Nagnoor Fort also called Nagunur fort is situated in Nagunur Village, Karimnagar Mandal, Karimnagar district, Telangana, India. Nagaruru used to be one of the chief townships of Sabbinadu. Sabbinadu was once ruled by local chiefs. But later, in 1170 AD, Kakatiya king Rudra defeated the local chiefs and appointed Gangaraja to administer it.
From the 8th to 13th centuries, Nagunur was under the rule of Vemulawada Chalukyas, and Kalyani Chalukyas for five centuries. When the city reached the extinction of its regime in various spheres like religious, spiritual, political, and capital morality, the city was again revived with the rule of Kakatiyas.
The glorious city had about 400 temples. But, in the present world, all of them vanish and only three are visible. Out of the three, two temples are almost ruined and one is in the position of deterioration. The temple is located at a distance of 8 km from Karimnagar opposite the Prathima Institute Of Medical Sciences and close to the Karimnagar Railway Station.
Nagunur fort is a symbol of the glory and the majestic powers of the great rulers Kakatiyas. Hence, the Nagunur fort is considered one of the most important forts of the glorious Kakatiya dynasty. The modern-day archaeologists have brought the ruins of a cluster of the Kalyana and Kakatiya temples into the limelight.
In the 12th and 13th centuries, Nagunur was home to a host of important temples representing the Kakatiya dynasty. The temples of Nagunur fort include Vaishnava Temple, Shiva Temple, Main Trikuta Temple, and the Ramalingala Gudi Temple.
The inscriptions present in the fort symbolize the political and religious importance of the Kakatiya dynasty in medieval times. There is a cluster of ruined temples present in the Nagunur fort that was built by various kingdoms like Kalyani, Chalukya, and Kakatiyas.
The pillars and galleries around the Shiva temple are the major attractions for tourists. Out of 400 temples present in Nagunur Fort, Shiva temple is considered the most important temple in the complex and it has three shrines. The North side of the Shiva temple is the entrance for devotees and the other 3 shrines are present on the remaining faces of the temple.
The temple walls are inscribed with images of musicians playing on Mridangam and other instruments. Moreover, panels are carved with visuals of dancers in graceful poses.
These beautiful carvings and architecture have attracted tourists’ attention for all these years. Although the style of the construction of the temples can be traced back to the era of the Kalyani, Chalukyas, many believe that the Fort have been built during 1200- 1300AD under Kakatiyas.
As the Nagunur Fort houses 400 temples, the Fort is also called Nalugunovalu. Later Nalugunovalu was renamed as Nagunur. The most prominent one is the temple shrine of Lord Shiva was built out of red stone.
The shrines of Lord Shiva were placed on a raised pedestal or Upapitha. The most attractive part of the temple is the intricate and detailed sculptures gracing the frames of the doors and the beams resting on the central pillar.
The fort was once the political capital of the Kakatiyas. The interiors of the fort once used to echo the sounds of a lively and bustling city. But, after all these years, the fort chants the silent agony of ruins and debris.
One can find many temples that are under extinction in Telangana State on their way to the highway from Karimnagar to Rayapatnam. The political and religious centers during the 11th and 12th centuries are now turned into a mute audience waiting for the healing touch due to the administrative delay.
Also Visit: Medak Fort – History, Highlights, How to Reach – Complete Details
Special Attractions:
The ruined temples contain splendid motifs and architectural marvels which attract tourists from many parts of the world every year. As the temples of the Nagunur Fort don the place with a unique charm, it is difficult for any tourist to resist.
Distance to Nagunur Fort, Karimnagar:
- Nagunur fort is at a distance of 162 km from Hyderabad to Karimnagar.
- Nagunur fort is at a distance of 68 km from Warangal to Karimnagar.
- Nagunur fort is at a distance of 147 km from Nizamabad to Karimnagar.
Some other Tourist Attractions:
Near the Nagunur Fort, there lies Lower Manair Dam in Karimnagar. Tourists with extra enthusiasm can surely visit this place.
Another tourist attraction is Ujwala Park, Karimnagar. If you would like to witness the grandeur of some other forts near Nagunur Fort in Karimnagar, then Elgandal Fort is worth visiting.
Where to stay:
Karimnagar can provide a range of hotels, guest houses, lodges, and tourist rest houses that provide comfortable accommodations for tourists. The accommodation facilities vary in every budget and are strategically located in order to provide tourists access to their preferred place of visit in Karimnagar.
Some of the notable Hotels in Karimnagar that are worth staying in are Swetha Inn, Hotel Manair, Srinivasa Hotel, Hotel Kalpana, and Hotel Prathima Residency.
How to reach:
Karimnagar city can be easily accessed by road as it is well connected with other cities like Warangal, Nizamabad, Medak, and other parts of the state.
One can find many State Transport buses from Jubilee Bus Stop to Karimnagar
If you would like to reach Karimnagar through air transport, then the nearest international airport is located at Hyderabad which is around 165 km from Karimnagar town.
Nagunur Fort is located at a distance of 8 km from Karimnagar Bus Stand and can be easily accessed by public transport.
Karimnagar city has its own railway station which connects Karimanagar to the major cities of Telangana. So, one can also reach the Nagunur fort easily by train.
Timings:
The timings of the Nagunur Fort which one can visit are from 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Also Visit: Gandhari Fort, Temple & Jatara, Mancherial
