Just
48 kms from Hyderabad on the Warangal road, this magnificent
fort offers the real offbeat weekend gateway. For those
who appreciate the rare things of the past, the Bhongir
fort is as awesome as those palatial forts in Jaipur
and Udaipur. The fort is a good mix of all things adventurous-magnificent
walls, tough rocky terrain leading towards the summit,
thick undergrowth and eyes,the kick of being up above
and the feel
Of watching, the world down, tiny and humble,all of it
make this fort a place to visit on a weekend. At 500 feet
above the ground level,a treeking holiday like this is
bound to give you high!
The drive from Hyderabad is pretty interesting. It
is dotted with roadside vendors of local toddy and fresh
guavas of the branches. The dhabas in this stretch give
you the necessary fuel to get by the day. The fort is
spread over 40 acres and it pays to retain your energy
even after you finally make it to the summit. After
all, you get to look Through four humungous cannons
on four sides of the fort and pretend you are the army
Chief Firing away at the enemy. To give you the true
feel of being in a guarded fortress, there are ponds,
horse stables, langur house (army kitchen) etc.
You won’t really find a tourist guide here, but
some lucky locals who use the fort to ‘relax’
will tell you interesting tales about the huge underground
chamber and trap doors and many exits. The fort is Shaped
like an egg and has two routes of entry - from the north
and west. But a high wall on either side with very huge
boulders protects both entries. The wall has its origin
somewhere deep down the hill. Along the circumference
of this fortress are the steps.
It takes about three hours and 250 steps to take you
up there. The first set of steps puts you through the
litmus test. If you can make it without huffing and
puffing too much, you’ve won half the battle.
These stairs lead you to a cool arch with a large sit
out. Grab your snack, sip your fizz and move on.
Trek up further and you are in for a surprise. A well
in the middle of nowhere! Yes, a well with water even
in peak summer amidst the rocks. According to a Legend,
this well, which was used as a storage tank for supplying
water to the royal palace , had a unique water refilling
arrangement. Water carried by elephants lined up along
the way up the hill poured the water into a channel,
which would fill the tank. For more such incredible
stories, you better go up all the way.
TIPS
Best Time : Sunday afternoon post
3 pm so the by the time you go up and come down,
It will be around 7 pm. There are no lights there after
dark.
What to Carry : Water, snacks, fruits
and cholocates. But go light because you will have to
climb steep stairs and baggage drains you faster.
What to wear : Sports shoe, caps,
shades, lights and comfortable clothing.
What to See : Stop by at every level
of the fort to look around. Soak in the fresh air.
What else to do : Visit the Yadagiri
Narasimha Swamy temple 15 km way on the same road. The
hill lock is peaceful and beautiful.
Where to stay : If you want a real
holiday and want to stay over, Andhra Pradesh Tourism
guest house provides accommodation on the Yadagiri hill.
Tel: 08685-237217
AC and regular rooms with a restaurant attached.
Food : There are some nice dhaba and
eat-out joints in this road when u drive towards Warangal.
They are clean and affordable.
What to remember : Avoid climbing
on the fort on a rainy day . Also, young children and
those above 50 may find it difficult to climb the stairs.
The young and adventurous,
However, will enjoy it most.
Recommendations : Go in groups, go
early to come back early. Seek directions wherever necessary
while in the fort.
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