District Profile
Bhupalpally (Acharya Jayashankar) District is carved out of erstwhile Warangal District with the annexation of some parts of Karimnagar and Khammam. The district is named after Telangana ideologue, Prof. K. Jayashankar.
It is surrounded by Peddapalle, Mahabubabad, Warangal Rural, Warangal Urban, Kothagudem districts and the states of Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.
The district comprises 20 mandals and 2 revenue divisions – Bhupalpally and Mulugu. The district headquarters is located at Bhupalpally town.
Agriculture is the main occupation in rural parts of the district, with paddy, chilli, cotton and turmeric being the chief crops grown in the area. Devadula lift Irrigation and tanks constructed by Kakatiya rulers are the primary sources of irrigation. Industries like Singareni Collieries, Kakatiya Thermal power plant, and some small agriculture-based industries flourish in this area.
Bhupalpally is also well connected by road – NH 163 passes through the district. The district has one bus depot at Bhupalpally.
Many pilgrim centres and historical places adorn the district like the Kaleshwaram temple, Kaleshwara Mukteswara Swamy temple located at Mahadevpur Mandal., Hemachala Lakshmi Narsimha Swamy temple in Malluru ghat of Mangapet mandal and Ramappa Temple located in Palampet of Venkatapuram mandal, is a marvellous example of the creative genius of the Kakatiyas. Kaleshwaram is named Dakshina Triveni Sangamam, since the three rivers Godavari, Pranahita and the third illusionary Antharvahini, meet here. The Mukteshwara Swamy temple is significant for the fact that there are two lingas that of Shiva and Yama on the same pedestal.
Further, the district also has a few lakes that are big tourist attractions- the Ramappa Lake and the Laknavaram Lake. Ramappa Lake, constructed in 13th Century A.D. during Ganapathi Deva’s time substantiates the intricate irrigation work of the Kakatiyas. And the Laknavaram Lake, surrounded by deciduous forests is a very popular tourist spot.
To top it all, the district hosts the world famous Sammakka Saralamma Jatara or Medaram Jatara, a tribal festival which is celebrated at Medaram in Tadvai mandal. Jatara is celebrated during the time the goddesses of the tribal people are believed to visit them. It is believed that after Kumbha Mela, the Medaram Jatara attracts the largest number of devotees in the country.