49 Best Heritage Sites & Historical Places near Hyderabad

At a distance of 149 km from Hyderabad, 142 km from Nalgonda, 118 km from Khammam, 241 km from Vijayawada and 523 km from Visakhapatnam, Warangal or Orugallu or Ekasila Nagaram is a historical city in Warangal district of Telangana. Warangal is the district headquarters and the second largest city in Telangana after Hyderabad. It is also one of the famous weekend getaways from Hyderabad and an important historical site in Telangana. This is one of the popular places to experience Telangana tourism. Hanamkonda is its twin city.

Warangal was the capital of a Hindu Shaivite kingdom ruled by the Kakatiya dynasty from the 12th to the 14th centuries. Its old name was Orugallu where Oru means one and Kallu means stone. The entire city was reportedly carved using a single rock. The cultural and administrative distinction of the Kakatiyas was mentioned by the famous traveler Marco Polo. Famous rulers of Kakatiya dynasty include Ganapathi Deva, Prathapa Rudra, and Rani Rudramma Devi. After the defeat of Prathapa Rudra, the Musunuri Nayaks united seventy two Nayak chieftains and captured Warangal from Delhi sultanate and ruled for fifty years. Jealousy and mutual rivalry between Nayaks ultimately led to the downfall of Hindus in 1370 AD. It was occupied by Bahmani Sultanate followed ...

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At a distance of 175 km from Hyderabad, 104 km from Medak and 147 km from Karimnagar, Nizamabad is a town and headquarters of Nizamabad district in Telangana state. Nizamabad is the third most populous city in Telangana after Hyderabad and Warangal.

Nizamabad is one of the agriculturally advanced districts in Telangana. It has two large dams constructed across River Godavari (Sriram Sagar Dam) and River Manjira (Nizamsagar Dam). The Nizamsagar dam also supplies drinking water to the city of Hyderabad.

Nizamabad district has several tourist attractions like Domakonda Fort, Sriram Sagar Dam and Nizamsagar Dam, Pocharam Lake and Ali Sagar, etc. Most of the places can be covered in a single day and it is an ideal weekend getaway from Hyderabad.

Nizamabad is well connected by Road and Train from Hyderabad. It is 3 hours drive from Hyderabad and the roads are excellent. There are frequent trains to Nizamabad from Hyderabad and it lies between Hyderabad and Nanded junctions.

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At a distance of 198 km from Hyderabad, 128 km from Vijayawada and 119 km from Warangal, Khammam is a town and headquarters of Khammam district. Situated on the banks of Munneru River, a tributary of Krishna River, Khammam is one of the top Telangana tourist places.

Khammam derived its name from Stambadri, a hill on which an ancient Narasimha temple is built. Stambadri was called Kambam Mettu, which later changed to Kammamet and finally Khammam. Khammam district is known for its natural resources like coal and iron ore. It is also famous for its natural beauty. Godavari River flows through Khammam district touching Bhadrachalam. Khammam district is bordered with Bastar region of Chattisghar state which is core Dandakaranya forest area.

Khammam was ruled by several dynasties including Kakatiyas, Musunuri Nayaks and Velama kings, Reddy kings, Qutb Shahi and Nizams of Hyderabad. Khammam district has several tourist attractions like Bhadrachalam, Kinnerasani Dam & Sanctuary, Khammam Fort, Kusumanchi Temples, Nelakondaalli, etc.

Khammam is well connected by Road and Train from Hyderabad and Vijayawada. It is hardly 2 hours drive from Vijayawada and 3 hours from Hyderabad. Khammam also has excellent public transportation facility. The Khammam railway station lies between Hyderabad - Vijayawada line and has frequent train ...

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At a distance of 215 km from Hyderabad, 360 km from Bangalore & 344 km from Vijayawada, Kurnool is one of the major towns in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It was the first capital of united Andhra Pradesh between 1 October 1953 and 31 October 1956. The town is built on the banks of Tungabhadra River.

Kurnool is known as the gateway to the Rayalaseema region. It was earlier known as Kandenavolu, as it was a transit place on the southern banks of the Tungabhadra River and acted as a greasing place for the carts. It was ruled by Cholas and later by Kakatiya kings in the 12th and 13th Centuries. Later it came under the influence of Vijayanagar Kings and Achyuta Raya built the Kurnool Fort in 16th Century. It was briefly ruled by local rulers in 16th - 17th century. The town came under the control of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1686. Later the town was ruled by Nawabs from Dawood Khan to Gulam Rasool Khan. In 1839 the British Government took control of the region.

The popular places to visit in the city are the ruins of the fort built by the Vijayanagar Kings, Konda Reddy Buruju and the tomb of Abdul Wahab. Kurnool district is home for the most important pilgrim sites in Andhra Pradesh, including Srisailam, Ahobilam, Yaganti, Mahanndi and Mantralayam, making ...

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Ramappa Temple is a historical temple situated at Palampet village in the Warangal district of Telangana. About 65 km from Warangal, and 211 km from Hyderabad, it is one of the top heritage sites in India, and among the must-include places in Warangal tour packages.

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Ramappa Temple or Ramalingeshwara Temple was built by General Recherla Rudra, during the period of the Kakatiya ruler Ganapati Deva in 1213 AD. The temple got its name from Ramappa, the chief sculptor of the temple. It's probably the only temple in the country to be known by the name of its sculptor, and among the popular places to experience Telangana Tourism. It has been conferred with a World Heritage Site status on 25th July 2021.

Stands on a 6 feet high star-shaped platform, the sandstone temple is crowned with a grand sikhara and is surrounded by a pradakshina path. The temple has12 sculptures of madanikas marvelously carved in different poses. Ramappa Temple is known for its architectural brilliance that gives us a glimpse of the technical innovations in the form of floating bricks, & sand-box foundations.

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At a distance of 218 kms from Hyderabad, 22 Kms from Kurnool, 126 Kms from Mahbubnagar & 200 kms from Srisailam, Alampur is a historical place located in Mahbubnagar district of Telangana. Alampur is famous for Jogulamba Temple (a Shakti Peetha), Navabrahma temples and Sangameswara Temple built in 7th century. Alampur is considered as the western gateway to the famous pilgrimage town Srisailam. The temple consists of several inscriptions dated between 7th and 16th centuries. Alampur is one of the famous places to visit near Hyderabad.

Situated on the banks of River Tungabhadra close to the place where the mighty rivers of Krishna and Tungabhadra merge, Alampur has rich historical and pilgrimage importance. Several dynasties ruled this place including Satavahanas, Chalukyas, Kakatiyas, Bahamani sultans, Vijayanagara kings and finally falling under Hyderabad. Alampur is one of the top attractions you must include in Hyderabad tour packages.

As per history of this place, Lord Brahma, after losing his powers due to a curse of a saint, performed penance for Lord Shiva. It is believed that Lord Shiva appeared in nine different forms, thus nine different temples to celebrate each form. The shivalinga in the main temple ...

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At a distance of 30 km from Hyderabad and 5 km from Shamshabad Bus Stop, Sri Rama Chandra Swamy Temple of Ammapally is a very ancient Temple and famous for film shootings. This is also one of the most visited among Hyderabad tourist places.

The Rama temple was built by Vengi kings in 13th century but the idol was 1000 years old. The temple is adorned with a large seven-story tower which is quite famous among Telugu movie fans. There is a large image of Lord Vishnu is sleeping posture above the gateway of the tower.

The tower is followed by the main temple with a large corridor around the temple. The Idols of Rama, Sita and Laxmana and its Makara Thoranam are beautifully formed from single black rock. Anjaneya, usually accompanying Lord Rama, is not seen in the garbhagriha. Instead, Anjaneya Swamy idol is placed near the Dwaja Sthambam facing Sri Rama.

There is a large temple pond which is very ancient. The pond is surrounded by porticos and once it provided shelter to the pilgrims. The surroundings of the pond are filled with coconut trees. There is a mandapa opposite to the temple.

Tollywood film industry loves Ammapalli Temple and they believe that movies recorded here would become hits with the blessings of Sri Sita Rama Swamy.

Sri Rama Navami is celebrated with great passion at this temple every year (Apr).

In order to reach the temple from Hyderabad city ...

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At a distance of 2.3 km from Medak Bus Station and 95 km from Hyderabad, The Medak Fort is situated in Medak town of Telanagana State. This is an important historical site around Hyderabad.

The fort was built in the 12th century during the reign of the Kakatiyan ruler, Pratapa Rudra. The fort was originally known as Methuku durgam, which denotes cooked rice. The fort was the command post for the rulers of Kakatiyas and also for the Qutub Shahis who ruled the area.

It is a huge structure located on the top of a hill. One has to climb more than 500 steps to reach the top of the fort, which occupies 100 acres on the hilly area. Medak Fort is noted for its architectural magnificence. The architecture of the fort represents a blend of Hindu and Islamic styles. The main entrance proudly displays the double-headed Gandabherundam of the Kakatiyas. It has three main entrances, the Prathama Dwaram, the Simha Dwaram- that has two snarling lions at the top of the entrance and the Gaja Dwaram or Elephant's Entrance that has a sculpture of two elephants interlocked on both sides. The huge boundary walls of the fort have several bastions carved from the rocks and boulders of the hillock.

The fort houses a small lake, a barrack and a warehouse. The fort has a 17th century mosque that was constructed by the Qutub Shahi rulers. Although the Fort is in ruin state, it still holds the glory of the history hence it is one of the important historical sites to visit. It provides an ...

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At a distance of 1.5 kms from Medak Bus Station and 96 kms from Hyderabad, Medak Cathedral is the largest church in entire Asia and second largest in the world after Vatican. This is one of the popular tourist places to visit in Telangana and among the prime place to visit on a Hyderabad tour.

The Cathedral built in Gothic style was inaugurated in 1914 and completed in 1924. The main tower of the church is 175 feet high and the cathedral can accommodate 5000 people at a time. There are 3 magnificent stained glass windows depicting the life of Jesus Christ. The farmers toiled to erect the church and Thomas Edward Harding, the architect, left no stone unturned in building the cathedral. The tile's design is an intricate one in six colours red, brown, black, yellow, chocolate and grey.

The roof of the church is sound proof made by hollow sponge material and it has an impressive style of vaulting. A window depicts the birth scene of Jesus, angels, Prophet or Issaiah, Mary and astrologers. The left side of the church bears the painted crucification scene and in the center the ascension of Jesus is painted bright.

It is said that when the nizam of Hyderabad discovered that the church would be higher than Charminar, he made an effort to reduce the height of the church.

Buses from Hyderabad to Medak usually start from Jubilee Bus Station.

Timings: 9 AM to 5 PM

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At a distance of 1.3 km from Bhuvanagiri Railway Station, 54 km from Hyderabad, 74 kms from Nalgonda, and 11 km from Yadagirigutta, The Bhongir Fort is situated in Bhongir (also called as Bhuvanagiri) in Nalgonda district of Telangana. It is situated between Hyderabad and Warangal. This is a popular Hyderabad getaway for a short trip and important historical site around Hyderabad.

Bhongir Fort was built in 12th century by the Western Chalukya ruler Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya VI and was thus named after him as Tribhuvanagiri. This name gradually became Bhuvanagiri and subsequently Bhongir. The Bhuvanagiri Fort is located on a huge monolithic rock. The hill upon which the fort itself is built is about 500 feet high and spread on about 40 acres of land.

The Bhongir Fort is a unique egg-shaped construction with two entry points protected by huge rocks, so the fort was considered practically impregnable by invading armies. A moat encircles the fort and the place itself has a huge underground chamber, an armory, stables and trap doors, among others. The hilltop gives a wonderful bird's eye view of the surrounding area. The old steps from bottom to top of the hill are in good shape and can have thrilling experience by climbing this hill.

The fort is associated with the rule of the iconic queen Rudramadevi and ...

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At a distance of 1.3 km from Devarakonda Bus Station, 60 km from Nalgonda and 111 km from Hyderabad, Devarakonda Fort is located in Devarakonda town in Nalgonda District of Telangana. This is one of the important historical sites to visit around Nalgonda & Hyderabad.

Devarakonda Fort acted as a prominent fortified defensive structure of the rulers of Recherla Velama dynasty that rules parts of Telangana after Kakatiyas. It was built in the 14th century by the Velama Kings. The territory of Devarakonda was developed by the Padma Nayaka Velama rulers. The fortress was controlled by the ruling family from 1287 AD to 1482 AD. Then the fort was ruled by Maada Naidu who was the 8th king among the Padma Nayaka rulers. He was a great warrior and an educationist apart from being a kind ruler. During his reign, Devarakonda flourished with many temples and heritage sites.

This fort is famous for its architectural brilliance. The fort is surrounded by seven hills with some great rocks and boulder and few forest. The fort built over a hilltop has large walls with curved bastions along with it. The fort ramparts were built with artillery and cannon points. The fort complexes are built up to 2 storeys. There are many granaries found here. It has a magazine house, large living area and few small houses. There are temples of Lord Rama and Lord Shiva inside the fort. Also there is a small lake that provided water source to the residents ...

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At a distance of 1.2 km from Rachakonda, 66 km from Nalgonda Bus Station and 61 km from Hyderabad, Rachakonda Fort is situated in Rachakonda Village in Nalgonda district of Telangana.

The Rachakonda Fort was constructed in 14th century by Recherla Singama Nayak from Padma Nayaka dynasty who ruled the region of Rachakonda. The Fort was the capital to the Rachakonda region. The region was first ruled by Kakatiyas, Padma Nayakas, Bahmani Sultans, Qutub Shahi and finally Nizams.

The Rachakonda fort is a good example of medieval Hindu fort architecture. It is a structure made of large stones. The fort built as a two story structure was constructed without using any mortar. The hills surrounds the Fort also provide good opportunity for trekking and provide panoramic view of the plains below. At the entrance, there are gateways made of stone pillars and horizontal beams. The exterior walls of the building are built with stone and the interiors are layered with mud. The structure of Rachakonda Fort was strategically developed as a defensive bastion with strong fortifications. Recently, a 6 feet Shiva Lingam was found when unidentified people started digging for treasure at Rachokonda Fort.

The Dasavatara sculptures in a cave near Pattabhigutta and the five temples in the town are excellent specimens of Kakatiya art and architecture.

Due to its proximity to Hyderabad, Rachakonda Fort has now become the excellent weekend spot for the people of Hyderabad. Presently, ...

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At a distance of 1.4 km from Panagal Bus Station, 4 km from Nalgonda Bus Station and 104 km from Hyderabad, Chaya Someswara Temple is a wonderful temple located at Panagal in Nalgonda district of Telangana. This is an interesting pilgrimage and historical site to visit from Nalgonda & Hyderabad.

Sri temple was built during 11th - 12th centuries by Cholas. The temple got the name as it is believed that the formation of relentless shadow (Chaya in Telugu) of a pillar falls over the main deity of Shivalingam throughout the day. This amazing temple, engineered by the Kunduru, testifies the fantastic creative thinking and scientific knowledge of its architects. The complex houses three deities - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva facing three different directions connected by common mahamandapa. The temple also demonstrates wonderful sculpture and art work.

The temple is known for its architecture. One of the garbhagrihas situated in the west and facing east contains a continuing shadow of a pillar throughout the day. This mysterious shadow is a huge attraction of the temple. The chaya that falls on the deity looks like a shadow of one of the pillars carved in front of the sacred chamber. But it is not actually the shadow of any pillar. The dark area is formed by the reflection of light through multiple pillars placed in front of garbhagriha and the shadow is a consolidated shadow of those four pillars. The pillars in the temple ...

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At a distance of 1.3 km from Koilkonda Bus Stand, 25 km from Mahabubnagar Bus Station and 128 km from Hyderabad, Koilkonda Fort is situated at Koilkonda in Mahabubnagar district of Telangana. This is one of the best one day trip from Hyderabad.

Koilkonda Fort is the erstwhile outpost of the Qutab Shahi dynasty situated on a hilltop. To reach the top, one needs to hike across a deep gorge on the west or a series of streams if coming through east before reaching a plight of steps that leads to the fort. To enter the Koilkonda Fort, seven gates have to be crossed. The first one spots an inscription of Ibrahim Qutab Shah that belongs to 1550 AD. Fourth gate leads to a dilapidated palace. There is also a mosque, an Idgah and a pond here. The Fort also has a ashurkhana dedicated to Bibi Fatima and is revered by both Hindus and Muslims.

The Kolisagar Dam is a medium-sized irrigation project that was constructed in the period of the
Nizams during 1945-48. The Koilsagar Dam, which is about 10 km from the Koilkonda, stretches across the Peddavagu River, a minor tributary of the River Krishna. The western stretch of this picturesque reservoir is surrounded by high hills, making it a beautiful spot and is a treat for eyes during sunrise and sunset.

Sri Ramkonda Hill is another prominent Hill with a temple dedicated to Lord Rama, which is 3 km from ...

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At a distance of 1 km from Gadwal Bus Station, 78 km from Mahabubnagar Bus Station and 188 km from Hyderabad, Gadwal Fort is situated in Mahabubnagar district of Telangana. Gadwal is one of the popular historical places to visit around Hyderabad.

The most famous ruler and strongman of Gadwal called Peda Soma Bhupaludu (Somanadri) built this fort during 17th century. The Fort was constructed with huge walls and moats around the fort which made the Gadwal Fort very strong and impregnable.

The fort has three temples called Sri Chennakesava Temple, Ramalayam, Sri Venugopala Temple among which Chennakesava Temple is grand with large temple tower, stone mandapa and beatiful carvings. Sri Pedda Soma Bhupala has defeated the Nawab of Kurnool and brought 32 feet long Cannon which was the biggest in the country which can be still seen in the fort. Gadwal is also famous for silk sarees. The weavers are known for weaving smallest Silk Saree which can be kept in a match Box.

Presently Telangana Governmant has taken so many steps to renovate the heritage of the Gadwal Fort and make it a major tourist destination of Telangana. Presently part of the fort houses the college of Maharani Adi Laxmi Devamma (wife of Nalla Somanadri).

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At a distance 97 km from Mahabubnagar and 178 km from Hyderabad, Kollapur is located in Mahabubnagar district of Telangana. Kollapur is famous for a wonderful palace and numerous temples. Kollapur, along with Jetprole & Somasila is an ideal weekend getaway near Hyderabad.

Kollapur was a princely region under Nizams ruled by Hindu rulers. Most of the Nallamala region along the Krishna River was under the control of Kollapur. There is a huge palace built by the rulers of Kollapur in 1871. The famous temples of Kollapur include Sangameshwara and Malleshwara Temples. The famous Somasila temple is about 9 kms from Kollapur.

The Kollapur palace is a magnificent structure with several buildings inside the complex. The palace has a large doorway with wooden doors. There is plenty of open area inside the complex with a wonderful building used as the administrative building. Towards the right side this lies the main residential complex of the Kollapur rulers. There residential complex includes several buildings constructed in 19th and 20th centuries. In the center of residential complex, one can see the horse carts used by the rulers. The palace is not maintained properly and partly lies in ruins.

The Madhava Swamy temple at Kollapur was originally built by the 16th century AD on the left bank of river Krishna at Manchalakatta. The architecture of the temple is beautiful. The beautifully carved walls of the temple ...

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At a distance of 300 m from Domakonda Bus Stop, 87 km from Nizamabad Bus Station and 112 km from Hyderabad, Domakonda Fort is situated in Domakonda Village in Nizamabad district of Telangana.

Domakonda was a princely region under Qutb Shahis and Asaf Jahis. The Reddy rulers of Domakonda built the fort in the 18 century at a sight where a fort existed earlier. The fort posses wonderful architecture to be explored and stands a testimony to the grandeur of Telangana heritage.

This fort is also called Gadi Domakonda or Killa Domakonda. It is one of the beautiful forts present in Telangana. The architecture of the fortress displays both Hindu and Muslim styles. It has an elevated compound of granite rocks that forms the fort wall, followed by the beautiful two-storied fort structure.

There are two palaces and a temple complex inside the fort along with a lotus pond. The ground floor of the palace consists of arched pillars with intricate artwork influenced by Mughal architecture. The first floor has round pillars with a flat ceiling, which depicts Western architecture. The tainted paintings in the windows and the wooden architecture are very attractive.

Domakonda Fort was primarily used as a fortified defensive structure. There are many temples in the vicinity, such as the Mahakali Temple and the Lord Shiva Temple which was constructed by Kakatiya rulers. The temple stands on an elevated platform with a beautifully carved Nandi outside the temple. The Shiva ...

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At a distance of 1.7 km from Nagunur Bus Stop, 10 km from Karimnagar Bus Station and 177 km from Hyderabad, Nagunur Fort is situated in Nagunur Village in Karimnagar district of Telangana. This is an important historical site in Karimnagar district.

The Nagunur fort was constructed in the period of Kakatiya dynasty. This fort was one of the important forts in Kakatiyas kingdom. The Fort contains ruins of many temples. The origin and style of these temples can be traced back to the era of the Kalyani Chalukyas and Kakatiyas. However, it is strongly believed to have been built during 12th and 13th centuries under the patronage of the Kakatiyas. At one point of time this place was believed to house around 400 temples.
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The most important temple in the complex is the Shiva temple. The temple is made of red stone and consists of three shrines of Lord Shiva. The shrines are placed on a raised pedestal. The main entrance to the temple is on the northern side. The pillars and galleries around the Shiva temple here are worth seeing. The beams of the temple have sculptured images of musicians playing on Mridangam and other instruments. Panels are carved with visuals of dancers in graceful poses.

Nagunur is situated close to the road towards Choppadandi.

Fort Timings: 8 am - 6.30 pm.

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At a distance of 1 km from Elgandal, 16 km from Karimnagar Bus Station and 167 km from Hyderabad, Elgandal Fort is situated on the bank of the Maner River at Elgandal town in Karimnagar district of Telangana. This is one of the important historical sites to visit around Karimnagar & Hyderabad.

The fort had been a centre of power of various dynasties, including the Kakatiya dynasty, Bahmanis, Qutub Shahis, Mughals and Asaf Jahis. The fort was appointed as the headquarters of Karimnagar during the rule of the Nizams of Hyderabad. In earlier times, Elgandal is also called as Bahudhanyapuram, Tellakandula and Veligandula. And finally in course of time, the name changed to Elgandal.

Elgandal Fort is one of the best survived forts in Telangana. The Fort is located on a hillock. There are 300 well laid steps providing access to the fort. The East entrance of the fort, the Brundavan pond, the Mosques and graves in the fort are various points of attraction for tourists. Within the premises of the Fort exists various tombs of Muslim saints. These include the dargahs of great saints like Syed Shah Munawar Quadri Saheb, Doola Shah Saheb, Syed Maroof Saheb, Shah Talib Bismilla Saheb and Vali Hyder Sahib. These attract devotees in huge numbers.

The Alamgir mosque, built by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb is a major attraction. It is crowned with three minarets unlike the ...

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At a distance of 20 km from Peddapalli Bus Station, 56 km from Karimnagar and 215 km from Hyderabad, Ramagiri Fort or Ramagiri Khilla is located in Karimnagar District of Telangana.

Ramagiri Fort often referred as Ratnagarbha has as ancient fort believed to be used by Satavahanas and Kakatiyas as their Military establishment. Ramagiri Fort is a picturesque hilltop fort built using stone with a number of bastions spread across a huge area across the hill. It gives a great view of the merging of the rivers Manair and Godavari. It is also known as Aaram-Giri because of the thick greenery and the beautiful views. It is also a good trekking spot with wonderful views to offer .

There is a temple dedicated to Lord Rama and Sita on one side of the hill. There is also a Shiva linga which was believed to be installed by Lord Rama. There is also a seasonal waterfall on this hillock.

The fort houses several buildings, bastions, mosques, tombs, Prataparudruni Kota, Horse stable Elephant shed, the prison, a huge dining hall, an enormous Hall, secret passages, narrow paths, guns, cannons, cannon balls, the ruins of Chitrakota, Tratikota, Nimmakota, Nagara khana and ammunition rooms. There are numerous wells built by various rulers like the Topubavi, Nallakayyabavi, Pasarubavi, Haribavi, Achchammabavi and Ammagaribavi etc.

This fort is between Karimnagar and Manthani. One needs to follow the Karimnagar-Manthani road ...

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At a distance of 1.2 km from Molangur Bus Station, 31 km from Karimnagar and 169 km from Hyderabad, Molangur Fort is located at Molangur in Karimnagar District of Telangana.

The Molangur fort was constructed on a hillock by Voragiri Moggaraju, one of the chief officers of Prathapa Rudra of Kakatiya dynasty. It was constructed as a transit halt for Kakatiyas while travelling from Warangal fort to Elgandal Fort in Karimnagar. The Molangur fort is listed as protected site by the Archaeological Department.

The fort is constructed on a huge granite hill that made it difficult for anybody to climb it from any side. On the way to the top of the hill, an inscription carved on a boulder mentions that there are two ways to the fort. At the entrance of the fort there is a Dargah of Molang Shah Wali, a muslim saint. It is reported that the original name of the village was Mudugar. It appears to have been renamed as Molangur after the name of the Muslim saint Molang Shah Wali.

In addition to the Dargah, the fort also houses two temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. There is a beautiful tank on the fort and also on its foothills along with a well called Doodh Bowli (milky well)

The ramparts of the fort still bear the remnants of garrisons, stables that remind it's glorious past. The ruined walls, gates, bastions, moatsculptures and several other remains in the fort still ...

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At a distance of 1.3 km from Chandraghad, 8 km from Jurala Dam, 74 km from Mahabubnagar Bus Station and 163 km from Hyderabad, Chandraghad Fort is located at Chandraghad Village in Mahabubnagar District of Telangana.

This Hill Fort is located close to Jurala Dam. The picturesique Hill fort is located on the banks of river Krishna. This Fort was built during Peshwas and belongs to Chandrasena Jilledar. This is a strong fort constructed to store the grains and taxes collected from people. The fort offers the remains of the protective walls, gateways and several ruined buildings.

The Sri Ramalingeshwara Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is located in the fort. There are several water bodies exist in the fort. It requires about one km walk from the nearest road point to trek to the hilltop.

Chandraghad is about 2 km from the main road between Jurala and Atmakur. Public transport to Chandraghad is very poor.

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At a distance of 2 km from Khilla Ghanpur Bus Stand, 25 km from Mahabubnagar and 109 km from Hyderabad, Khilla Ghanpur Fort is located near Khilla Ghanpur village in Mahabubnagar district of Telangana. This is an ideal weekend getaway from Hyderabad to spend full day.

The Ghanpur Fort is a hill fort built on a rocky hill by King Gona Ganapa Reddy in early 13th century. He ruled this area as a feudatory to Kakatiya rulers. Gona Ganapa Reddy is son of Gona Budda Reddy who was famous as the poet of Ranganatha Ramayana, a pioneering Telugu Literature. The name of Ghanapuram Killa came into existence from the name of Kakatiya Ruler Sri Ganapathi Deva. The fort is spread on rocky and hilly area of 4 Sq kilometers and there are fort buildings spread across the top most part of the hill.

The fort was well built with cannons on the upper side of the fort. There are several remains of the walls and building blocks inside the fort. There are several temples inside the fort like Veerabhadra Temple, Narsimh Temple and Chowdeswari Temple. There are several caves on the hilltop and provide good opportunity for exploration.

There are two ponds inside the fort with fresh water and they are good for swimming. There are several hills around the fort and they provide good opportunity for trekking as well. Ghanpur Lake is a large lake situated close to the Ghanpur village and the view of the lake from the fort is picturesque.

The ...

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At a distance of 14 km from Kollapur, 48 km from Wanaparthy, 102 km from Mahabubnagar and 193 km from Hyderabad, Jatprole, also known as Jetaprolu is a village in Mahabubnagar district of Telangana. It is famous for wonderful Madana Gopala Swamy Temple.

In the historic tales, Jatprole is known as Jatayuvu Kshetra. The place is where Jatayu fought with Ravana while he kidnapped Sita. This place has a very beautiful sculptures with lots of heritage importance.

Jatprole is popular for two temples known as Madana Gopala Swamy Temple and a group of Shiva temples. The temples were moved to Jetprole from the villages of Malleswaram and Manchalakota during the construction of Srisailam Dam.

Madana Gopala Swamy temple, also known as Venu Gopala Swamy temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. It was built by Rajas of Jetprole during the 16th century and it is one of the largest temples in Telangana. The temple possesses a huge temple tower with large wooden gates followed by spacious Sabhamandapa, antarala and the sanctum. The pillars in the Sabhamandapa are beautifully carved in Vijayanagara style. The carvings on the pillars and front wall of the sanctum are wonderfully done. The temple has entrances on four sides and there are several sub-shrines within the temple complex.

Adjacent to Madana Gopala Swamy temple, there are a group of five Shivalayas built during ...

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At a distance of 5 km Mahabubnagar Bus Station and 104 km from Hyderabad, Pillalamarri is a large banyan tree located in Mahabubnagar district of Telangana.

Pillalamarri or Peerla Marri, an 800 years old banyan tree, is a major tourist attraction in Mahabubnagar district. The tree has many banyan trees which grow in its proximity like its children hence the name Pillala-marri. It is also difficult to find the main trunk of the tree. It is spread over three acres of land and can accommodate about 1000 people in its shade.

There is a tomb of a Muslim saint under the tree and hence the name Peerla Marri. Pillalamarri is an ideal place to have a family picnic. The tourism department has started an exhibition centre here. A historical Shiva Temple which was submerged under Srisailam Project was relocated here. A mini zoo with bird park and animal parks were also added as attractions to this place. There is a science museum which houses some of the artifacts found in the region. In the premises of Pillalamarri there is also a pond with boating facility (available only during the rainy season).

Timings: 8 AM to 6 PM.

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At a distance of 83 km from Warangal and 81 km from Hyderabad, the 2000 years old Jain Temple of Mahavira is located in Kolanupaka village (also called as Kulpak) in Nalgonda district. The temple is decorated with beautiful images of Tirthankaras and it's one of the important Jain pilgrimage sites in the country. It is also a popular place to visit around Warangal & Hyderabad. Kulpakji is an important pilgrimage center for Swetambara Jains of South India. This is one of the popular one day trip near Hyderabad and among the prime place to visit on a Hyderabad tour.

According to the mythological legend, the main temple of Kolanupaka is said to have been built by Emperor Bharata, son of King Dushyanta and Queen Sakuntala. Jainism was prevalent in Andhra Pradesh & Telangana before the 4th century and Kolanupaka was one of the prominent centers of Jainism from early times. About 20 Jain inscriptions have been found there. It is said that Kolanupaka flourished as Jain center during the Rashtrakutas period.

This temple has three main idols of Gods, called as Tirthankars. These are of Lord Rishabha, Lord Neminath and Lord Mahavir. The statue of Lord Mahavir has been made out a single jade and is about 140 cm in ...

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At a distance of 3 km from Koulas, 81 km from Nizamabad, 84 km from Medak and 169 km from Hyderabad, Koulas Fort is situated near Koulas village in Nizamabad district.

Koulas Fort is a massive fort dating back to the 14th century, spread across 6 sq km and located in Jukkal mandal close to Bidar - Nanded road. This fort was built by Kakatiya rulers. This fort was conquered by Muslim rulers Bahamanis, Qutb Shahis and later occupied by the Nizams.

The Koulas Fort was constructed in the semi-Dravidian style at an altitude of about 1100 ft. There is a stream that stands as a natural moat to the fort. The fort is spread across 400 acres surrounded by large fortification wall with strong bastions. The fort houses several wonderfully built gateways, buildings, temples, mosques and other structures. There are about 20 large cannons spread across the fort. It has 52 small and big bastions along several water tanks. The fort temple and dargah were declared as protected monuments by the Archaeology Department.

The Kasikund temple was constructed on the patterns of the Kasi temple. There are three other temples dedicated to Rama, Hanuman and Balaji. Behind the fort is the Ashtabuji Mata also known as Jagadamba Mata temple. The fort is currently not well maintained and the approach route is full of thorns. Also, the fort becomes inaccessible during monsoons when the water levels in stream reach the peak.

Visitors ...

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At a distance of 23 km from Nagarjuna Sagar Bus Station & 14 km from Boat Launch Station, Nagarjuna Konda is a small island in Nagarjuna Sagar Lake which houses the excavated remains of the Buddhist civilization of 2nd century. This is one of the major historical sites to visit around Hyderabad and among the top Nagarjuna Sagar places to visit.

It is one of India's richest Buddhist sites and now it lies in the backwaters of Nagarjuna Sagar Dam. Nagarjuna Konda was once the capital of Ikshvaku Kingdom and was called Vijayapuri. It was named after Acharya Nagarjuna, a renowned Buddhist scholar, philosopher who lived here in the 2nd century AD and composed the initial sutras of Mahayana Buddhism. The revered Buddhist monk was heading the community of Buddhist priests for nearly 60 years in the 2nd century. He found the Madhyamika School which studied and developed the teaching of Mahayana Buddhism.

Discovered in 1926, the remains of the Buddhist settlements and university are preserved in the museum on Nagarjuna Konda. The site was once the location of many Buddhist universities and monasteries, attracting students from as far as China, Gandhara, Bengal and Sri Lanka. Some of the Buddhist archaeological sites were submerged after the construction of Nagarjunasagar Sam. Few of them were excavated later and transferred to higher land on the hill which is the ...

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At a distance of 3 km from Thirumalagiri, and 25 km from Ramappa Temple, Pandavula Guhalu is an ancient cave site situated near Thirumalagiri in the Jayshankar Bhupalpally district in Telangana. It is one of the famous places of heritage in Telangana, and among the best places to visit during the Ramappa Temple tour.

Pandavula Guhalu is a prehistoric habitation site situated atop Pandavulakonda or Pandavula Gutta. The site was first discovered in the year 1990. Paleolithic cave paintings have been found here which offer a rare glimpse into the prehistoric man's rock art identified on walls and ceilings of caves, rock shelters, and isolated boulders. Experts say these cave paintings date back to at least the 7th Century.

The rock art paintings depict wildlife like Bison, Antelope, Tiger, Leopard, etc. Other shapes like the swastika symbol, circles, and squares, weapons such as bows, arrows, swords, and lancers, etc are present in these paintings. The paintings also feature geometrical designs and impressions in green, red, yellow, and white pigment colors. Pandavula Gutta is rich in terms of the number of paintings, rock shelters, and its habitation, right from the Mesolithic to medieval times.

Pandavula Guhalu is a rock-climbing and camping paradise. The special topography of this place makes it very conducive for rock climbing too.

One needs to climb around 520 steps to reach the caves from the entrance. It took 2 hours both ways. It is a medium to ...

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At a distance of 22 km from Khammam, 111 km from Nalgonda and 200 km from Hyderabad, Nelakondapalli is an important Buddhist excavation site in Telangana located in Khammam District.

Nelakondapalli is a historic Buddhist site with Stupas and Buddha idols. The site was found during the excavations conducted in 1977. Excavations have unearthed foundations of brick built Viharas, wells, cisterns, a Mahastupa, a bronze idol of Buddha, a miniature Stupa carved in limestone and other materials from the third and fourth centuries.

Nelakondapalli is associated with the Hindu epic Mahabharata. The Virata Raju Dibba and Keechaka Gundam, archaeological evidences from the period of the Mahabharata are located 1.6 km from Nelakondapalli.

Nelakondapalli is also famous of being the Birth Place of Kancharla Gopanna, popularly known as Bhakta Ramadas who built popular Bhadrachalm temple. There are few ancient temples in the village of Nelakondapalli. The old Residence of Bhakta Ramadas was named as Bhakta Ramadas Dhyana Mandir and its currently maintained by Bhadrachala Devastanam.

The Buddhist excavation site is about 3 km from Nelakondapalli Bus stop.

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At a distance of 5 km from Gooty Railway Station, 52 km from Anantapur, 97 km from Kurnool, 311 km from Hyderabad, 425 km from Vijayawada and 265 km from Bangalore, Gooty Fort or Gutti Fort is a hill fort located at Gooty in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.

Gooty was center of power struggle and witnessed several wars in the medieval period. Sri Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara Empire has enhanced the fortifications and added several sections in the fort. Bahmani Sultans have also occupied the fort for some time. After the fall of Vijayanagara Empire, this place came under the rule of Qutb Shahis of Golconda and Hyderabad Nizams. Later, it came under the rule of Hyder Ali in 1773, then Tipu Sultan and over a period of time it fell into the hands of Hyderabad Nizams. The fort was briefly occupied by Maratha forced under the command of Morari Rao. This place was gifted to British by Nizam for the maintenance and became part of Ceded region under Madras Presidency.

Previously this place was known as Gowthampuri and later renamed as Gooty. The earliest inscriptions on the walls of this fort date back to the 7th century. As per the inscriptions, the place was called as Gadha meaning Fort while an inscription of Bukkaraya mentions this place as King of Forts.

Gooty Fort is one of the oldest hill forts of Andhra Pradesh. It fort was made of granite rocks and the domes were constructed with fine stone, mortar ...

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At a distance of 1 km from Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple, 3 km from Tadipatri Railway Station, 57 km from Anantapur, 106 km from Kadapa, 356 km from Hyderabad, 413 km from Vijayawada and 268 km Bangalore, Sri Chintala Venkataramana Swamy Temple is a famous temple located in Tadipatri town of Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, who is in the divine form of Venkataramana Swamy.

This temple is believed to have been built in 16th century by Timma Naidu, son of Ramalinga Naidu, a chieftain of Vijayanagar Kingdom. It was built during the same time as the Vittala Temple of Hampi in a similar manner. Most of the features of these two temples bear close resemblance to each other, being built on a similar ground plan. While the stone chariot here is compact and small in size when compared to the famous stone chariot at Hampi.

Originally the temple was called Chintala Tiruvengala Natha Swamy Temple. Spread across 5 acres of land, this temple is built according to the Silpa Sastras. The carvings of episodes of the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavatha are seen around the Garba Griha, Ranga Mandapa, Mukha Mandapa, Main Gopura and the Prakaraa.

The Mukhamandapa has forty pillars in the Vijayanagar style. Beyond the Mukhamandapa is a Rangamandapa, which has scenes of the Ramayana and rare sculptures of the Vishnu avatars. The idol of Lord Venkataramana Swamy is very beautiful and ...

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At a distance of 4 km from Tadipatri Railway Station, 58 km from Anantapur, 107 km from Kadapa, 357 km from Hyderabad, 413 km from Vijayawada and 269 km Bangalore, Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple is located on the banks of Penna River at Tadipatri in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. The presiding deity of the temple is Lord Shiva in the form of Ramalingeswara Swamy.

The temple got this name by a perennial underground stream from which water always keeps flowing (Bugga in Telugu) into the sanctum sanctorum at the spot where the Lingam is consecrated. Sri Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple was built by Ramalinga Nayudu, a chieftain of the Vijayanagara Kings, in 16th century. The records indicate that a sculptor Yellanchari was brought from Benaras to construct the temple. According to legend, the temple has been established at the site, where sage Parasurama lived and performed meditation.

The architecture of the temple shows a mixture of Chalukyan, Chola and Vijayanagar art. The temple has main entrances on South and West. The Vijayanagar kings have built the western, northern and southern gopurams of the temple. The north gopuram although unfinished has the most elaborate sculpture, with intricate carvings. The entire Shiva Purana is carved on the walls of the temple in miniature carvings with elaborate details. Episodes from Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata are also carved on the walls. This temple has a mini stone chariot similar to the famous chariot ...

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At a distance of 3 km from Penukonda Railway Station, 79 km from Anantapur, 436 km from Hyderabad, 550 km from Vijayawada and 142 km Bangalore, Penukonda Fort is a medieval fort situated at Penukonda in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.

Penukonda was once served as the 2nd capital of Vijayanagar Kingdom after the fall of Hampi and was earlier called as Ghanagiri or Ghanadri. According to the inscriptions, the Penukonda state was gifted by the King Bukka-I to his son Virupanna. This fort was built at the time of Virupanna. This fort was one of the best defenses of the Vijayanagara kingdom. With the decline of Vijayanagara kingdom, the Sultan of Golconda captured this fort. Later Mysore Kingdom captured this fort briefly until British overtook after the fall of Tipu Sultan.

Built on a gigantic hill, the huge and imposing fort offers a spectacular view of the town below. The basement of the walls, bastions and gateways in the fort was made of stone, mortar and lime. The first inner section of the fort residential building designed amenities for royal family members. The central hall of the fort follows Hindu and Muslim architecture. Dome of this hall has been designed in Hindu style of construction, whereas the floor has the signature style construction of Islamic architecture.

The fort bounds with natural fortification of surround hills and moats dug up around the outer wall. There are seven citadels within ...

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At a distance of 45 Kms from Yaganti, 70 Kms from Nandyal, 82 Kms from Ahobilam, 95 from Mahanandi, 109 Kms from Kurnool & 318 Kms from Hyderabad, Belum Caves are the second largest caves in India and the longest caves in India.

Situated between Nandyal and Tadipatri in Kurnool district, the caves are 3229 meters long. These caves have long passages, spacious chambers, fresh water galleries and siphons. The deepest point of caves is at 120 feet from entrance level. The caves were formed due to erosion in limestone deposit in the area by Chitravati River, millions of years ago. Now Chitravati River flows almost 30 km south of caves.

There is a big Buddha statue near the caves. This place was used as Meditation Hall by Buddhist monks in ancient days. AP Tourism has developed pathways and bridges for easy access of the caves. A resort is run by AP Tourism near the entrance of the caves.

This place is very close to Kolimigundla village (around 2 Kms) on Nandyal - Tadipatri route, connected by frequent buses.

Timings: 10 AM to 5 PM. Entry Fee: Rs. 50

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At a distance of 24 km from Vijayawada Railway Station & 262 km from Hyderabad, Kondapalli Fort, also known as Kondapalli Kota, is located at Kondapalli Village in the Krishna district close to Vijayawada.

This 14th century Fort is believed to have been built by the Reddy King of Kondaveedu, Prolaya Vema Reddy. Spread over an area of 18 sq.km, this Fort is said to have served as a recreational palace for the king. The Fort was also used as a business centre. Later, the fort went into the hands of Gajapati rulers of Orissa. In the year 1520 AD the King, Sri Krishna Devaraya of Vijayanagara Empire has captured the Kondapalli fort in Kalinga wars. Later, the fort came into the hands of Qutubshahi Kings in the 16th century. During the colonial rule, the British soldiers were given training in this fort.

Situated on a hill, the fort has an impressive three storied rock tower protected by three levels of entries. The main entrance gate is known as the Dargah Darwaza, which has been made out of a single slab of granite. Another entrance gate of the fort is known as the Golconda Darwaza. The major attraction of the fort is the Tanisha Mahal or Palace, which is located on a crest between two hills. Near the fort there is a Dargah of a Persian Saint, Gareeb Sahib. One can still find several other ruined structures within the premises of the fort. There is a Gajasala, where elephants were kept, Queen's palace, Virupaksha Temple, Dining hall, a reservoir and prisons.

Kondapalli ...

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At a distance of 2 km from Rayadurgam Bus Stand, 99 km from Anantapur, 53 km from Bellary, 95 km from Guntakal, 245 km from Kurnool, 449 km from Hyderabad, 571 km from Vijayawada and 265 km from Bangalore, Rayadurgam Fort is a medieval fortress that is situated in Rayadurgam town in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. Rayadurgam Fort is one of the oldest forts in Andhra Pradesh and was constructed at an elevation of 2727 feet.

According to the history, Rayadurgam Fort was built by Junga Nayaka, a chieftain of Vijayanagar Kings. The Battle of Talikota was a bitter battle fought between Rama Rayalu the son in law of King Sri Krishna Deva Raya and Deccan Sultanates. Later the Muslim force was driven out by Koneti Nayaka. The fort was strengthened to a greater extent by his son Venkatapathi Nayaka. Later Tipu Sultan captured the fort and it was annexed to the province of Gooty.

The Rayadurgam Fort comprises of several layers of inner forts that made the access difficult. The fort played a significant role during the reign of the rulers of the Vijayanagar Empire. The Rayadurgam Fort is one of the chief tourist destinations in Rayadurgam town. Majority of the fort stands strong till date.

A wonderful temple for Lord Ganapathi known as Dhasabhuja Ganapathi Temple has been built in the fort. It was carved out from a 4 m high monolithic stone. There are other temples that are dedicated to Lord Hanuman, Ellamma, Prasanna Venkateswara, Venugopala, Jambukeswara, Veerabhadra ...

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At a distance of 1.6 km from Basavakalyan Bus Stand, 78 km from Gulbarga, and 80 km from Bidar, Basavakalyan Fort, earlier known as Kalyani Fort is located in the town of Basavakalyan. It is one of the popular places of heritage in Karnataka, and among the must include places in Bidar Tour Packages.

Basavakalyan Fort is considered to be one of the oldest and most imposing forts in South India. It was built by King Nalaraja in the 10th century. Basavakalyan, earlier known as Kalyani, was the royal capital of the Western Chalukyan Dynasty from 1050 to 1189. The name was changed to Basavakalyan in 1956. It is named after Basaveshwara, a spiritual scholar from the 12th century. During the rule of Chalukyas, Jainism flourished and a large number of Jain images were carved on the walls of the forts by Chalukya kings. It is one of the most popular places to visit in Bidar.

This fort was ruled by Yadavas of Devagiri, Kalachuris, Western Chalukyas, Bijapur Sultanate, Bidar Sultanate, Bahamani Sultanate, and Hyderabad Nizams. After the fall of Western Chalukyas in the 12th century, the fort lost its. The fort still shows signs of different dynasties ruled this region.

The fort is strategically built as a defensive structure, with inter-connecting boulders scattered on the hills with strong fort ...

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At a distance of 32 km from Guntur, 58 km from Amaravati and 73 km from Vijayawada, Kondaveedu Fort is an ancient hill fortress located at Kondaveedu village in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the historical forts in Andhra Pradesh and among the famous Amaravati Tourist Places.

Kondaveedu Fort was constructed during the time of Telugu Chodas, strengthened by Kakatiyas and occupied by Prolaya Vema Reddy who shifted his capital from Addanki to Kondaveedu in 1323 AD. Later it was taken over by Gajpathis of Orissa and ravaged by the Bahmani Sultans in 1458. The Vijayanagara emperor Krishnadevaraya captured it in 1516. The Golconda Sultans fought for the fort in 1531, 1536 and 1579, and Sultan Quli Qutb Shah finally captured it in 1579, renaming it as Murtuzanagar. Later it was recaptured by the Mughal army of Aurangzeb in 1687 and the fort came under the control of the French colonists in 1752 when it was extensively fortified. It passed on to the English imperialists who got control of the fort in 1788 but abandoned it in the early 19th century in favour of Guntur.

There are two other forts nearby. All the three forts on top of the narrow hill range are now in ruins. At an altitude of about 1700 feet, the earliest one date back to 12th century and was considered then as one of the strongest forts in the region. It comprises huge ramparts, warehouses, granaries, and wells. There are two entry gates into the forts, called the 'Kolepalli Darwaza' and the ...

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