Telangana: Peddapalli’s Ramagiri Fort to be developed as tourism spot

Located six kilometres from the Begampet mandal headquarters, Ramagiri Khila was reportedly constructed on the hillocks in the 1st century. The stone structure is still standing rock solid even after centuries. Nobody was aware about the fort, which used to be located in the forest, till the Archaeology department unearthed it

Peddapalli: The historic Ramagiri Khila is going to be developed as a tourism spot. The fort, which was neglected for several decades, is all set to get a facelift, with the State government recently sanctioning Rs.5 crore through the Tourism department.

Besides constructing a compound wall, construction of steps to climb the fort and other works have been proposed. It is also planned to develop a parking area, welcome arch, compound wall, rest shelters, children’s play area, washrooms, drinking water facility, modernization of wells located on the top of the hillocks, roads, landscaping, sanitation and lighting arrangements.

Located six kilometres from the Begampet mandal headquarters, Ramagiri Khila was reportedly constructed on the hillocks in the 1st century. The stone structure is still standing rock solid even after centuries. Nobody was aware about the fort, which used to be located in the forest, till the Archaeology department unearthed it.

There was evidence that people had stayed in the area. A number of structures were buried in the ground, local people said. According to historians, Ramagiri was established in 4000 BC. According to evidence found in Peddabonkur and Gunjapadu, the area was ruled by the kings Goutamiputra Satakarni and Pulomavi.

In 1158, Kakatiya kings occupied Ramagiri by defeating Gundaraju of Chalukyas in 86 AD. Pratapa Rudrudu of Kakatiya dynasty ruled the area up to 1195. The fort, which was under the Sultans’ regime in between 1442-57, was occupied by Mughals in 1595. In 1608, it went under the Golconda Nawabs’ regime.

Besides nine cannons in different places, the fort has 40 thoranams (festoons). Six festoons were taken away by Chennur Deshmukhs, according to local people. According to botanists, besides historic structures, there are rare medicinal plants on the hillocks. Many people collect plants to use them in the preparation of medicines.

After former union minister Ch Vidhyasagar Rao took out a padayatra and sent a report to the Centre, Rs.20 lakh was sanctioned to lay a road from the main road to the fort. However, the proposal was withdrawn following a warning by Naxalites.

Later, the then Karimnagar collector Neetu Kumari Prasad sent a proposal to the government to develop the fort as a tourism spot but that also did not materialise.

Recently, IT MInister D Sridhar Babu, in whose Manthani constituency, the fort is situated, met union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawath and sought help to develop the fort as a tourism hub. Whether the current move will bear fruit is what the local populace are waiting to see.