ADILABAD: The lost glory of Raj Gonds will shine once again if all goes as per the plans of tourism department.
Constructed some 708 years ago in Utnoor, most probably in 1309 AD, the fort has seen centuries of neglect. However, now the tourism department has selected the historical fort as a tourism spot and is mulling steps for its development.
The history of Gonds in Telangana dates back to 1220 AD, when the first Gond kingdom was established by Kholkil. Adilabad became the centre of the Gonds and Sirpur was the capital of the kingdom. However, years of neglect has left only a pathetic shadow of what was once flourishing kingdom.
Situated in an area of 15 acres, the dilapidated fort gained attention recently after the locals cleared the bushes to celebrate the 30th Rai centre (Panchayat) celebrations on the fort premises. However, it is in stark contrast to the socio-economic conditions of the Gondh community, who remain marginalised in the present day agency areas.
Meanwhile, district collector Budha Prakash M Jyoti and Mancherial collector and in-charge Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) project officer RV Karnan recently visited the fort to take stock of its condition. After the visit of government officials, tribals are hopeful of restoration of the fort.
“We hope that the fort will be developed,” said Aboriginal Tribal Employees Welfare Association state president Siddam Vaman Rao. About the tribe Gondhs, they number over 11 million and are one of the most populous tribes spread across parts of Central, Eastern and South India.
They are designated a Scheduled Tribe in Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Odisha and West Bengal.