Medak Cathedral

Medak Cathedral, the Church of South India cathedral in Medak town in Telangana, is one of the largest church buildings in Asia. It was consecrated in 1924 and built under Reverend Charles Walker Posnett of the Wesleyan Mission, who oversaw construction that took about a decade and employed local labour during a time of famine. The cathedral is Gothic in style, with a 100 foot tower, high vaulted ceilings, pointed arches and a large nave that can hold thousands of worshippers. The building is best known for its stained-glass windows made by the English artist Frank Brangwyn, depicting scenes from the life of Jesus, which cast colourful light over the interior. Visitors can walk through the nave, look at the windows, the altar and the wooden pews, and climb the tower when it is open to see views over the surrounding town and countryside. The grounds hold a small compound with mission buildings and a garden. The best photographs are taken from the front lawn looking up at the tower, from inside the nave under the windows, and from the tower itself. A visit takes about 45 minutes, though many people combine it with Medak Fort, which stands nearby, on a longer day trip. The cathedral is generally quiet on weekdays, and Sunday services draw large congregations, when visitors should attend respectfully or return at another time. Christmas and Easter are the busiest periods. Entry is free, with donations welcome, and the cathedral is open daily from about 9:00AM to 5:00PM. Medak is about 95 km north of Hyderabad, and TGSRTC buses from MGBS or JBS take around two and a half hours. Modest dress is appropriate, and visitors should keep quiet inside, especially when services or prayers are under way.