Medak (Telugu: మెదక, is a municipality in Medak District in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is 100 km to the north of Hyderabad.
Geography
Demographics
As of 2001 India census,[2] Medak had a population of 1,41,916. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Medak has an average literacy rate of 66%: male literacy is 74%, and female literacy is 57%. In Medak, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.
History
Medak, a historic town originally called Siddapuram, later it known as Gulshanabad also, reached its pinnacle during the Kakatiya dynasty reign. Medak has a citadel dating back to the Kakatiyas. It was built during the reign of Kakatiya emperor Pratapa Rudra. Strategically built on a hillock, it was called the Methukudurgam (and Methukuseema), from the Telugu word Methuku - meaning cooked rice grain. The main entrance proudly displays the double-headed bird "Gandabherundam" of the Kakatiyas. The Medak fort stands as an epitome of architectural excellence of the Kakatiya dynasty. The water to the fort was served through a pipeline from a well inside the fort. It has three main entrances, the "Prathama Dwaram", the "Simha Dwaram" or Lions Entrance that has two snarling lions at the top of the entrance and the "Gaja Dwaram" or Elephant's Entrance that has a sculpture of two elephants interlocked on both sides of the entrance. At the fort one can see a 17th century cannon that is 3.2 meters long. The cannon has a trident etched on it. This fortress uses the natural topography to the maximum advantage with the rocky face offering it natural defenses.
Culture
Medak Cathedral
The formerly Anglican, now CSI Cathedral at Medak belongs to the single largest diocese in Asia, is a priceless heritage. It was built by the British Wesleyan Methodists and is now under the Church of South India - Diocese of Medak.
This church was built during a famine that struck Medak during World War I. Reverend Charles Walker Posnett was posted as Reverend in Medak during that time. Moved by the plight of the people due to the unprecedented famine that lasted for three years, he proposed to build a great church at Medak in the year 1914. It took ten continuous years to complete this monumental piece of architecture. With its massive dimensions, 100 ft width and 200 ft. length, the church can accommodate as many as 5000 people at a time.
Historical
The excavations at Kondapur, located 15 km from Sangareddy and 60 km from Medak, have brought to light the remains of Satavahana dynasty and a few Buddhist structures. The Kondapur Museumis maintained by the Archeological Survey of India. The Kondapur Museum contains about 8,100 antiquities at present. It houses the coins of the Satavahana kings which led some scholars to come to the conclusion that Kondapur was one of the thirty walled towns of the Satavahanas. There are the remains of Chaityas and Stupas indicating that Kondapur was once a great Buddhist center. Other things which were excavated and are on display include gold coin of the Roman Emperor Augustus (37 BC -14 AD), a few silver coins, bead pieces of terra cotta bangles, shell, ivory, copper and glass embossed with designs.
Natural features
Pocharam Forest & Wildlife Sanctuary, located 15 km from Medak and 115 km from Hyderabad, was the favourite hunting ground of the Nizam and was declared a wild life sanctuary in the early part of 20th century. Named after the Pocharam lake formed from bunding of the Allair in the years 1916 - 1922, it is spread over 9.12 km². Surrounded by lush green forest, it is rich in flora and fauna and attracts a lot of winged visitors, like the bar-headed goose, Brahminy ducks and open billed stork. There is a center for Eco-Tourism where visitors can see five species of antelopes and deer. Summer temperatures go up to 46 °C & in winter it drops to 6 °C. The sanctuary is home to animals like leopard, forest cat, wild dog, wolf, jackal, sloth bear, sambar, nilgai, chinkara, chital, and four-horned antelope.
Tourist Spots
- Medak Church - Church of World’s Second Largest Diocese
The church, the single largest diocese in Asia and the second largest in the world after the Vatican , is built in solid white granite. The tower is 173 feet high, with four pinnacles.
- Gottam Gutta (Gottam Kota)
Its 25 km from Zaheerabad, the place with broad & thick forest, hills, big lake and historical temples.
Route: Zaheerabad -> Mogadam Palli -> Padyala -> Nayak Thanda & Chunnam Batti Thand
- Pocharam Forest & Wildlife Sanctuary It was the favorite hunting spot of Nizam kings. This sanctuary is home Black bucks, leoperds, bears, crocodiles.
- Singur Dam
30 KM from Sangareddy
- Medak Fort. This Citadel was first built by Kakathiya king Prathapa rudra. This citadel boasts of iron pipe water supply system spread all over the fort.
- Nizam Sagar
Nizam Sagar dam, 50 KM from Medak, was constructed across the Manjira River, a tributary of the Godavari River. The site is noted for its splendid scenic beauty. The most outstanding feature of the project is the gigantic masonry dam sprawling across the river for 3 km with a motor able road of 14 ft width over it.
- Manjira wildlife & bird sanctuary
comprises nine small islands which are home to a number of resident and migratory birds in addition to Marsh Crocodiles and Muggers.
- Sri Saraswathi Kshetramu, Anantha Sagar, Siddipet division
Shri Saraswathi Skshtramu (Telugu: శ్రీ సరస్వతి క్షేత్రము,Hindi: श्री सरस्वती क्षेत्रमु) is a famous Hindu Temple of Goddess Saraswathi located in the Ananthasagar, Siddipet Division, Medak district ofAndhra Pradesh. The temple is built from 1980 to 1990 built by Sri Astakala Narasimha Rama Sharma(Astavadhani).
"Velupugonda sri tumburunatha devalayam"- built by rastrakuta kings, is one of the rarest temple in India with prisiding deity as sri tumburunatha swamy(god of music).This temple consists of fine stone sculptures dipicting men and women singing and dancing. His temple is situated at velupugonda village in tekmal mandal 35km from Medak town.
"Edupayala Durga Bhavani gudi"- It is a highly revered shrine of goddess Durga bhavani in Telangana and adjacent states of karnataka and Maharashtra. Edupayalu is a peculiar place with natural stone formations. Here Manjeera river splits into seven streams and unites into one,hence this place is called EDUPAYALU means Seven streams. Story of the place goes back to time of Mahabharata. It is believed that king Janamejaya (grandson of Arjuna) performed "sarpa yagam(sacrifice of snakes into the holy fire)" here to save his father Parikshith from a curse. recently while constructing a bridge, it is found that `a layer of ash is there below the Manjeera river bed. Jatara(fair)is celebrated on the day of Shivarathri and Maagha Amavasya. Edupayala jatara attracts lakhs of devotees from telangana, adjacent states of karnataka and maharashtra.
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Sri ranganatha swamy temple at Rangampet village, Narasimha swamy temple at Jakkannapet, Sidha rameshwara temple near Medak (2km from Medak) are other noteworthy temples.
Educational institutions
Medak houses plenty of prominent,established educational institutions,like IIT Hyderabad, the MNR Medical college being the most popular among them,MNR Group also runs a couple of Engineering colleges.
Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad is an autonomous university permanent Campus located in Kandi, Medak District, Andhra Pradesh. Presently IIT Hyderabad running in a temporary campus located at Ordinance Factory(ODF), Yeddumailaram village, Medak District, Andhra Pradesh.
The recent addition to the list is the GITAM University Hyderabad Campus[1] located in the village Rudraram,and the Patancheru mandal.
Parliamentary Constituency
Medak is a Lok Sabha Constituency in Indian Parliament.
List of Elected Members:
- 1957, 1962 - P. Hanmanth Rao
- 1967 - Sangam Laxmi Bai
- 1971, 1977 Mallikarjun
- 1980 - Indira Gandhi (CONGRESS)
- 1984 - P. Manik Reddy
- 1989 - Mogali Gundla Baga Reddy
- 1991, 1996 and 1998 - M. Baga Reddy
- 1999 - A. Narendra (BJP)
- 2004 - A. Narendra (TRS)
- 2009 - Ms. Vijayasanthi (TRS)
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