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Prehistory of Ancient India

Prehistory of Ancient India From Jambudvipa to the Vedic Age | Archaeological, Literary & Foreign Accounts Pre‑Historic to Proto‑Historic | Stone Ages | Indus Valley | Vedic Period | Heterodox Sects | Rise of Empires 📜 Timeline Overview 🌏 Jambudvipa & Puranic Continents 📖 Sources of Ancient Indian History 🗿 Prehistoric & Protohistoric Periods (Stone Age) ⛰️ Paleolithic Age (600,000 – 10,000 BCE) 🏹 Mesolithic Age (10,000 – 6,000 BCE) 🌾 Neolithic Age (9,000 – 3,000 BCE) 🔨 Chalcolithic Age (3,000 – 1,000 BCE) 🏛️ Indus Valley Civilization (2500 – 1500 BCE) 📜 Vedic & Sangam Age (1500 – 600 BCE) 🚩 Rise of Heterodox Sects – Jainism & Buddhism 👑 Emergence of Empire – Mahajanapadas to Nandas 💰 Coinage in Ancient India ⚡ Aryan Inv...

Lodhi Mallayya Temple and Waterfall

Loddi Mallana Temple is located deep inside the Nallamala Forest within the Mannanur Range of the Amrabad Tiger Reserve, in Nagarkurnool district, Telangana State, India. It lies about 10 km from the Mannanur Forest Checkpost on the Hyderabad–Srisailam Road (NH 765), and requires a 4 km trek into a scenic forest valley to reach the cave shrine. Loddi Mallana (also called Loddi Mallayya or Lodhi Mallana) is an ancient cave temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The shrine is situated in front of a serene natural lake, with a Shivalinga enshrined inside the cave. The term “Loddi” or “Lodhi” means valley in the local dialect. “Mallana” or “Mallayya” refers to Lord Shiva, making the name mean “Valley of Lord Mallanna.”  Because of its cave setting and the natural Shiva Linga, it is often called the “Telangana Amarnath.” Significance and History This sacred site is open to devotees only once a year — during Tholi Ekadashi (the first Ekadashi in the month of Ashadha / July). Thousands of devote...

Kamaldham Temple in Chevella

Kamaldham Temple or Lotus Temple is is also called as Smay Narayan Temple because it is in Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Internatioal School on the highway near Himayath Nagar junction, Chevella, Rangareddy district, Telangana State, India. Kamaldham Mandir, is a white structure surrounded by a huge pink lotus base. Standing atop a pond, this Hindu temple is home to six deities.  At a distance of 21 km from Nampally Railway Station, 15 km from Golconda Fort & 3 km from Chilkur Balaji Temple, Kamaldham Mandir is also called as Lotus Temple. It is located in Sri Swaminarayan Gurukul on the highway near Himayath Nagar junction 3 Kms before Chilkur Balaji Temple. The temple has wonderful architecture with lush green surroundings. The temple is built on a pond with lotus-shaped base. The presiding deities are Lord Sri Swaminarayan, Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganapati, Goddess Parvati and Lord Surya. Timings: 6.30 AM - 7.30 PM.

Hyderabad Gulzar Houz

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...

Alvanpalli Gollatha Temple or Gullu

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...

Hero Stones or Veeragallu of Telangana

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...

Turquoise Throne of Warangal

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...

Sir Ronald Ross Building

Sir Ronald Ross Building or Heritage Building of World Medicine or Sir Ronald Ross Institute of Parasitology is a malaria research institute located in Begumpet, Secunderabad (Mandal), Hyderabad, Telangana State, India. Major Ronald Ross (13 May 1857 – 16 September 1932) was a British Doctor born in Almora, in current Uttarakhand, India. He was the first of ten children to be born to General Sir Campbell Claye Grant Ross, a British officer stationed in Secunderabad as as Duty Medical Officer for the Military. At the age of eight, he was sent to England to be educated and spent much of his childhood with an aunt and uncle on the Isle of Wight. He commenced the study of medicine at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in London in 1875; entered the Indian Medical Service in 1881.  He served in the third Burmese War in 1885 as a member of the Indian Medical Service. After studying bacteriology in London from 1888 to 1889, he returned to India and commenced the study of malaria in 1892. ...

Khazana Building Museum

Khazana Building Museum is located Near Golconda Fort in Khair Complex, Toli Chowki, Hyderabad, Telangana 500008, India. It has a collection of relics from Qutb Shahi, Bahmani and Kakatiya dynasties.  Khazana Building, As the name suggests, Khazana Building was the place where the kingdoms Khazana or treasure was stored. It was the treasury of Ibrahim Qutb Shahi. Khazana Building is located close to the Golconda Fort in Hyderabad. Located on the main road, on the way from Fateh Darwaza to Bala Hissar road. The museum houses cannons from the Qutb Shahi period, stone sculptures from neighbouring regions of Chalukya and Kakatiya period as well as Qutb shahi and Bahmani dynasties, rare coins to centuries old relics unearthed during various excavations etc, 3,500 arms and weapons of Qutb Shahi period among others. As is with most Islamic buildings, there are religious centres inside the complex. Ashrafi Mosque in the eastern quarters of the building, Chani mosque (built during Ibrahim Q...

Shamsheer Kota

Shamsheer Kota is located in Golconda, Hyderabad district, Telangana State, India. During the reign of Ibrahim Qutb Shah, royal arms and weaponry were stored in this building. There are many historic monuments near Golconda fort of Hyderabad and one of them is Shamsheer Kotha monument which is located near Khazana Building on the main road from the Fateh Darwaza to Bala Hissar. There are series of rooms for storing arms and weapons and a masjid, constructed in Qutb Shahi style. There is a large cannon on display at the entrance gate here that reflects the glory of historic era of Qutb Shahis who had ruled this region for nearly two centuries.

Khursheed Jah Devdi

Khursheed Jah Devdi a beautiful two-story structure is a European styled architectural palace located on Government Degree College Rd, Murgi Chowk, Charminar, Hussaini Alam, Hyderabad, Telangana 500064, India The palace, built by Paigah noble Nawab Fakhruddin, is European-styled and is considered as one of the best examples of Palladian architecture.   Nawab Khursheed Jah Paigah was the maternal grandson of the third Nizam of Hyderabad. Khursheed Jah Baradari was his residence, near the Charminar. It is a gorgeous Palladian mansion with imposing pillars and a strikingly European design. While it is commonly referred to as a baradari (literally means having 12 doors) or a devdi (sort of like a haveli) it is counted as one of Hyderabad's best palaces. The construction of the palace was started by Sir Khursheed Jah's grandfather, and completed by his father. It is said, that when the Paigah family lived in this palace, it was full of expensive furniture, chandeliers and paintings...

Shaikpet Mosque and Sarai

Shaikpet Mosque and Sarai are located at distance of nearly 11 km from the centre of Hyderabad in Shaikpet, Hyderabad district, Telangana State, India. The Sarai was built on the way to Bidar, capital of Barid Shahis, for the traders to halt at night, before obtaining permission to enter into the fort from Quiladar of Golconda Fort. The Sarai complex was initiated by Ibrahim Qutb Shah (1550 – 1580 CE). The Sarai gradually came to provide amenities like sarai blocks, mosques, a tomb, stables for horses and camels and other minor structures. It is a typical, large caravan Sarai constructed in Qutub Shahi style of architecture consisting of a two storied building exclusively meant for traveller’s rest. An inscription indicates that a larger part of the Sarai complex was built by Abdullah Qutb Shah in 1633 – 34 CE. Shelter for horses and camels was also added to the Sarai towards southern side. The sarai had 30 rooms, stables for horses and camels, a mosque and a tomb of an unknown Sufi sa...

Akkana Sarai

Akkana Sarai is located in Maisaram, Maheswaram, Rangareddy district, Telangana State, India. Akkana's Sarai is a square shaped sarai dedicated to Akkana, a senior officer who served the Qutb Shahi Empire from 1674 CE to 1686 CE. It is surrounded by a huge compound wall with built-in cubicles facing inner side of the compound, which was probably used as rest house. There is a palatial building situated in the middle. There is another pillared structure, probably used as meeting hall. The compound wall consists of some cubicles near the gate, constructed on the outer side. A small Hindu temple is also present on the first floor of the square shaped Sarai enclosure. There is a huge compound wall, constructed as a supporting back wall with large number of cubicles present in the sarai. Some cubicles are much bigger in size, provided with small niches, some cubicles are smaller in size and these rest rooms are provided in the masjid area also. Some of the rest rooms are constructed lik...