Medak

Medak is a municipality in Medak District in Andhra Pradesh 104 km north to Hyderabad.

Medak, a historic town originally called Siddapuram, later it known as Gulshanabad also, reached its pinnacle during the Kakatiya dynasty reign. Medak has a citadel dating back to the Kakatiyas. It was built during the reign of Kakatiya emperor Pratapa Rudra. Strategically built on a hillock, it was called the Methukudurgam (and Methukuseema), from the Telugu word Methuku meaning cooked rice grain. The main entrance proudly displays the double-headed bird "Gandabherundam" of the Kakatiyas. The Medak fort stands as an epitome of architectural excellence of the Kakatiya dynasty. The water to the fort was served through a pipeline from a well inside the fort. It has three main entrances, the "Prathama Dwaram", the "Simha Dwaram" or Lions Entrance that has two snarling lions at the top of the entrance and the "Gaja Dwaram" or Elephant's Entrance that has a sculpture of two elephants interlocked on both sides of the entrance. At the fort one can see a 17th-century cannon that is 3.2 meters long. The cannon has a trident etched on it. This fortress uses the natural topography to the maximum advantage with the rocky face offering it natural defences.

Medak district is adorned by many temples depicting fine architectural splendours.

  • Sri Kalyana Venkateshwara Swami Devasthaanam, Hanuman and Shivaalayam, which is under renovation process in Makarjapet(v), Sai Baba Mandir and yellamma temple in Karnalpally in Chegunta Mandal.
  • Erdanoor located 5 km from Ganesh Gadda, National Highway NH-9 Patancheru to Sangareddy to take right
  • Sowdamma Matha Temple, Jathara will celebrate every year in the month of January, Ismailkhanpet near to Sangareddy
  • Sapta Prakarauta Bhavani Mata Temple, located 35 km from Hyderabad in Ismailkhanpet near to Sangareddy
  • Veerabhadra Swamy Temple, located 25 km to the north of Hyderabad in Bonthapalli
  • Sangameshwara Temple, 45 km from Medak town) in Jharasangam
  • Kanakadurga Temple, 8 km from Medak town, on the banks of Manjira river
  • Nachagiri temples, Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, 55 km from Hyderabad, Siddipet.
  • There is famous Saraswathi devi temple which is located in Perur which is 5 km from Medak town.
  • Koti Ligeshwara Swamy Temple, Sri Saraswathi Kshetramu, Ananthasagar temple located 22 km from Siddipet on the route of Siddipet to Karimnagar and Chegunta
  • Vasavi Kanyaka Parameshwari Ammavari Devalayam, Swayam Bhoo Mahakali Devasthaanam, Anjaneya Swami devalayam to name a few.
  • Sri Sri Chamundeshwari Ammawari Temple at Chitkula village of Andhole mandal, nearer to the Jogipet town.
  • On the banks of Manjira is also a famous shakti temple which is founded by Sri Ramanayya Garu.
  • The Joginatha Temple at Jogipet and Surya Devalayam at Dakur village are also equally important places in the district.
  • Another one is Kowdipally Mandal Tuniki village in this village is the famous temple is Nalla Pochamma, from Hyderabad to 60 km only.
  • A famous temple of Jagadamba mata and Sri Sri Seva Lal maharaj located at Bommareddygudem village in Pulkal mandal.
  • Sri Sri Seva maharaj was born on 14 February and was principal deity of Banjara tribal.
  • Saptha Prakaritha Durga Bavani Temple Ismailkhanpet(V), Sangareddy(m). The statue of durga is placed in seven-walled temple.

Sri Ketaki Sangameshwara Swamy

Sri Ketaki Sangameshwara Swamy Devastanam, is a Hindu ancient temple situated at Jarasangam, Zaheerabad of Medak Dist of Telangana. Kethaki Sangameshwara Swamy is one of the old Shiva temples situated at Jharasangam village and Mandal, Medak district. It is said that the Shiva lingam was consecrated by "Lord Bramha ". The king of Surya Vamsha Raja Kupendra during "krutha yug" suffered from a skin disease which did not have a remedy back then. One day while in forest for hunting he reached Kethaki Vanam where he found a stream and washed his body, he was surprised to see his body cleansed and the same night Lord Shiva showed up in his dreams and asked him that he wanted the king to construct a sanatorium on the Shiva lingam. Raja Kupendra constructed a temple and dedicated it to Lord Shiva to show his gratitude. Pushkarni (holy pond) which came to be known as "astha theertha amrutha gundam" and is called as "Dakshina Kasi". Gundam pooja is performed by followers from Karnataka, Maharashtra and Telangana due to its religious and historical importance and pay homage to the Lord Shiva.

According to the Hindu Mythology it is beleivedthat Bramha came to this propitious spot for meditation after the creation of world. As the present linga was instilled by Bramha now the pooja's are being performed by Kethaki flowers (Kethaki flowers are generally not used for pooja's) and also the water of that stream which the king converted into pushkarni consisting of 8 theerthas (narayana, dharma rushi, varuna, soma, rudra, indira, and datha). Here Lord Shiva is called as Kethaki Sangameshwara.

Medak Church Cathedral

The church, the single largest diocese in Asia and the second largest in the world after the Vatican, is built in solid white granite. The tower is 173 feet high, with four pinnacles.

The church was built under the stewardship of the Methodist Christian, the Reverend Charles Walker Posnett, who was driven by the motto My best for my Lord. Charles Posnett had arrived in Secunderabad in 1895, and after first ministering among British soldiers at Trimullghery, had launched into the villages and had reached Medak village in 1896. In those days there was no railway to Medak (the journey of 60 miles (97 km) from Hyderabad had to be done on horseback - and Posnett could do it in a day) and in the whole Medak area there were hardly two hundred Christians, who were using a small tiled house as their place of worship.

As the number of Christians increased, Charles Posnett raised a moderate structure in the Mission Compound in the shape of a church, but thought it unworthy, and early in 1914 laid the foundations of the present cathedral church, on 1,000 acres (4.0 sq km) of land in Ghusnabad area. When the people of Medak district were suffering from famine between 1919 and 1921, Charles Posnett helped them by employing them in the construction of the church instead of running a free kitchen. Construction went on for 10 years. Charles Posnett consecrated the church in 1924, thanking God for mitigating the sufferings of the people.

Gottam Gutta (GottamGota)

Gottam Gutta is also known as Gottam Gota is a small village which is at a distance of 25 Kms from Zaheerabad Town. GottamGutta is a village bearing huge historial significance. One can find some temple in Gottam Gutta. Its location set amidst lush green forests and natural beauty makes it an ideal destination for treks and adventure tourism of Telangana. The view of nature from GottamGutta is awesome and cannot be described in words. Its must visit place on the list of adventure tourist spots of Telangana because of its unique natural beauty.

Pocharam Forest & Wildlife Sanctuary
Pocharam Forest & Wildlife Sanctuary was the favourite hunting spot of Nizam kings. This sanctuary is home to black bucks, leopards, bears, and crocodiles.[citation needed] Singur Dam 30 km from Sangareddy

Medak Fort
This Citadel was first built by Kakathiya king Prathapa rudra. This citadel boasts of iron pipe water supply system spread all over the fort.

Nizam Sagar
Nizam Sagar dam, 50 km from Medak, was constructed across the Manjira River, a tributary of the Godavari River. The site is noted for its splendid scenic beauty. The most outstanding feature of the project is the gigantic masonry dam sprawling across the river for 3 km with a motor able road of 14 ft width over it.

Manjira wildlife & bird sanctuary
comprises nine small islands which are home to a number of resident and migratory birds in addition to Marsh Crocodiles and Muggers.

Sri Saraswathi Kshetramu
Shri Saraswathi Skshtramu is a famous Hindu Temple of Goddess Saraswathi located in the Ananthasagar, Siddipet Division, Medak district of Andhra Pradesh. The temple is built from 1980 to 1990 built by Sri Astakala Narasimha Rama Sharma (Astavadhani).

Velupugonda sri tumburunatha devalayam
"Velupugonda sri tumburunatha devalayam"- built by rastrakuta kings, is one of the rarest temple in India with prisiding deity as sri tumburunatha swamy (god of music).This temple consists of fine stone sculptures depicting men and women singing and dancing. His temple is situated at velupugonda village in tekmal mandal 35 km from Medak town.

Edupayala Durga Bhavani gudi
Edupayala Durga Bhavani gudi is a highly revered shrine of goddess Durga bhavani in Telangana and adjacent states of karnataka and Maharashtra. Edupayalu is a peculiar place with natural stone formations. Here Manjeera river splits into seven streams and unites into one, hence this place is called Edupayalu, which means "seven streams". Story of the place goes back to time of Mahabharata. It is believed that king Janamejaya (grandson of Arjuna) performed "sarpa yagam (sacrifice of snakes into the holy fire)" here to save his father Parikshith from a curse. recently while constructing a bridge, it is found that 'a layer of ash is there below the Manjeera river bed. Jatara (fair) is celebrated on the day of Shivarathri and Maagha Amavasya. Edupayala jatara attracts lakhs of devotees from telangana, adjacent states of Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple
Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple at Rangampet village, Narasimha Swamy Temple at Jakkannapet, Sidha Rameshwara Temple near Medak (2 km from Medak) are other noteworthy temples.