:::MEDAK:::

Great-MEDAK

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 defenses.



Medak is located towards the north of the Hyderabad city some 60 kms away. Medak is a small district with the boundaries shared to the adjacent places of Warangal, Nalgonda, Hyderabad and Nizamabad. There is a national highway and a railway line that connects the place with that of Hyderabad city.

Medak was formerly popular as Siddapur Medak, the prefix however, lost its importance in the popular usage. The region was ruled by Kakatiyan rulers in the past. During the reign of Kakatiyan rulers the region served as one of the commanding posts. The district profile is adorned by the heritage left behind by these great rulers and the rich resources it possesses. The place is provided with a number of places that act as a good bait to the tourists. There are however, no nets and nothing fishy. The place is a known tourists destinations with some of the best attractions taking the form of ancient monuments, worshipping places and animal reserves.

As per the legend, it is said that this church with its fabulous stained glass windows was the outcome of the faithful gratitude of a large number of people wailing in a seemingly insurmountable famine. This famine had its malicious spell for three long years during the World War I. The sad people took shelter to the Reverend Charles Walker Posnett, a British Missionary. The Almighty God provided them food being pleased by the prayers. The Reverend then proposed the building to be turned to a church. It was granted very soon and the church in Medak started in the year 1914. It was consecrated in 1924 during Christmas.

This spacious Medak church can contain up to 5000 people at a time. It also has a lot of exciting features. The spiral bell tower rises to a height of 175 ft. The paintings in the church were prepared in 40 years at the London Studio by the British artist. These paintings depict the holy events from the Bible. The window in the north depicts the ascension of Lord Jesus to Heaven and it also forms a canopy to the Altar. Again, the windows on the east and west display various events right from the birth to the crucifixion of the Lord.

Medak Church built in the year1924 (year of completion) reveals the touch of the perfection and beauty of the art. The stained glass work is incredible. The building material (tiles) have been imported from Italy. The whole structure portrays a perfect example of Gothic building style.

• Demographics:

As of 2001[update] India census,[2] Medak had a population of 1,41,916. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Medak has an average literacy rate of 66%: male literacy is 74%, and female literacy is 57%. In Medak, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age .

8 th IIT in medak

• Culture:

The people of Medak celebrate all religious festivals but the famous festival is Bathukamma The BATHUKAMMA Panduga (Festival) is one of the most famous festivals of Andhra Pradesh especially of Telangana region celebrated mainly by the women. Celebrated during Navarathris it honours goddess Gouri on the name of Bathukamma. In Telugu, ‘Bathukamma means ‘come alive Mother Goddess’. Bathukamma panduga, the spring festival, is the largest festival of Medak District. Celebrated during Durga Navaratri, the 9-day festival will conclude one day before Dussera.[3] People celebrate Bonalu, a thanksgiving to the Mother Goddess for fulfillment of vows. The animist world we strongly reflected in these celebrations. Peerla Panduga, celebrated by both the Hindus and Muslims, is an example of cultural inter-mixture. Though in recent times the communal polarization had killed many such cultural practices.Alladurgam runukamathatemple25 k.m from Jogipet

• Famous pilgrimages:

   

Medak district is adorned by many temples depicting fine architectural splendours. ERDANOOR located at 5KM From Ganesh Gadda,National Hiway NH-9 Patancheru to Sangareddy to Take Right. SOWDAMMA MATHA TEMPLE, Jathara will celebreted at every year in Jan.Month, Ismailkhanpet near to Sangareddy Sapta Prakarauta Bhavani Mata Temple, located 35 km from Hyderabad in Bonthapally Veerabhadra Swamy Temple, located 25 km to the north of Hyderabad in Zarasangam, Koppol Sangameshwara temple,45 km from Medak town) in Edupailu Kanakadurga Temple, 8 km from Medak town, on the banks of Manjira river Nachagiri temples, Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, 55 km from Hyderabad, Siddipet Koti Ligeshwara Swamy Temple, Sri Saraswathi Kshetramu, Ananthasagar temple located 22 KM from Siddipet on the route of Siddipet to Karimnagar and Chegunta Sai Baba devastanam-KarnalPally,Sri Kalyana Venkateshwara Swami Devasthaanam, 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 principle deity of Banjara tribal. Saptha Prakaritha Durga Bavani Temple Ismailkhanpet(V), Sangareddy(m).The statue of durga is placed in seven walled temple.

• Tourist Spots:

• Sai Baba Temple- Karnal Pally, Chegunta mandal

The Temple, which is recenrly build by the sai baba devoties of Karnal Pally villager's and other... There also located famous temple-"Renuka Yellama Devi Alayam" and "Anjaneya Swamy-Temple" Build by Karnal Pally people...

• Medak Cathedral - Church of World’s Second Largest Diocese

 

 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.

• Gottam Gutta (GottamGota)

Its 25 km from Zaheerabad, the place with broad & thick forest, hills, big lake and historical temples.
Route: Zaheerabad -> Mogadam Palli ->Chunnam Batty Thanda -> Gottamgotta Forest.

• Pocharam Forest & Wildlife Sanctuary It was the favorite hunting spot of Nizam kings. This sanctuary is home to black bucks, leopards, bears, and crocodiles.

• 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.

Medak 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, Anantha Sagar, Siddipet division

Shri Saraswathi Skshtramu (Telugu: శ్రీ సరస్వతి క్షేత్రము,Hindi: श्री सरस्वती क्षेत्रमु) 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"- 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 dipicting 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"-


 It 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 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 at Rangampet village, Narasimha swamy temple at Jakkannapet, Sidha rameshwara temple near Medak (2 km from Medak) are other noteworthy temples.