Telangana Tourism, History, Art and Culture with a 360 degree view, covering anything and everything !

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.
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Kongala waterfalls

Kongala waterfalls or Puli Madugu Jalapatham is located near Kongala village, Wazeedu mandal ,Mulugu district, Telangana state, India. 

The waterfall is called ‘V-fall’ by the locals. While the height of the fall is about 70 feet, the Loddimadugu Vagu (stream) fall merges into Kongala tank in the village.

It is around 3 kms from Kongala village. You have to adventure through a trek for about 2 kms or 45 minutes amidst the Kongala forest or Dulapalli forest range and then reach the mighty cascade. Standing at a height of 30 m and spanning around an area of 100 m, water from the falls creates a large pool at the bottom making it a fun activity for the tourists to have fun swimming in them. The surrounding area is also considered great for bird watching as the waterfall is located in the middle of the forest.

You would need to take help of local guides to get there and there is a good chance you would be on your own when you visit the place and giving you plenty of time to be in bliss.

When to visit

Waterfalls turn majestic the moment the season of rain dawns upon them. With rains flooding this year, the months from June to November are the best time to visit these stunning cascades. The rainy season is also the best time for all nature lovers to catch a glimpse of the greenery around these nature’s spectacles.

Where to Stay
FERIADO RESORTS, BOGATHA
FERIADO RESORTS, TADVAI
HARITHA GRAND, MEDARAM
HARITHA GRAND, GATTAMMA

It is about 10 min drive from Bogatha Falls and a 45-minute trek

35 km from Tadvai
128 km from Warangal
270 km from Hyderabad.



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Mashenuloddi waterfall

Mashenuloddi waterfall is located near Dulapuram village, Wajedu Mandal, Mulugu district, Telangana, India.

You have around 12 major waterfalls in 50 kms radius.

From Bogathafalls X road if you go right you will go to Venkatapuram, Muthyamdhara waterfalls and Bhadrachalam.

if you go straight and left you will reach Jaganathapuram village and from there around 3 kms you will reach Dulapuram and from there if you take right in around 3 kms you will reach Mashenuloddi waterfall. You can drive from Dulapuram village around 2 kms and need to trek around 1 km to reach waterfall and you need a guide. You can get a guide at Dulapuram village to trek in  forest to reach Mashenuloddi waterfall.

5 kms from Bogatha Waterfalls
20 kms after crossing Mullakatta bridge from Eturnagaram
23 kms from Eturnagaram
82 kms from Mulugu
127 kms from Badrachalam
134 kms from Warangal
279 kms from Hyderabad





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Pallava Dynasty

Pallava Dynasty (275 AD - 897 AD)
Capital : Kanchipuram
Founder : Virakurcha
Langauges: Sanskrit, Parikrit, Tamil
Religion: Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism

Pallavas were initially feudatories of Satavahanas and later ruled independently from Kanchipuram. It is also certain that the Pallavas succeeded the Chutus of the Naga race.

Haritiputra Vishnukada Cutukulananda Satakarni and his grandson by the daughter Sivaskanda Varman, also called Siva Skanda Naga Sri in the Banavase inscription, and Skanda Naga Satavahana in the Kanheri inscription.

310 AD : Occupied Western Deccan including Telangana region around c.310 AD by defeating Chutu ruler Hariti-putra Siva-skanda-varman.

c. 310 AD - c. 320 AD : Bappadeva or Pallava Simhavarman I 
Alliance between Pallavas and Chutus : A Pallava prince married the daughter of the King Śiva - Skanda - Nâga - Śâtakarṇi , and inherited the throne of Kanchi.

It is these Chutukula successors in the territory immediately adjoining that of the Pallavas that must be the Naga family by a marriage alliance with Simhavarman I  son Siva-skanda-varman who must have defeated Skandanaga, This changed status of the kings can also be seen especially in the Manchikallu stone inscription of Simhavarman I, the Mayidavolu plates of his son yuvamaharaja Sivaskandavarman

c. 320 AD : Maidavolu inscription 10th year, while he was acting as his father's viceroy at Dhanya Kataka. Prince Shiva Skanda respected the time - honoured customs of the Hindus in show- ing filial devotion and honour.  The Maidavolu inscription identifies their rule quite close to the Krishna river basins. On the western side, it seems to have extended till today’s Bellary district in Karnataka. From around the 4th–5th century CE, this demarcation seems to shift focus to a Kanchipuram-centric rule. 

320 AD - 340 AD : Pallava Siva Skanda Varman
328 AD :  The Hirahadagali copper plate (Bellary District) record in Prakrit is dated in the eighth year of Sivaskanda Varman confirms the gift made by his father who is described merely as "Bappa-deva" (revered father) or Boppa. It will thus be clear that this dynasty of the Prakrit charters beginning with "Bappa-deva" were the historical founders of the Pallava dominion in South India

The Hirahadagalli plates of Siva Skanda Varman from 328 CE in Prakrit language and Brahmi script is one of the oldest sets of records and throws light on the administrative setup that was prevailing. The copper plate records donation of a village to a certain Gola Sarman, a Brahmin belonging to Atreya gotram. The meticulous detailing of the order certainly draws our attention. The administrative hierarchy is clearly listed and includes designations such as Rajakumara (the viceroy), Senapati (army commander), Rashtrika (governor) and Desadhikrita (regional administrative officer). The names of these officers are clearly mentioned. This is followed by local officers and the list of designations include gramabhojaka (beneficiaries of local revenue), vallava (confidential officers), go-valla (officer in charge of cattle), amatya (interim officers trained in warfare and medical practice), aranyadhikrita (officer in charge of forest tracts), ghumike (division commanders), tutika (agents) and neyika (leaders of platoons). The king in his capacity declares that this gift is done “for increase of ourselves and of our family in respect of our good deeds, length of life, strength and fame as also victory and prosperity”.

The designations are so well demarcated that it gives us a general idea about the administrative hierarchy and the distribution of power down a clear structure. Gifting of a village to an individual in a particular division demands that a list of officials involved in various departments are informed. This is similar to transfer of power over land ownership. Moreover in this case, it is given as a gift by the king and hence made tax-free. To ensure that all the bureaucrats are well informed about it and there is no doubt anytime in the future, the document puts it all in black and white.

It would appear as though the Kadambas made the conquest of the territory which became associated with them from this Siva Skanda Varman himself. 

Hirahadagalli plate states that Siva-skandavarman performed Vajapeya, Agnisthoma and Ashvamedha yajnas.

340 AD : Vakataka ruler Sarvasena defeated Pallavas in Telangana region around 340 AD.
345 AD : Mayurasharma of Kadamba dynasty defeated Pallavas around 345 AD

Budhavarman
Budhyankura
Saka Nanda

365 AD : Mahadandanayaka Saka Sridharavarman
Success! In the victorious twenty-seventh year, augmenting [his dominion for a thousand years] of the Rajan (and) Mahakshatrapa Sridharavarman, the son of the Saka Nanda 
He probably suffered a defeat by the Gupta Emperor Samudragupta around 365 CE. After submitting to Samudragupta, he and his successor may have ruled a bit longer in Eastern Malwa, until they were vanquished by Chandragupta II in his "conquest of the whole world"

642 AD - 655 AD: Pallava King Narasimhavarman I (630 - 668 AD) defeated Pulakeshin II.
The last few ruling years of Pulakeshin II ended in disaster. The great Pallava king Narasimhavarman I occupied the southern part of the Chalukya empire including the capital city of Badami and inflicted a crushing defeat on the Chalukyas and burnt Badami. Pulakeshin II lost his life in this encounter. 

1150 or 1157 AD - 1182 AD : Pallava Vijayaditya
only inscription is from Kattapalli and mentions Korradhamadugu dated 1151 or 1157 A.D. His relationship to his predecessor Nandivarma is not konwn. Vijayaditya’s reign may have lasted up to A.D. 1182—the earliest date for his successor Allutikka.

Jainath Temple Stone Inscription in Devanagari Script – It starts with SURYA NARAYANAAYA NAMAHA and ends with “MAHA VEERA NAAMA ADITYA PRATAPAVAN PALLAVIJAYAADITYA”. It’s all about Surya Naama Stuthi shlokas that’s why this temple is called as Surya Narayana Temple too.
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Mahisha Saka Chutu Dynasty

c. 181 AD - 310 AD : Mahisha Saka Chutu Dynasty ( c.181 - 310 AD)
Capital : Kondapur, Telangana State. Banavasi or Vanavasi in present-day Karnataka state.
Founder : Rano Chutukulananda
Langauges : Prakrit
Religion : Budhism
Emblem : Chutu inscriptions contain the emblem of the cobra hood implying Chutu meant the "cobra crest"

Chutus were originally Sakas and that they became feudataries of Satavahana after Gautamiputra Satakarni occupied extensive territories from Nahapana. One member of the Chutu family was appointed Mahasenapati in the Kondapur region and another was appointed to govern Gautamiputra's new acquired city of Banavasi. Chutu family became the masters of Kuntala

Chutus rose to power in the Kuntala region after the fall of the Satavahanas. Some scholars consider Chutu - kula to be a branch of the Satavahana - kula merely on the strength of a common surname. After the demise of Satavahana emperor Gautami-putra Yajna Satakarni in 181 CE, the old dynasty (Satavahanas) lost control of the western provinces, which passed into the hands of another family of Satakarnis, the Chutu-kula. 

Mahisha Saka dynasty comprised the southern part of the former Hyderabad State , which was called Mahishaka in ancient times. Mahishaka dynasty proves that the area was ancient Mahishamandala.

After the Satavahanas, the district passed under the sway of the Mahisha dynasty. Though as many as eighteen rulers ruled this district for a period of 383 years, only two rulers Mana and Yasa proved to be powerful. Mana broke the domination of the Satavahanas, assumed the title of ‘Rajan’ and reigned the kingdom to its splendor. He enjoyed the privilege of striking his own coins. One of his lead coins exhibited the characteristics of the coins belonging to the close of 2nd or beginning of the 3rd century. The rule of this dynasty came to an end with the rise of Chalukyas of Badami

Sadakana Kalalaya Maharathi
Coins resemble the rule of Gautamiputra Satakarni

Mahasenapathi Sumahagamaka
Coins from Kondapur excavations

Maharathi Sadakana Chutu Krishna
Coins discovered at Chandravalli and Kondapur bear the legend "Maharathi Sadakana Chutu Krishna"
Maharathi and Ananda Coins

Bhardvaja

c. 181 AD : Saka or Saga Mana Mahisha
The reverse motif resembles the swastika-type coins of Mahasenapathi Saka or Saga Mana Chutukulasa Mahisha son of Bhardvaja discovered in the excavation at Kondapur.
Copper coins in Hyderabad of Rano Saka Mana Mahsasa. 
Became King from Mahasenapathi around 181 AD

Yasa Mahisha : Coin found in mask, Raichur

Sivala Mahisha : Coin found in Hyderabad

Chutus took possession of the south - western parts and extended their power in the north and east ; and the Pallavas filled the political vacuum in the south - eastern tracts.

Chutukulananda, Mulananda and Sivalananda. They minted heavy lead coins mainly engraving the symbol of arched hill on the obverse and the railed tree and or Nandipada symbol on the reverse. Most of the coins inscribed kings name with the family suffix.

c. 208 AD - c. 230 AD : Chutukulananda
Coins of Rano Chutukadanamdasa were discovered from Karwar and Banavasi

c. 230 AD - c. 255 AD : Mulananda

c. 255 AD - c. 280 AD : Vishnurudra Sivalananda Satakarni
The Chutu king Sivalananda is attested by a 278 CE inscription of the Abhira ruler Vasushena from Nagarjunakonda.
278 AD : Year 30 (variously ready as 30, 9, 20 of King King Vasisthiputra Vasusena the Abhira fortnight 6 of the rainy season 2 day 1 which is 257, 268 or 278

By the great village chief, the great talavara, the great commander, Sivaseba of the Peribidehas of the Kuasika gotra this image of lord Astbhujasvamin, made from udumbara wood, which had never been moved from Sanjayapuri from its place, by the kings Saka Rudradaman of Avanti and Visnurudra Sivalanda Sataakrni of Vanavasa has been installed on Sedagiri.

The engraver is Vardhamanaka belonging to sembaka family Suryavamsi reads last line as Abhira Samvat 100, 303 AD. Sarma reads last line as 47 year Rksadesa/kalacuri-ceda era 295 AD

Around 280 AD Haritiputra Vinhukada Chutukulananda Satakarni might have defeated Abheeras and occupied telangana region

c. 280 - c. 292 AD : Haritiputra Vinhukada Chutukulananda Satakarni
Wife Nagamulanika : Mother of Skandanaga Sataka, Sister of Dhanasena
King of Vaijayantipura
Malavalli Pillar Inscription : Year 1
Kanheri Cave Inscription Year 9
Vanavasi Stone Inscription Year 12 
Haritiputra-Satakarni issued an order to the chief revenue commissioner Mahavallabha-Rajjuka to grant a village of Sahalavati to a certain Kondamana as a Brahmin endowment 

289 AD : The Kottampalugu inscription, dated 11th year of king Ehuvula Camtamula II records the construction of a vihara by Kodabalisiri (Kundavallisri), Mahadevi of the Maharaja of Banavasaka daughter of Virapurushadatta.

The most significant objects within the Banavasi Madhukeshava Temple  premises are the inscribed Naga sculpture, the highly ornate stone cot. The inscribed Naga sculpture carved on a thin rectangular slab has an ornate five-hooded coiled serpent as the central figure with an inscription in nail headed Brahmi characters (2nd centuries AD) and Prakrit language along the side borders. 

It records the gift of this artistic Naga image along with a tank and a vihara by Sivaskanda Nagasri, daughter of Haritiputra Vinhukada Chutukulananda Satakarni in his 12th regnal year.

Another record states that king Satakami had a daughter named Mahabhoja-Nagasri who made a grant of a tank and a Vihara to the Madhukeswara temple

c. 292 - c. 310 AD : Skandanaga Satakarni
Skanda Naga extends the Chutu realm to Aparanta north of modern Bombay. 
Alliance between Pallavas and Chutus : A Pallava prince married the daughter of the King Śiva - Skanda - Nâga - Śâtakarṇi , and inherited the throne of Kanchi.

It is these Chutukula successors in the territory immediately adjoining that of the Pallavas that must be the Naga family by a marriage alliance with Simhavarman I (c.310 AD) son Siva-skanda-varman who must have defeated Skandanaga around 310 AD, This changed status of the kings can also be seen especially in the Manchikallu stone inscription of Simhavarman I, the Mayidavolu plates of his son yuvamaharaja Sivaskandavarman


https://www.jstor.org/stable/42665170

https://www.jstor.org/stable/24665991

https://www.jstor.org/stable/44304270

https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/columns/2021/nov/18/how-the-pallavas-administered-land-2384908.html

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Durgam Cheruvu Cable Bridge

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 were met from this lake," says historian Mohammed Safiullah.

In the 1970s, the historian added that many people would visit the lake for picnics, and to admire the natural rock formations around the water body.

The lake is shielded by granite rocks which are said to be only one of its kinds in entire Asia. The stones date back to more than some 2,500 million years. Nature lovers are very attracted to this place. The Tourism Department has provided camping, pedal boating, and trekking facilities.

History
The Durgam Cheruvu Bridge in Hyderabad was was opened by Telangana's minister of municipal administration and urban development, KT Rama Rao for public use on September 25, 2020.

Construction tenders were opened in early 2019 and L&T (Larson and Toubro) ended up winning the contract and the construction began on 9 March 2019. The bridge was supposed to be completed in April/May 2020 and opening in June 2020.

Architecture
The 435-meter-long and 25.8-meter-wide Durgam Cheruvu Bridge is an extradosed bridgeWith the inclusion of this bridge, Hyderabad city now boasts of having the longest precast segmental span in concrete extradosed cable-stayed bridge in the world. This has been confirmed by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation as well.

Construction
It was constructed by Larsen and Turbo (L&T) under the Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode. 

It has been built at a cost of around 184 crores rupees. A whopping amount of 428 tonnes high-tensile strand, 4,800 metric tonnes steel, 287 tonnes of stay-cables along with 26,600 cubic metres of concrete were used in building this massive bridge.

It has 52 stay cables. Another striking feature of this bridge is that all the materials used in building it have been procured from various parts of India apart from the cables, which were brought from Germany.

The Durgam Cheruvu Bridge looks like a flying palace at night. This is because the designing of the structure is done in a way that 26 stayed cables and 40,000 LEDs are installed to make the structure appear stunning. With multiple-coloured lights and numerous themes, the world's longest deck bridge gives an unforgettable view!

It cost a whopping 9 crore to the government for making the structure a man-made wonder!

2015: In August 2015, a committee found that 60 acres were reported to be encroached, with the value of the encroached land worth almost Rs.1,500 crore.
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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 Sultan Muhammad Quli. (Kamaan meaning Arches). These Kamaans are the Kali Kamaan, Machli Kamaan, Seher-e-Batil ki Kamaan and Charminar Kamaan.

At the center of these arches a fountain, octagonal in shape, with 4 channels dividing each road into 2 parts was built by Mir Momin Astarabadi, the first prime minister under Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah.

The 4 channels were called Char Su Ka—”The Cistern of the four directions,” and these channels symbolized the 4 canals in Jannat -“Heaven”.Canals of Pure Water,
Canals of Pure Milk,
Canals of Pure Honey
Canals of Pure Wine.

This fountain with four streams flowing through it, was built to quench the thirst of the soldiers.

Today, that octagonal fountain has become round and the name Char Su Ka over time was later known as “Suka-Hauz” and then was called “Gulzar Houz”.

Renovation
Oct 4 : Gulzar Houz is ready for Inauguration was renovated at a cost of Rs 29.50 lakh. The Quli Qutb Shah Urban Development Authority (QQSUDA) had hired a firm, Deccan Terrain Heritage, with expertise in heritage conservation works to reconstruct the 400-year-old fountain dating back to the Qutb Shahi era.






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