Warangal Tourism and Travel Guide
Warangal Location: Warrangal Fort, as the name suugests is located in Warrangal city in Andhra Pradesh state. The city lies to the north east of Hyderabad, the state capital. Hyderabad and Warranal are separated by a distance of about 150 kilometres and the two are connected by roads and rails. Warrangal Fort is located towards the south of the city.
Overview: Warrangal Fort, that stands in ruins today used to be one of the most impregnable fort in the state. The fort is located near the Ekashila hill rock and consists of various layers spreading out. The construction of the fort was started by Kakatiyan king Ganapati Deva, in the year 1199 A.D. The
construction continued even after the death of the king and was finally completed by his daughter, Rani Rudramadevi, in the year 1261 A.D. The remnants of the fort that are present in the city provide some useful insights of the past civilization that used to occupy these lands.
Features: Warrangal Fort is famous for its architectural splendour as well the history associated with it. The remnants of the fort features immense gateways and towers that stand despite all odds. The towers are well above 50 feet from the ground. The huge pillars of the gateway are amazing as they have been cut from a single rock. The fort has three protective layers spread out to provide the fortification of what used to be the inner precincts and seat of power. Some of the surviving remnants feature delicate carvings and stone work, motifs and patterns depicting animals like lions and swans. Also located within the fort premises are the ruins of temples that were demolished by the early Qutub Shahi rulers. The place is filled with the treasures from the past, one only has to keep an open eye to hit the jackpot.
Getting There:
Air: The nearest airports are Hyderabad and Vijayawada, about 157 kms and 249 kms respectively.
Rail: Warangal has a railhead that is well connected to every city in the country.
Bus: Warangal is connected by state buses from hyderabad, Vijayawada, Karimnagar, Khammam, etc.
Places to see En Route to Warangal from Hyderabad, Yadagirigutta, 59 kms (Lakshminarasimha Swamy temple).
Kolanupaka, 80 kms. (Jain Mandir, Archaeology Museum, Sri Veeranarayana Temple, Someswara temple).
Places to See in and around Warangal
Warangal Thousand Pillar Temple: Catch a glimpse of the finest specimen of Kakatiya architecture and sculpture. Built by Rudra Deva in 1163 AD in Chalukyan style, the temple
with three shrines is dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Surya. One thousand richly carved pillars, perforated screens, exquisite icons, rock cut elephants and the monolithic black basalt Nandi will take you back down the ages!
Ramappa Temple: The medieval Deccan Ramappa Temple dating back to 1213 AD, is the right choice for architecture lovers. It documents the glory and grandeur of the Kakatiya Kingdom. Rich, intricate sculpture on walls, pillars, brackets and ceilings will captivate you! The picturesque Ramappa Lake close by, is another blessing.
Distance: 74 kms from Warangal.
Getting There: State buses and taxis from Warangal and Hyderabad.
Accommodation: Tourist Guest House and cottages on the bank of Ramappa Lake. Pakhal Listen to the call of the wild! Around the tranquil manmade Pakhal Lake, discover a wildlife sanctuary stretching across 860 sq kms. Dense forests, the sounds of the tiger, leopard, bear, hyena, deer… what more could you ask for? The best season to visit Pakhal is between October and March.
Distance: 50 kms from Warangal.
Getting There State buses, taxis from Warangal and Hyderabad
Accommodation: Sarovihar Tourist Rest House and Forest Guest House.
Warangal Fort: Enter the impressive Warangal Fort through four huge Sanchi-type gateways. The Warangal Fort was built in the 13th century by a Kakatiya King – Ganapathi Deva and his daughter, Rani Rudrama. You will spot exquisite pieces of sculpture too.
