Top 10 Places To Visit In Telangana

The state of Telangana is to be a newly christened state of India on the 2nd of June 2014. The region was a part of the Indian State of Andhra Pradesh. It contains 10 districts, many of which are important towns of Andhra Pradesh including its very own capital, Hyderabad. The Main Language spoken is Telugu, and the word Telangana itself was meant to distinguish Telugu speaking region from the Marathawada region. The state is rich with historic and cultural heritage and the climate is hot n dry. The place has a majority of historic monuments and temples which were once a part of the State of Andhra Pradesh.

One of the oldest dynasties in India the Sathavahanas were the dominant power here. The rule was followed by the reign of prominent royal dynasties like the Vakataka, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas but the golden age of the Telangana region came under the reign of the Kakatiya dynasty which is attributed for most of the ancient architecture in this State. In the 14th century the city of Hyderabad came under the Delhi sultanate and the Nizams of Hyderabad which led to it becoming a princely State. In this article we shall discuss in brief the different cities of the upcoming State of Telangana.

1. Hyderabad

Hyderabad, the capital and the largest city of the State of Telangana and also the capital of the State of Andhra Pradesh till the next capital is determined. The place is rich with historic and urban structures. The city is also a home to the ‘Telugu Film Industry ‘or ‘Tollywood’, which is the second largest producer of motion pictures in India. Monuments like Charminar, marketplaces, cuisines, the town of Hyderabad is a must visit.

• Charminar
• Golconda Fort
• Makkah Masjid
• Old City.
• Salarjung Museum
• Qutb Shahi Tombs
• Hussain Sagar Lake
• Birla Mandir
• Chowmahalla Palace
• Ramoji Film City
• Spanish Mosque
• Paigah Tombs
• Chilkoor Balaji Temple
• Nehru Zoological Park
• Shamirpet

2. Warangal

The district lies not very far from the Capital city of Hyderabad and is one of the largest cities in Telangana. Warangal enshrines a huge number of ancient temples and monuments. The Pakhal lake is a must visit. The thousand pillar temple here is a historic marvel to behold and will ensure you note it down in your bucket lists for this city.

• Warangal Fort
• Thousand Pillar Temple
• Pakhal Lake
• Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary
• Kakatiya Rock Garden
• Kakatiya Musical Garden
• Bhadrakali Temple
• Ramappa Lake

3. Nizamabad

Located by the River Godavari, Nizamabad is also a major city in the State of Telangana. The town is famous for its various temples and historical monuments. The Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary is located next to the Pocharam Lake in Nizamabad and contains a rich flora and fauna. The Nizamabad fort is also a great place to visit.

• Nizamabad Fort
• Alisagar Reservoir
• Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary
• Archaelogical And Heritage Museum
• Pochampad Dam
• Nizam Sagar Dam
• Mallaram Forest
• Kanteshwar

4. Karimnagar

Karimnagar is located by a tributary of the Godavari River and is located at an approximate distance of 165 kilometers. The city is famous for its various historical forts owing to it being under the Nizam’s reign. The Elgandal fort is a great place to visit due to its great location. The town is also famous for its various pilgrimage spots with some really amazing temples. The city is the 4th most populated city in the State of Telangana.

• Elgandal Fort
• Manthani Temples
• Jagtial Fort
• Ramagiri Fort
• Ujwala Park
• Rajiv Deer Park
• Vemulawada
• Kaleshwaram

5. Khammam

The city’s name ‘Khammam’ owes to the local derivation of the name of hill located in this area. The Godavari River covers an area of 250 kilometers in this area from the Warangal district. This is also rich in coal minerals and called the ‘Coal Town of South India’. The town is famous for its lakes, forts, temples and hot springs. The Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary is a great place to visit which houses animals like tigers, pythons, jackals etc.

• Khammam Fort
• Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary
• Kallur
• Lakaram Lake
• Nelakondapalli
• Sri Venkateshwara Swamy Temple
• Perantalapalli
• Gundala

6. Adilabad

Adilabad is the second largest city in Telangana and is known for its handicrafts. The area is distinguished from the Karimnagar and Nizamabad districts by the River Godavari. The Kawal wildlife sanctuary is a home to wildlife species like the tiger, panther, crocodiles etc. The town is also known for its various waterfalls and parks. A great place to visit would be the Basar Saraswati Temple which is situated at the banks of the Godavari River.

• Kuntala Waterfalls
• Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary
• Pochera Waterfalls
• Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary
• Mahatma Gandhi Park
• Sivaram Wildlife Sanctuary
• Kala Ashram
• Basar Saraswathi Temple

7. Mahbubnagar

Located at a distance of around 100 kilometers from the capital Hyderabad, Mahbubnagar was the core of the Sathavahanas and the Chalukya Dynasties’ reign and was also a part of the Princely state of Hyderabad. The town is famous for various palaces and ancient temples. A major tourist attraction is the ‘Peerlamarri’ which is a 800 years old banyan tree and its underlings are spread across 3 acres of land.

• Farahabad
• Pillalamarri
• Alampur
• Gadwal
• Mallelatheertham

8. Medak

Medak is famous for its rock paintings that date back to the Neolithic era. The Narsapur Forest is a great place to visit especially for the wildlife enthusiasts. The Devnoor Village is a beautiful village which is located by the Manjira River and is a great place to visit. The Manjira Wildlife Sanctuary is also a great place to visit and is a home to a variety of migratory birds and crocodiles. The Medak cathedral is a monolithic church of the Methodist Christian sect and the second largest Diocese in the world. The gothic styled architecture is a marvel to behold.

• Medak Fort
• Medak Cathedral
• Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary
• Edithanur Cave
• Archaeological Museum

9. Nalgonda

The city of Nalgonda is located between two hills and is known for its various hill forts. The rivers Krishna, Musi River, Aleru, Peddavagu, Dindi and Paleru flow through the city and enrich it with various natural resources. The World’s largest masonry dam, Nagarjuna Sagar is located in this city and is a major source of irrigation in the region. The town is also famous for its old temples and monuments.

• Deverakonda Fort
• Bhongir Fort
• Rachakonda Fort
• Mellachervu
• Pillalamari
• Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
• Ethipothala Waterfalls
• Kolanupaka

10. Rangareddy

Rangareddy was form in 1978 when it split from the Hyderabad district. The town is basically a rural district and is famous for its temples. Ananta Padmanabhaswamy Temple is a major tourist attraction here. The Osman Sagar Lake is also a great place to visit. The town however has fewer attractions than the rest of the cities in Telangana and due it being close to Hyderabad can be covered in a day.

• Ananthagiri Hills
• Maheshwaram
• Osman Sagar Lake
• Keesaragutta Temple
• Shamirpet Lake View

Even though Telangana is a newly christened state, we might see many more additions to the huge list of tourist places to visit in the future. The cultural heritage and the historic significance of Telangana has certainly made it a must visit place in India.