Telangana 360

Nandikonda is a small village located along the banks of Krishna River in Peddavura Mandal     Nalgonda district. It is located close to the magnificent Nagarjuna Sagar dam. Nandikonda was part of the Ikshvaku Dynasty and the village shot into prominence after scores of ancient Buddhist structures like pillared halls and monasteries were unearthed. The relics that were unearthed during a series of excavations are today displayed at the Museum of Central Archeological Department here. There are also ruins of a fort dating back to Ikshvaku Dynasty. The citadel consists of gates, strong fortifications, water trenches, and even as rectangular-shaped stadium were found during archeological excavations. The Nagarjuna Sagar dam was initially called Nandikonda project and the place finds place in the Buddhist circuit of Telangana. http://www.telanganatourism.gov.in/partials/destinations/heritage-spots/nalgonda/nandikonda.html

Archaeologists have discovered an ancient menhir, a memorial from the Iron Age, in Padurivarigudem in Nalgonda district of Telangana. The structure stands 11 feet high and was built as a memorial for warriors or tribal leaders in the region. Similar relics have been found in Guntur too. E. Siva Nagi Reddy and his associates uncovered the massive menhir that, according to them, dates back to 1000 BC. “Based on the information that we received from T. Saidulu, president of the local Vivekananda Youth Association, we visited the spot on Thursday and confirmed that the menhir belongs to the Megalithic period. It stands 11 feet tall, is six feet in width and goes six feet deep into the soil. The massive stone slab was installed during the Iron Age as a memorial to tribal lords or warriors in the region. It reveals the collective efforts of the ancient iron-smelting community,” he said. The team of archaeologists also examined around 20 circular burial stones, also from the Megalithic age,

Devarakonda Fort is located in Devarakonda town in Nalgonda District of Telangana State, India. Devarakonda which is as Mandal Headquarters, is a tiny village situated in Nalgonda district. The Devarakonda village is home to one of the most astonishing forts found in Telangana. The village attracts many tourists from over the world. There was a time when the fort stood high in place flaunting the glory of the village, but now due to negligence, the fort is in ruins.

Rachakonda Fort is a 14th-century fort located in Rachakonda, Narayanapoor Mandal, Nalgonda District, Telangana State, India. Rachakonda Fort was the capital to the Rachakonda region was first ruled by Kakatiyas and then it was taken by Padma Nayaka dynasty, from them it is concurred Muslim Bahmani Sultanate in1433 AD. Qutub Shahi and Nizams also ruled this kingdom. The architecture Rachakonda Fort is of medieval Hindu fort architecture. It is a structure made of large stones which are of irregular size and indefinite shape. The fort is constructed without using any Mortar. At the entrance, there are gates that are made of stone pillars and horizontal beams. The exterior walls of the building are built with stones and the interiors are layered with mud. The structure of Rachakonda Fort was strategically developed as a defensive bastion with strong fortifications. It was one of the most prominent structures during the pre-firearms era.

The archaeology officials excavating the early historic site located between Pazzur-Yarragaddagudem villages in  Tipparthy Mandal, Nalgonda District in Telangana State   and unearthed one copper and two lead coins probably belonging to Satavahana and post-Satavahana period. The coins belonged to Mahatalavara, feudal lords who ruled parts of Telangana under Satavahana “Mahatalavara, a feudatory family that ruled parts of Telangana under Satavahana and also during post-Satavahana period, had minted these coins, the archaeology officials said. The archaeologists identified the coin belongs to Mahatavalaras since the two lead coins were having horse symbol on obverse side. They could not identify the symbol on other side of these coins. The copper coin was rusted and they could not identify anything on it.

The Krishna River or Kistna also called Krishnaveni is the third-longest river in India, after the  Ganges  and  Godavari  and  the second longest  river of the Peninsular India after Godavari. It is also the fourth-largest in terms of water inflows and river basin area in India, after the Ganges, Godavari and Brahmaputra. Origin : Jor village, Mahabaleswar (Western Ghats), Satara district, Mahasrashtra State, India. Length : 1400 km (869.9 mi) Drainage : 258948 km Elevation : 1,337 m (4,386 ft) Outflow : Bay of Bengal, near Hamsaladeevi village in Diviseema, Koduru Mandal, Krishna District,   Andhra Pradesh State, India. States : Maharashtra 305 km (190 mi), Karnataka 483 km (300 mi),  Telangana and Andhra Pradesh 612 km (380 mi). Length in Telangana: Around 430 km Start in Telangana: Thangadigi village, Krishna Mandal, Narayanpet district. End in Telangana: Vajinepally, MellaCheruvu Mandal, Suryapet district. Telangana Districts : Narayanpet, Jogulambha Gadwal, Wanapar

1326 AD - 1475 AD Capitals: Rachakonda and Devarakonda The Recharla chiefs came to political prominence only in the reign of the Kakatiyas, and they ruled an independent kingdom only after the fall of the Kakatiyas. They ruled from Rachakonda in Nalgonda district. It is one of the historically famous forts from Telengana. The sasanas describe the founder of the kingdom as Dachanaya also known as Eradachanaya. Velugotivari Vamsavali however, describes the earlier three generations and terms Bethala Reddy also known as Chevi Reddy as the founder of this dynasty. Bethala Reddy sons are Dama, Prasaditya and Rudranayakas. All these were in the service of the Kakatiyas under Ganapati Deva and of them Prasadityanayaka was the most prominent. After Ganapatideva’s death some Kakatiya senanis and samantas tried to prevent Rudrama Devi from coming to the throne. Prasaditynayaka then defeated them and made her ascend the throne. For this he is given the title “Kakatiyarajya Sthapanacharya” by

The history of Nalgonda dates back to the Palaeolithic age. On the basis of the gradual evolution of the lithic material, the pre-historic period is studied under the following heads. Palaeolithic Age  During this period, Man fashioned his tools and weapons by chipping hard stones of convenient size and shape. This feature is testified by the findings of an extra-ordinarily interesting unifacial Palaeolithic implements of the Soan type at Yeleshwaram. Neolithic Age Traces of Neolithic culture were found at Chota Yelupu, where sling stones and other objects of interest were unearthed. The existence of Megalithic culture was revealed by the discovery of innumerable burials at various places like Tipparti, Nakrekal, Nalgonda etc. 300 BC - 185 BC  :  Mauryan Empire The political history of the district commences with the Mauryas. Mauryas, during the reign of Asoka, the Great held their sway over this region. Later the region has come under the over lordship of Satavahanas  230

Kayasthas ( 1239 AD - 1297 AD )  were the most powerful of all the Kakatiya chiefs ruling Panugallu. It is believed that these chiefs originally belonged to a class of warriors of Western India. This view has been further supported by inscription discovered in Chityala village in the Nalgonda district.  They were originally stationed by the king Ganapatideva at Panugallu as the governors of that part of the kingdom, Horsemanship and commanding of the cavalry were their specialized branches of war craft and most likely Ganapatideva brought the for the particular purpose of training his horsed and build up the cavalry force. In the history of the Kakatiyas the Kayastha chiefs thus played a prominent role both as loyal subordinates and traitors. 1239 AD - 1258 AD : Ganagaya Sahini Capital : Kroccherla (Eruva-73 region) Kayastha Chief Ganagaya Sahini was ruling the region extending from Panugallu in Nalgonda District to Valluru in the Cuddapah district and has the title of Gandapendara. 12

The Cheraku Chiefs ( c.1050 AD to 1323 AD)  Similar to the names of other families of chiefs this family also got its name after the small town Cheraku in Eruva  region   and  were subordinate/feudatory rulers of  Kandur Cholas and later  Kakatiyas from around .  Capitals : Jammulur (Nalgonda) and Amarabad (Mahabubnagar) regions.  The first capital of Cheraku chiefs was Jammulur, tirumalagiri talk, Nalgonda District.  Cheraku family is the one which played an important role in the affairs of the Kakatlya empires and inscriptions embodying the fact come from Kurnool, Nalgonda, Mahaboobnagar and Krsna districts.  They served as subordinates under Kakatiya Rudradeva, Mahadeva, Ganapatideva, Rudrama devi and Prataparudra periods.  Devarakonda of Nalgonda district, Cherakupalli village of Nakrekal taluq were their native places.  Jammuluru branch Cheruku rulers of Jammuluru have an area comprising of Tungaturti Devarakonda, Huzurnagar, Nakrekal, Motkur, Kodad, and Miryalaguda taluqs of Nalg