Trip to Medak Fort(Methuku Durgam), Telangana

We decided to have a short trip to Pocharam Lake and Medak even though Hyderabad was sizzling with temperatures reaching 40+C. After some bird photography at Pocharam lake we headed to Medak district/town to visit the Medak fort. 

However our first stop was at Medak Church, which is close to a century old and also apparently is the largest Diocese in Asia. It was teeming with people and we decided to come back later to this place. 

Medak Church

From the parking lot of the Medak Church we noticed a white structure on a hill, and looking at Google Maps realised it was our next destination the Medak Fort. Well thanks to Google Maps we reached the foot of a small hillock and started our short climb and suddenly the road ended...well no Fort in sight.

However there were a nicely crafted flight of stairs(obviously not friendly for Sr Citizens and Physically challenged citizens. After the short climb we saw our white building , with a few table & chairs

Haritha Restaurant

It was the Haritha hotel and restaurant which has four rooms on the top and a sit-out. The view from this place is spectacular- whole of Medak city and the towering Medak Church.

View from Haritha

Hunger pangs was driving us nuts and ordered Onion Pakodas, aerated drinks and water. The sit-out is quite okay with fans and it provided the much needed respite from heat.

Onion Pakoda

The Pakodas were very tasty with a touch of curry leaf and Ajwain. This place has  restrooms so, please don't hesitate to take the keys from the Manager...monkeys are around to trouble hence they keep the restrooms locked.

After taking directions from the restaurant staff, we climbed our next flight of stairs and came across the following note about the Fort. Please read it ...

Fort Details

We didn't expect any guide as we were already told at the Haritha hotel, and with the above as the only reference point we explored around. The whole place is in derelict condition, however govt had made some concrete steps for ease of climbing.

Not much to see except a few gates(dwarams, elephants sculptures) and some abandoned areas. 

The fort was probably used as a watch post and hence not massive in structure. Such a pity that this place built by our Kakatiya rulers don't find any place of importance in our ecosystem

Paved later by the govt

Many parts of the Fort is also desolate, so if you want to explore please do so in groups, not that we came across and vandalism/trouble mongers. It is a nice place to take some photographs and after spending around 40 minutes here and bearing the heat we decided to call it a day.

desolate section

As we climbed down the steps my thoughts were "why didn't the Govt either the Telangana or Central govt (through ASI) maintain this place?".

Entrance to the Fort

The Mubarak Mahal was restored by the Telangana govt and is being used as the Haritha hotel, probably one way of preserving this place. This is an important part of our history & heritage and deserves some attention from all of us i.e. citizens and the govt.

Well if you have time do visit this place.

(Contributed by Sandip Mishra)

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The Kakatiya trail: History, nature and more at Warangal

Thousand Pillar Temple

Often we forget the pleasure of the simple and ordinary while waiting for that great grand event to happen. Same with holiday travel. I’ve been planning and wishing for that big holiday, to a far away place, but for some reason or the other it never took off. So, decided to take time off, to a destination closer home, and we drove down to Warangal, the next big city of Telangana after Hyderabad. This was my third visit to this place of historic interest, earlier ones being with my college friends. 

You know, it’s fun when you revisit the same place with your family, especially after decades when the lapsed time has not only changed the geographical landscape but political one as well. Telangana tourism is just taking off in a big way – and believe me Warangal is particularly promising, being just about 180 Kms from Hyderabad (when you go via the Outer Ring Road (ORR), which adds 30 kms to the other route that is actually 150 Kms).

Thousand Pillar Temple

Warangal has three Haritha hotels (managed by Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation - TSTDC) and the stay and food is not a problem. We stayed at Haritha Kakatiya, located in the heart of Hanumakonda. Landmarks monuments like the Thousand Pillar temple and Warangal fort is just a short drive away from the hotel.

Imagining the fort and its grandeur: the sound and light show

Thoranam, Warangal  Fort

Yes, we can only imagine how magnificent those original structures were and how rich their architecture must have been during the Kakatiyas. The ruins and remnants of the fort are well preserved, surrounded by the four iconic Warangal arches (or thoranams). The place looks more like a museum where you can spend hours admiring the art, sculpture and carvings of the crafts persons.  

Intricate Sculpting

The assembly of those precious pieces of art may look like just another piece of rock from a distance, but just go close to them and you will find that each stone has a story to tell. In fact, most of the intricate carvings seem like filigree in stone – as if the hardness of stone just yielded to the delicate and supple fingers of the sculptor!

Sound & Light Show, Warangal Fort

We enjoyed the sound and light show,  when the entire landscape transformed into a spectacle, giving us a glimpse of the  bygone era with the story of the powerful rulers

Ganapati Deva, Rudrama Devi and Pratapa Rudra being brought to life in captivating voice and narration and visual effects. The outstanding part of the show is the way it has been conceptualized with just the remains of the fort when there is no concrete structure like other big forts of India – well preserved and restored.

The Ramappa temple and lake

Ramappa Temple

Another famous temple, uniquely named after its architect Ramappa was our next destination. This is about 50 Kms away from Warangal and this is another monument which has stood the test of time for more than 800 years.  We could see some restoration work in progress on one side of the gopuram. Enter the temple and you will find uneven floor, shaken up with earthquakes and other vagaries of nature, but still in tact because of their uniqueness. Remember the well known story of the light weight stones that were used for the foundation of the temple. In fact, you get to touch and feel in after watching the sound and light show at the fort.

Ramappa Lake

The lake is just about a kilometer away from the temple, and it has a Haritha hotel nestled in the verdant surroundings.

Laknavaram lake and Pakhal lake

Laknavaram is actually 200 Kms from Hyderabad and makes an interesting outing with the convenience of a Haritha hotel right in the middle of the tiny island.  The suspended bridge connects to the island that has boating facility as well. The walk is on the bridge is quite a thrill as you get to view the beautiful greenery all around. A stay on the island might be even more adventurous and this is definitely on my mind for our next trip.

Suspension Bridge, Laknavaram

While you drive towards Pakhal lake, you will find another Haritha way side restaurant on the way at Incherial. We were lucky to make it on time for freshly prepared hot and spicy lunch – the typical rice, dal, sambar and curry – almost ubiquitous in all Haritha restaurants. The Pakhal lake is more like a river in the middle of a thick forest. We stopped over to admire the panoramic views of the entire stretch. The narrow roads that lead to the lake are covered by huge trees, adding to the wilderness of this place. 

Pakhal Lake

Besides temples and lakes, Warangal on its own was enjoyable with lush green avenues with old trees that make you feel you are driving through a forest. It would be great if the Government of Telangana can improve the parking facilities, especially at the Ramappa temple and improve the connecting road to the Pakhal lake. 

Pembarthy, Brass art

Art Gallery

Two other places to visit during your trip to Warangal are Pembarthy ( located in between Hyderabad and Warangal) known for world famous brass art form practised here for ages, 7-8 handicraft shops dot the highway and we took time off to visit the Vishwakarma Art Gallery perhaps one of the oldest society engaged in this art form. The second one being Cheriyal, known for stylized Nakashi scroll paintings and it needs a detour of  around 50 Kms from Janagaon. Both worth a visit to  discover to distinct art forms of Telangana. 

Warangal is blessed with historical and natural landmarks that has many things to offer for a variety of interests and inclinations. This is definitely a place where the journey can be as thrilling as the destination.

Contributed by Madhuri Dubey

(Photographs are copyrights of Madhuri Dubey)

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