Ramagir Fort

The Ramagiri fort was constructed from durable stone, the fort boasts an expansive layout covering several square kilometers and is fortified with numerous octagonal bastions. Impressively, the fortifications include masonry battlements rising to a towering height of 12 meters (39 ft). Among its defensive features, the fort was equipped with four forge-welded cannons strategically placed along the fort walls. Notably, historical records indicate that some of the structures within the fort were covered with a thick layer of mud plaster, composed of a mixture of mud, lime, reeds, and even the unique addition of animal hair or, intriguingly, animal blood.

The fort was under the control of Gundaraja of Manthani and Edaraja of Ramagundam. However, they were defeated by Kakati Prola II, and the entire area of Polavasa, Manthani, and Ramagundam came under the Kakatiya dynasty’s rule. After the decline of the Kakatiyas, Musunuri Kapayanayaka occupied the fort during the 14th century A.D. Muppabhupala was appointed as the ruler of Sabbinadu with Ramagiri as his capital during this period. In 1433 A.D., the Bahamani Sultan Ahmed Shah I invaded the Telangana region and captured the Ramagiri Fort. This marked a significant change in the fort’s ownership and control. Subsequently, the fort came under the control of the Mughals and later the Asaf Jahis, who established the princely state of Hyderabad. The region was administered by local Deshmukhs under the Asaf Jahis.

The Ramagiri forest in the area of the fort is an important source for medicinal plants. Large numbers of local medicinal people collect the plants and offer them for sale in nearby towns. Students also visit the area to identify these plants and make herbarium specimens. In view of this importance for medicinal plants, it has been suggested that the forest of the fort area be declared a Medicinal Plants Conservation Center.