Devarakonda Fort

Devarakonda Fort is a majestic yet desolate fort in Nalgonda District. The fort has a rich legacy and bears testimony to the ravages of time. The fort is 117 kms from Hyderabad and the route is scenic with chilly and paddy fields.


Devarakonda town is small and the locals are friendly and eager to talk of the rich history.


Locals claim that gold was discovered in the fort and that those who took the gold were cursed. It is a heritage site which is today badly in need of visitors who can witness the brilliant structure.


The fort was built by the Velama rulers in the 14^th century who ruled parts of Telangana after the Kakatiyas.  The fortress was under the control of the Velama rulers from 1287 – 1482 and later controlled by the Padma Nayaka rulers who added fortifications.The fort is surrounded by great boulders making it an impregnable fort. Insignia of the Kakatiyas, the Velama and Nayak rulers are found on the walls.

The fort is built over a hilltop and the steps leading to the top are made of roughen stone and thorn trees and anthills are seen all around the area.

The entrance to the fort is huge and is in ruins now. Its beauty shines through the bastions and arches reminiscent of the Kakatiyas architecture. Scattered pillars speak of the destruction to the fort. The steps leading to the fort which rises affords a glimpse of the town. The fort rises in different levels and the entrance ways are carved with images of gods. A notable feature are the huge hinge openings at the first level of the fort.

The granary or treasury or even a magazine house stands at the second level of the fort and is a huge structure which is intact. The ramparts of the fort are walkable if one is interested in exploring the fort. The arches along the fort ramparts are indicative of added defences with some cannon points visible.

A small lake in the fort seems to have provided water supply and the over run from there seems to have dropped to a lower level. Steps are visible to the tank that is now filled with debris.  The fort has a small temple dedicated to Lord Rama and Siva.

A sense of sadness that rich history is not preserved and is left to the ravages of time makes one wonder why this beautiful heritage is not on the protected monuments list. The ASI and the Telangana tourism could help preserve a cultural heritage of the region.