Nalgonda is a district in the southern part of Telangana. The name has been derived from two Telugu words namely Nalla (Black) & Konda (Hill). Nalgonda was earlier called Neelagiri by Rajput rulers and later it was known as Nallagonda following the conquest by Bahamani king, Allauddin Bahaman Shah.
Deverakonda Fort
Presently in ruined state, Deverakonda Fort was once formidable being located amidst seven hills. Constructed around the 13th and 14th centuries, the fort was entirely under the control of Padma Nayaka Kings from 1287 AD to 1482 AD, defeating all attempts made to conquer it.
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
Telangana owes its famous title ‘Rice Bowl of India’ to Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, which plays a lead role in making the lands of the state fertile. The 124-meter-high dam is the tallest masonry dam in the world. This also ranks third in the largest man-made lakes of the world. The marvelous architecture involved in storing massive amount of the waters of Krishna River necessitates a visit to this place.
Nandikonda
Nandikonda is a small village located along the banks of Krishna River in Nalgonda district. It is located close to the magnificent Nagarjuna Sagar dam. Nandikonda was part of the Ikshvaku Dynasty and the village shot into prominence after scores of ancient Buddhist structures like pillared halls and monasteries were unearthed. The relics that were unearthed during a series of excavations are today displayed at the Museum here.
Rachakonda Fort
Telangana region is the home of the incredible Rachakonda Fort. The fort stands as a glorious demonstration of the Vemula rulers and their power. The fort is currently in ruins. Another striking feature of this temple is that it perfectly adheres to the principles of Vasthu Shastra, which influences most of the Hindu architectures. The Velama rulers, the kings who built this small but very strong Rachakonda fort, had established their strong hold over the Telangana region after the Kakatiyas and before the Bahamani era.
Pachala Someswara Temple
The ancient temple looks has 70 pillars with intricate carvings depicting stories of Vishnu and Shiva. The main shrine is dedicated to Shiva who is in the form of Linga made out of Green Onyx stone, hence the name Pachhala Someswara. There is huge beautifully carved Nandi, along with an archaeological museum on the site and many ruins around. The temple architecture is worth visiting.
District Museum of Panagal
The District Heritage Museum, Panagal is a historical museum established in Panagal village in Nalgonda district, Telangana. It is located close to the historic Chaya Someswara Swamy Temple of Panagal village. It is at a distance of four kilometers from Nalgonda town.
Panagal in Nalgonda was a place of religious importance during Kakatiya period. The temples here were erected in remembrance of the Kakatiya rulers’ beloved deity, Shiva. There are many sculptures, prehistoric tools, coins, bronzes, beads, arms and weapons, copper plate inscriptions that are in display here. The objects displayed here were collected from excavations carried out in Vardamana Kota, Yeleswaram, Phanigiri, Panagal and many of them have also been acquired from the State Museum, Hyderabad, ranging from 2nd Century AD to 18th Century AD.