Warangal is the fourth largest city in Andhra Pradesh. It is a culturally rich city and is home to many of the ancient sculptures and artifacts of the Hindu and the Mughal era. Warangal is a city of stone temples and forts and enriching beauty. The legendary city used to be the capital of the Kakatiyas in the 12th to 14th centuries. It’s impressive fort was a medieval bastion admired by intrepid vintage travelers and adventurers. Some of the most striking relics of the south lie scattered here in the midst of grassy hills and forests. Warangal is also well known for granite quarries - the black and brown varieties.
History:
Warangal has a glorious history. It was the capital of a Hindu Shaivite kingdom ruled by the Kakatiya dynasty from the 12th to the 14th centuries. The old name of this city is Orugallu. 'Oru' means one and 'Kallu' means stone. The entire city was carved in a single rock, hence the name Orukallu meaning 'one rock'. The Kakatiyas made Warangal flourish under their rule and that is evident from the monuments, including an impressive fortress, four massive stone gateways, the Swayambhu temple dedicated to Shiva, and the Ramappa temple situated near Ramappa Lake. The cultural and administrative distinction of the Kakatiyas was mentioned by the famous adventurer and traveler Marco Polo.
Source: wikipedia
Warangal has a hot and dry climate. The highest temperatures touch 40°C and the lowest drops to 10°C.
The Indian Rupee (INR) is the acceptable form of currency here.
Warangal is a commercial and active town in Andhra Pradesh. However, one may not find a lot of ATMs and shops that accept credit cards and exchange traveler’s cheques here.
A tourist visa applicable for the entire country (India) is sufficient.
· Hyderabad: It is the capital city of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Hyderabad is known for its rich history, culture and architecture representing its unique character as a meeting point for North and South India, and its multilingual culture. It is known as The City of Nizams.
· Karimnagar: It is a beautiful town located on the bank of river Manair, a tributary of river Godavari. It is the fourth largest and the most happening city in the Telangana region. It is one of the major business centres and also emerging as an education hub in Andhra Pradesh.
· Khammam: This is an important town in terms of history and culture in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It has some of the most beautiful surroundings and lovely villages in its vicinity.
Air The nearest domestic and international airport is at Hyderabad [145 kms] with regular flights to all major cities in India.
Road Warangal lies on the National Highway Number 202, eastwards from Hyderabad. Warangal is very well connected by bus to Hyderabad, the closest big city with a high frequency of various quality services..
Train Warangal is well connected to all the major cities in India by rail routes. Kazipet is about 13km from Warangal and is a major railway junction on the Chennai-New Delhi route. There are ample number of trains that stop at Warangal through out the day. Situated on the major railway line connecting the north and south of india it is possible to take a train from all the major cities of the country like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad etc
Thousand Pillar Temple: This temple is one of the finest examples of Kakatiya architecture and sculpture. Rudra Deva built it in 1163 in the style of Chalukyan temples.
Warangal Fort: Warangal fort, which dates back to the 13th century, is 2 km away from the Warangal Railway station. This is one of the major attractions in Warangal. The fort was destroyed by invaders and only the ruins can now be seen.
Musical Garden: There is a planetarium and a beautiful garden near Bhadrakali Temple. The garden has a good sound and light show with water fountains.
Ramappa Temple: This temple is situated in Palampet village, 70 kms from Warangal. This is a beautiful monument dating back to 1213. It displays the glory and richness of the Kakatiya kingdom and is the finest specimen of the temple architecture of the time.
Bhadra Kali Temple: It is situated on a hilltop between Hanamkonda and Warangal, it is noted for its stone image of the Goddess Kali. The temple is located on the banks of the "Bhadrakali" lake.
Jain Temple at Kolanpak or Kolanupaka: The 2,000-year-old Jain temple of Mahavira is a famous place of worship for Jains in the country. The temple is embellished with beautiful images of Tirthankaras. The 5 ft highest image of Mahavira is carved entirely out of Jade.
Pakhal Lake: This is a man-made lake built in 1213 by the Kakatiya king, Ganapathideva by harnessing a small tributary of the Krishna River. It is located 50 km from Warangal.
Komaravelli: Komaravelli is holy place where devotees worship Komaravelli Mallana Swamy. Komaravelli is situated just before 10 kms from Siddipet while going from Hyderabad. There is no train facility here and it can only be reached by road.
There are a lot of stalls and local restaurants where you can enjoy the local cuisine in Warangal.
Where To Stay:
There are many state guest houses and comfortable hotels where one can stay. Since there are many tourists and pilgrims who come here, one may not have any difficulty in availing a good place to stay.
