The BRS government understood that a new state needed not just new infrastructure but a renewed relationship with its own identity. The festivals, art forms, sacred sites and living traditions of Telangana had been suppressed and sidelined for sixty years. After statehood, the government declared Bonalu and Bathukamma as state festivals, gave government employment to 583 artists through the Cultural Sarathi programme, restored the Yadadri temple with 80,000 tonnes of black rock, built Asia's largest Buddhist theme park at Nagarjuna Sagar, and planted 273 crore trees across every village and town. Culture was not a department. It was a statement of who Telangana was and had always been.
Ramappa Temple, UNESCO World Heritage Site
July 2021, 44th Session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee
The Ramappa Temple, built in the 13th century by the Kakatiya king Ganapati Deva, became the 39th UNESCO World Heritage Site in India in July 2021. Its designation was a recognition of Telangana's ancient architectural genius and the BRS government's commitment to preserving it. The Pochampally ikat weaving village was named Best Tourism Village in the World by UNWTO in December 2021, chosen from 170 proposals from 75 countries.
583
Artists given permanent government employment under the Cultural Sarathi scheme, the first programme of its kind in India
Rs.1,726 Cr
Spent distributing Bathukamma sarees to 6,69,48,753 women across Telangana, honouring every woman who celebrates the festival
3,645
Temples covered under Dhoopa Deepa Naivadyam scheme, receiving Rs.6,000 per month for daily rituals, up from 1,805 before statehood
Prestigious Buildings and Sacred Spaces
Yadadri Temple
Yadagirigutta Restored to its Ancient Glory
The Yadadri temple was inaugurated by CM KCR on 28 March 2022 after a comprehensive renovation. Foundation stone laid on 30 May 2015. 80,000 tonnes of black rock used in construction. 4,750 lamps installed totalling approximately 120 KW. 10 lakh litres of water supplied per day through Mission Bhagiratha. Capacity for 50,000 to 75,000 pilgrims daily. 3 escalators and ramps for elderly and disabled. State-of-the-art queue management, online darshan booking and 24-hour CCTV surveillance.
Buddhavanam, Nagarjuna Sagar
Asia's Largest Buddhist Heritage Theme Park
Built on 247 acres at Nagarjuna Hill. Asia's largest Mahastupa, a replica of the Amaravati Stupa. Buddhist sculptors brought from Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand. Jataka stories carved by master sculptors. Buddhacharitavanam, Bodhisattva Park, Dhyanaavanam, Stupavanam, Acharya Nagarjuna International Centre for Higher Buddhist Learning. Inaugurated May 2022. Government expenditure: Rs.65 crore.
Telangana Martyrs Memorial, Hussain Sagar
Maha Deepakalika Stupam, Burning for All Time
Built on 12 acres on the shores of Hussain Sagar. Designed in the shape of a pyramid. 27-metre stainless steel stupa made from steel brought from Dubai in 40 containers, equivalent in height to a six-storey building. 25 famous designers and artists collaborated on the design. Museum inside documenting the history of the Telangana movement and the sacrifices of its martyrs. Cost: Rs.177.50 crore.
Culture and Festivals: A State That Celebrates Its Own
Bathukamma and Bonalu: Declared State Festivals
For the first time in their history, Bathukamma and Bonalu were declared official State Festivals by the Telangana government. Bathukamma, the flower festival celebrated by nearly one crore women across Telangana, was elevated to a festival celebrated in diaspora communities across the world. Bonalu, the goddess festival of the twin cities, received Rs.15 crore in state funding annually. Both festivals had been invisible in the united state. In Telangana, they became the symbols of a people who finally had a government that knew who they were.
| Cultural Scheme or Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
| Cultural Sarathi, artist employment | 583 artists given permanent government employment, working under District Collectors to promote welfare and development schemes through folk songs. First programme of its kind in India. |
| Bathukamma saree distribution | Sarees distributed to 6,69,48,753 women at a cost of Rs.1,726.93 crore since 2017. Providing employment to weavers while honouring every woman who celebrates Bathukamma. |
| Artist pension increased | From Rs.500 per month before 2014, to Rs.1,500 from September 2014, to Rs.3,016 from June 2021. |
| Special support to renowned artists | Padmashri Darshanam Mogulaiah (Kinnera artist) given Rs.1 crore in cash, 600 yards of land and Rs.10,000 per month special pension. |
| Telangana Sahitya Akademi | Established for development of Telangana literature. Annual awards of Rs.1,01,116 in the names of Dasharathi and Kaloji. Birthdays of Dasharathi, Kaloji, Komuram Bheem, Prof. Jayashankar and Sardar Sarvai Papannagoud organised officially. |
| Telangana Sangeetha Natak Akademi | Established for development of music, dance and drama. 6 music and dance colleges running under Culture Department. |
| Perini classical dance revived | The classical dance of the Kakatiya period, dormant for centuries, reintroduced as a course in government music and dance colleges. |
| World Telugu Mahasabha | Organised in December 2017 at Ravindra Bharati and district centres across Telangana with grand scale. Telugu speakers from across the world gathered in Hyderabad. |
| Janapada Jatara folk festival | Organized in all 33 districts for 10 days on World Folk Day (22 August) every year, promoting folk art forms including Oggudolu, Kommukoya, Gussadi, Kolatam, Chindu Yakshaganam, Harikatha and Burrakatha. |
| Salam-e-Telangana, Urdu festival | Annual festival organised for cultural development of Urdu, featuring Qawwali, Mushaira, Sufi Sangeet and Ghazal traditions. |
| Dhoopa Deepa Naivadyam | Extended from 1,805 temples to 3,645 temples. Rs.6,000 per month per temple (Rs.4,000 for Archaka, Rs.2,000 for daily rituals). Rs.26.25 crore per annum. |
| Temple renovation under Common Good Fund | 1,805 works sanctioned at Rs.413.38 crore. 425 works completed at Rs.82.48 crore. 492 works in progress. |
Tourism: Telangana on the World Map
| Tourism Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
| Ramappa Temple, UNESCO World Heritage Site | Inscribed July 2021 at the 44th session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee. 39th UNESCO World Heritage Site in India. The 13th century Kakatiya masterpiece recognised by the world. |
| Pochampally, Best Tourism Village in the World | Awarded by UNWTO on 2 December 2021. Selected from 170 proposals from 75 countries for commitment to promotion and preservation of cultural heritage and sustainable development through tourism. |
| National Tourism Awards 2018-19 | Best State/Union Territory: Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation. Best Tourism Friendly Golf Course: Hyderabad Golf Association. |
| Swadesh Darshan Awards | Best Waterfront Development: Somasila. Best Tourist Interpretation Centre: Medaram. Two awards from Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. |
| Haritha Hotels chain | 54 Haritha Hotels and wayside amenities across the state. 120 boats. Sound and Light shows at Golconda Fort and Warangal Fort. |
| Buddhavanam Buddhist Theme Park | Inaugurated May 2022. Asia's largest Buddhist heritage park. Rs.65 crore. Attracts Buddhist pilgrims from Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand and across South Asia. |
| New tourism infrastructure, 2014 to 2023 | New Haritha Hotels at Vemulawada, Dharmapuri, Siddipet, Alisagar, Kothakonda. New boating units at 15 locations. Suspension bridges at Siddipet and Khammam. Glow Garden and Musical Fountain at Siddipet. Buddhavanam at Nagarjuna Sagar. Mini Shilparamam at Mahbubnagar. |
Sports: Reservation and Investment
| Sports Achievement | Details |
|---|---|
| Sports reservation in government jobs | 2% reservation for sportspersons who have excelled at national level, in direct recruitment to all government departments and undertakings |
| Sports reservation in professional courses | 0.5% reservation under sports quota for engineering, agriculture and other professional courses except MBBS and BDS |
| Cash incentives to sportspersons | Rs.26.69 crore sanctioned for players and coaches who have excelled in Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, World Championships and National Games |
| Telangana Kreeda Pranganams | 25,46,000 beneficiaries. Rs.63.65 crore spent on sports grounds and facilities across the state. |
Panchayat Raj: National Recognition for Village Governance
The Panchayat Raj institutions of Telangana received 79 National Panchayat Awards between 2015 and 2022, recognition from the Government of India for the quality of governance at the village level. In the National Panchayat Awards 2023 alone, Telangana's Gram Panchayats received Rs.12.50 crore in prize money, winning in categories including Healthy Panchayat, Water Sufficient Panchayat, Women-Friendly Panchayat, Poverty Free Panchayat and Clean and Green Panchayat.
The role of artists in the Telangana movement is very great. With a determination to provide government employment to such artists, the Cultural Sarathi system, unlike anywhere else in the country, has provided employment and livelihood to 583 artists.
Department of Language and Culture, Government of TelanganaCulture, Heritage and Green Telangana, Key Achievements
- Ramappa Temple inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2021. Pochampally named Best Tourism Village in the World by UNWTO in December 2021. Telangana placed itself on the world's cultural map in a single year.
- 583 artists given permanent government employment under Cultural Sarathi, the first scheme of its kind in India. Artist pensions increased from Rs.500 to Rs.3,016 per month.
- Bathukamma and Bonalu declared official State Festivals. Bathukamma sarees distributed to 6,69,48,753 women at Rs.1,726.93 crore over nine years.
- Yadadri Temple renovated with 80,000 tonnes of black rock, capacity for 75,000 pilgrims daily. Buddhavanam built on 247 acres as Asia's largest Buddhist heritage theme park. Martyrs Memorial built at Rs.177.50 crore on Hussain Sagar.
- Dhoopa Deepa Naivadyam extended to 3,645 temples, providing Rs.6,000 per month for daily rituals. 1,805 temple renovation works sanctioned.
- Harithaharam planted 273.33 crore saplings, exceeding the target by 43 crore. Green cover increased 7.7%. First state to establish a dedicated Green Budget, Haritanidhi. Described as the third largest human effort to green the earth after China and Brazil.
- 79 National Panchayat Awards received from 2015 to 2022. Rs.12.50 crore in award money in the 2023 National Panchayat Awards alone.