Ghanpur (ఘన్పిర్ Ghanpur), a village in East Telangana, is home to 12th-century stone temples.
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According to local folklore, the Pandava brothers of the Mahabharata spent a portion of their exile period in these rock shelters of Pandavula Guhalu. However, anthropological evidence shows that the caves have been inhabited by humans long before the great epic was written. In 1990, the discovery of paintings on the rock wall confirmed that the cave was inhabited during the Mesolithic age (about 10,000 years ago). It has been designated a geological heritage site by the Geological Survey of India. Ever since the discovery, the forest department of Telangana has been coming up with various activities, including rock-climbing and stargazing, to turn the geological wonder into an eco-tourism hub.
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See and do
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- 1 Ghanpur Lake.
- 2 Kota Gullu. A group of 12th-century temples, constructed by King Ganapatideva of the Kakatiya dynasty, now in shambles. The reason behind the damage is uncertain, either through the attacks from the Muslim armies between the 14th and 16th centuries, or through a major earthquake in the region in the 17th century. Each of the 22 temples vary in size and design, but all of them exhibit the marvellous architecture of the Kakatiyas.
- 3 Mylaram Caves. Caves with stalactites and stalagmites formations.
- 4 Pandavula Guhalu. Amazing rock formations consisting of natural stone arch, overhangs and vertical cliffs. The caves also contain ancient rock paintings dating back to 10,000 years. Other than prehistoric art, there are many inscriptions of the Rashtrakuta era as well. It is believed that the Pandavas stayed there for a while during their twelve years exile in the Mahabharata.
