Tuesday, Oct 20, 2026

Bhongir Fort blends heritage and adventure

Built by Chalukya ruler Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya VI, the structure traces back to 10th century

By Dennis Marcus Mathew

Published Date - 28 August 2021, 12:35 AM

Bhongir Fort blends heritage and adventure — The fort is said to be among the most impregnable structures. — Photos: Dennis Marcus Mathew

Hyderabad: How about a little weekend adventure, throwing in a bit of trekking, basic mountaineering and a lot of heritage? Head to the Bhongir Fort, about 50 km from the city, sitting right on top of a massive monolithic rock, said to be one of the largest such rocks in Asia.

The fort is the cherry on top of the dessert, with the way to the fort being the experience, like they say about the journey mattering more than the destination. But here, the destination also makes sure that the journey is worth it.

According to information in the Telangana Tourism website, the fort was built by Chalukya ruler Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya VI. The fort’s history is traced back to the 10th century, when initially it was called Tribhuvanagiri, renamed later as Bhuvanagiri and eventually Bhongir Fort. The town of Bhuvanagiri/Bhongir in fact derives its name from the fort.

Spread across 50 acres at a height of around 500 feet, the fort is one of the examples of how the rulers of yore made it sure that they could not be taken by surprise by enemies, with the Bhongir Fort counting among one of the most impregnable structures. There is a moat around it while there are stories galore of an underground chamber that connects it to the Golconda Fort, though there are no signs of it when you visit the place now.

Starting off slowly, the winding steps take you through a maze of rock structures, mostly in ruins, but still beautiful and magnificent with folklore about the fort adding to the excitement. Old cannons, trap doors, rock chambers, beautiful structures resembling ‘mandapams’ etc., can be seen along the climb to the top. The ascent gets steeper as you go higher, and thankfully, there are railings to hold on to. It is a real test of one’s stamina, but in the end, the breathtaking view from the top, and the stroll through the remnants of history, makes it worth the exercise.

The place also has a famous rock climbing school, which is where Malavath Poorna trained before scaling Mt Everest. At the beginning of the climb, we can also see a statue of Sardar Sarvai Papanna, a hero of the Goud community.

For those not used to rock climbing, the steps aren’t that much of a concern. Most people can do it, only thing is to take it step by step, with plenty of breaks thrown in.

The journey can also be made a little spiritual, with the Yadadri temple, the upcoming spiritual capital of Telangana, about Bhongir.