Telangana 360

Peddabankor is an early Buddhist site discovered in the 1960’s in  Peddapalli District  at the confluence of two small streams in Telangana, India.  Located 18 miles from Karimnagar. It is a place of archeological interest and the excavations here revealed apsidal rubble walled structures, brick structures, brick built and terracotta wolf.  The site also shows covered underground drains to channel waste water into soakage pits. Peddabankur is a small village now but was an important settlement during the Satavahana period extending over a 30 hectare area. About 10 kilometers, from Peddabankur was the fortified site which  is one of the 30 walled cities mentioned by Megasthenes. The stupa must date from the third century BCE because an inscription of the first quarter of the second century BCE records the veneering of the existing stupa. Roman coins and a terra cotta figure of a Roman trader have been recovered. There is no direct evidence of a monastery but a site of this size needed m

Padmakshi Temple is dedicated to Goddess Padmakshi who is fondly referred as ‘Amma’ or ‘mother.’ She is the consort of Lord Shiva. The present shrine is believed to have been built during the 12th century by the Kakatiya rulers. The deity is also referred as Padmakshamma and the shrine is located atop a Gutta or a hill. The pond at the foot of the Padmakshi hillock is sacred. Pillar in the temple is a unique piece of architecture. The quadrangular column is made in black granite stone and is located at the entrance of the shrine. The four faces of pillar are imposing.  The padmakshi temple is one of the oldest temples of the city, The Kakatiya King Betaraju II was the first king in his dynasty to have converted to Veerasaivism. However, prior to that all Kakatiyan kings were followers of Jainism. It was under the rule of Prolaraju II that the Kakatiyans built a Jain temple or Badasi. This was later converted to the Padmakshi temple once the rulers converted to Veerasaivism. Th

The Buddhist Stupa dating back to 2nd century BC and one of the 30 walled cities mentioned by Megasthenes located in Dhulikatta village of Eligaid mandal in Karimnagar district, Telangana lies neglected for several decades due to lethargy on the part of the government.  Dhulikatta got its name from ‘Dhulikota’ that means a fort made of mud.  It is about twenty-five kilometres away from Karimnagar city. The nearest Airport is Hyderabad which is about 175 kms from Dhulikatta. From there one can hire private vehicles. Situated about 20kms away from Dhulikatta the nearest Railway Station is Peddapalli. One can hire private vehicles from those places to reach Dhulikatta. The Archaeology Department had discovered the heritage structure in 1975 along the shores of a picturesque rivulet on the outskirts of Dhulikatta village. Barring the discovery of this early Buddhist stupa, the authorities have failed to take up any measures for the development and protection of the heritage site fo

Kondapur Museum (Late.17.33' N 78.1'E) is  located on a small hillock about one km south of the village of Kondapur in Medak District, Telangana, around 70 kms from Hyderabad. It is a Pre-Satavhana site  dating back to 200 BC - 200 AD. Capital of Mahisamandala Discovered a 25-ft high mound spread over 100 acres which they presume to be a Buddhist stupa with myriad segments throwing light on the Buddhist link of the present Telangana region.  One of the fortified urban settlements of Satavahanas.  Proved to be an important kshetra of Brahmanical faith particularly Sakti cult of that time which was clearly shown through the exposed structures and other associated findings such as coins and sealings.  The excavation yielded a large number of glass vessels indicating Roman influence that indicate the existence of a separate settlement of Romans in Kondapur who had brisk contact and trade with India.  If a stupa is unearthed as hoped by the ASI, this will be

945 AD : The Bommalagutta hillock, also known as Bommalamma Talli gutta  ( Vrishabhadri hill)  built in 945 AD during Vemulwada Chalukya king  Arikesari-II period  is an ancient Jain pilgrimage flourished about mid 10th century AD. This place is situated near Kurikyal village, Gangadhara mandal  in Karimnagar District of Modern Telangana state, India.  This place is about 18 kms from Karimnagar District headquarter in North West direction. The rock inscription underneath the Goddess Chakreshwari proclames the glory of Jainism and Adi kavi Pampa. There is no approach road to reach the 200-mt high hillock. One has to sweat it out to climb up as there are no steps, an experience which will certainly be nightmarish. Tourists need to creep through the gaps of gigantic rocks, in order to have darshan of the Jain deities, which are carved out in 945 A.D. This place contains natural caverns with some sculptures of Nirgantha Jinas and its subordinate goddess Chakreshwari. There are a

Hussain Sagar is a lake in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It is spread across an area of 5.7 square kilometers and is fed by River Musi.  Maximum depth of the lake is 32 feet 1562 - 1563 Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah commissioned the construction of the lake in 1562. Sufi Saint Hussain Shah Wali, the son-in-law of the king, was entrusted the duty of overseeing the construction work of the lake. Apparently, the lake became so deep and big that it remained empty for a few years and they had to bring an additional channel of water from the Musi to fill it up. "Legend has it that one day, the King went to take a look at the lake after the construction and was more than irked to hear a bystander call it the Hussain Sagar Cheruvu. He had spent a fortune to build it and he was miffed that he got no credit for it. So, the king ordered the construction of Ibrahimpatnam Lake," says Salil Kader, a researcher and a former professor of History, Moulana Azad University. 12 April 19

25th December 1924 :   Constructed  by Reverend Charles Walker Posnett during British Rule of India. From 1914 to 1924 the farmers toiled to erect the church and Thomas Edward Harding, the architect, left no stone unturned in building the cathedral. Located in the Medak Town about 90kms from Hyderabad, Telangana. The Medak diocese, under the Church of South India (CSI) is the single largest diocese in Asia and the second in the world after Vatican. The significance of the church is not only in its magnificence but also in the bond between poor and church. During World War-I, in late 1890s the district reeled under a famine. Moved by the plight of people, Rev. Charles Walker Posnett, proposed to build a great church in the year 1914. He evolved the 'food for work' programme so that the poor could find gainful employment. The villagers contributed to building the church, they could in turn earn food. That set the ball rolling for this renowned Gothic structure