PLACES

Important Tourist Places in and Warangal City

THE BHADRAKALI TEMPLE

Dedicated to the Goddess ‘Bhadrakali’ is a precious deity of this region. Located on the hilltop between the twin cities of Hanamkonda and Warangal with a artificial lake of 2 ½ kms radius is one of the major attractions of the city. The main attraction of the temple is the square image of the goddess (2.7 X 2.7 meters), an ancient Bhadrakali in sitting posture wearing a crown with eight hands, holding weapons. The festive occasion of visiting this temple is in the telugu month of ‘Sravana’ (August-September), when the deity is decorated in various forms becoming an major attractions to the devotees. The surrounding mountain area of the temple is developed into a sacred one with about 8 major and 12 minor temples attracting lot number of devotees.

THE PAKHAL LAKE and THE WILD LIFE SANCTUARY

About 50 kms east of the historical city of Warangal, amidst undulating forest-clad hills and dales is the man made lake ‘Pakhal’ built during 12-13 AD in the reign of King Ganapathi Deva. It stands as a live example of the Vastu Vignana (Knowledge of Vastu), which found its expression in the building activity of the Kakatiya kings. Around the shores of this lake is the ‘Pakhal Wild Life Sanctuary’ covering an area of 900 Sq. Kms with dense forest, Shelter of tigers and a large variety of protected animals.

KAZIPET

The Kazipet railway junction is situated at a distance of about 132 kms from Hyderabad and is 7 kms from the city of Hanamkonda. It connects North–South and East -West rail transport of the Indian Railway.
This place is famous for the ‘Green Durgah’ i.e. the tomb of Afzal Shah Biyabani, the Quazi of Warangal during the time of Nizam Ali Khan Asaf Jah II. This place is also famous for the Urs that is celebrated in honour of Afzal Shah Biyabani from the 21-28th of safar, (June-July) when more than 10,000 muslim devotees from all over India congregate. The Kazipet Durgah is the place of visit not only for the Muslim Community but also for other religions from all over the Country. This place is also noted for the Christian festival of Lady Fatima.

INUGURTHY

Ingurthi an ancient village of historical significance was under the rule of the Kakatiya Kings. A reservoir called the Gunti Cheruvu reservoir, which is said to have been constructed by Kakatiya Prola during 1117 AD that can still be seen in this village. The first Telugu weekly from Telangana, namely, the “Telugu Patrika” was edited and started from this place for some years.

GHANAPURAM

It is located 22.5 kms north of Mulug, the taluk headquarters. A big man made tank with a catchments area of 64 sq. kms know as Ganapuram tank and a Siva temple are the important places in this village. Both these were constructed by the Kakatiya Kings.

THE KAKATIYA MUSICAL GARDEN

The city has the privilege of having the Bhadrakali Tank and Bhadrakali Temple on its bund encircled by hillocks with beautiful natural surroundings. The land measuring about 15 acres was handed over to the Kakatiya Urban Development authority by the Government by the side of artificial lake of about 6 kms in radius tank. In 1989-90, the Kakatiya Urban Development Authority, Warangal, developed a garden by name the Kakatiya Musical Garden in an area of about 9 acres. This area is endowed with great potential for a musical fountain. There are artificial water falls, boating facility for the young and the old alike with beautiful natural landscaping

THE WARANGAL FORT

The fort Warangal is built with Geometric intricacies during the reign of Ganapathi Deva, in 1199 AD and was completed by his daughter Rani Rudramadevi in 1261 AD. It is located at a distance of 12 Kms from Hanamkonda. It has tow walls, the inner one being made of stone and the outer wall is of mud. It is It is 56 feet in height and 72 ft wide.
The four large elaborately carved gateways, which can be still seen were the creation of the then architects, which they called as “Kirti Toranas”. The temples, sculptures, and pillars inside the fort spread over a radius of 19 kms between Hanamkonda and Warangal. The impregnable fort was popularly known as the seat of power. The largest of the temple that is in the center of the court was presumably under the construction and has been excavated.

THE SWAYAMBHU TEMPLE

Before the advent of the Kakatiyas, a big temple dedicated to Lord ‘Shambhulingeshwara’ with walls covering an area of about 10.36 sq. kms was constructed in the place on which the present historical monuments of the Kakatiya Empire are found. During the 13th century, AD. Kakatiya king ‘Ganapathi Deva’ and his daughter ‘Rani Rudrama Devi’ built a fortress (the Warangal Fort) around the temple. Inside the fortress is the Lord ‘Shambhulingeshwara’ temple, with four gateways and great arches with elegant carvings, attracts the attention of all the tourists. The Shiva Linga is the only one of its kind dating back to the Kakatiya emperors.

THE THOUSAND PILLARS TEMPLE

The thousand pillars temple, built by Rudradeva during 1162-63 AD, is located in the heart of the city of Hanamkonda and is one of the main attractions to the tourists visiting this place from various parts of India and abroad. The temple is the fine specimen and example of Kakatiya sculpture and architecture that flourished during the Kakatiya period. The temple built in the Chalukya style, is dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Surya, thus the temple complex is popularly known as “Thrikutalayam”. It is notable for its richly carved pillars, a dancing platform – the reflection of which can be viewed from anywhere of the central complex and an impressive rock cuts of elephants and Nandi. The Nandi figure carved out of a single ‘Black Basalt’ stone measuring six feet in height has exquisitely chiseled ornaments and garlands.

THE PADMAKSHI TEMPLE

The Padmakshi temple located on a hilltop in the heart of the city of Hanamkonda was also constructed during Kakatiya reign. Till the Kakatiya Kings renovated and established the Goddess Padmakshi previously it was a ‘Badasi’ a Jain temple. The temple also has rich sculpture of the Jain Tirthankaras and other Jain Gods and Goddesses.

THE INAVOLU TEMPLE

Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy temple is considered as one of historical and ancient incarnation of the Lord Shiva. The Shiva Linga in this temple is one of its only kind found in India and is popularly known as ‘Ardhapranavattam’ i.e. the base of the Linga on which the upper doom stands in half. The temple is located in Inavolu at a distance of 12 kms from Warangal. The construction of the temple dates back to the 11th century that was done by ‘Sri Ayanna’ a minister of the Kakatiya dynasty, it was after his name that the place got its present name ‘Inavolu’ The main attraction of the temple is the 108 pillars put together in a designed of a chariot. The rich architectural carvings depicting the Kakatiya dynasty with 4 entrance gates and a ‘Keerthi Toranam’ on the main entrance attracts many a devotees and lovers of art from all over the country. The festive occasion in this temple is during the biannual festival of 3 months from January to March during which devotees from Karnataka and Maharastra present their traditional flockore and offerings in a colorful way.

THE EKASHILA TEMPLE

Another temple built by the Kakatiya kings is the ‘Ekashila Temple’ at Mogilicherla. It depicts rich culture and Heritage of the Kakatiya Dynasty.

THE RAMAPPA TEMPLE

The ancient Ramappa temple located at Palampeta, 64 kms away from Warangal, dates back to 1213 AD. The 7th Kakatiya King Rudra Senani, a subordinate king to Ganapathi Deva built the temple. It is the right choice for architectural lovers with a panoramic view of scenic beauty.
The temple has several idols in dancing postures. It documents the glory and grandeur of the Kakatiya Kingdom with rich intercate culture on walls, pillars, and ceiling brackets. The main attraction of this temple is the floating bricks with which it is constructed. The Ramappa temple is aptly described as the brightest star in the galaxy of medieval temple architecture of the Deccan Dynasty. The pillars in the temple are made of black basalt that are so exquisitely polished that they glister like mirrors, The panels in the pillars are the finest examples of art and beauty. There is a Nandi (Bull God) carved out of a single rock at the eastern portico of the temple. The temple attracts lacks of devotees on the festive occasion of ‘Maha Shiva Ratri’ that falls on Magha Bahula Trayodasi and chaturdasi (February-March)