Best Places to Visit in Rajanna Sircilla – Temples, Reservoirs & Cultural Attractions

1.Pochampadu Wildlife Sanctuary

Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area in Telangana district, Medak and Nizamabad, and was established in 1952. The dry deciduous forests make up an area of about 130 square kilometers which form part of the sanctuary and is named after the Pocharam Lake constructed after bunding the Allair river between 1916 and 1922.

Activities and Attractions

• Various activities are available to visitors to Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Nature Trails and Trekking: The sanctuary provides nature trails and trekking trails where tourists can venture, to see its exquisiteness and taste nature.
• Bird Watching: At the sanctuary, surrounded by several bird species, there is a lot to see for bird watchers.
• Boating and Kayaking: The Pocharam Lake located within the sanctuary premises has opportunities for boating and kayaking to offer a unique image of the areas around.

Pocharam wildlife sanctuary is located about 15 kilometers distance from Medak and about 115 kilometers away from Hyderabad making it convenient for day trips .

2.Vemulawada

Vemulawada is founded in the Rajanna Sircilla district of Telangana and is a city with age and spirituality. On the renowned ancient temples and unique architecture, it is a key pilgrimage site for devotes and history lovers.

Historical Significance

Vemulawada attained fame during the period of 750 to 973 CE when it was the capital of the Vemulawada Chalukyas, who had ruled besides parts of present day Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. The towns rich heritage can be felt in its architectural wonders and cultural baggage.
Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Temple, devoted to Lord Shiva in a local name Rajanna, is the very center of Vemulawada. This temple built from the 8th to 10th CCE is presented in Dravidian architectural style. The sanctum is encased with the following idols. The Neela Lohitha Shiva Lingam, idols of Goddess Raja Rajeshwari and Siddi Vinayaka.

Festivals and Traditions

• The town is very much alive in the festivals of Maha Shivaratri, Sri Rama Navami, Bonalu, Dasara and Bathukamma. These festivals have a visit by pilgrims from all of South India and more, demonstrating the permanent spiritual importance of Vemulawada.

3.Chennur Fort

Chennur Fort a part of Chennur Mandal of Rajanna Sircilla district in Telangana is a narrative as well as the testimony of the rich historical past of the tract. Although the exact details on the fort are not very clear but its existence is testimony to the importance of area during medieval era especially in terms of its strategic and cultural importance.

Historical Context

The Chennur area has had the different dominion of several dynasties including the Kakatiyas and the Kalyani Chalukyas. Orugallu (the modern Warangal) was the capital of the Kakatiya dynasty (12th to 14th centuries CE), which was known as a great dynasty because of its success in building and adminstration.
Furthermore the Kalyani Chalukyas whose predecessor the Kakatiyas left an imprint on the architectural heritage of the region. An interesting illustration of this fact is Trikuta temple at Chennur village of Palakurthy Mandal built between 900 and 999 CE. This temple constructed on bedrock near an old tank reflects the architectural excellence of the times with two-storied Mandapa and three sanctums laid out as
Trikutalaya style.

• Architectural Significance
• Although there are few particular details that distinguished the architecture of Chennur Fort, forts of Kakatiya period were famous for very strong building, specific plans, and elegant carvings. The spot of the fort in Chennur points at the settlement possibly having been a bastion or administrative center utilizing the natural space to defend and control.

4.Bhadrakali Temple

Located between Hanamkonda and Warangal in Telangana lies the Bhadrakali Temple: a much revered sanctuary of the delectable Goddess Bhadrakali (The force of the divine feminine) which is followed by fierce look. Situated high on a hill, the view of the serene Bhadrakali Lake, this ancient temple is perfect balance between the sacredness, historical and architectural grandeur.

Historical Significance

Thought to have been built in A.D. 625, by King Pulakeshin II of the Chalukya dynasty to honor the victory over the Vengi region of Andhra Desham, the temple is a living example of the heritage that the region has to offer. Later, the Kakatiya kings took charge of the temple beginning to worship Goddess Bhadrakali as their “Kula Devatha” thus elevating the status of the temple.

The temple’s architectural style broadly pitches its shapes to several styles based on contributions from different dynasties over the years. Although the core structure is ascribed to the Chalukyas the super structures added by the Kakatiyas and the Qutb Shahis have embellished the area with layers of art and architecture. Some of the outstanding features are very fine carvings, a gigantic gopuram (entrance tower) and large spacious mandapams (halls).

5.Nagunur Fort

Nagunur Fort in Nagunur village near Karimnagar in Telangana and is an important site of historical Hindu temple architecture as well as an architectural marvel of the Kakatiya dynasty. Built from the 12th till 13th centuries, the fort is a proud center during the reign of Kakatiya and it is famous for its cluster of temples and pettiness.beautiful carvings.

Historical Significance

Nagunur Fort was a strategic centre for administrative and religious as well during Kakatiya dynasty. The prominence of the fort is observable from the innumerable temples’ presence inside the grounds, indicating the monopolizing of art and architecture from the side of the dynasty. According to scholars, ‘Nagunur’ name has derived from ‘Naluguvonalu’ which means ‘400 Temples’ where once there were this amount of temples on this site.

• Location: Nagunur village situated roughly in an 8 km northeast of Karimnagar city.

• Timings: Open daily 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM.

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