Kothakonda is a beautiful village surrounded on all sides by picturesque hills. It is known for the famous temple dedicated to Sri Veerabhadra Swamy (an incarnation of Lord Shiva), just 5 km from Mulkanoor, known all over the country for its cooperative movement. Former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao headed this cooperative society in his early days.
The Temple
Tradition holds that Kora-Meesala Veerabhadra Swamy, the Lord with a moustache, was installed by Kedara Pandita during the Kakatiya period. The deity is flanked by Kethamma and Medalamma. The temple stands at the foot of the hill, with a tall white gopuram, a colourful vimana over the sanctum and a spacious courtyard where devotees gather.
The Hill and Fort
The hill rock adjoining the village has the ruins of a big fort with huge gateways whose architecture resembles that of the Kakatiyas. There are five ponds on top of the spacious hill; two are reported to hold water even in severe drought. Old shrines in the hill area are shown on our Hill Area Temples page.
Kothakonda Jatara
The three-day Kothakonda Jatara, celebrated every January around Makar Sankranti, attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over Telangana. Read more about the Jatara.
The Kakatiya Connection
The Kakatiyas, who ruled much of present-day Telangana from Warangal, are remembered for temple building, tanks and fortifications. The fort gateways and the tradition of Kedara Pandita’s installation link Kothakonda to that golden age of Telugu culture.
Learn More
Read about the presiding deity, the daily pujas and how to reach Kothakonda.
Kothakonda Today
Kothakonda is listed among India’s rural tourism destinations of the Ministry of Tourism, nestled among scenic hills and renowned for the Sri Veerabhadra Swamy Temple. Published guides note that several lakhs of devotees visit the temple through the year.
