ADILABAD HISTORY

This district was earlier called as Ethlabad. This district was formed in the year 1905. The Adilabad district is bounded by Maharastra State in the East, West and North directions, Karimnagar and Nizamabad districts in the South direction. Main rivers are Godavari, Penganga, Pranahita and Kadem . The water sources to this district are Kadem Project at Lakkipet, Vattivagu Project on Vattivagu, Satnalavagu project on Rallavagu and Chelamalavagu project on Chelamalavagu at Ekkapally village. Pochampadu Reservoir on river Godavari caters the water supply to the farm fields. Adilabad, Nirmal, Bellampalli, Mandamarri, Sirpur, Mancheryal, Lakshettipeta. are main towns. The District is occupied with 50% of Forest area, and hosts Three wild life sanctuaries; Pranahita is famous for Tigers, Jaguars, Deer and different Birds, Shivaram is famous for Crocodiles, Monkeys, Foxes and Spotted deer, Kawal is famous for Tigers, Jaguars, Deer's and Panthers. The mineral Wealth found in this district is Coal, Hematite. The Bamboo's from the forest feeds the Sirpur paper mill at Sirpur Khaghaz Nagar, which was established in 1938. World Famous Nirmal Paintings and Toys, and Bell Metal Craft are the handicrafts of this District. The temple of Goddess Saraswathi, the one and only temple of this deity in South India, located at Basar is a famous pilgrim place .

ADILABAD TOURISM

Basara, abode to Gnana Saraswati, is a small village near Nizamabad city that comes under Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh. Here is located the ancient temple of Gnana Sarasvati - the Goddess of Knowledge. It is believed to be one of the two oldest temples of Goddess Saraswati in India, the other being located in Kashmir. Sited at the convergence of rivers Mangira and Godavari, Saraswati Temple appears serene and pious in the rustic setting. According to the legends, Veda Vyas did penance on the banks of Godavari. He used to bring fistful of sand daily after bath to make idols of Goddess Saraswati, Lakshmi and Kali. Since the 6th century, Basar has been a pilgrimage centre for the Hindus. However, the present structure of the temple is believed to have been erected by Chalukya kings. In the sanctum sanctorum, the idol of Goddess Sarasvati adorns the sight, along with Goddess Lakshmi. In the 17th century, the idols of the temple were reinstated by a chieftain of Nandagiri (Nandeed) subsequent to destruction caused by the Muslim invaders. There is nothing extraordinary about temple's architecture yet its popularity is certainly creditable. Pilgrims from far and near come to pay their homage to the 'Goddess of Wisdom'. Basant Panchami and Navaratri are the major festivals observed at the temple. 'Akshara Gnana' is a special ritual, in which devotees bring their children to the temple. The significance of the ritual lies in the fact that it marks the formal starting of child's education. The child is given little bit of turmeric paste to taste, believing that it will clear his/her vocal chords for better learning. The Goddess answers all the prayers of the committed devotees, filling their life with bliss and happiness

KUNTALA WATERFALL

Kuntala Waterfall, set amidst the Sahayadri mountain range in Andhra Pradesh, presents a wonderful vista with its gushing waters. Identified as the highest waterfalls of the state, the cascade attracts visitors from far and wide. At a distance of about 40 kms from Adilabad city, the fall is to be found near Neredikonda Village in Adilabad district. Kuntala Waterfalls appear as a pleasant surprise, accessible through the twirling roads passing from dense forests. As per the legends, Kuntala Waterfalls were named after the mythological figure Shakuntala, who was the beloved of King Dushyanta. It is said that both of them fell in love with each other amidst the spectacular beauty of the region. Perhaps Shakuntala used to bathe in the waters of the cascade. Through the dense forests, River Kadam flows and tumbles gushing at Kuntala from the height of 45 meters, creating the astounding waterfall. One must experience the spectacle of water splashing down and turning into whirls. Owing to this powerful surge, you can feel the air in the region crammed with mist of the darting waters. The cool breeze, with the whiff of flora around, makes the whole atmosphere simply wonderful. In the monsoons, the splendor of the cascade becomes all the more beguiling, since the river comes down with heavy waters. It appears as if God himself likes this place as much as people do. A temple dedicated to Someshwara Swami is located in the vicinity, where people come to pay their homage to the Lord. You can reach this temple by going through a passage made by a slit in the hill. Festival of 'Maha Shivratri' attracts plenty of devotees to this temple. To put succinctly, Kuntala Waterfalls definitely deserves a visit on your trip to Adilabad.

WILD LIFE

Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary is the prefect destination to look for multiplicity of flora and fauna in India. Located in Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh, the sanctuary lies at a distance of 50 km from Mancherila and 260 km from Hyderabad. It was established in 1964 with the purpose of safeguarding the endangered species in their natural habitat. Owing to its bio-diversity, the haven was declared as a wildlife sanctuary later. Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary is visited by number of tourists every year. It has two watch towers, which offer stunning view of the surroundings. Sprawled across an area of 893 sq kms, the sanctuary boasts of a dry deciduous forest where teak, bamboo and numerous varieties of trees, shrubs and herbs can be seen. It houses various animals, including Sambar, Cheetal, Nilgai, Barking Deer, Indian Bison, Sloth Bear, Panther and Tiger. The range of reptiles comprises of Python, Crocodile, Star Tortoise, Monitor Lizard, Cobra and many others. Talking about avifauna, one can trace various species of birds like Partridge, Quails, Peacocks, Eagles, Kites, Owls, Mynahs and Kingfishers here. During winters, the chirping sound of the migratory birds reverberates in the region. If you are keen on watching animals and birds, you can wait near rivulets and brooks where they usually come for water. Winter season offers the best time to visit the sanctuary because the weather gets too dry in summers and too humid in monsoons. You can also opt for jeep safari, while having a closer, yet safer, view of the wildlife, to make your trip more interesting. Accommodation is also available here with the Forest Guest House. In concise, Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary is a nice place to experience adventure and thrill, mingled with enjoyment.

SHIVARAM WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Shivaram Wildlife Sanctuary of Andhra Pradesh is a total delight for nature lovers. Sited on the banks of River Godavari, the sanctuary is known for its population of fresh water crocodiles. This haven truly appears to be immersed in nature's beauty and splendor. Sprawled in an area of 36.29 sq km, the wildlife asylum lies at a distance of about 10 km, 50 km and 80 km from Manthani, Mancherial and Karimnagar, respectively. Sivaram Wildlife Sanctuary is a wildlife preserve of its own kind, which boasts of exotic flora and fauna in India. It has deciduous vegetation, comprising of Teak, Timan, Gumpena, Terminalias, Kodsha and thorny shrubs. The sanctuary is home to fauna like Tiger, Panther, Langur, Rhesus Monkey, Sloth Bear, Wild Boar, Cheetal, Sambar, Chausingha, Nilgai, Python, etc. Established in 1987, the Sivaram Wildlife Sanctuary was initiated with a purpose of safeguarding crocodiles. The main attraction of the sanctuary is made up of different species of Crocodiles. Here you can view numerous crocodiles basking in the sun. The Mugger Crocodile seen here is infact a fresh water crocodile that is found in the Indo-Gangetic Rivers like Godavari. Unlike the salt water crocodiles, the Muggers can crawl for substantial distances on land. This feature of the fresh water creatures has popularized them amongst the tourists.