SURYAPET DISTRICT
Suryapet district is carved out of erstwhile Nalgonda district. The district shares boundaries with Nalgonda, Yadadri, Khammam, Hanamkonda, Mahabubabad districts and the state of Andhra Pradesh.
The district comprises 23 mandals and 2 revenue divisions – Suryapet and Kodad The district headquarters is
located at Suryapet town.
Suryapet is historically famous for being a hotspot of the movement against Razakars in Telangana Armed Struggle. Suryapet is now a fast developing region with highly flourishing cement industries. The district having a vast expanse of river Krishna basin, witnesses a quite widespread agriculture while Nagarjuna Sagar left canal is its chief source of irrigation.
Suryapet is adorned by many Shivaite temples which were built during the Kakaitya rule and remind everyone of the glorious past of the area. At the heart of these attractions lies the thousand year old Chennakeshava temple at Pillalamarri which draws innumerable tourists every year.
Phanigiri in Suryapet district is a place of historical and archaeological importance. It is a Buddhist monastic complex which is also known as Buddha Vihara. Around, 2000 years ago, the vast hillock in Phangiri accommodated a Buddhist monastery. Phanigiri derived its name from the shape that resembles a snake’s hood.
Undrugonda Laxminarsimha Swamy Temple, Mattapally Laxminarsimha Swamy Temple, Arvapally Laxminarsimha Swami Temple, Jatara at Peddagattu Lingamantula Swamy temple, Miryala SItaramachandra Swamy Temple, Suryapet Venkateshwara Swamy Temple, Dargahs at Janpahad, Arvapally are the other attractions of the district.
Suryapet town is a major road junction. It lies on the National Highway 65 and is located exactly between Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana and Vijayawada, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh. TSRTC operates buses from Suryapet to many major cities, towns and villages. Three more national highways which are Kodad and Huzurnagar are the other important towns in the district.
Phanigiri
Phanigiri is a Buddhist site that lies 84 km from the town of Nalgonda. The place is a recent discovery after the Department of Archaeology and Museums of Telangana did excavations at the place.
Phanigiri consists of a huge complex that has a large Stupa and two huge halls with stupas constructed in the halls as well. Taking in the sheer size of the site one can make out that the place served as a prominent Buddhist site. A unique site on the floor of the complex is large footprints and these foot prints are supposedly of Lord Buddha himself.
The complex also houses the three dwelling places of the Buddhist monks known as viharas. The Phanigiri Buddhist site stands at the top of a hill that is popular by the name of Serpent’s Hood Hill. The Hill has been so named because of its shape that reminds one of a serpent’s hood.
Pillalamarri
Pillalamarri is a small hamlet that comes under Suryapet district. The hamlet is famous for the many temples that were built by the Kakatiya Kings. The importance of this village is due to these beautiful temples that are a historical reminder of the glorious past of the village.
Peddagattu Jathara
Peddagattu or Gollagattu Jathara is the festival done in the name of Lord Lingamanthula Swamy and Goddess Choudamma, are offered various pujas during the five-day fete. Peddagattu (Gollagattu) is the second biggest religious congregation or Jathara in the state of Telangana after Sammakka Saralamma Jathara in Jayashankar Bhupalapally.
Though primarily the Yadava community takes part in huge numbers, people from all castes and religions from across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu come to the place located just 5-km. from Suryapet. The festival is protected by Police and assisted by volunteers during 3-day period. According to history, this religious congregation has been celebrated since 16th century. Even it is still been celebrated with the Government funds. The festival is protected by police and assisted by volunteers during 3-day period. It is located in Durajpally village [Suburb in Suryapet Municipality], Suryapet District, Telangana state .
Sri Undrugonda Laxmi Narasimha Swami Devasthanam
Undrugonda is situated in Vallabhapuram village of Chivvemla Mandal, Nalgonda dist, Telangana state, India. It is located 12 kilometers from the town of Suryapet & 3 kilometers from national highway 65.It is an ancient Giridurgam (Hill fort) constructed initially by Vishnukundinulu in 5th century A.D and later developed by various dynasties up to now. It is a magnificent archaeological and spiritual pilgrimage center hosting different temples of which Sri Undrugonda Laxmi Narasimha Swamy is best worshiped adored by local public. Many fortifications, hillocks, valleys, lakes and greenery of the forest also make a very beautiful eco-tourist destination. Local philanthropic organizations have been trying to revive the name and fame of Undrugonda since 2002.
Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, an ancient one, on the banks of River Krishna is situated at Mattapally village in Mattampally Mandal of Suryapet district. It is at a distance of 215 km from Hyderabad and 150 km from Vijayawada and 45 km south of Kodad town on Hyderabad-Vijayawada high way. This is one of the Pancha (five) Narasimha Kshetras on the banks of River Krishna, the other four being Wadapally (Nalgonda), Vedadri (Krishna), Mangalagiri and Ketavaram (Guntur dist.). The presiding Deities here are Sri Yoga Lakshmi Narasimha, Sri Rajalakshmi Thaayaar and Sri Chenchu Lakshmi Thaayaar.
Jan Pahad Dargah
Jan Pahad Saidulu Dargah is a Dargah situated in Palakeedu Mandal in Suryapet district in Telangana, India. People from different religious faiths visit the holy shrine on the occasion of the annual Urs festival.The Dargah is built on the tomb of saint Moinuddin alias Shaheed and Jan Pahad Saidulu. Qawwali, Sandal Sharif ceremonial procession and other special rituals mark the Ur’s festivities.
Arvapally Dargah
Hazrath Khaja Naseeruddin Baba Dargah is a Dargah situated in Jajiredygudem Mandal in Suryapet in Telangana,India.People from different religious faiths visit the holy shrine on the occasion of the annual Urs festival. Qawwali, Sandal Sharif ceremonial procession and other special rituals mark the Ur’s festivities.