Medak Fort

Medak Fort crowns a granite hill north of Medak town in Telangana, about 100 km from Hyderabad. The Kakatiya kings built it around the 12th century and called it Methuku Durgam, from the Telugu for cooked rice. It served as a command post for the Kakatiyas, then for the Musunuri Nayakas from the 14th century, and later for the Qutb Shahis, who added granaries and a mosque in the 17th century. The Archaeological Survey of India declared it a protected monument in 1953.

The fort spreads over more than 100 acres, with a stone stairway of about 500 steps climbing the hill. Three main gates lead in: the Prathama Dwaram, the Simha Dwaram with lion motifs and the Gaja Dwaram with elephant carvings, and a double-headed Gandabherunda bird is carved over the main entrance. Inside are the Qutb Shahi mosque, vaulted granaries, barracks, remains of large houses and a 17th-century cannon 3.2 metres long, etched with a trident. The rock faces themselves form much of the defence.