Places to visit in Jayashankar Bhoopalpally District

Bhoopalpally (Acharya Jayashankar) District has been carved out of erstwhile Warangal District and some parts of Karimnagar. The district is named after Telangana ideologue, K. Jayashankar. It is surrounded by Peddapalle, Mahabubabad, Warangal Rural, Warangal Urban, Kothagudem districts and the states of Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. Bhoopalpally is also well connected by NH 163 passing through the district.

Places of attraction

Many pilgrim centers and historical places can be explored in the district like the Kaleshwara Mukteswara Swamy temple located at Kaleswaram, Mahadevpur Mandal; Hemachala Lakshmi NarasimhaSwamy temple in Mallughat of Mangapetmandal and Ramappa Temple located in Palampur of Venkatapuram mandal.

The district also has lakes that are major tourist attractions – namely the Ramappa Lake and the Laknavaram Lake.  The district hosts the world-famous Sammakka Saralamma Jatara or Medaram jatara, a tribal festival, celebrated at Medaram in Tadvai mandal.

Kaleshwaram

Kaleshwaram is also called as Dakshina Triveni Sangamam, since the three rivers Godavari, Pranahita and the third illusionary Antharvahini, merge at a confluence point. The Ramappa temple is a great example of the heritage glory of the Kakatiyas.

Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme of Telangana is one of the world’s biggest irrigation project that is set to end water woes of the state where many regions are parched. This project aims at an ambitious target of diverting 195 TMC of water to the backward areas in the state of Telangana.

Ramappa Lake

The Kakatiya dynasty which had ruled Telangana region has left an indelible impression of their reign in Jayashankar Bhoopalpally district in the form of renowned temples and lakes. Ramappa Lake in Jayashankar Bhoopalpally district is considered as a magnificent example of the irrigation works of Kakatiya Rulers. It is believed to have been constructed in 13th Century A.D. during the reign of Ganapathi Deva and the water is spread more than an area of 82 Sq km with verdant greenery all around. This lake is over looked by some really beautiful hill ranges in the background which offers a spectacular view especially during sunset time.

Ramappa Lake is a haven for nature lovers wherein one can simply come here to relax and refresh under sprawling trees or walk around this stunning lake, appreciating the beauty of mother nature. Tourists can also enjoy a fascinating boat ride across the blue waters. The mellowed horizon here which includes the pleasant breeze from the waters of the lake waters as well as captivating view provides visitors with a of charming memory of the place, making them coming back again for more. Therefore Ramappa Lake is considered one of the best tourist destinations of Jayashankar Bhoopalpally district and Telangana.

One more tourist attraction at the Ramappa Lake is the pump house and the path which leads visitors to it. The pump house can be reached in 5 minutes from the main lake. The road that leads to the lake is partially submerged in water for most of the time, something visitors simply love where they are seen splashing their way through the water to reach this Pump House.

Laknavaram Lake

Lakhnavaram Lake, located in Govindaraopet Mandal about 70 kilometers away from Jayashankar Bhoopalpally, is a trending picnic spot. The lake is an exceptional thing of beauty. The lake was formed by closing down three narrow valleys. Each valley is replaced with a short bund, and hills act as their natural barrier. The lake has been constructed by the rulers of the Kakatiya dynasty in 13th Century A.D. An added advantage is that the lake takes shelter in isolated surroundings and this makes your holiday very private.

The entire region seems bountiful with green crops and pleasant water resources. The Lakhnavaram Lake which hides itself amidst the hills was discovered during the Kakatiya reign and the rulers expanded it to grow as a source of irrigation. An added attraction to this mystic beauty is the suspension bridge. The hanging bridge takes you to the mini island in the lake. The authorities maintaining the lake also provide boat riding facility which will take you close to the most serene part of the lake.

Sammakka Saralamma Temple

The Sammakka Saralamma temple in Jayashankar Bhoopalpally was built during the 12th century. This temple has no mythological background relating to the construction of the temple; instead, it is believed to be built in the memory of two tribal women. The main deity(s) of the Sammakka Saralamma temple are two brave women who stood up for their community and its betterment. They became Martyrs in the battle. According to the legend, once a troop from the Koya tribal community was returning from a trip, when they saw a little girl playing with the tigress. The head of the troop saw the girl and inspired by her bravery, he adopted her and named her as Samakka. Later she married a headman of a neighboring tribal group and had a daughter, Sarakka. Both the mother and daughter protested the Kakatiya kings who forced the tribes to pay taxes. Both the women fought bravely and reportedly lost their lives. The Koya community constructed this temple as a token of gratitude. Annually an event called Sammakka Saralamma jatara is held which is considered as one of the largest tribal festivals of the world. The deities are brought from the forest to a spot for a period of 10-12 days when more than one crore devotees offer prayers and gift 'bangaram', which is pure jaggery to the deities. The entire place reverberates with divine chants and elaborate arrangements are made for this Jathara with thousands of buses plying to and fro with pilgrims.

Source: Telangana Tourism