Warangal trip from Hyderabad
Warangal is an excellent weekend destination from Hyderabad. Just 140km away, it is just a short drive away. But beyond being a destination itself, the route to Warangal can be a great heritage journey in itself. If you are driving on your own and have some time to explore, do consider visiting these places on the way to Warangal.
Bhongir/Bhuvanagiri
Bhuvanagiri town is about 39 km away from Hyderabad and is well connected with roads and train routes.
Bhongir Fort was built on an isolated monolithic rock by the Western Chalukya ruler Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya VI and was thus named after him as Tribhuvanagiri. This name gradually became Bhuvanagiri and subsequently Bhongir.
A moat that encircles the fort, a vast underground chamber, trap doors, an armoury, stables, ponds, wells etc., make for interesting viewing. The view from the top of the surrounding countryside can be impressive. The Bala Hisar or citadel on the top of the hill gives a bird’s eye view of the neighbouring area. The fort is associated with the rule of queen Rudramadevi and her grandson Prataparudra. Rumour has it that there once was an underground corridor connecting Bhongir Fort to Golconda Fort.
Photos courtesy – https://www.flickr.com/photos/dyle/, Creative Commons
Yadadri/Yadagirigutta
Yadagirigutta, about 60 kilometers from the city of Hyderabad, is home to a famous Sri Lakshminarasimha Swamy Temple. Lord Narasimha is also known as Yadagiri, hence the name Yadagirigutta. The sanctum sanctorum or Garbhagriha is located in a cave, under a huge slating rock, which covers half the abode.Kolanupaka
About 80 km from Hyderabad on the Hyderabad-Warangal Highway, Kolanupaka (also known as Kulpakji) is famous for a Jain shrine and various Jain antiquities discovered here. The town flourished during the Rashtrakuta period and currently is an important pilgrimage center for Svetambara Jains of South India. A Someshwara Temple, which was supposedly built by the Chalukyas about 800 years back is also an important site to visit here.
Pembarti
Pembarthy is 100Km from Hyderabad on State Highway to Warangal. Indian brass is renowned the world over and chances are the brass potted planter in the foyer of a Manhattan hotel or Tokyo corporate office comes from Pembarti, a small village of Andhra Pradesh which is a centre of brass work. Apart from sheet work, the craftsmen of Pembarti are proficient in another skill – that of lost wax casting. According to one origin theory, the craftsmen working in Pembarti are descendents of those in the courts of the Kakatiya kings who used to work with gold and silver.
Read more – link.
Ghanpur
Ghanpur is home to a hill fort built by the Kakathiya King Gona Ganapa Reddy during the Year A.D. 1224. This fort is located about 26 Kms away from Mahaboob Nagar District headquarters and 120 kilometers away from Hyderabad. This is a hill fort and was built by joining two mountains by Kakathiya King Gona Ganapa Reddy during the Year A.D. 1224. This fort has witnessed many wars between Bahamanis, Vijayanagara Kings, Bijapur Kings and Qutb Shahi Kings etc. The cannons which still exist have been kept on the top most side of the fort. One can also see a palace and ruins of ministers’ houses.
The name of Ghanapuram Khilla came into existence from the name of Kakatiya Ruler Sri Ganapathi Deva. People believe that there are two secret tunnels inside of the fort. One is connected with the village in the bottom of the mountain and another one is connected with the Panagal fort.
The fort also has beautiful rockscapes and greenery with 2 ponds which were used as drinking water supply for the fort army.
Source – http://adventure.outlife.in/