The landscape of Hyderabad is unique for its spectacular rock formations that date back to millions of years.

These massive and impressive granite formations used to dot the city’s landscape decades ago. Unique to the Deccan Plateau, these natural wonders have beckoned nature lovers and art enthusiasts to the city.

Today, they are fast disappearing due to the spurt in the construction activities. Struck by the loss of these rocky structures, a group of artists and environmentalists came together and formed a society in 1996. In the last decade, the society has been conducting rock walks, camps and adventure  trekking in and around the city limits.

These initiatives have helped to create a new passion among the people to protect these structures, said the society members. The society was able to enlist some of the noted rocky formations with the municipal authorities. Subsequently, these rocky structures, located in state buildings premises and public places escaped the wrath of the menacing bulldozers. It has won the heritage award in 2003 from the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), for its efforts to save Hyderabad’s rocks.

Recently, the society and the Telangana tourism jointly brought out a photo calendar on the rocks of Hyderabad. The calendar was unveiled by the secretary, Telangana Tourism. The calendar showcased all the 23 heritage rocks notified under the heritage preservation laws of the then United government of Andhra Pradesh by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) in 1998 and 2009.

The Calendar is a visual treat  to all conservation activists and to the commoners alike. Priced at Rs 200, the calendar is available at Walden bookshops or Akshara or at the Society’s office. For enquiries contact 04023552923 / 9849936248.