Telangana360

🙏 Gandhari Maisamma Jatara Biennial tribal festival at Gandhari Fort | Magha Masam | Traditional dances, rituals & cultural heritage 🎭 Gandhari Maisamma Jatara – a grand biennial tribal festival celebrated at Gandhari Fort (Gandhari Khilla) , near Bokkalagutta village, Mandamarri Mandal, Mancherial district, Telangana . Held during the full moon of Magha masam (January–February) for three days, the jatara attracts thousands of tribals from Gonds, Naikpods, Koyas, Mannes communities, as well as devotees from neighbouring Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. The festival features traditional dances like Thappetagullu and Pillanagovi , oral storytelling, Pedda Puja rituals, and the unique Ranam Kudupu – a ceremonial sacrifice linked to medieval battle traditions. After a 17‑year suspension, the jatara was revived in 2016 with government support, including a BT road, drinking water points, and improved access to the hilltop Maisamma temple. ...

🏰 Gandhari Fort (Gandhari Khilla) Ancient hill fort with Kakatiya architecture | 8‑ft Naga Seshu idol | Tribal Jatara & medicinal forest 🏔️ Gandhari Fort (Gandhari Khilla / Gandhari Kota) – a historic hill fort located near Bokkalagutta, Mandamarri Mandal, Mancherial district, Telangana . Believed to have been built by tribal kings with assistance from the Kakatiya rulers about 1,000 years ago, the fort stands on sandstone hills, surrounded by dense forest rich in medicinal plants. It houses the ancient Maisamma temple and rock‑cut idols of Kala Bhairava Swamy, Lord Shiva, Ganesha, and Hanuman. The eight‑foot‑tall Naga Seshu idol with ten heads carved from a single rock is a major highlight. The fort also features three perennial wells (including ‘Yenugula Bavi’ for elephants), bathing tanks, and Kakatiya‑style gateways (thoranam). The biennial Gandhari Maisamma Jatara attracts thousands of tribals from Telangana, Maharashtra, and Chhat...

🎋 Kalleda & Islampur Forests: The Historic Bamboo Belt Inside Kawal Tiger Reserve Where Thick Bamboo Once Echoed the Footsteps of Tigers | Jannaram, Telangana 📍 Kalleda and Islampur forests lie deep inside the Kawal Tiger Reserve in Jannaram mandal, Mancherial district, Telangana . Once upon a time, these areas were famous for their thick bamboo forests – part of a vast bamboo belt that stretched across Kalleda, Dongapalli, and Islampur[reference:0]. Today, they form part of the 893 km² core area of India’s 42nd tiger reserve , declared in 2012[reference:1]. The forests are dominated by tropical dry deciduous teak and bamboo , and are critical for tiger migration between Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra and the rest of the Deccan peninsula[reference:2]. For nature enthusiasts, these forests offer a rare glimpse into a rich ecosystem where bamboo, teak, and wildlife coexist – a hidden gem for eco-tourism and forest explora...

🌿 Dongapalli Village: A Tribal Hamlet Inside Kawal Tiger Reserve Gond & Kolam Heartland | Teak Forests & Tiger Country | Jannaram, Telangana 📍 Dongapalli (also spelled Dongapalle) is a remote tribal village located deep inside the Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary in Jannaram Subdivision, Mancherial district, Telangana . Spread across 2,490 hectares of dense tropical dry deciduous forest, this village lies in the core area of the 42nd Tiger Reserve of India – declared in 2012. Home primarily to Gond and Nayakpod (Naikpod) tribal communities [reference:0], Dongapalli is one of the most isolated and ecologically significant habitations in Telangana. The village is surrounded by thick bamboo and teak forests, and has been at the centre of a long‑standing relocation debate due to its location inside the tiger reserve [reference:1]. 🌳 2,490 hectares 👥 Population 194 (2011) 🏘️ 50 Ho...