The Medak Fort lies in Medak town which is the district headquarters of Medak District. The fort was initially known as 'Methuku Durgam' and was constructed in the 12th century by the Kakatiyan rulers. Later, several modifications and renovations were done to the structure by the Qutub Shahi rulers. The architecture of the fort represents a blend of Hindu and Islamic styles.
Important Places to Visit in Medak Fort
The three main entrances of the fort are known as the Prathama Dwaram, Simha Dwaram and Gaja Dwaram. The Prathama Dwaram displays the illustrious structure of the double-headed bird 'Gandabherundam' a representative of the Kakatiyan dynasty. The Simha Dwaram or the Lion Entrance has the imposing structure of two snarling lions gracing its facade. The Gaja Dwaram, the third gateway, is flanked by two massive elephants with their trunks interlocked. The huge boundary walls of the fort have several bastions carved from the rocks and boulders of the hillock. The fort has a 17th century mosque that was constructed by the Qutub Shahi rulers. These rulers also added a 3.2 m long cannon to the fort during the mid 17th century to secure the fort from the attack of neighbouring kingdoms.
Medak Cathedral
The Medak Cathedral is located near the city centre of Medak. This church is considered as the seat of the Bishop and is counted amongst the largest churches in South India. The cathedral controls the Diocese of Medak, which is the second largest in the world and the single largest diocese in Asia. The church was consecrated on 25th December, 1924. The cathedral stands on the site where a small worshipping place for Christians was located during the 19th century.
History of Medak Cathedral
It was constructed on the orders of Charles Walker Posnett, an administrator of the British army soldiers at Trimulgherry. As Posnett was unsatisfied with the performance of the army, he shifted them to the Medak village. During that time Posnett had to travel from Hyderabad to Medak for administering his army. Finally, Posnett decided to construct a bungalow at Medak. For providing employment to the local people of the region, he ordered the construction of the church.