Built around 800 years ago,
the magnificent fort of Medak still remains in the lesser known category.
When someone thinks about
history of Telangana, ultimately forts comes into mind like Golconda Fort,
Warangal Fort, Bhongir Fort that have been featured in countless photos and
documentaries.
However, there lies a Medak
Fort and most of us have not heard about it. This fort, which is not to be
missed when you rewind you travel diaries, is an architectural masterpiece of
the bygone era, built on hillock.
A trip to this place takes
nestling on the top of a hill. About one and hour drive from Hyderabad will take
you to the destination. If you wish to get to the top of this fort, you need to
boost up yourself as there are around 500 steps to reach place.
Methukudurgam, as the Medak
Fort stands on hillock at a height of 1,450 feet. This fort believed to be
built sometime around 800 year ago in Medak has great historical and
architectural importance in Telangana. Within the fort is a 17th-century mosque
built by the Kakatiya kings and renovated by Qutub Shahis.
The fort grabs one’s
attention with its typical construction, elevated at about 90 meters height
from the ground level and sprawls in 100 acres on the hilly region. The fort
also houses a small lake, a barrack and a warehouse
According to Telangana
tourism, the historic fort, which was graced by two great dynasties — Kakatiyas
and Qutub Shahi’s is one of the main attractions of Medak. This 12th century
piece of excellence has its own testimony attributing to the Kakatiyan glory
during its golden reign.
It has three main entrances,
the ‘Prathama Dwaram’, the ‘Simha Dwaram’ 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. The main
entrance proudly displays the double-headed ‘Gandabherundam’ of the Kakatiyas.
At the fort, one can see a
16th-century cannon that is 3.2 metres long has a trident etched on it. On the
ramparts of the fort, natural rock formations were used in the fortifications.
Though, there is not much left to see, it stands on a hillock and offers a good
view of the district.
How to reach
Medak fort is located in
Medak town, which is accessible by road and situated at around 100 km from
Hyderabad. The town has many restaurants and hotels for dining purpose. You can
buy small antique pieces, toys, crafts and fruits grown in this area. Those who
wish to stay a night in the town can chose hotels, which are offering
accommodation to tourists.
Nearby places on you visit
At a distance of around 70
km from Medak Fort is Singur Dam, which was built on river Manjeera. This is
one of the popular tourist destinations in Telangana. The reservoir’s
breath-taking sight coupled with the flora and fauna surrounding the waters is
eye catching for tourists, mainly owing to its location in the rural belt which
makes it more pleasant and adorable.
A ride for 20 km from Medak
bus station, takes you to the temple of Edupayala Vana Durga Bhavani. This is
one of the popular pilgrimage sites to visit around Medak. Built in 12th
century, Edupayalu temple is one of the powerful temples in Telangana. The
temple is also known for Jatara, a three-day festival celebrated during
Shivaratri.
On your trip to Medak, you
should also see Medak Cathedral, one of the largest churches in India. It is
biggest landmarks of the region and a major tourist draw in the district. It is
famous not because it can hold a large congregation of devotees, but it also
well known for its beautifully stained glass paintings, which adorn the
structure.
What do visitors say?
The fort looks great and
offers a view of the city from the top of hillock. Until my visit, I do not know that there was
a fort amid busy Medak town. Even though it is not a big fort, a wall covered
with green creepers makes its alluring..
Vinith Kumar,,,,Warangal
We were searching for good
places to visit in this district, when we planned a trip to Medak Church.
Suddenly, we came to know about Medak fort. From the top of the fort, the whole
Madak town can be seen like a view from the bird eye.. A Joseph,,,,Hyderabad
It is a beautiful fort to
climb and have a fun with our gangs. It is a must visit place as the view of
the town from the top of hills is exciting. Though, it was small, we could able
to see the ancient architecture..
Prathima Naidu,,,,Medak
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