NALGONDA HISTORY

Its name is derived from two Telugu words Nalla (black) and Konda (hills). Nalgonda in the past is referred to as Nilagiri. During the period of Bahamani kingdom, it had been renamed as Nallagonda. Later in Nizam rule, during the later kings rule the name has been transformed in to Nalgonda.

NALGONDA TOURISM (Nagarjun sagar)

Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is the world's largest masonry dam built across Krishna River in Nagarjuna Sagar,Nalgonda District of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is downstream to the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir with a capacity of up to 11,472 million cubic metres which is the world's largest man-made lake with a concrete wall of that measures 6 ft (1.8 m). thick. The dam is 490 ft (150 m). tall and 16 km long with 26 gates which are 42 ft (13 m). wide and 45 ft (14 m). tall. It is one of the earliest irrigation and hydro-electric projects in India. The dam provides irrigation water to the Nalgonda District, Prakasam District, Khammam District and Guntur District.

YADAGIRI GUTTA

Sri Lakshminarasimha Swamy Temple or Yadagirigutta is a popular Hindu Temple of Narasimha Swamy, an incarnation Lord Vishnu It is situated on a hillock in the Nalgonda district, Andhra Pradesh, India, 60 kilometers from the city of Hyderabad. It has huge devotees visiting on Sundays and public holidays. The temple is quite popular and is busy throughout the year with different events of the God. The annual brahmotsavam is held in the month of March, it includes Yedurkolu, The Celestial Wedding and Divya Vimana Rathotsavam. The birthday of Lord Narasimha is celebrated on 28 April every year. Lord Narasimha is also known as Yadagiri, hence the name.

KOLANPAKA JAIN TEMPLE

Kulpakji is a Jain Shrine at the Kolanpak village in Nalgonda district. The temple is said to be more than 2000 years old and is still being worked upon. It is renovated very recently by employing more than 150 artisans from Rajasthan and Gujarat. It is said that the renovations in a Jain temple never cease. They are always working on polishing the existing structure or making new additions. The temple houses three idols - one each of Lord Adinath, Lord Neminath and Lord Mahaveer. Lord Vrishaba Deva populary called Adinath Bhagvan was the first "Theerthankara" in the Jain religion. It is believed that the original idol of Lord Adinath, known locally as Manikya Deva has made Kolanupaka its abode. Kolanupaka Temple which is in its present form itself is more 800 years old. It is believed that Jainism was prevalent in Andhra Pradesh before 4 th Century and Kolanupaka was one of the prominent centres of Jainism. There are eight idols of the other Tirthankars on both the sides of the main temple. The statue of Lord Mahaveera is 52" inches tall and is said to be made of a single piece Jade. Idols of Lord Simandar Swami and Mata Padmavati are installed on either side of the main temple. Kulpakji is an important pilgrimage center of Swetamber Jains in South India

BHONGIR FORT

The Fort was built on an isolated monolithic rock by the Western Chalukya ruler Tri-bhuvana-malla Vikram-aditya VI and was named after him as Tribhuvanagiri. This name gradually became Bhuvanagiri and subsequently Bhongir. At the foot of the fortified rocks stands the town of Bhongir, it has a unique egg-shaped construction with two entry points protected by huge rocks, so the fort was considered practically impregnable by invading armies. A moat that encircles the fort, a vast underground chamber, trap doors, an armoury, stables, ponds, wells etc., make for fascinating viewing. The Bala Hisar or citadel on the top of the hill gives a bird's eye view of the neighbouring area. The fort is associated with the rule of the heroic queen Rudra Amma Devi and her grandson Pratapa Rudra. According to legend, there once was an underground corridor connecting Bhongir Fort to Golconda Fort