Jayashankar Bhupalpally is linked with the dynasties of Great “Vishnukundins” and even prior to it also of the Buddhist and pre-Buddhist periods of Indian History. During 8th Century A.D., it was under the rule of Yadava king of the Kakatiyas or Ganapatis who made Warangal as Capital City. The Kakatiya line seems to have been in existence even earlier to the middle of 7th Century A.D. because the famous Chinese Pilgrim Hiuen-Tsang mentions the name of the Kingdom of “Danakakitya” in the South. After the fall of Bahmani Kingdom, Jayashankar Bhupalpally fell to the “Qutub Shahis” of Golconda and thereafter it has come under the sway of Nizam’s dominions.
This district of Telangana has a vast cultural history. The regions’ major cultural events celebrated are “Kakatiya Festival” and Deccan Festival along with religious festivals Bonalu, Bathukamma, Dasara, Ugadi, Sankranthi in addition to the tribal festivals celebrated with fervour.
KALESHWARA MUKTESHWARA SWAMY TEMPLE
Kaleshwaram is a town located on the border of Telangana and Maharashtra. The town is popularly known for its ancient and famous Kaleshwara Mukteshwara Swamy Temple. This is a revered temple, dedicated to the worship of the powerful Lord Shiva. The most iconic aspect in this ancient temple is the presence of two Lingams holding on to a single pedestal or the Panavattam.
The temple gets its name Kaleshwara Mukteswara Swamy mandiram because of the dual presence of Lord Shiva or the Mukteshwara and the other is the Lord Yama or Kaleshwar.
NAINPAKA TEMPLE
This temple is believed to have built in the15th or 16th century on a pink stone rock around 25 km from Bhupalpally. This lesser-known rock-cut temple is a prototype of Sarvatobhadra architecture which has four deities carved out on a protruded boulder, is a revelation of sorts.
Inside the sanctum sanctorum, the carvings of Yoga Narasimha Swamy, Kaleeya Venugopala Swamy, Sri Rama and Balarama can be seen. The shrine, which has four functional entrances on cardinal directions can be accessed from all sides, is a masterpiece of Sarvatobhadra architecture. The vimana (upper part) of the ornately sculpted 50-foot gopuram (tower) was made of bricks while the Adhishtana (base) was constructed with the pink stones sliced from the bedrock.
PANDAVULA GUTTALU
Rock art is a form of landscape art, which is found only in certain regions of India. Jayashankar Bhupalpally district in Telangana is home to many prehistoric habitation sites. Paleolithic cave paintings have been found at Pandavula Gutta (Regonda mandal). Pandavula Konda (Pandavula Gutta) site was first discovered in the year 1990. The major attraction here is rock climbing.