Archaeological sites in telangana | Telangana State PSC (TSPSC): Preparation Course - TSPSC (Telangana) PDF Download

Introduction

• Archaeological Sites in Telangana showcase ancient and medieval monuments constructed during the reign of Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Cholas, and Kakatiya Dynasties.
• Additional archaeological sites were established during the rule of the Mughal and the Qutub Sahi Dynasty, which have now become popular tourist destinations.

Khilla Ghanpur

• Khilla Ghanpur, situated equidistantly at 25 kilometers from Mahabubnagar and Wanaparthy towns in Telangana, holds historical significance.
• It is located 111 kilometers away from Hyderabad city.
• During the 13th century, Khilla Ghanpur was governed by the Recherla Padmanayaka, Malyala, and Gona dynasties.
• The fort and Ganapa Samudram lake in Khilla Ghanpur were constructed under the Kakatiya dynasty's rule.
• Ganapa Samudram lake was built by King Malyala Gunda Dandadeeshudu during the reign of Rudrama Devi.
• Gona and Malyala kings were loyal vassals of the Kakatiya rulers.
• Gona Budda Reddy, a key figure, had notable children like Gona Ganapa Reddy, Gona Kacha Reddy, Gona Vitalanatha, and Kuppambika.
• Kacha Reddy and Vitalanatha Reddy, known poets, contributed to completing the Ranganatha Ramayanam initiated by their father.
• Ranganatha Ramayanam, the first Telugu Ramayanam in Telugu literature by Gona Budda Reddy, is composed in Dwipada Chandassu.
• Malyala Gunda Dandadeeshudu married Gona Budda Reddy's daughter, cementing ties between the two dynasties.

Golconda

• Golconda, also known as Golkonda or Golla Konda, translates to "shepherd's hill".
• It is renowned for its medieval fort and diamonds.
• Located 11 km west of Hyderabad, Golconda was once the capital of the medieval Golconda Sultanate (1518-1687).
• Golconda is a mandal of Hyderabad District in Telangana.
• The region is globally recognized for its mines that have yielded famous gems like the Hope Diamond and the Nassak Diamond.

Thousand Pillar Temple

• The Thousand Pillar Temple, situated in Hanamakonda, Telangana, is an ancient Hindu temple.
• Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Surya, it was constructed by the Kakatiya rulers and is a masterpiece of architectural skill.
• Believed to have been built in 1163 AD by King Rudra Deva, the temple exemplifies Kakatiyan architecture from the 12th century AD.
• Despite being destroyed by the Tughlaq dynasty, the temple once had one thousand pillars, allowing unobstructed views of the deities.
• In a restoration effort, engineers removed all the pillars, revealing a large mass of wet sand underneath, likely due to a pipe connection from a nearby water body named Bhadrakali Cheruvu.

Warangal

• Warangal, previously known as Orugallu and Ekasila Nagaram, stands as an ancient city and district headquarters in the Indian state of Telangana.
• Located 148 kilometers northeast of Hyderabad, it serves as the administrative center of Warangal District, encompassing Warangal, Hanmakonda, and Kazipet.
• Warangal, the second most populous city in Telangana after Hyderabad, once reigned as the capital of the Kakatiya kingdom during the 12th to 14th centuries.
• The Kakatiyas, rulers of this realm, bequeathed a legacy of architectural marvels such as a formidable fortress, four monumental stone gateways, the sacred Swayambhu temple devoted to Lord Shiva, and the revered Ramappa temple nestled near Ramappa Lake.

Phanigiri

• Phanigiri, a Buddhist monastic complex in Telangana, also recognized as Buddha Vihara, lies approximately 125 kilometers away from Hyderabad.
• This archaeological site, situated adjacent to National Highway No. 9, holds significance comparable to the renowned Nagarjunakonda and Amaravathi sites, now under the custodianship of the State Department of Archaeology and Museums.

Ramappa Temple

• The illustrious Ramappa Temple, alternatively known as the Ramalingeswara temple, rests 77 kilometers from Warangal, the former seat of the Kakatiya dynasty, and 157 kilometers from Hyderabad within Telangana.
• Nestled in the valley of Palampet village in Venkatapur Mandal, this architectural gem, with origins dating back to the year 1213 AD, was commissioned by General Recherla Rudra under the Kakatiya ruler Ganapati Deva's reign.

Gandhari Khilla

• Gandhari Khilla (Gandhari Kota) is a hill fort situated near Bokkalagutta, in Mandamarri Mandal in Mancherial district, Telangana.
• Located on sand rock hills, the fort is 270 kilometers northeast of Hyderabad, the state capital.
• Surrounded by thick forest, the area is rich in plant species, including medicinal herbs.
• The fort remains partially unexcavated and is partially covered by forest.
• Annual Mahankali Jatara (quarry jatara) attracts over 10,000 participants.
• Gandhari Maisamma Jatra, held every two years at the fort temple, sees tribal people from regions like Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh participating.
• The fort is located 3 kilometers away from Bokkalaguttta village, near the Mancherial-Bellampalli highway.

Mudumal Village

• Historians and archaeologists have discovered the only megalithic site in India with a star constellation depiction in Mudumal village, Telangana, dating back to 5000 BC.
• This site boasts the highest concentration of menhirs in India, suggesting it might be the earliest astronomical observatory in India and South Asia.

Thogarrai (Nalgonda)

• Thogarrai, located in Nalgonda, is an important archaeological site where a significant factory was uncovered atop one of the hills. This factory was situated near the origin of a dolerite dyke. Numerous axes were unearthed at this site, showing various stages of production.
• The tools recovered from the Thogarrai factory site seem to have been crafted in an Acheulian style. They were predominantly fashioned from dolerite, with many tools discovered in their final stages of production. The raw material used for these tools was a type of trap rock found in convenient small nodules.