- Best time
- October to March
- Nearest airport
- Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad
- Ethipothala Falls height
- About 60 m
- Ideal time needed
- 2 days
Temples
Yadagirigutta, on a hillock, honours Lord Narasimha and draws large crowds of Vishnu devotees; it finds mention in the Skanda Purana. At Kolanupaka, which served as a Kalyani Chalukya capital around the 11th century, the ancient Jain temple has been restored with help from craftsmen from Rajasthan and Gujarat, and the Someswara and Veeranarayana temples and a small museum stand nearby. Mellacheruvu is known for the Swayambhu Sambhulingeswara temple, whose lingam has a small hollow that always holds water. Pillalamarri has a cluster of well-preserved Kakatiya temples.
Forts
Bhongir Fort crowns a single steep rock that rises sharply out of the plain. It is linked to the Western Chalukya king Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya VI, and its old name, Tribhuvanagiri, was later shortened to Bhongir. Massive gateways cut into the rock show how hard it was to attack. Rachakonda Fort, built by Recherla Singama Nayaka in the 14th century, and the ruined Devarakonda Fort, ringed by seven hills, make good half-day climbs.
Nagarjuna Sagar and Ethipothala
Nagarjuna Sagar is one of the world's largest masonry dams, built across the Krishna and completed in the late 1960s. It irrigates a vast farming area and is a popular viewpoint. About 11 km away, Ethipothala Falls drops around 60 metres into a gorge, with a crocodile breeding centre nearby.
Planning your visit
October to March is the best season for fort climbs, as summer is very hot. Start early, carry water and wear good shoes for Bhongir and Rachakonda. Bhongir is on the main rail line from Secunderabad, and the district is well served by road from Hyderabad, whose airport is the nearest. We can arrange a car and driver for the full circuit.
Also nearby
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