Jayashankar Bhupalpally District (జయశంకర్ భూపాలపల్లి జిల్లా) - 1 | Telangana State PSC (TSPSC): Preparation Course - TSPSC (Telangana) PDF Download

History

• Telangana region has been ruled by significant dynasties including Sathavahanas, Kakatiyas, Chalukyas, Mughals, Qutubshahis, and Asafjahis. Notably, the Kakatiyas made remarkable contributions to architecture. The Sathavahanas, on the other hand, governed the Telangana region for approximately 400 years, ranging from the 2nd century B.C. to beyond the 2nd century A.D. Of the Kakatiyas, Prataparudra stood out as a prominent ruler, reigning until A.D. 1323.
• Jayashankar Bhupalpally holds connections with illustrious dynasties such as the Great Vishnukundins, preceding even the Buddhist and pre-Buddhist eras of Indian history. By the Eighth Century A.D., it was under the sovereignty of the Yadava king of the Kakatiyas or Ganapatis, with Warangal serving as the capital city. The lineage of the Kakatiyas seems to have existed even prior to the mid-7th Century A.D., evident from the mention of the kingdom of "Danakakitya" in the South by the renowned Chinese Pilgrim Hiuen-Tsang. The name Kakatiya is derived from the local reference to the Goddess Durga, Kakati.
• Following the decline of the Bahmani Kingdom, Jayashankar Bhupalpally came under the rule of the Qutub Shahis of Golconda, subsequently falling under the influence of the Nizam's dominions.

Tourist Places

Kaleshwara Mukteshwara Swamy Temple

• Kaleshwaram is a town located on the border of Telangana and Maharashtra. It is renowned for the ancient and revered Kaleshwara Mukteshwara Swamy Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. One of the distinctive features of this temple is the presence of two Lingams on a single pedestal called Panavattam. The temple is named Kaleshwara Mukteswara Swamy mandiram due to the presence of Lord Shiva or Mukteshwara and Lord Yama or Kaleshwar.
• The Kaleshwara Mukteshwara Swamy temple is considered one of the three temples of Lord Shiva in Trilinga Desham. These three temples, known as Jyotirlingas, mark the three corners of Telugu Land along with the temples at Draksharamam and Srisailam. An intriguing feature of this temple is the hole in the Mukteshwara linga that never fills with water, possibly indicating an underground passage leading to the River Godavari. The temple also features a fascinating fish idol sculpture.

How to Reach

• Fly to Hyderabad and then journey by car, train, or bus. Alternatively, you can fly to Nagpur and then take a car to Kaleshwaram. Kaleshwaram is located 214 km away from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD) in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, and 275 km away from Sonegaon Airport (NAG) in Nagpur, Maharashtra.
• The nearest railway station to Kaleshwaram is Ramagundam. Take a train to Ramagundam from Hyderabad and then travel by bus to Kaleshwaram. There are several buses available from Ramagundam to Kaleshwaram. Warangal and Kazipet Stations are approximately 110 kilometers away, while Peddapalli and Ramagundam Stations are about 100 kilometers from Kaleshwaram.
• Every day, 60 RTC buses operate from various depots including Hyderabad, Warangal, Guntur, Vijayawada, Kamareddy, Karimnagar, Korutla, Metpalli, Godavarikhani, Ramagundam, Husnabad, Peddapalli, Manthani, Narsampet, and Parkala, to Kaleshwaram and back. There is a bus from Hyderabad to Kaleshwaram and vice versa every 30 minutes. By Car: Hyderabad - Siddipet - Karimnagar - Peddapalli - Kaleshwaram. This route spans about 300 kilometers, with a travel time of approximately 5 hours by car. Alternate Route: Hyderabad - Bhongir - Warangal - Parkal - Kaleshwaram. Covering a distance of around 260 kilometers, this route takes about 4 hours and 15 minutes to travel.

Nainpaka temple

• Nainpaka temple is located around 25 km to Jayashankar Bhupalpally and is believed to have been built in the 15th or 16th century on a pink stone rock. It is unique in style and considered the only one of its kind in southern India, although it is currently in a state of disrepair.
• This lesser-known rock-cut temple follows the Sarvatobhadra architectural style and features four deities carved out on a protruded boulder, making it a remarkable sight.
• Inside the sanctum sanctorum, you will find carvings of Yoga Narasimha Swamy, Kaleeya Venugopala Swamy, Sri Rama, and Balarama, each positioned on a different side of the temple, creating a visually stunning display.
• The temple has four functional entrances on cardinal directions, allowing access from all sides, showcasing the mastery of Sarvatobhadra architecture. The vimana (upper part) of the 50-foot gopuram (tower) is intricately sculpted and made of bricks, while the base (Adhishtana) is constructed using pink stones extracted from the bedrock.

Local lore

• Bakasura, a figure from local legend, was believed to have ruled the land. While he protected his people, he was hostile to those outside his kingdom. Despite being labeled a demon, his subjects revered him as a deity, leading to the construction of a temple in his honor.
• The temple's architecture is remarkable, with the entire sanctum sanctorum hewn from a single massive boulder. The 'sikhara' of the temple, however, was constructed using bricks.

How to Reach

• There is no railway station in close proximity to Nainpaka, with the nearest station located less than 10 km away in Regonda. Travelers can access Nainpaka from the nearby town of Warangal by road.
• Nainpaka Temple is situated just 25 km before Jayashankar Bhupalpally district. The town is well-connected by road and also accessible via long-distance deluxe buses from major cities within the state.

Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project

• The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, also known as KLIP, represents a significant multi-purpose irrigation initiative situated on the Godavari River in Kaleshwaram, Bhupalpally, Telangana, India. This project currently stands as the largest multi-stage lift irrigation project globally. Its primary influence begins at the juncture of the Pranhita and Godavari rivers. The Pranahita River, a confluence of several smaller tributaries like the Wardha, Painganga, and Wainganga rivers, amalgamates to form the seventh-largest drainage basin on the subcontinent. This basin boasts an annual discharge exceeding 6,427,900 acre-feet (7,930 cubic hectometres) or 280 TMC. Unfortunately, a significant portion of this potential remains untapped due to the river's path traversing dense forests and ecologically sensitive zones like wildlife sanctuaries.
• The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project comprises seven links and 28 packages, covering a vast expanse of roughly 500 km (310 mi) across 13 districts. The project incorporates a complex canal network stretching over 1,800 km (1,100 mi). Its primary objectives include generating a total of 240 TMC (195 from Medigadda Barrage, 20 from the Sripada Yellampalli project, and 25 from groundwater). Of this total, 169 TMC is designated for irrigation purposes, 30 TMC for supplying water to Hyderabad municipality, 16 TMC for various industrial applications, and 10 TMC for meeting the drinking water needs of nearby villages. The remaining portion is earmarked for anticipated evaporation losses. Furthermore, the project strives to expand the total culturable command area by 1,825,000 acre-feet (2,251 hm3) across all 13 districts, in addition to stabilizing the existing CCA.
• Project Inauguration: On June 21, 2019, the Kaleshwaram project was inaugurated by Telangana governor Narasimhan along with chief ministers K. Chandrashekar Rao (Telangana), Fadnavis (Maharashtra), and Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy (Andhra Pradesh).
• Pumping Facilities: The project is managed by four major pumping facilities, with the largest one located at Ramadugu. Once consistent measurements are available, it is expected to be the largest facility in Asia. This facility requires seven 140 MWh (500 GJ) pumps that were specifically designed and manufactured for the project by BHEL.

How to Reach

• To reach Jayashankar Bhupalpally, the nearest airport is Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, located 240 km away. Alternatively, one can reach Jayashankar Bhupalpally from Warangal, which is well-connected to major cities in India by rail. Warangal and Kazipet are major railway stations on the Hyderabad-New Delhi and Chennai-Kolkata routes.
• Jayashankar Bhupalpally is well connected by road. It is linked by long-distance deluxe buses from major cities within the state. There are direct buses that operate between Hyderabad and Jayashankar Bhupalpally at regular intervals. The journey from the state capital to Jayashankar Bhupalpally typically takes approximately 5 hours.