Once home to Padmanayaka
rulers, brave warriors during the Kakatiya reign, the Devarakonda Fort is a
must-visit place in Nalgonda district.
Reflecting a rich culture,
great history along with captivating architecture, Telangana has been
embellished with some majestic forts, which take us back to glorious time of
kings and help to recount historic tales on a visit.
Forts are a significant part
of the State’s history, which have been featured in photos and documentaries
and it is not surprising that the architectural marvels like Devarakonda Fort
are on the must-see lists of tourists when travelling across the State.
For those who love to
explore the chronicles of the State, the Devarakonda Fort should be the place
in your visit list. A visit to this spectacular fort is like stepping into a
historical trance with every corner of the fort unveiling the great tales of
bravery, struggles and triumph of its rulers.
Devarakonda is a tiny
village situated in Nalgonda district. It acted as a prominent fortified
defensive structure of the rulers of Recherla Velama dynasty that ruled parts
of Telangana after Kakatiyas. The fort was constructed in the 13th – 14th
century.
It is the emblem of
prosperity established by the kingdom of Padmanayaka Velama Rajas. Later, the
fort was conquered by Maada Naidu who belonged to the eight kings of the
Padmanayaka rulers. Naidu was a brave warrior besides being a great ruler.
According to Telangana
Tourism, in the premises of fort stands Rama and Shiva temples constructed by
Maada Naidu. These temples add a hint of spirituality and purity to the
untouched beauty of the fort.
Devarakonda fort, which is
famous for its architectural brilliance, is surrounded by hills with rocks and
boulders, and some forest cover. The fort built on a hilltop has walls with curved
bastions along with it and many granaries are found here.
People visiting the fort
area are also treated by the nature with a picturesque view of a little pond
present in it. Amongst the many things added to the fort is the astonishing way
of stairs that will take you to Patala Ganga that is situated in Srisailam.
History has it that after
Maada Naidu, the strings of the flourishing Devarakonda Kingdom went into the
hands of Maada Naidu’s son, Pedha Vedagiri Naidu. Vedagiri Naidu was also a
brave king and established his throne for around 26 years. Vedagiri Naidu had
added an extra charm to the kingdom.
How to reach
Devarakonda is at a distance
of around 110 km from Hyderabad on Nagarjuna Sagar road from where tourists
need to take a small diversion from Kondalpahad. It takes about 3 hours to
reach this place by road.
From Nalgonda town,
Devarakonda could be reached in an hour and there are frequent buses from
Nalgonda to Devarakonda every 20 minutes. Tourists can choose to eat at hotels
dotting the Sagar highway and opt for accommodation at Haritha Vijay Vihar Hotel,
Nagarjuna Sagar.
Nearby places
Someswara temples
At a distance of around 60
km, there is Pachala Someswara temple and Chaya Someswara temple, which are
ancient temples located at Panagallu village. The Pachala Someswara temple is
‘Trikoota Alayam’, highly decorated with sculpture depicting the Puranas. The
other minor temple is called Chaya Someswara Swami Temple. The temple was built
in 11th – 12th centuries during the Kakatiya dynasty. The temple is known for
its everlasting shadow (Chaya) on the presiding deity of Lord Shiva’s Linga in
the main temple at any time of the day.
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
Nearly 57 km from
Devarakonda Fort is a Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, a popular weekend getaway, which
draws thousands of tourists visiting Nagarjuna Sagar when the dam gates are
open. The boating here offers unique experiences of beautiful landscape and
strikingly scenic of water body. This trip is a fun-filled experience where one
can have thrill, excitement and adventure to spend your holiday on the
backwaters of Nagarjuna Sagar dam.
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