History along National Highway-9 neglected
Many old structures along NH-9 have been left to the mercy of the elements and development
Hyderabad: Lined up along National Highway-9, which links Hyderabad with Vijayawada, are archaeological structures dating back to the beginning of the 6th century AD.
The ruins date back to the the period of the Chalukyas, Kakatiyas and the Qutub Shahis, and can fall apart any day.
Many of the structures belonging to the Qutub Shahi period are very close to NH-9, suggesting that the route used during the rule of the Qutub Shahi dynasty was quite close to the current one, say historians and research scholars.
The Kos Minar — tall masonry pillars — near Toopranpet, belonging to the Qutub Shahi era, were meant to be milestones for travellers. Out of the many Kos Minar structures, which are said to have existed along the NH-9, only two have survived the test of time.
One such Kos Minar is in Toopranpet village of Nalgonda district. A research paper submitted by Robert A. Simpkins, a lecturer from San Jose University, has documented the structure. Near the Kos Minar is a dilapidated bowli (well).
The Almaspet ruins, Choutuppal mosque, the Patangi temple ruins of the Chalukya era, and others, find mention only in research papers and have been neglected by successive governments.
The Toopranpet masjid is close to collapsing. It has been repaired using cement, and the minarets of the mosque have been left to the mercy of time.
“Imagine the kind of durability the material which was used to build these structure had that it stood for 400-odd years. When one attempts to restore these structures, they have to use similar materials. Cement does no good, and in fact, damages the structure,” said Mohammed Safiullah of the Deccan Heritage Trust.