Fast Facts
Location : In the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh
Attractions : Warangal Fort, Thousand Pillar Temple and
Bhadra Kali Temple.
Best Time To Visit : October to June
Introducing Warangal
Once known as Orugallu or Omtikonda, Warangal is now an important city in
the state of Andhra Pradesh. The fourth largest city in Andhra Pradesh,
Warangal is also the headquarters of Warangal District. Warangal is 150 kms
north-east of the state capital Hyderabad and served by regular buses. In
the 12th and 13th centuries, Warangal was the Hindu capital of the Kakatiyan
empire. Like other Deccan towns, the kingdom of Warangal changed several
times between the Hindu and Muslim rulers. Even today you will find a
glimpse of the bygone era in its architecture.
Today, the city of Warangal is one of the biggest commercial and industrial
cities of South India. Warangal is famous for granite querries, grain market
for rice, red chillies, cotton and tobacco. In addition to these, the
picturesque lakes, magnificent temples, rich and varied wildlife, exquisite
antiques and relics, make Warangal a perfect tourist destination and invite
tourists from far and near to explore it.
How to Reach Warangal
By Air : Nearest international airport is located in
Hyderabad, at a distance of 150 kms. Besides, there is an airstrip on the
southern-eastern outskirts of Warangal.
By Train : Warangal is well-linked to all the important
cities of India by rail. Just 13 kms from Warangal, Kazipet is a major
railway junction on Chennai - New Delhi rail route. A train is the best way
to reach Warangal, as there are a number of trains from all over the country
that stop at the railway station throughout the day.
By Bus : Warangal is well-connected by roads with
important cities of Andhra Pradesh and the nearby states. From Hyderabal,
frequent buses ply to Warangal and if you make an early start, you can cover
all the tourist attractions in a day-trip. APSRTC operate regular buses for
Warangal from Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Adilabad,
Khammam, Bangalore , Mysore and Tirupati.
Local Transport : Auto-rickshaws are principal mode of
local transport in Warangal. The easiest way to cover the tourist sites in
Warangal is to rent a bicycle from one of the stalls on Station road.
Places Where You Can Stay
Limited but fine accommodation options are available at Warangal. All the
hotels of Warangal provide a comfortable stay to guests. Some of the popular
hotels of Warangal include Hotel Ashoka, Hotel Ratna, Hotel Shankar, Vijaya
Lodge, Maheshwara Lodge, Radhika Lodge, Broadway Lodge etc.
Tourist Attractions in Warangal
Warangal Fort : Warangal Fort is located 2 km away from
the Warangal railway station and 12 km from Hanamakonda. Built by the
Kakatiya King - Ganapati Deva and his daughter Rani Rudramma, in the 13th
century, the fort was destroyed by invaders many times and now only the
ruins can be seen. Enter inside the fort through four massive Sanchi- type
gateways, about 30 feet high and a masterpiece carved out from a single
rock. Warangal fort had three layers of protection, the first layer is a mud
wall, the second layer is a granite rock wall, remnants of which can be seen
even today. Apart from these, see the exquisite pieces of sculpture too
inside the fort complex.
Thousand
Pillar Temple : Built by Rudra Deva in 1163 AD, the Thousand Pillar
Temple offers a glimpse of the finest specimen of Kakatiya architecture and
sculpture. Like other Chalukyan temples, this temple is star shaped and has
triple shrines dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Surya. When you enter inside
the temple, one thousand elegantly carved pillars, nicely perforated screes,
picturesque icons, rock cut elephant sculptures and the monolithic black
basalt Nandi bull, will surely take you back to a bygone era.
Bhadra Kali Temple : Bhadra Kali Temple is set on a
hilltop between Warangal and Hanamkonda, on the banks of the Bhardrakali
lake. Known for its stone idol of the Goddess Kali, the temple attracts
large number of tourists and pilgrims as well.
Tourist Attractions Around Warangal
Pakhal Lake (50 kms) : Originally a man-made lake, the
Pakhal Lake was built in the year 1213 A.D by the Kakatiya King,
Ganapathidev. Pakhal Lake was made by harnessing a small tributary of the
river Krishna and spreads over an area of 30 sq. kms. Around the lake, a
wildlife sanctuary sprawling across 860 sq kms area and houses a variety of
animals. Listen to the sounds of the tiger, leopard, bear, hyena, deer
amidst the tranquil surroundings.
Ramappa Temple (74 kms) : Ramappa Temple also known as
Ramalineswara Temple is situated around 74 kms away from Warangal at
Palampet village. Built in 1213 A.D, the temple is one of the first specimen
of the temple architecture of that period. A right choice for architecture
lovers, the temple displays the glory and rich heritage of the Kakatiya
kingdom. When you reach the temple complex, rich and intricate sculpture on
walls, pillars, brackets and ceiling will totally mesmerize you. Another
attraction is the nearby Ramappa lake.
Jain Temple (Kolandpark, 75
kms) : About 75 kms away from Warangal, at Kolanpak or Kolanupaka, there
is a 2,000 year old Jain Temple dedicated to Lord Mahavir. Jain Temple of
Kolandpark is a popular place of worship for Jains in the country. In the
temple complex you will see the beautiful images of Jain Thirthankaras,
highlight of the temple is the 5 feet high image of Mahavira, emtirely
carved out of Jade.
Kolanupaka Museum (80 kms) : Close to the Jain Temple, at
Kolanupaka there is museum established by the State Department of
Archaeology and Museum. Here you can see the exquisite artifacts collected
from several historical monuments in Kolanupaka.
Shopping in Warangal
Shopping in Warangal is a delightful experience and one should not miss it
during the trip to the town. Warangal is known mainly for Lepakshi
handicrafts, dharries, khadi items, brass materials, cheriyal scroll
paintings and many other local items. Some of the famous shopping centres of
Warangal are Khadi Gradmodyog Bhandar, DWRCA Bazaar and Hanamkonda.
