Khilashapur Fort (Quileshapur / Quilla Shapur / Khila Shapur) – Khilashapur village, Raghunathpalle Mandal, Jangaon district, Telangana, India. Located approximately 5 km from Raghunathpalli Railway Station. The fort was built around 1690 CE by Sardar Sarvai Pappanna (Papadu) , a warrior‑chief who made it his capital. It features a square plan with massive bastions at the four corners, five buruzus (towers), two surviving cannons, and secret tunnels. Built by Sardar Sarvai Pappanna (Papadu) c. 1690 Square Plan – Four Corner Bastions Five Buruzus (Fortified Towers) Two Surviving Cannons Secret Tunnels for Escape Capital of Papadu’s Kingdom Recent Restoration Efforts Historical Background: Khilashapu…

Archaeology officials have identified an ancient idol Shaivite Veeragallu at a farmer’s field at Munigadapa village of Jagadevpur. It belongs to 12-13th century AD. Assistant Director of Archaeology and Museums, Telangana, P Nagaraju clarified that some locals mistook it as idol of lord Shiva, but actually it is a Veeragallu idol. “Number of such idols have been found across Telangana in the past too,” said Nagaraju. He further said that they were planning to make a visit to Munigadapa after informing the Director of Archaeology and Museums, NR Visalatchy to find out if there were any historical sites that were located at Munigadapa. The idol was found at the farm of farmer Vadde Narsimhulu …

Rare Tara (Female Buddha) Idol Discovery – Ippagudem, Station Ghanpur Mandal – a significant archaeological find in Ippagudem village, Station Ghanpur mandal, Jangaon district, Telangana . A rare black granite idol of Tara – the female Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism who appears as a female Buddha in Vajrayana Buddhism – was discovered abandoned near the bund of a tank by heritage enthusiast R. Rathnakar Reddy . The idol, dating to the 8th or 9th century AD , stands 3‑ft tall and features a naked upper body with large breasts (a common description of Tara in Buddhist literature). An engraved image of Buddha is visible on the hair bun. A broken 4‑ft Buddha idol was found nearby. The discovery …

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 m…

Excavation at Narmeta sets back region’s history to 3,500 years Beads made of bones and used as ornaments and two conches found The ongoing excavation at Narmeta and Palamakula villages in Nanganur mandal of Siddipet district may set back the history of the region to at least 3,500 years as the excavation site belongs to Megalithic period. Burial site The Department of Archaeology and Museums has taken up excavation at Menhir burial site at Narmeta, located between Siddipet and Husnabad. Two burial sites – a Menhir and a Cairn burial –were selected for excavation. The sites were named Meg-I and Meg-II. The excavation at Meg-I was done adopting quadrangular method. This Menhir burial has doub…

Nacharam Gutta – Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple – a revered 600‑year‑old cave temple situated on a beautiful hillock in Wargal Mandal, Siddipet district, Telangana . The temple houses a Swayambu (self‑manifested) Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy along with his consort Lakshmi Thayar, beautifully carved into the rock. Legend has it that Sage Narada performed penance here, and the place is named after a devotee called Nacharam . The temple features a stunning multicoloured rajagopuram , a gold‑coated dhwajastambha , and a flight of stairs leading to the darshan of Lord Surya Narayana. Located 50 km from Hyderabad , the temple is open from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily, with archana, aarti, and abhishekam as…

Jamalapuram – Swayambhu Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple (Telangana Tirupati) – an ancient and revered hilltop temple located in Jamalapuram village, Yerrupalem mandal, Khammam district, Telangana . Known as the “Telangana Tirupati” , this shrine is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, who is manifested here as a swayambhu (self‑manifested) idol. The temple is believed to be over 850 years old and has received patronage from Kakatiya ruler Prataparudra and Vijayanagara emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya . The serene location near Pedda Cheruvu (big tank) , surrounded by lush green hills, attracts devotees from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and beyond. The complex also houses shrines for Padmavathi Ammavari, Lord…

Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple (Sthambadri / Guha Gudi), Khammam – the ancient cave temple from which the city of Khammam derives its name. Located in the heart of Khammam town, Telangana , on a hill called Stambhadri (pillar hill), this temple is believed to have existed since Tretha Yuga (traditionally over 1.6 million years). The presiding deity, Lord Narasimha, emerged from a khamba (pillar) to bless Sage Maudgalya, giving the place its original name Sthamba Sikari , later Sthambadri , and finally Khammam . The temple is also known as Guha Gudi (cave temple) as the sanctum is within a natural rock cave. Situated on the banks of the River Munneru (a tributary of the Krishna), the temple …