Jamalapuram

Jamalapuram Venkateswara Swamy Temple, situated 85 kilometers from Khammam town and Vijayawada, is a very old pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Venkateswara Swamy. The temple claims to be over 1000 years old and is alternatively known as “Swayambhoo” and “Swayam Vyakta,” terms meaning “self-manifested.” Often referred to as “Telangana Chinna Tirupati,” the temple closely resembles the more famous Tirumala temple. If one were to visit on a Saturday, one should anticipate a substantial gathering of devotees, as that day tends to fulfill the temple’s potential for wish-making and miraculous occurrences and is believed to bring prosperity to all who worship there.

Kallur

Fifty kilometers from Khammam, Kallur is home to two important temples. One is the Lord Venu Gopala Swami Temple, which is about 400 years old and was built by Queen Rudrama Devi. This temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. Another important temple in Kallur is the Lord Shiva Temple, which was built by Kakatiya King Prataparudra. This temple features five lingas and a massive water tank that is a major draw for devotees across Telangana, especially during the festival season.

Khammam Fort

Constructed in 950 AD by Kakatiya rulers, the grand Khammam Fort overlooks the very heart of Khammam town, looking quite at home in its hilltop setting. This fort has seen many historical figures pass through its archways since that time. Following the Kakatiyas, it was the Qutub Shahi sultans who made it their own. After that, the fort came under the control of the Asaf Jahi dynasty (Nizams) in the 17th century. Although constructed of granite, it is not a mere pile of stone. The Kakatiya, Qutub Shahi, and Asaf Jahi influences visible in the Khammam Fort make it a historically and architecturally significant landmark in Telangana.

Kusumanchi

Situated 20 kilometers from Khammam, Kusumanchi is renowned for an ancient Shiva temple that dates back to the Kakatiya period. This temple features one of the largest Sivalingams in the state of Telangana. It draws devotees as well as architecture enthusiasts; both types of visitors are especially abundant during the Maha Sivaratri festival. The temple is an impressive example of the Kakatiya dynasty’s elaborate stonework; the size of the Sivalingam is in keeping with the “larger than life” ethos that characterizes many Kakatiya temples.

Nelakondapalli

Located 21 km from Khammam, Nelakondapalli is a historical and archaeological site going back to the 3rd and 4th centuries CE. The site is enclosed by a mud fort almost 100 acres in circumference. According to excavators from the Archaeological Survey of India, who carried out a series of digs from 1990 to 1997, the site has produced: Brick structures that appear to be monastic; a Great Stupa with relics; a variety of figurines, both adorned and plain; and other, more commonplace, artifacts; and a bronze image of the Buddha. Local legends have it that Nelakondapalli is associated with the Mahabharata and the legend that the Pandavas spent their incognito exile working under the warrior king Virata, of Viratanagaram,