Hyderabad: Known for its ancient geological formations that predate the Himalayan ranges, ‘Pandavula Gutta’ is recognized as the sole geo-heritage site in Telangana. This place also called as ‘Pandavula Kondalu,’ is a hill located in the Bhupalpally district, Warangal. It was first discovered in 1990.
According to local mythology, the site is believed to be one of the places, which the Pandavas visited during their exile, as mentioned in the Vana Parva of the Mahabharata.
Evidence suggests human habitation in the area dating back to the Mesolithic period, around 4000 to 2500 years ago. The site also features cave paintings from the Palaeolithic era, approximately 500,000 BCE to 10,000 BCE.
Pandavula Gutta is popularly known as the best tourist place to visit for tourists and pilgrims. The area is known for its natural beauty, caves, and rock formations. The hill is a popular spot for trekking and exploration, as visitors can enjoy both the peaceful surroundings and the mythological significance attached to the place. Many people visit the site for its spiritual and historical connections, along with the opportunity to experience the tranquility of the area.
One of the main attractions at Pandavula Gutta is rock climbing. The site is also renowned for its cave paintings, which provide a rare insight into prehistoric rock art. These paintings can be found on the walls and ceilings of caves, rock shelters, and isolated boulders.
The artwork depicts various wildlife, including bison, antelope, tigers, and leopards, along with other symbols such as swastikas, circles, squares, and weapons like bows, arrows, swords, and lances. The paintings are done using natural pigments in colours like red, yellow, green, and white. PandavulaGutta stands out for its abundance of rock art, rock shelters, and evidence of continuous habitation spanning from the Mesolithic period through to medieval times.
What you enjoy here are Paleolithic rock art paintings, Eduru Pandavula Guhalu, rock climbing, rappelling, and hiking.
The place is 200 km away from Hyderabad and 50 km from Warangal. It can be reached via road easily. The best season to visit ‘Pandavula Gutta’ is from July to September.