love, wish, desire, longing or sexuality and Deva means heavenly or divine. In the Atharva-Veda, Kama is described as desire and not sexual enjoyment.

Nagoba Jatara is a tribal festival held in Keslapur village, Inderavelly Mandal Adilabad district, Telangana, India. It is the second biggest tribal carnival and celebrated by Mesaram clan of Gond tribes for 10 days. Tribal people from Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh belonging to the Mesram clan offer prayers at the festival.

The Kanakai waterfall is located near a small village called Girnoor of the Bazarhatnoor Mandal, Adilabad District in Telangana State. The falls is also called as Kanakadurga waterfalls. The place has a place in the ancient history as well. People from nearby villages come to this place to offer their prayers to Goddess Kanaka Durga, in the temple. The drive to the temple resembles a way paved to reach paradise. The location brings you in direct contact with luscious grasslands and fields. 

Origin:  Kaddam reserve forest Length : 86Kms Start: Near Umarda (Buzurg), Bazarhathnoor Mandal, Adilabad district. End:  Bellal, Kaddam (peddur) Mandal, Nirmal district. States : Telangana Districts : Adilabad, Nirmal Tributaries: Bali vagu, Ganagapuram vagu, Bathukamma vagu, Sikkumanu river, Palukeru vagu, Datki vagu (tributary: Ragidoba), Gundi vagu, Wankedi vagu, Kaddam Pedda vagu (tributary: kamravadda vagu) Kadem (Kaddam) River is a tributary of Godavari originates from the hills of Kaddam reserved Forest and and surpluses from Bazarhatnoor Tank in Adilabad District and runs South East direction for a length of 86Kms and joins river Goadvari at Bellal village, Kaddam (peddur) Mandal in Nirmal District. At its 80th km is the Kaddam Project also called as Kaddam Narayana Reddy Project is a Major Reservoir across river Kadem near Kaddam Mandal, Nirmal District. After traversing a distance of 6.5km from the Dam the river joins Godavari. The Kuntala Waterfall are formed on this river

Pochera Waterfalls located near Pochera Village, Boath Mandal, Adilabad District in Telangana State, India.  It is a natural waterfall with picturesque and beautiful scenery. It is a very big, wide and deep waterfall. This beautiful waterfall is the deepest of all the waterfalls in Telangana. This is also a caution to people who wish to take a dip in it. The location is very secluded and surrounded by picturesque locations and scenic environment. The waterfall has great width and height to make it the deepest in Telangana. The fall is 20 meter high and flows down with a great force, and the falls are categorized as plunge waterfalls.  The holy river Godavari flows through the Sahyadri mountain range and on their way, the river breaks into small streams. Some of these streams escape from their path and meet at a point and become the source for the Pochera falls which falls from a 20 meters high point.  The bed is much deeper and has the capacity to hold a very huge quan

Origin    :  Ajantha ranges in Aurangabad district in Maharashtra Elevation :  1067 meters Length    :  676 km (420 mi) Drainage  : 23898 km2 Outflow   : Wardha River near  wadha, Wani Tehsil, Yavatmal district States    : Maharashtra,   Telangana Telangana Start     :  Guledi, Tamsi Mandal, Adilabad district End       : Mangrool, Bela Mandal,  Adilabad district   Districts :   Adilabad The Penganga river is a part Pranhita river basin which is part of Godavari river basin. It flows through Buldhana & Washim District & flows through border of Washim & Hingoli District. Then it acts as a boundary between Yavatmal and Nanded districts of Maharashtra. The river flows along State border between Maharashtra & Telangana before converging into Wardha river near small village called wadha in Wani Tehsil of Yavatmal district. The total length of the river in 676 Km. The main tributaries of the river are Adan, Kas, Arunavati Kayadhu & Pus. The small Vidarbha river merged wit

At a distance of 0.5 km from Jainath Bus Stand, 22 km from Adilabad Railway Station and 327 km from Hyderabad, Sri Narayana Swamy Temple is situated at Jainath in Adilabad District of Telangana. Sri Narayan Swamy Temple also known as Jainath Temple is an ancient temple built by Pallava chiefs. This temple is also popular for its Jain style architecture, thus, the village is called Jainath. The pillars inside the temple are extensive carved with beautiful sculptures. The outer walls of the temple and the vimana over the sanctum exhibit wonderful piece of art work. Jainath Temple is one of the ancient pilgrimage centers in Adilabad and also an important architectural monument of Pallava dynasty (4th to 9th century CE) in Telugu region. This is a small structure built on a platform which is 2 feet high. The temple is dedicated to Lord Lakshmi Narayana. The idol of the deity in the sanctum sanctorum is 6 feet tall in standing position and is made of black stone. The temple has several s

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

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

Head Quarters : Adilabad Revenue divisions : 2 (Adilabad and Utnoor) Mandals : 18 Population : 708,952 Area (km2) : 4,185.97 Rivers : Penganga, Kadem, Mathadivagu, Sathnala The original name of the Adilabad was Edlabad during the rule of Qutub Shahis. Edla is a Gond word for people in woods.Its name was changed to “Adilabad” by erstwhile Islamic ruler of Bijapur, Mohammed Adil Shah. Adilabad, the northern most district of Telangana and is gateway to the South from Central India. This district was divided into 4 new districts Adilabad, Mancherial, Nirmal, Komaram Bheem Asifabad. Adilabad is bounded on the North by Yavatmal district and on North East by Chandrapur district, both of Maharashtra state, on East by Asifabad district (aka. Komaram Bheem district), on South East by Mancherial district, on South by Nirmal district and on West by Nanded district of Maharashtra state. Natural Resources coal, iron, limestone, Rivers and Forest.

Adilabad has a colorful history considering that it was the place of convergence for many cultures and religions. The region also enjoys the distinction of having been ruled by many north Indian dynasties that include the Mauryas, Bhonsle Rajas of Nagpur and the Mughals.  Adilabad was also part of the south Indian rulers belonging to dynasties of Satavahanas, Vakatakas, Rashrakutas, Kakatiyas, Chalukyas and Imad Shahis of Berar. The reason behind this is the geographical location of the town. It lies on the border of both central and southern India which made the region vulnerable to attacks and invasions from both sides. As a result, the modern history of Adilabad is an interesting amalgamation of the Marathi and Telugu cultures. The local population of Adilabad follows traditions that are a mix of the two cultures, but these traditions have now become an integral part of the daily lives of the people. Also, the Bengali, Rajasthani and Gujarati cultures have found prevalence in the ar