Wanaparthy is a district in southern Telangana. It was carved out of the erstwhile Mahabubnagar district under the Telangana district reorganisation of 2016, and the town of Wanaparthy is its largest urban centre and headquarters. The official district website gives an area of 2,164.59 sq km and a 2011 Census population of 5,77,758. The district has one revenue division (Wanaparthy) and 15 mandals. It is bounded by Mahabubnagar district to the north, Nagarkurnool to the east, Jogulamba Gadwal to the west and Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh to the south.
The Krishna river shapes much of the district. The Priyadarshini Jurala Project was built across it between Nandimalla village (Amarachintha mandal) and Revulapally in neighbouring Jogulamba Gadwal. The district website also notes that Kothakota and Thippadampally are known for silk sarees. For visitors, Wanaparthy’s appeal lies in the history of the old Wanaparthy Samsthanam, two hill forts and a Vijayanagara-style temple beside a lake.
Places to visit in Wanaparthy district
Sri Ranganayaka Swamy Temple, Srirangapuram (Pebbair mandal)
The Sri Ranganayaka Swamy Temple at Srirangapuram village in Pebbair mandal was built in the 18th century AD. It stands on the bund of the Ratna Pushkarini lake. Legend links it to Krishnadevaraya, who is said to have followed an eagle to an idol of the deity between the Kothakota and Kanvayapally hills. The district website describes it as a classic example of Vijayanagara architecture, built by the Rajas of the Wanaparthy Samsthanam. Pilgrims come from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra as well as Telangana.
Pangal Fort
Pangal Fort, at Pangal village about 15 km from Wanaparthy, is one of Telangana’s well-known hill forts. The district website says it was built by Kalyani Chalukya kings in the 11th and 12th centuries and spreads over hundreds of acres with seven gateways. The main gateway, called Mundlagavini, is built of large granite rocks. Inside are ruins including the Uyyala Mandapam and several ponds. The trek from Pangal village is described as easy and takes about two hours to reach the top, look around and come back.
Ghanpur Fort (Khilla Ghanpur)
Ghanpur in Wanaparthy district was ruled in the 13th century by the Recherla Padmanayaka, Malyala and Gona dynasties, who were feudatories of the Kakatiyas. Its hill fort was built by joining two hills. The village also has the Ganapa Samudram lake, built during Rudrama Devi’s reign. Cannons are still kept at the top of the fort, along with ruins of a palace and ministers’ houses. The district website notes that rappelling, rock climbing and caving can be done here.
Wanaparthy Palace (Mustafa Mahal)
Wanaparthy Palace, also called Mustafa Mahal, is in the heart of Wanaparthy town. It was built in the early 20th century as the residence of the rulers of the Wanaparthy Samsthanam, and its design mixes European and Indian styles. Raja Rameshwar Rao donated the palace and its land for a polytechnic college. Jawaharlal Nehru inaugurated the college on 11 October 1959, and it was the first polytechnic in Telangana. Today the palace houses the K.D.R. Government Polytechnic College, so check whether visitors are allowed inside before you go.
Sarala Sagar Project
The Sarala Sagar Project in Madanapur mandal is an irrigation reservoir with an unusual siphon system. The district website calls it the second largest of its kind in Asia, with technology adapted from California. Raja Rameshwara Rao of Wanaparthy started it in 1947, and it was completed in 1959. It lies near the Hyderabad-Bangalore National Highway, about 6 km from Kothakota.
Sri Venkateshwara Swami Temple, Wanaparthy town
Both the district website and Telangana Tourism mention the Sri Venkateshwara Swami Temple in the centre of Wanaparthy town as an important place of worship. Because it is close to the palace, you can easily see both on the same visit.
Getting there
- By train: trains from Kacheguda and Secunderabad in Hyderabad stop at Wanaparthy Road station.
- By bus: TSRTC runs buses from Hyderabad to Wanaparthy.
- By road: the district website gives the Hyderabad-Wanaparthy road distance as around 135 km.
- By air: Wanaparthy has no airport. The nearest is Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad, Hyderabad.
- For Srirangapuram: the temple can be reached by road from Pebbair or Wanaparthy. The district website names Gadwal as the nearest railway station.
Plan your visit
- The busiest times at the Ranganayaka Swamy Temple are Navaratri, the month-long Kotai Utsavalu around Sankranti, the Rathotsavam in March and Sravana Masam. The temple also sees many visitors during school and college holidays.
- The district website says the rainy season runs from June to September, with July and August the wettest months. Trekking at Pangal and Ghanpur is easier when the hills are dry.
- Pangal and Ghanpur forts are ruins with rough, thorny ground. Wear good shoes and carry water.
- The palace is now a working college, so you may not be able to go inside. You can still see it from outside.
Source: official Wanaparthy district website (tourist places, history and how-to-reach pages).
