Telangana360

Durgam Cheruvu Cable Bridge is located on Durgam Cheruvu lake near Inorbit Mall at Madhapur is the longest concrete deck cable bridge of the world. The bridge connects Jubilee Hills with Financial District.  Durgam Cheruvu, also known as Raidurgam Cheruvu, is a freshwater lake, which is spread over 63 acres is famous for film shootings. The originally 150-acre Durgam Cheruvu has been around for some time and has a rich history that dates back to the time of the Kakatiya dynasty. The lake was used for irrigation purposes by the Kakatiya rulers. Also it was documented as a water source between 1518 and 1687 for rulers of the Qutb Shahi dynasty to supply water needs for the residents of the Golconda fort., but the presence of these sedimentary rocks show that the lake and the surrounding lakebed has been present for long enough that many layers of sediment lithified underwater. It was so reliable that even when the Mughals besieged Golconda for eight months, the entire water needs wer...

Gulzar Houz is a octagonal-shaped fountain with a five-feet central fountain with three saucers and a four feet pedestal has a lamp post located at Gulzar Houz Chowk, near Charminar in the Old City, Hyderabad, Telangana, India. The Gulzar Houz was built as Hyderabad’s foundational monument in 1591 by Mohd Quli Qutb Shah, the city’s founder. The Gulzar Houz was originally called ‘Char Su Ka Houz’ (fountain of the four sides) and was built as a drinking water fountain for locals of the city. However, after the destruction of Hyderabad in 1687 by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, and subsequently with the Nizams coming in (1724) as governors of the Decan, changes were made to Gular Houz. The old massive structure was eventually broken down to what it is today. After the completion of Charminar, at about 75 metres feet to its north, four lofty arches known as Char Kaman were built in 1592. All four arches are at equidistant with each other with Gulzar Houz in the Centre. These arches were built by...

Introduction Nestled in the sacred village of Kolanupaka (Kulpak) in Aler Mandal, Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri District , Telangana, the Sri Chandikamba Sametha Someswaraswami Temple —popularly known as Kolanupaka Sri Someswara Temple —is one of the oldest Shaiva temples in South India. Dedicated to Lord Shiva (Someshwara Swamy) and Goddess Chandika , the temple is revered for its Sahasralinga (Veyi Lingala Gudi) , meaning "temple of a thousand lingas." Just a short distance away lies the ancient Kulpakji Jain Temple , making Kolanupaka a living testament to India’s spiritual harmony. History and Architecture Believed to date back to the Chalukyan period (1070–1126 CE) , inscriptions reveal that Kolanupaka was once the second capital of the Kalyani Chalukyas . The temple received generous patronage from rulers who donated land, gold, and cattle. Over time, the Kakatiyas expanded and renovated the structure, leaving behind their signature architectural elements— square man...

Gangapuram Chenna Keshava Swamy Temple is located in Gangapuram Village, Jadcherla Mandal, Mahabubnagar district, Telangana State, India. Built in 1042 AD is one of the important temples existing in South India and it is mentioned in Skandha Purana. This place is located about 5 Kms from Jadcherla towards Kalwakurthy in Mahabubnagar District.  The place became very famous during the reign of Chalukya kings of Badami. The Chalukya king of Kalyani Sri Thrailokya Malla Somwswarudu (1042 A.D. to 1063 A.D.) built Kesava Swamy Temple.  From then this place was known as Kesavapuram. Earlier it was called as Mayapuram, Mathsyapuram and dhurithapuram etc. the main deity of this temple is Sri Kesava Swmay and the sculpture here is very attractive. There is an evidence of Jaina Kalamukha and shiva religions spread here. Every year festival of this temple will be celebrated on the day of Radhasapthami and people participate in this event on a large scale. Sri Chenna Kesava Swamy is the pr...

Gollatha Temple is a holy shrine for Jains located near Alvanpalli village, Jadcherla Mandal of Mahabubnagar District, Telangana State, India. Alvanpalli (Gollathagudi) village is located about 10 km from Jadcherlatown and nearly 30 km from the district headquarters of Mahabubnagar. It is well accessible by road.  According to the department of archaeology and museums, there are only two ancient structures in the country built of bricks. While one lies in total ruin at Gollatha Gullu in Alwanpally in Jadcherla, the other is the oldest Hindu temple built during the Gupta period located at Bhitargaon, Kanpur district in Uttar Pradesh. The Gollatha Gullu, near the is a unique temple and stands amid an empty space with a wall around it and a locked gate. Built entirely of bricks, this temple stands as a model for brick technology of the time, according to ancient texts. A familiar blue board lets us know that it is under the protection of the archaeology department, but it is obviousl...

Rock art is a form of landscape art that includes designs that have been placed on boulder and cliff faces, cave walls and ceilings, and on the ground surface. Petroglyphs are rock carvings (rock paintings are called pictographs) made by pecking directly on the rock surface using a stone chisel and a hammerstone.  Of all the questions with regard to rock art the most problematic is its dating. For the relative dating of rock art the following aspects are taken into consideration.  They are: 1. Thematic content 2. Superimposition 3. State of preservation 4. Colour scheme 5. Archaeological evidence. 1. Thematic content The thematic content in the rock art of Telangana mainly consists of animal figures such as deer species, humped bull (Bos indicus), hare, rabbit , mangoose, porcupine, dog, tiger etc., and birds such as peacock, human and anthropomorphic figures, hand prints and geometric figures. The thematic content of the paintings and also the petroglyphs, is useful for under...

Hero stones, also known as Veeragallu, are a type of memorial stone that are commonly found in the Telugu region of India. They are typically erected in memory of a brave warrior or hero who died in battle or while defending their community. The history of hero stones in the Telugu region can be traced back to the early medieval period, with the earliest known examples dating back to the 5th century CE. These early hero stones were primarily made of granite and were typically adorned with intricate carvings and inscriptions detailing the deeds and accomplishments of the person being honored.Over time, the tradition of erecting hero stones spread throughout the Telugu region and became a common practice among various communities. The inscriptions on these stones were usually in the form of poetry, and many of them are considered to be important historical records of the culture and society of the time.In addition to honoring warriors and heroes, hero stones were also used to commemorate...

Mudumal Niluvu Raallu are an arrangement of menhirs that dates back to 5000 BC located in Mudumal village, Krishna Mandal, Narayanpet district of Telangana State, India.  Spread across nearly 89 acres, there are close to 80 tall menhirs of 10 to 14 feet height, accompanied by nearly 3,000 alignment stones. Historians and archeologists believe as the only megalithic site in India, where a depiction of star constellation has been identified. This site has three kinds of burial set-ups which indicate presence of a social division and the practice of revering the departed souls. The Menhirs also offer insight into how observant and scientific the community was as the Menhirs appear to be tracking the sun’s movement. Based on the kind of shadow cast and based on the location of the sun at sunrise the people in those days might have determined seasons and planned agriculture activities. Experts have found an inscription of the Ursa Major constellation on a flat rock here. “This is the on...

The Turquoise Throne (Telugu: Vaiḍhurya simhasanam) was originally covered with an gold and turquoise enamel was a famous jewel-studded throne of Warangal which became royal throne Takht-i-Firoza (Hindustani: Takht-e-firoza) of the Bahmani Sultans of Deccan in India.  March 23, 1363 : Warangal goldsmiths had a reputation for jewellery making. It was a gift by Musunuri Kapaya Nayaka, then king of Warangal. Over a period of time, this throne became one of the most important icons of the Bahmani royalty and heritage Telangana region was liberated by Musunuri Nayaks in the early 1330s. Nearly after three decades, the King of Telangana (or Warangal) Kapaya Nayaka came up with a proposal that caught the imagination of the Bahmani sultan. Kapaya Nayaka agreed to present the Bahmani with such a wonderful gift that is worthy only to be offered to a great king if they accept a truce and fix a frontier between the two kingdoms. This came after Nagadeva, son of Kapaya Nayaka was brutally kille...

Kaulas or Kowlas Fort is located in Kaulas Village, Jukkal mandal, Kamareddy District, Telangana State, India , at the border of three states – Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Kaulas or Koulas village, which holds the illustrious past like a jewel in the crown, presently a gram panchayat, falls under Jukkal mandal. However, locals say that the fort has been empty for decades now but sees many visitors. In the past there kingdoms Kaulas, Bodhan and Nizamabad were called Indur. Spread across 6 sq km with two entrances, Kaulas is perhaps one of the largest royal forts in the state. The mega fort sits majestically on the outskirts of Kaulas village, less than 1 km from the main village, and is surrounded by the Kaulas nala (stream). According to historians, it was built in Indra IV’s period of the Rashtrakuta dynasty in their political capital and was later captured by the Chalukyas of the Kalyani dynasty in the third quarter of the 10th century before it was captured by the Kakatiya...

The Mughal Empire's direct rule over Telangana (1687 - 1724) was a relatively short but pivotal period  that bridged the fall of the Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golconda and the rise of the independent Asaf Jahi dynasty (the Nizams of Hyderabad). Following the brutal siege and conquest of the Golconda Fort in 1687 by Emperor Aurangzeb, the region was incorporated into the Mughal Deccan as the Suba (province) of Hyderabad. This era was marked by political instability, frequent Maratha incursions, local rebellions, and administrative challenges, which ultimately paved the way for the establishment of a de facto independent state under Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah I. End of an Era: It marked the definitive end of the prosperous and culturally distinct Qutb Shahi Sultanate. Political Transition: This period served as a direct prelude to the founding of the princely state of Hyderabad, which would become a major power in South India for over two centuries. Administrative Continuity and Change: The...

Thatikonda or Tatikonda Fort is located in Thatikonda village, Station Ghanpur mandal, Jangaon district, Telangana State, India. Thatikonda Fort is built in the 17th century by Sardar Sarvai Papadu, popularly known as Sardar Sarvai Papanna of Quillashapur, a local leader who had then defied Mughal imperial authority and also revolted against the Golconda Nawabs. The historic Quilla i.e., hill fort is situated in survey no. 513 and the gadis are in survey no. 369. The fortifications lie on the top of the hillock. The mud fortification wall in intermittent patches runs from the top to the fort of the hill to join the gadi. The gadi is square in plan covering an area of about 5.36 acres. The basal width of wall is 3 feet and the height is about 16-20 feet. The material used for the construction of walls from the basement until 3 feet is stone and above this, it is made of mud. The mud wall consists of pati earth, which is mixed with potsherds, gravel, coarse sand, small chips etc. The mu...

Akkanna Madanna Temple is located in Shalibanda, Hyderabad, Telangana State, India. The presiding deity in this temple is Lord Mahankali. The temple is at a distance of 1 kilometer from Charminar It is popular during the festival of Bonalu that is celebrated in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The temple is famous for the Ghatam procession during the Bonalu festival which is majorly celebrated in the holy place. As per the records, nearly 1 lakh devotees visit the temple during Ghatam. During the festival, the devotees present an offering to Devi Mahakali. Architecture The beautiful temple is built in blush and coral shades of red, with pillars and ceilings of carvings and inscriptions of Hindu God and Goddess. The pillars and ceiling of this temple has carving and inscription of hindu Gods and Goddess and their related stories and tales. The temple premise is a walled complex and houses several small temples within it. The main tower has images of Gods and Goddesses in i...