Khammam: On June 21, 2025, as the sun peeked over @StambhadriHillKhammam Fort pulsed with energy. Hundreds of yoga activists, clad in white, unfurled their mats atop the 1,025-year-old fortress, transforming its ancient granite into a vibrant stage for International Yoga Day. The air hummed with chants of “Om,” blending with the morning breeze, as locals from Khammam’s bustling district headquarters town joined hands to revive the fort’s crowning glory. Their dream? To establish a National yoga center within its historic walls, a beacon of wellness and heritage. and to get it fulfiled the seek to draw the attention of Prime minister. For decades, the fort, built by the Kakatiyas in 950 AD, stood as a silent witness to dynasties-Kakathiyas, QutbShahis, and Nizams, and their battles.
Its 40-foot walls and secret tunnels whispered tales of valor, but neglect had dimmed its shine, with litter and crumbling gates marring its majesty. Yet, on this day, it felt alive. Yoga activist Lakshmi Devi, leading the group, recalled her first #Suryanamaskar facing the Munneru River’s glint. “Practicing here was magical,” she said. “The fort’s strength fueled our resolve to save it.” The activists’ vision is bold: a yoga centre to draw tourists, create jobs, and fund restoration. Locals, tired of seeing their heritage fade, rallied behind the cause.
Shopkeeper Ramesh Goud, watching from below, mused, “A yoga hub could make Khammam famous again, like Warangal’s forts.” The event, with 500 participants flowing through asanas under the @TaramatiMosque’s dome, sparked hope. Social media buzzed with #YogaAtKhammamFort, catching the state’s eye. As the session ended, Lakshmi addressed the crowd: “This fort guarded our past; now, let’s guard its future.” The proposal for the yoga centre awaits government approval, but the activists’ spirit, rooted in Khammam’s soil, promises a new chapter for the fort—a sanctuary of peace, poised to reclaim its glory.
