Explore Telangana

Chief Accountant of Yama is ‘Chitragupta’ and is the one who maintains all the records of good and bad of one’s life. Ever heard of ‘Chitragupta Temple’ in Hyderabad?

‘Chitragupta Mahadeva Devalayam’ is in Chatrinaka near to Uppuguda Railway Station of Old City of Hyderabad. This is the only ‘Chitragupta temple’ in Telangana State. (There are very few temples of Chitragupta in India).

The temple is believed to be more than 200 years (built in early 18th century) old which is built by Kayasths. ‘Chitragupta’ is considered as the ‘Kula devatha’ of Kayasths. Kayasths are believed to be worked as Finance Ministers, Prime Ministers and other higher official grades during Qutub Shahis rule.

Maharaja Chandulal and Maharaja Kishan Pershad are some of the important people of Kayasths of Hyderabad.

One can find the idols of Chitragupta along with his consorts Iravati and Dakshini in the temple. The 12 sons of ‘Chitragupta’ are Srivastav, Suryadwhaj, Nigam, Kulashresta, Mathur, Garg, Saxena, Gaud, Asthana, Ambasht, Bhatnagar and Valmiki.

Previously there used to be procession idols (Utsava vigrahalu) made of ‘Panchaloha’ which were stolen few decades ago. Huge crowd visits this temple to clear off their Doshas. ‘Abhishekam’ is performed daily and special pooja is performed on Wednesdays for those who are affected by ‘Ketu Graha Dosha’.

One can reach Uppuguda MMTS Railway Station and from there the temple is at a distance of 5 min walk.

Get in touch with the local priest of ‘Chitragupta Temple’ to know more historical facts of this temple.

Bordering the banks of River Godavari, 30 km from Nizamabad, Basara is a quaint little village in the Adilabad district. It attributes a major share of its adulation to the presence of the famous Gnana Saraswati temple.

The temple is a major attraction in the village not only for the local people but also for tourists who travel from far and wide to offer their prayers to its presiding deity. Basara Saraswathi Temple is one of the famous Temples in Telangana. Every year, tourists from all over India visit this Gnana Saraswati Temple of Basara. Basara Temple is one of the two Saraswathi Temples of India (The other temple is in Kashmir)

As the name suggests, the temple is dedicated to the worship of Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge. The temple also houses the idols of Goddess Lakhshmi and Kali. The story behind the origin of the temple has various versions. Some believe that it was built during the Chalukya period while others opine that Bijialudu a king of Karnataka who ruled Nanded area, built this beautiful Basar Saraswati Temple in 6th century.

Yet another school of thought believes that Maharishi Vyas (Maharshi Veda Vyasa), after the Kurukshetra, halted at this spot and laid the foundations of the temple by placing three heaps of sand representing the idols of the three Goddesses: Lakshmi, Saraswati and Kali. It is believed that Maharishi Vyasa made idols of the three Goddesses with that Sand and used Turmeric also. The presence of the marble image of the Maharishi along with his Samadhi indicates the validity of this theory of the temple’s origin. According to Brahmanda Purana, it is also believed that Maharsi Veda Vyasa completed writing of Mahabharata at this place.

Being the abode of the Goddess of learning, the temple assumes the role of becoming the preferred destination for Akshara Abhyasam. This is the ceremony which marks the commencement of formal education in a child’s life and is usually held on the auspicious occasion of Vasant Panchami which is held with great fanfare within the temple premises. On the first day of spring, children dressed in new clothes enter the temple precincts to practice writing the first alphabets in the presence of the Goddess of Wisdom and Knowledge. She blesses them with her auspicious presence to move on in their life’s journey to seek and attain more wisdom. Children offer the Mother Goddess flowers and dedicate their books, pens and pencils to seek her blessings.

Basara Saraswathi temple also becomes a riot of colors and is flooded with devotees during the other three festivals namely Vyasa Purnima, Maha Shivaratri and Dussera Navaratri. The Maha Shivaratri festival is held during the Magh Bahula Trayodashi. This is the ceremony which celebrates the greatness of the Lord Shiva. The temple premises are decked in flowers. Thousands of people all over Telangana and Maharastra states throng the temple to join in the celebrations.

The Vyasa Purnima festival is celebrated to commemorate the founder of the temple Sage Vyasa. It is held every year on Ashada Purnima and is a major event in the temple. The nine days of Navaratri hold equal importance in the temple. Devotees throng to the temple premises to join in the Navaratri festivities which commences on Ashwayuja Shudda Dashami.

The idol of Goddess Mahakali is located on the first floor of the Basar temple very close to the main temple. The presence of Goddess Lakshmi, Goddess Saraswati and Goddess Kali has lent the temple a different mystic charm. Devotees often refer to the presence of this holy threesome as the Divine Trinity.

There are only two temples dedicated to Goddess Saraswati in India. The other temple can be found in Jammu & Kashmir. Consequently, the Basara temple receives considerable attention owing to its uniqueness.

Special Attractions of Basara Temple

Basara Saraswathi Temple Timings:4 AM to 8:30 PM daily

Nearby by Tourist Attractions:

Distance to Basara:

How to reach Basara:

Nearest Railway Station:

Accommodation in Basara:

Procedure to book Accommodation in Basara:

Basara Temple Contact Numbers:

The district of Adilabad houses several religious sites that attract the faithful from far and wide. The Gudem Satyanarayana Swamy Temple is one such pilgrim center that has been deeply etched in the minds of tourists visiting Adilabad and its also a major tourist attractions of Telangana Tourism

Located on the banks of the Godavari river that borders both Karimnagar and Adilabad districts, the Satyanarayana Swami Temple enshrines Sri Satyanarayana Swamy, the God of truth. The temple is situated in Gudem, a village located about 40 km from Mancherial city of Adilabad district. The temple since its inception has acquired such prominence in Telangana owing to the presence of Lord Satyanarayana Swamy that people of Telangana hold it in the same esteem as Annavaram Devasthanam one of the most famous religious shrines of the country and part of ancient Temples of Telangana.

The Annavaram of Telangana, as the Gudem temple is also known, receives the maximum footfalls during the Karthik Masam. Every year during this time which corresponds to the English months of October – November devotees throng to Gudem to take a dip in the Godavari and perform puja and make offerings at the Satyanarayana Swami temple. Devotees perform ‘Satya Narayana Vrathams’, a special ceremony indicating their devotion to the Lord. This is followed by several other rituals which all form a part of the auspicious occasion.

The Vrathams however form a part of everyday rituals for most devotees who visit the temple. Every full moon day, the gathering of devotees reaches a peak as thousands of devout followers of Lord Satyadev gather together to participate in the various rituals.

The temple complex also comprises the Lord Ayyappa Abhinava Shabarimala temple which is built on the lines of the great Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala, Kerala. This is also considered to be one of the most popular temples in the north Telangana region. Devotees who are unable to travel to Kerala to offer their prayers to Lord Ayyappa can now fulfill their hearts desire in Gudem.

The Gudem village is encircled with holy shrines. On the other side of the Godavari in the Karimnagar district, the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple is another shrine frequently visited by devotees. Both the Sri Satyanarayan Swamy Temple and the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple are connected to each other with a low level bridge in Rayapatnam located at a distance of 3 km from Gudem. Devotees can visit either of these holy places of worship by crossing this bridge.

The Sri Satyanarayan Swamy Temple has ample opportunities to develop its facilities so as to become a congenial place for devotees. The construction of cottages for devotees and various other facilities is yet to be taken up. However, the absence of these basic facilities has not acted as a deterrent for devotees who continue to throng this holy shrine to view their beloved lord and seek his divine blessings.

Special Attractions:
– The holy shrines of Sri Satyanarayana Swamy, Lord Ayyappa in Gudem as well as the shrine of Sri Lakshmi Narayana Swamy in Dharmapuri are the major attractions of the place.
– The small village of Gudem has been converted into a major pilgrimage center owing to the presence of the famous Holy shrines.

Nearby by Tourist Attractions:
– Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple
– Kuntala Waterfalls
– Gnana Saraswati Temple
– Hanuman Temple
– Sri Ram Temple

Timings: Information not available

Distance to Gudem Satyanarayana Swamy Temple:
– Distance from Hyderabad is 226 Kms (4.5 hours drive)
– Distance from Karimnagar is 62 Kms (1.5 hours drive)
– Distance from Mancherial is 33 Kms (40 min drive)
– Distance from Hanamkonda(Warangal) is 133 Kms (3 hours drive)

Where to stay: Gudem does not have good places of accommodation. Tourists can however avail the accommodation options in Adilabad/Mancherial while planning a visit to Gudem. Some of the popular Adilabad hotels include Haritha Hotel, Sanjay Lodge, and Kamadhenu Hotel.

How to reach Gudem Satyanarayana Swamy Temple:
– Gudem is located at a distance of 226 km from Hyderabad. It is easily accessible by road and rail from Hyderabad.
– State run buses are available from Hyderabad to Mancherial.
– Gudem is 33 Kms far from Maancherial. Plenty of buses ply from Mancherial and Karimnagar.
– Train Route: You can also reach Mancherial by train and take a bus to Gudem from Mancherial.
– The Gudem Gutta is located in Adilabad district at a distance of 61 kms from the neighboring district of Karimnagar. It is easily accessible from there by road. It can also be accessed from Rayapatnam ( 3Kms) Luxettipet (7Kms) and from Mancherial (32Kms).

Nearest Railway Station: Mancherial is the closest railway station and can be accessed from all parts of the country from here.

Useful Contact Numbers:
– Adilabad Tourism Officer : 9440816087
– State Tourism Department: 040-23450444

The small village of Pendalvada falls within the Talamadugu Mandal in Adilabad district. The popularity of the village is primarily attributed to the presence of the Veer Hanuman Temple.

The Pendalvada Hanuman Temple is particularly famous owing to the interesting legend associated with it. It is said that that the Hanuman temple was originally located in Saidpur Sanghi, 8 km away from Pendalvada. However, a huge flood that occurred around 200 years back washed the temple away from Saidpur and onto the shores of Pendalvada. The people of Pendalvada, considering it to be the divine wish to be with them, expressed their reverence and respects by establishing him in the village temple. Since then the Hanuman Temple in Pendalvada has acquired great focus for visitors and locals of the village.

Located at a distance of 28 km from Adilabad, Pendalvada is conveniently accessible for most tourists. Devout followers of Hanuman, the monkey God gather here to offer their prayers and seek his blessings. The place receives the maximum footfalls on the auspicious occasion of Hanuman Jayanthi. Thousands of devotees particularly those who have been granted the Hanuman Deeksha (instructions on chanting prayers and hymns of Hanuman) come here to express their devotion and participate in the celebrations. The idol of Veer Hanuman is decked up in flowers and other finery and special Pujas are organized as part of the day’s celebrations.

A visit to Adilabad remains incomplete without visiting the Pendalvada Hanuman Temple of Adilabad Tourism.

Special Attractions of Pendalvada:
– The Hanuman temple is the major attraction of this historical town.

Nearby by Tourist Attractions:
– Gnana Saraswati Temple
– Bhadi Temple
– Kuntala Waterfalls
– Pochera Waterfalls
– Keslapur
– Sadalpur Temple

General Timings of Pendalvada Hanuman Temple:
– Morning 6:00 am to 11:30 am
– Evening 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm
– Actual opening and closing timings may vary

Distance:
– Distance from Hyderabad to Pendalvada is approx. 345 Kms (close to 7 hours drive)
– Distance from Adilabad to Pendalwada is 28 Kms (50 min drive)

Where to stay:
Pendalvada does not provide an abundant choice of accommodation options. Therefore tourists can avail the comfortable accommodation facilities to be found in Adilabad. Some of the popular places to stay in Adilabad include Haritha Hotel, Sanjay Lodge, Kamadhenu Hotel, and Tirumala Lodge.

The Kalwa Narsimha Swamy Temple is located in the city of Koneru, 11 km from Nirmal. En Route to Basar Saraswati Temple, devotees often stop by this temple to offer their prayers.

Narsimha, variously known as Narasingh, Narsingh, Narasimha Swamy and Narasingha, is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and is revered as the Great Protector by devotees all over the country. Several temples in India are dedicated to the worship of Narsimha Swamy. In the Telangana region myriad temples are scattered all over the place that houses Narsimha Swamy in various forms. The Kalwa Narsimha Swamy Temple in Adilabad District is one such temple.

The temple is a preferred destination for devotees who come to offer their prayers and seek the lord’s blessings of Kalwa Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. The temple authorities organize ‘Vana Bhojanam’ as part of their rituals. In this, devotees are served meals which they savor seated beneath trees. This is a popular ritual and witnesses huge crowds of devotees who throng to the temple to participate in this ritual. Moreover, the fervour and the excitement of the people turn this event into something similar to a family picnic.

The Kalwa Narsimha Swamy Temple displays the main deity as seated in a yogic posture flanked by his consort Goddess Lakshmi. This is a rare form as most temples usually house the more furious form of Narsimha. The temple premises also house the Ratham or the holy chariot. On special occasions the Ratham is decorated and carries the idols of gods and goddesses. Devotees who gather at the temple on these occasions offer their prayers to these idols.

The area around the Kalwa Narsimha Swamy temple is made congenial for tourists. The Children’s Park located close to the temple deserves special mention in this regard. The park is replete with swings, slides and other amenities desired by children. It is well-maintained, safe and ideal for children to have a good time. Kalwa Narasimha Swamy Temple is a major tourist attracts of Adilabad Tourism of Telangana state.

Distance:
– Hyderabad to Kalwa Narasimha Swamy Temple is 230 Kms
– Distance from Nirmal is 11 Kms
– Distance from Adilabad is 87 Kms
– Distance from Karimnagar is 150 Kms

How to reach:
– The Kalwa Narsimha Swamy Temple is located at a distance of 11 km from Nirmal and 88 km from Adilabad. As a result the temple is accessible from Nirmal as well as from Adilabad.
– Buses ply from all locations and are usually the preferred mode of local transport.
– Buses are available from Hyderabad to Nirmal. Moreover, Adilabad is also well connected to all major cities and towns of Telangana.
– Tourists can also avail trains or even flights till Hyderabad or other nearby cities in order to reach Adilabad.

Where to stay:
– Tourists can avail the accommodation options available at Adilabad or Nirmal. Some of the reasonably good hotels in these places include Sri Krishna Residency, Haritha Hotel, Sanjay Lodge, Kamadhenu Hotel, Tirumala Lodge, Raviteja Hotel, and Laxmi Residency Hotel.
– Another good option is Sri Krishna Residency at Nirmal. Hotel Address: Opp: Nirmal Toys Showroom, Nirmal, Tel: 08734-244255, Mobile: 9705972103

Nearby by Tourist Attractions:
– Kadam Dam
– Jainath Temple
– Kadile Papahareshwar Temple
– Basar Saraswati Temple
– Nirmal Toys
– Kuntala Waterfalls
– Pochera Waterfalls

Kalwa Narasimha Swamy Temple Timings: 5:00 AM to 11:30 AM and 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Nearest Airport: The closest airports are at Nagpur and Hyderabad.

Nearest Railway Station: Adilabad Junction is the closest railway station. Also Nanded railway station located at a distance of 108 km is a major station.

Useful Contact Numbers:
– Adilabad Tourism Officer : 9440816087
– State Tourism Department: 040-23450444
– State Tourism Department Toll free Number: 1800-42-545454

The quaint village of Bhadi located in the Bela mandal is situated at a distance of 32 km from Adilabad. Housing a population of 1117 inhabitants, the village is also known to be a pilgrimage for the devout followers of Lord Shiva.  The Shiva Temple located within the village premises contributes largely to its claim to fame as a religious spot.

The construction of the Bhadi temple has been traced to a king of the Gond Tribe. The temple is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. Huge crowds cross its threshold on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivaratri. This is a gala event in the temple’s calendar when devotees of Lord Shiva congregate to offer their prayers and seek his blessings.

Special Attractions
– The temple of Lord Shiva is a major attraction for tourists.

Nearby by Tourist Attractions:
– Basara Saraswati Temple
– Kawal Wild Life Sanctuary
– Kuntala Waterfalls
– Sadalpur Temple
– Pochera Waterfalls
– Kadem Dam

Where to stay:
Bhadi does not provide an abundant choice of accommodation options. Therefore tourists can avail the comfortable accommodation options in Adilabad town.Some of the popular places to stay in Adilabad include Haritha Hotel, Sanjay Lodge, Kamadhenu Hotel, and Tirumala Lodge.

How to reach:
Adilabad, the closest town to Bhadi is easily accessible from various parts of the world. Tourists can reach Adilabad from Hyderabad in 6 hours through buses or private Transport. From Adilabad tourists need to avail local transport to reach Bhoraj (7 km) and then Tirshana (20 km). Bhadi is located at a distance of 2 km from Tirshana.

Nearest Railway Station: Adilabad Town Railway Station is the nearest railway station to Bhadi Temple.

Useful Contact Numbers: 
– Adilabad Tourism Officer : 9440816087
– State Tourism Department: 040-23450444
– State Tourism Department Toll free Number: 1800-42-545454

Source: Google