Historic Forts in Erstwhile Karimnagar Left to Decay

Karimnagar:Historic structures in the erstwhile Karimnagar district, especially forts, are in pathetic condition. They have a great history of protecting kings of different eras. Now, nobody appears to be bothered about their protection.

Elgandal Hill Fort is a classic example of how successive state governments have neglected most historic sites. The fort is perched on the hillocks overlooking the Manair River near Elgandal village. Built by Kakatiya rulers, it had been a stronghold of Musunuri chiefs and Recharla Padmanayakas rulers. The fort played a vital role till the Sixth Nizam Mir Mahaboob Ali Khan shifted the district headquarters to Karimnagar in 1905.

Almost all the structures in the fort are in a dilapidated condition due to lack of maintenance. Boundaries and other walls on the hillocks are damaged. Weeds in and around the fort make it difficult for visitors to see a few structures, such as step wells.

In an effort to revive interest of the present generation in the historic Elgandal structure, Tourism department developed a sound and light system at a cost of Rs 4.25 crore in 2017. It has been a no-show for the past few years. Besides, two minars of a mosque located on the top of the fort are damaged.

A visitor to the fort from Karimnagar S. Praveen Kumar told Deccan Chronicle that everything in and around the Elgandal Hill Fort would be damaged completely within a decade if precautions are not taken immediately.

Significantly, the Tourism department collects ₹20 from each visitor going to the fort. But there are no basic facilities, such as drinking water and toilets.

Village sarpanch Nimmala Anaiah wants the government to repair the boundary wall, make arrangements for lighting, and provide drinking water along the steps from the bottom to top of the fort. He has suggested railings on top of the fort for the safety of tourists.

Further, Anaiah wants resumption of the sound and light show, construction of an indoor theatre to explain the history of the fort to visitors, extension of local TGSRTC services up to the fort, and construction of a Haritha Hotel by Tourism department at Elgandal for the convenience of tourists.

Molangur Fort on a hill located 31 km away from Karimnagar is another historic monument neglected by the current rulers. Voragiri Moggaraju, among the chief officers of Kakatiya dynasty’s Prathapa Rudra in the 13th Century, constructed the fort as a transit halt for Kakatiyas while travelling from the Warangal Fort to Elgandal Fort.

Village sarpanch Poodari Raju points to the fort as a suitable place for promoting trekking. He suggested that a road be laid from the Molangur Bus Stand to the main entrance of the fort.

Since a number of tourists visit the Molangur Fort, local people want officials to develop the place by creating basic facilities, such as drinking water, lighting, and toilets. They say though they gave representations to officials in this regard, there has been no response.

Ramagiri Khilla, located six km away from Begampet in Peddapalli district, is one of the most ancient forts in the erstwhile Karimnagar. According to historians, Ramagiri had been established in 4000 BC. As per evidence found in Peddabonkur and Gunjapadu inscriptions, the area had been ruled by the kings Goutamiputra Satakarni and Pulomavi of Satavahana dynasty.

With the initiatives taken by local MLA and IT and Industries minister D. Sridhar Babu, the state government sanctioned ₹5 crore a few months ago to develop Ramagiri Khilla as a tourism spot. In addition, when Sridhar Babu met union Tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, he sought central government’s cooperation in developing Ramagiri Khilla as a tourism hub.