Medak

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Medak
Town
The Church of South India Cathedral at Medak. It is considered to be one of the largest churches in Asia
Medak
Coordinates: 18°02′46″N 78°15′47″E / 18.046°N 78.263°E / 18.046; 78.263Coordinates: 18°02′46″N 78°15′47″E / 18.046°N 78.263°E / 18.046; 78.263
Country India
State Andhra Pradesh
Region Telangana
District Medak
Elevation 442 m (1,450 ft)
Population (2009)
  Total 141,916
Languages
  Official Telugu
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 502110
Telephone code 08452
Vehicle registration AP23

Medak (Telugu: మెదక్), is a municipality in Medak District in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is 104 km to the north of Hyderabad.

Geography

Medak is located at 18°02′N 78°16′E / 18.03°N 78.27°E / 18.03; 78.27.[1] It has an average elevation of 442 metres (1450 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,[2] Medak had a population of 141,916. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Medak has an average literacy rate of 66%: male literacy is 74%, and female literacy is 57%. In Medak, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age .

History

Medak, a historic town originally called Siddapuram, later it known as Gulshanabad also, reached its pinnacle during the Kakatiya dynasty reign. Medak has a citadel dating back to the Kakatiyas. It was built during the reign of Kakatiya emperor Pratapa Rudra. Strategically built on a hillock, it was called the Methukudurgam (and Methukuseema), from the Telugu word Methuku – meaning cooked rice grain. The main entrance proudly displays the double-headed bird "Gandabherundam" of the Kakatiyas. The Medak fort stands as an epitome of architectural excellence of the Kakatiya dynasty. The water to the fort was served through a pipeline from a well inside the fort. It has three main entrances, the "Prathama Dwaram", the "Simha Dwaram" or Lions Entrance that has two snarling lions at the top of the entrance and the "Gaja Dwaram" or Elephant's Entrance that has a sculpture of two elephants interlocked on both sides of the entrance. At the fort one can see a 17th-century cannon that is 3.2 meters long. The cannon has a trident etched on it. This fortress uses the natural topography to the maximum advantage with the rocky face offering it natural defences.

Culture

The people of Medak celebrate all religious festivals but the famous festival is Bathukamma The Bathukamma Panduga (festival) is one of the most famous festivals of Andhra Pradesh especially of Telangana region celebrated mainly by the women. Celebrated during Navarathris it honours goddess Gouri on the name of Bathukamma. In Telugu, 'Bathukamma means 'come alive Mother Goddess'. Bathukamma panduga, the spring festival, is the largest festival of Medak District. Celebrated during Durga Navaratri, the 9-day festival will conclude one day before Dussera.[3] People celebrate Bonalu, a thanksgiving to the Mother Goddess for fulfilment of vows. The animist world we strongly reflected in these celebrations. Peerla Panduga, celebrated by both the Hindus and Muslims, is an example of cultural inter-mixture. Though in recent times the communal polarisation had killed many such cultural practices.

Alladurgam Runukamatha temple 25 km from Jogipet.

Temples

Edupayala Temple
Medak district is adorned by many temples depicting fine architectural splendours.
  • Sri Kalyana Venkateshwara Swami Devasthaanam, Hanuman and Shivaalayam, which is under renovation process in Makarjapet(v), Sai Baba Mandir and yellamma temple in Karnalpally in Chegunta Mandal.
  • Erdanoor located 5 km from Ganesh Gadda, National Highway NH-9 Patancheru to Sangareddy to take right
  • Sowdamma Matha Temple, Jathara will celebrate every year in the month of January, Ismailkhanpet near to Sangareddy
  • Sapta Prakarauta Bhavani Mata Temple, located 35 km from Hyderabad in Bonthapally
  • Veerabhadra Swamy Temple, located 25 km to the north of Hyderabad in Zarasangam, Koppol
  • Sangameshwara Temple, 45 km from Medak town) in Edupailu
  • Kanakadurga Temple, 8 km from Medak town, on the banks of Manjira river
  • Nachagiri temples, Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, 55 km from Hyderabad, Siddipet
  • Koti Ligeshwara Swamy Temple, Sri Saraswathi Kshetramu, Ananthasagar temple located 22 km from Siddipet on the route of Siddipet to Karimnagar and Chegunta
  • Vasavi Kanyaka Parameshwari Ammavari Devalayam, Swayam Bhoo Mahakali Devasthaanam, Anjaneya Swami devalayam to name a few.
  • Sri Sri Chamundeshwari Ammawari Temple at Chitkula village of Andhole mandal, nearer to the Jogipet town.
  • On the banks of Manjira is also a famous shakti temple which is founded by Sri Ramanayya Garu.
  • The Joginatha Temple at Jogipet and Surya Devalayam at Dakur village are also equally important places in the district.
  • Another one is Kowdipally Mandal Tuniki village in this village is the famous temple is Nalla Pochamma, from Hyderabad to 60 km only.
  • A famous temple of Jagadamba mata and Sri Sri Seva Lal maharaj located at Bommareddygudem village in Pulkal mandal.
  • Sri Sri Seva maharaj was born on 14 February and was principal deity of Banjara tribal.
  • Saptha Prakaritha Durga Bavani Temple Ismailkhanpet(V), Sangareddy(m). The statue of durga is placed in seven-walled temple.

Natural features

Pocharam Forest & Wildlife Sanctuary, located 15 km from Medak and 115 km from Hyderabad, was the favourite hunting ground of the Nizam and was declared a wildlife sanctuary in the early part of the 20th century. Named after the Pocharam lake formed from damming of the Allair in the years 1916 – 1922, it is spread over 9.12 km². Surrounded by lush green forest, it is rich in flora and fauna and attracts a lot of winged visitors, like the Bar-headed goose, Brahminy duck and Openbill stork. There is a center for Eco-Tourism where visitors can see five species of antelopes and deer. Summer temperatures go up to 46 °C & in winter it drops to 6 °C. The sanctuary is home to animals like leopard, forest cat, wild dog, wolf, jackal, sloth bear, sambar, nilgai, chinkara, chital, and four-horned antelope.

Economy

Ordnance Factory Medak of the gigantic Ordnance Factories Board which maufactures products for the Indian Armed Forces is the largest employer and contributor to Medak's economy.[4][5] Medak Town's economy is majorly dependent on Agriculture. Medak town is lesser Industrialized compared to other places of Medak district. Nizam Sugar Factory is the only medium scale industrial unit present in and around Medak town. In recent years the economy of Medak is mostly due to the migrant labour to the Hyderabad City.

Tourist spots

  • Sai Baba Temple- Karnal Pally, Chegunta mandal

The Temple, which is recenrly build by the sai baba devoties of Karnal Pally villager's and other... There also located famous temple-"Renuka Yellama Devi Alayam" and "Anjaneya Swamy-Temple" Build by Karnal Pally people...

The church, the single largest diocese in Asia and the second largest in the world after the Vatican[citation needed], is built in solid white granite. The tower is 173 feet high, with four pinnacles.

  • Gottam Gutta (GottamGota)

Its 25 km from Zaheerabad, the place with broad & thick forest, hills, big lake and historical temples.

Route: Zaheerabad -> Mogadam Palli ->Chunnam Batty Thanda -> Gottamgotta Forest.

  • Pocharam Forest & Wildlife Sanctuary It was the favourite hunting spot of Nizam kings. This sanctuary is home to black bucks, leopards, bears, and crocodiles.[citation needed]

30 km from Sangareddy

  • Medak Fort. This Citadel was first built by Kakathiya king Prathapa rudra. This citadel boasts of iron pipe water supply system spread all over the fort.
Medak Fort
  • Nizam Sagar

Nizam Sagar dam, 50 km from Medak, was constructed across the Manjira River, a tributary of the Godavari River. The site is noted for its splendid scenic beauty. The most outstanding feature of the project is the gigantic masonry dam sprawling across the river for 3 km with a motor able road of 14 ft width over it.

  • Manjira wildlife & bird sanctuary

comprises nine small islands which are home to a number of resident and migratory birds in addition to Marsh Crocodiles and Muggers.

  • Sri Saraswathi Kshetramu, Anantha Sagar, Siddipet division

Shri Saraswathi Skshtramu (Telugu: శ్రీ సరస్వతి క్షేత్రము,Hindi: श्री सरस्वती क्षेत्रमु) is a famous Hindu Temple of Goddess Saraswathi located in the Ananthasagar, Siddipet Division, Medak district of Andhra Pradesh. The temple is built from 1980 to 1990 built by Sri Astakala Narasimha Rama Sharma (Astavadhani).

"Velupugonda sri tumburunatha devalayam"- built by rastrakuta kings, is one of the rarest temple in India with prisiding deity as sri tumburunatha swamy (god of music).This temple consists of fine stone sculptures depicting men and women singing and dancing. His temple is situated at velupugonda village in tekmal mandal 35 km from Medak town.

"Edupayala Durga Bhavani gudi"- It is a highly revered shrine of goddess Durga bhavani in Telangana and adjacent states of karnataka and Maharashtra. Edupayalu is a peculiar place with natural stone formations. Here Manjeera river splits into seven streams and unites into one, hence this place is called Edupayalu, which means "seven streams". Story of the place goes back to time of Mahabharata. It is believed that king Janamejaya (grandson of Arjuna) performed "sarpa yagam (sacrifice of snakes into the holy fire)" here to save his father Parikshith from a curse. recently while constructing a bridge, it is found that 'a layer of ash is there below the Manjeera river bed. Jatara (fair) is celebrated on the day of Shivarathri and Maagha Amavasya. Edupayala jatara attracts lakhs of devotees from telangana, adjacent states of Karnataka and Maharashtra.[6]

Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple at Rangampet village, Narasimha Swamy Temple at Jakkannapet, Sidha Rameshwara Temple near Medak (2 km from Medak) are other noteworthy temples.

Educational institutions

Though Medak district houses many prominent, established educational institutions, Medak town has none. But due to its proximity to Hyderabad, the students have access to vast number of educational institutions.

  • JNTUH College of Engineering Sulthanpur, located in the vill:Sulthanpur, mndl:Pulkal, Medak.
  • 33 Andhra NCC battalion which is located at Sangareddy is imparting NCC training to Cadets of various schools and Colleges of Medak District. This Battalion is under NCC Group Headquarters of Nizamabad.

Parliamentary constituency

Medak is a Lok Sabha constituency in Indian parliament.

List of elected members:

  • 1957, 1962 – P. Hanmanth Rao
  • 1967 – Sangam Laxmi Bai
  • 1971, 1977
  • 1980 – Indira Gandhi (Congress)
  • 1984 – P. Manik Reddy
  • 1989, 1991, 1996 and 1998 – Mogaligundla Baga Reddy
  • 1999 – A. Narendra (BJP)
  • 2004 – A. Narendra (TRS)

References

  1. "Falling Rain Genomics, Inc – Medak". Fallingrain.com. Retrieved 2014-01-02. 
  2. "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01. 
  3. Indian Natural Wealth. "Bathukamma Festival (Panduga)". Retrieved 19 October 2012. 
  4. http://ofmedak.gov.in/
  5. "Indian Ordnance Factories: Ordnance Factory Project Medak". Ofbindia.gov.in. Retrieved 2014-01-02. 
  6. Indian Natural Wealth. "Vanadurgamma". 

External links

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