Throughout antiquity and the Middle Ages, the region now known as Telangana was ruled by

multiple major Hindustani powers such as

the Mauryans, Satavahanas, Chalukyas, Cholas, Rashtrakutas, Kakatiyas, Delhi Sultanate, Bahmani
Sultanate, Golconda Sultanate. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the region was ruled by the
Mughals of India.[13] The region is known for its Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb culture.[14] During the 18th
century and the British Raj, Telangana was ruled by the Nizam of Hyderabad.[15] In 1823, the Nizams
lost control over Northern Circars (Coastal Andhra) and Ceded Districts (Rayalseema), which were
handed over to the East India Company. The annexation by the British of the Northern Circars
deprived Hyderabad State, the Nizam's dominion, of the considerable coastline it formerly had, to
that of a landlocked princely state with territories in the central Deccan, bounded on all sides
by British India. Thereafter, the Northern Circars were governed as part of Madras Presidency until
India's independence in 1947, after which the presidency became India's Madras state. [16]
The Hyderabad state joined the Union of India in 1948 after an Indian military invasion. In 1956, the
Hyderabad State was dissolved as part of the linguistic reorganisation of states and Telangana was
merged with the Telugu-speaking Andhra State (part of the Madras Presidency during the British
Raj) to form Andhra Pradesh. A peasant-driven movement began to advocate for separation from
Andhra Pradesh starting in the early 1950s, and continued until Telangana was granted statehood
on 2 June 2014 under the leadership of K. Chandrashekar Rao.[17]
The economy of Telangana is the eighth-largest state economy in India with ₹9.7
trillion (US$140 billion) in gross domestic product and a per capita GDP of ₹228,000 (US$3,200).[3]
[18]
 Telangana ranks 22nd among Indian states in human development index.[7] The state has
emerged as a major focus for robust IT software, industry and services sector. The state is also the
main administrative centre of many Indian defence aerospace and research labs like Bharat
Dynamics Limited, Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, Defence Research and
Development Organisation and Defence Research and Development Laboratory.[19]
The cultural hearts of Telangana, Hyderabad and Warangal, are noted for their wealth and
renowned historical structures – Charminar, Qutb Shahi Tombs, Paigah Tombs, Falaknuma
Palace, Chowmahalla Palace, Warangal Fort, Kakatiya Kala Thoranam, Thousand Pillar
Temple, Ramappa Temple and the Bhongir Fort in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district. The historic
city Golconda in Hyderabad established itself as a diamond trading centre and, until the end of the
19th century, the Golconda market was the primary source of the finest and largest diamonds in the
world. Thus, the legendary name Golconda Diamonds became synonymous with Golconda itself.
The Golconda region has produced some of the world's most famous diamonds, including the
colourless Koh-i-Noor (United Kingdom), the blue Hope (United States), the pink Daria-i-Noor (Iran),
the white Regent (France), the Dresden Green (Germany), and the
colourless Orlov (Russia), Nizam and Jacob (India), as well as the now lost diamonds Florentine
Yellow, Akbar Shah and Great Mogul. Religious edifices like the Lakshmi Narasimha
Temple in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district, Makkah Masjid in Hyderabad, the ancient Bhadrakali
Temple and Govinda Rajula Gutta in Warangal, Alampur Jogulamba Temple in Jogulamba Gadwal
district and Medak Cathedral are several of its most famous places of worship.

Contents

 1Etymology
 2History
o 2.1Early history
o 2.2Kakatiya Dynasty
o 2.3Qutab Shahi and Asaf Jahi's
 o 2.4Post-independence
o 2.5Telangana Rebellion
o 2.6States Reorganisation Commission
o 2.7Telangana movement
o 2.8Formation of Telangana state in 2014
 3Geography
o 3.1Climate
 3.1.1Ecology
 3.1.2National parks and sanctuaries
 4Demographics
o 4.1Language
o 4.2Religion
o 4.3Literacy
 5Administrative divisions
 6Government and politics
 7Economy
o 7.1Agriculture
o 7.2Industries
o 7.3Tourism
o 7.4Awards
o 7.5Media
 8Infrastructure
o 8.1Power
o 8.2Irrigation Projects
 9Major Cities
 10Major Towns
 11Transport
o 11.1Roadways
o 11.2Railways
o 11.3Airports
 12Culture
o 12.1Monuments
o 12.2Religious destinations
o 12.3Telugu cinema
o 12.4Waterfalls
 13Education
 14Sports
 15See also
 16References
 17Further reading
 18External links

Etymology[edit]
A popular etymology derives the word "Telangana" from Trilinga desa ("land of three lingas"), a
region so called because three important Shaivite shrines were located
here: Kaleshwaram, Srisailam and Draksharama.[20] According to Jayadhir Thirumala Rao, a former
director of Andhra Pradesh Oriental Manuscripts Library and Research Centre, the name Telangana
is of Gondi origin. Rao asserts that it is derived from "Telangadh", which according to him, means
"south" in Gondi and has been referred to in "Gond script dating back to about 2000 years". [21]
One of the earliest uses of a word similar to Telangana can also be seen in a name of Malik
Maqbul (14th century CE), who was called the Tilangani, which implies that he was from Telangana.
He was the commander of the Warangal Fort (Kataka Pāludu).[22]
A 16th-century travel writer, Firishta, recorded in his book:
During the just reign of Ibrahim Kootb Shah, Tulingana, like Egypt, became the mart of the whole
world. Merchants from Toorkistan, Arabia, and Persia resorted to it; and they met with such
encouragement that they found in it inducements to return frequently. The greatest luxuries from
foreign parts daily abounded at the king's hospitable board. [23]

The word "Telinga" changed over time to "Telangana" and the name "Telangana" was designated to
distinguish the predominantly Telugu-speaking region of the erstwhile Hyderabad State from its
predominantly Marathi-speaking one, Marathwada. After Asaf Jahis ceded the Seemandhra region
to the British, the rest of the Telugu region retained the name Telangana and the other parts were
called Madras Presidency's Circars and Ceded.[24]

History[edit]
Main article: History of Telangana
Telangana was governed by many rulers, including the Maurya Empire (320 BCE–180
BCE), Satavahana dynasty (180 BCE–220 CE), Vakataka dynasty (250 CE–500 CE), Chalukya
dynasty (543 CE–753 CE), Rashtrakuta dynasty (753 CE–982 CE), the Kakatiya dynasty (1083 CE–
1323 CE), the Delhi Sultanate (1323 CE–1326 CE) , the Musunuri Nayaks (1326 CE–1356 CE),
the Recherla Nayaks (1356–1424), the Bahmani Sultanate (1347 CE–1512 CE), Vijayanagara
Empire (1336 CE–1646 CE), Qutb Shahi dynasty (1512 CE–1687 CE), Mughal Empire (1687 CE–
1724 CE) and Asaf Jahi Dynasty (1724 CE–1948 CE).

Early history[edit]
Main articles: Maurya Empire and Satavahana dynasty
The Satavahana dynasty (230 BCE–220 CE) became the dominant power in this region. It originated
from the lands between the Godavari and Krishna rivers and was based at Amaravathi and
Dharanikota.[25] After the decline of the Satavahanas, various dynasties, such as
the Vakataka, Vishnukundina, Chalukya, Rashtrakuta and Western Chalukya, ruled the area.[26]

Kakatiya Dynasty[edit]
Main article: Kakatiya dynasty

Ramagiri Fort ruins at Kalvacherla in Peddapalli district is an ancient fort initially built by the Sathavahanas and
modified many times by other dynasties till the 16th century.
Kota Gullu, temple ruins built in the 12th century by Kakatiyas at Ghanpur, Mulug in Warangal district.

The Telangana area experienced its golden age during the reign of the Kakatiya dynasty, which
ruled most parts of the present-day Andhra Pradesh and Telangana from 1083 to 1323 CE.
[26]
 Rudrama Devi and Prataparudra II were prominent rulers from the Kakatiya dynasty. The dynasty
weakened with the attack of Malik Kafur in 1309 and was dissolved after the defeat of Prataparudra
by the forces of Muhammad bin Tughluq in 1323.[27][28]

Qutab Shahi and Asaf Jahi's[edit]

Golconda Fort

The area came under the rule of the Delhi Sultanate in the 14th century, followed by the Bahmani
Sultanate. Quli Qutb Mulk, a governor of Golconda, revolted against the Bahmani Sultanate and
established the Qutb Shahi dynasty in 1518. On 21 September 1687, the Golconda Sultanate came
under the rule of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb after a year-long siege of the Golconda fort.[29]
During the early seventeenth century a strong cotton-weaving industry existed in Telangana. Large
quantities of cotton were produced for domestic and exports consumption. High quality plain and
patterned cloth made of muslin and calico was produced. [30]
In 1712, Qamar-ud-din Khan was appointed by emperor Farrukhsiyar as the viceroy of Deccan with
the title Nizam-ul-Mulk (meaning "Administrator of the Realm"). He was later recalled to Delhi, with
Mubariz Khan appointed as the viceroy. In 1724, Qamar-ud-din Khan defeated Mubariz Khan to
reclaim the Deccan suba, establishing it as an autonomous province of the Mughal empire. He took
the name Asif Jah, starting what came to be known as the Asaf Jahi dynasty.[26] He named the
area Hyderabad Deccan. Subsequent rulers retained the title Nizam ul-Mulk and were called Asif
Jahi Nizams or nizams of Hyderabad. The Medak and Warangal divisions of Telangana were part of
their realm.[31]
 Telangana was the seat of numerous dynasties. The Chowmahalla Palace was home to the Nizams of
Hyderabad.

Hyderabad State in 1909.

When Asif Jah I died in 1748, there was political unrest due to contention for the throne among his
sons, who were aided by opportunistic neighbouring states and colonial foreign forces. In 1769,
Hyderabad city became the formal capital of the Nizams. The Nizam Nasir-ud-dawlah, Asaf Jah
IV signed the subsidiary alliance with the British in 1799 and lost its control over the state's defence
and foreign affairs. Hyderabad State became a princely state among the presidencies and provinces
of British India.[31]
In 1787, heavy flooding killed over 20,000 causing a plague which killed about 10,656,000 Telugus
again in Telangana.[32]

Post-independence[edit]
When India became independent from the British Empire in 1947, the Nizam of Hyderabad did not
want to merge with the Indian Union and wanted to remain independent. The Government of
India annexed Hyderabad State on 17 September 1948 after a military operation called Operation
Polo.[26] It appointed a civil servant, M. K. Vellodi, as first chief minister of Hyderabad State on 26
January 1950.[33] He administered the state with the help of English-educated bureaucrats from
the Madras and Bombay states, who were familiar with British systems of administration unlike the
bureaucrats of Hyderabad State who used a completely different administrative system. The official
language of the state was switched from Urdu to English.