West Telangana
West Telangana consists of the districts of Kamareddy, Medak, Sangareddy, Vikarabad, Narayanpet and Mahabubnagar.
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See and do
edit- 1 Ananthagiri Hills. Lush green hills and the source of the Musi River, it is one of the dense forests in Telangana. About 400 years ago, the Nizams used to come here for hunting and to take a rest in the peaceful place of Ananthagiri. There's a Vishnu temple in the forested area, called Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple.
- 2 Heritage Jail Museum (Sangareddy District Jail). A 220-year-old colonial-era prison, now a museum. The prison was built during the prime ministership of Salar Jung I in 1796. The jail allows you to live a prisoner's life for 24 hours. The museum displays paintings and other artefacts related to crime and prison life in India. ₹500.
- 3 Kaulas Fort (Kowlas Fort). A historic fort constructed by the Rashtrakutas in the 9th century. It later came under the rule of Chalukyas of Badami, the Kakatiyas, Musunuri Nayaks, the Bahmani Sultanate, Qutub Shahis, Mughals, Marathas and the Nizams. It has historically served as a strategic outpost contested by many kingdoms.
- 4 Koil Sagar. One of the famous tourist attractions of West Telangana with a Veerabadhra temple called Koil Konda. Every year, there is a celebration (Jathara) held by nearby villagers.
- 5 Manjira Wildlife Sanctuary. Originally a crocodile sanctuary developed to protect the vulnerable species of mugger crocodile, it is now home to more than 70 species of birds. The reservoir in the sanctuary provides drinking water to Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The sanctuary has an Environmental Education Centre consisting of a museum, a library, and an auditorium. Films about birds and animals are shown daily. Boat services are available to take the visitors around the sanctuary for bird watching, with binoculars and books to identify birds provided to visitors. The museum has exhibits which depict the complex biodiversity of the wetlands. The best season to visit this sanctuary is from November to March when major migrant birds nest and breed here.
- 6 Manyamkonda (20 km (12 mi) from Mahbubnagar town towards Raichur). A hilltop shrine of Lord Venkateshwara. There is also a temple of Lord Shiva. The ideal time to visit this temple is at the time of Jaathara, celebrated every year during January or February. The road to the hilltop is very curvy and exciting. Before entering the road that leads to this temple, there is another temple at the bottom of the hill of Devi Padmavati.
- 7 Medak Fort (100 km (62 mi) from Hyderabad). A citadel built on a hillock that provided a vantage point for the Kakatiya rulers in medieval India. The fort was built sometime around the 12th century and during the reign of the Kakatiya ruler Rudra Deva. It was a command post of the Kakatiyans and later for Musunuri Kings and Qutb Shahis. Within the fort is a 17th-century Mosque built by the Qutub Shahis, granaries and remains of grand houses. Although there is not much left to see, but as it stands on a hillock, it offers a good view of the surrounding area.
- 8 Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary. Spanning over 130 square kilometres (50 sq mi), it was a former hunting ground of the Nizams that was declared a wildlife sanctuary in the early 20th century. It is named after the Pocharam Lake, formed from the bunding of the Allair from 1916-1922. The sanctuary has an ecotourism centre for visitors. It is home to many species of birds and mammals.
- 9 Ramalingeshwara Temple, Nandikandi. An early 11th-century temple built during the Kalyani Chalukyas. It is notable for its star-shaped sanctum walls, a large mandapam and intricately carved pillars. The reliefs depict Hindu legends associated with Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Shaktism traditions.
