Warangal: The Warangal Fort and the iconic Thousand Pillars Temple, testaments to the architectural brilliance and sculptural mastery of the Kakatiya era and their prosperity, gave a red-carpet welcome to Miss World contestants in Warangal, one of India's finest heritage cities, on Wednesday.As part of the ‘Telangana Zaroor Aana’ campaign, 22 contestants from across the American continent visited Hanamkonda in the evening. They were received at Haritha Kakatiya Hotel by Hanamkonda and Warangal collectors Praveenya and Satya Sharada, along with police commissioner Sunpreet Singh. The contestants participated in Bathukamma celebrations with local women, singing traditional songs before touring the heritage sites. Dressed in traditional Indian attire, they first visited the Thousand Pillars Temple and then the Warangal Fort, where they were greeted with a Bharatanatyam performance by young girls. Bala Thripura, one of the dancers, told Deccan Chronicle that the contestants praised their attire and thanked them for the warm welcome. At the temple, before offering prayers at the Sri Rudreshwara Swamy shrine, the contestants were given water and small bowls to wash their feet—a customary practice. Volunteer Rathna said the guests asked about the tradition, and upon understanding its significance, respectfully followed the ritual. After observing the marvellous monuments, they showed enthusiasm about the significance of the structures and the local guides explained to them. The visit also included a photo shoot at various key locations in both heritage sites. Endowments minister Konda Surekha, the chief guest at the event held at Warangal Fort, said that hosting Miss World contestants in Orugallu, the ancient capital of the Kakatiyas, was a matter of pride for Telangana. She added that the event aimed to put Telangana on the global tourism map by showcasing its heritage, handlooms, cuisine and hospitality. As a gesture of cultural exchange, the guests were presented with handcrafted souvenirs, including handloom sarees, chapata chilli samples and turmeric packs. Meanwhile, large crowds gathered at both the temple and the fort to catch a glimpse of the international beauty queens. The visitors waved and greeted people from their air-conditioned buses, drawing cheers from the public. Sunitha, a municipal staffer on cleaning duty at Warangal Fort, told Deccan Chronicle that it was the first time she had seen so many foreign beauty queens in person. “They’re all so fair and lean. Some said ‘Namaskaram’ and some waved at us,” she said with a smile on her face.