You say the word Panjagutta (also called Punjagutta) and pop come the visual of two flyovers surrounded by famous Jewelry shops and a place for all other brands before the mall culture hit the city. It is more like a place that connects two distinct parts of the city. North of which is Secunderabad and south of which are the posh hills of the city followed by the Old City. When GHAC announced a rock walk on the Pahad, most of the people reached there to figure out where is the Pahad in the middle of that crowded concrete jungle. I think some of us even stretched out memories to recall any signs of a Pahad being there, and nothing much could be recalled.
Panjagutta Rock
But it was right there, not too far from the main road. With its amazingly balanced rocks and Masjid and an Ashurkhana on top of it. And you would be amazed to know that the place gets its name from this Pahad which has an interesting story engraved on it, literally.
Panja Ghutna
History heritage of Panjagutta Pahad is as old as Hyderabad itself and dates back to the Quli Qutub Shahi period. The top of the hill has a Palm or Panja and a Knee or Ghutna impression on the rock. That is believed to be of Hazrat Ali the son-in-law of Prophet Mohammed. This is what gave the place its original name Panjaghutna which must have distorted it over a period of time to what we call today Panjagutta.
Legend
Legend is that once a General of the Qutub Shahi period had a dream that Hazrat Ali has offered prayers on the hill. And when he went there to check he did find this palm and knee impression on the rock. The Alam and Ashurkhana on top of the hill also date back to that time, some 400 years ago. The original Ashurkhana was a small one. But it has been enhanced later by adding a room in the front. There is a mosque called Masjid-e-Ali that seems to be recently renovated. A very old Tamarind tree stands outside the mosque with a completely hollow trunk. According to the caretaker of the hill, this place is also known as Choti (small) Maula-Ali.
View from Rock
Apart from being a piece of history, you get an amazing 360-degree view of the city. You can see all the hills that dot the city. The skyscrapers, Birla temple, Hussain Sagar Lake, Old airport, and a whole lot of other buildings while the wind blows through your hair. It gives a panoramic view of Gunrock hill, Ammuguda hill, and Maula-Ali hill from here. You get a feel of the spread of the city and how the buildings stack up against each other to make a city.
Boulders
The huge boulders that pile up to make this hill are amazingly balanced on each other. From some angles, they seem to be holding each other. Balancing themselves with each other and sometimes they seem to be glued together. There are a couple of rocks that look like a conical ‘Top’ balanced on just a small tip. It looks magical that these rocks are not falling. Unfortunately, there is ample construction all around the hill. That takes away the raw beauty of the place.
I am still amazed that not many people know about this hidden gem, besides the most traveled road in the city.
Recommend you read the following travel blog on places to visit in Hyderabad.
Walk from Charminar to Chowmahalla, City Tour
Museums in & around Public Gardens
Crazy, Whacky – Sudha Car Museum
wow, my office is in panjagutta and I don’t know anything about its history. Thanks for sharing.
Btw, Gutta in Telugu means “small hill”… so may be it was always called panjagutta and not evolved from panjagutna… just a thought!
Great stuff Anu!
Awesome Find..
🙂
wow! what an interesting place!
I have been in Hyderabad for over 10 years and never knew about this.
Pointers on how to reach this place?
Thanks for sharing about this place .
Santosh, I think the Gutta came in as a local version to take over Ghutna, but like you it is a my guess too.
Hema, Sriram, Anu, G Square – Thanks
Kunal, you need to take the lane next to Adidas showroom and go on Nagarjuna hill and just ask around anyone. But remember to go only on Fridays.
Hi anuradha nixce to give mugshots to a fellow hyderabadi , thats myself still.
the gutta means a hill.
anyways nice of ur writings , ya specaially the insights normally many missed by fellow panjagutaites.
hope u soon give more insights into hyderabad, a nice place………truely amzing city.
Hi anu gutta means hill .
anyways amzing insight, might fellow panjaguttaites may not no.
i like u spirit to know the essence of the place u go.
just wanted to know wat u do in general n wat ur.
Sadly, the the stretch of land on the side of the hill from the asurkhana to punjagutta main road has been taken over for development, and it is likely that this heritage spot will be further pushed into oblivion, and perhaps be lost in the course of time. Thanks for capturing the spirit of this very special hill (I have a long karmic association with this area) and some very nice images. Your Hyderabad posts have been very educational to me, since I did not know a lot of the stuff that you have written about. Great job!
This is a nice find. I live near Moula-Ali with its darga on top of a hill with its own brand of rock artistry. Thank you for sharing.
This a really nice post. I have lived in Hyderabad ( my parents still do) and I never knew this. Thanks.
Hey Anuradha, this is a great find for me !
Could you give me directions to this place and appropriate day and timings for the same ?
Appreciate your enthusiasm and help : )
Cheers
I have been in Hyderabad for over 5 years and never knew about this gutta…by the way how to reach this place?
Dear Ma’am,
Thanks a lot for sharing the origin of Punjagutta for travelling buffs.
Glad you liked the Panjagutta story, Hari. Stay Connected.
I never knew the original name of punjagutta till I read about it on the Post.I thank from my heart ❤️???? the importance of this place.some say I will visit n Offer prayers.thanx a lot
Amazing , Exquisitely written ,Thanks for your post.
Thanks for sharing this interesting piece of information. Inspired to see that place in this trip before leaving for London!