GEOGRAPHY ,CULTURE AND PLACES OF INTEREST

Geography
Telangana region marked in white within the state of Andhra Pradesh.
Of the three regions of the state, Telangana has the largest area, with 8,14,800 km2.The
Telangana deccan plateau is drained by two major rivers, the Godavari and the Krishna. The
entire region is divided into two main regions namely ghats and peneplains. The surface is
dotted with low depressions. The region has very valuable coal mines in ramagundam.
Natural resources (rivers, coal, limestones, forests)
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Telangana region Andhra Pradesh is situated in the central stretch of the eastern seaboard of the
Indian Peninsula. The river Godavari is flowing on the North and the river Krishna is flowing
on the South. 69% of Krishna River and 79% of Godavari River catchment area is in Telangana.
Apart from the major rivers, there are other small rivers such as Manair, Bhima, Dindi,
Kinnerasani, Manjeera, Munneru, Moosi, Penganga, Praanahita, and Peddavagu and Taliperu.
Forests: 45% of the forest area in the state is in Telangana region spread across five districts.
Coal: 20% of the coal deposits in the country is in Telangana region. Singareni Collieries
excavate Coal and used it for industrial purposes and for thermal power stations. The coal
supplied from this region, and the power produced is supplied to entire south india.
Limestones: There are limestone deposits in the region, which cater to cement factories in the
region. Telangana also has got other resources like bauxite, and mica.
Demography
9 out of 10 districts(except Hyderabad district) in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh are
recognized by the Government of India as backward. According to the Backward Regions Grant
Fund 2009-10, 13 districts are located in Andhra Pradesh, 9 are from Telangana and the rest are
from other regions. 86% of Telangana is Hindu while 12.4% is Muslim, and 1.2% is Christian.
Hyderabad city has 25% of the total Muslim population. Telangana districts(outside Hyderabad
district) have 8.4% of Muslim population.
More than 90% of Telangana people speak the Telangana dialect of Telugu which is primarily
Telugu with Urdu influences.[citation needed] About 11% of Telangana people speak
Hyderabadi Urdu. Urdu speakers are mostly Muslims in Hyderabad city and in other major
towns though people of other ethnicities also use Urdu for day to day life.
Culture and identity

Telangana has its own distinctive culture and identity. Most prominent is the Hyderabadi
Culture also called Deccan Culture.[162][163] The Telugu language spoken here has evolved
into a new dialect with a liberal mixture of words from Urdu.[citation needed] Telugu is the
major language spoken while Urdu is spoken by Muslims. Hindi is spoken by people from other
states of North India and Central India like Gujarat and Maharashtra. Telugu, Urdu and English
are the official languages of the region.
Festivals: Diwali, Dassera, Eid-ul-Fitr and Ugadi are prominent festivals in Telangana. The
region celebrates distinctive festivals like Bathukamma, and Bonalu. The other festivals of
Hindu and Muslims such as Holi, Rakhi and Moharram are also celebrated with equal
enthusiasm as in northern India. The national festival Sankranti is also celebrated in the
beginning of harvest season on 14 January every year.
Places of interest
Golkonda fort overlooking Hyderabad
Osman Sagar, Gandipet Lake
* Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh
* Makkah Masjid, Prominent mosque in Hyderabad
* Ramappa Temple, Historic temple located 77 kilometers from Warangal District.
* Charminar - An iconic 400 year-old landmark of Hyderabad, featuring four graceful minarets.
* Falaknuma Palace - Built by Nawab Viqar al-Umra', a beautiful and stunning piece of
architecture.
* Golconda Fort - located on the outskirts of the city, Golconda Fort is one of the most
magnificent fortress complexes in India.
* Salar Jung Museum - houses the largest one-man collection of antiques in the world.
* Birla Mandir - An elaborate white marble temple with majestic views of the city and the
Husain Sagar (lake).
* Birla Planetarium - located in the heart of the city on the panoramic hillock of Nawbat Pahad.
* Husain Sagar - man-made lake that separates the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
* Chilkur Balaji Temple, also known as Visa Balaji Temple
* Osman Sagar, also known as Gandipet, is a lake near the city.
* NTR Gardens, the 'samadhi' of former Chief Minister Shri.N.T.Rama Rao.
* Purani Haveli - The former official residence of the Nizam.
* Sanghi Temple - A temple dedicated to Venkateshwara which graces a promontory
overlooking Sanghi Nagar.
* Madhapur - The IT Capital of Andhra Pradesh.
* Nagarjuna sagar on Krishna river in Nalgonda district
* Bhadrachalam - a sacred place for Lord rama in khammam district
* Parnashala - a sacred place where Lord rama lived during his 14 years forest life , located in
Khammam district 35 km from Bhadrachalam.

* Jamalapuram - Known as telangana chinna Tirupathi , an abode of Lord Venkateshwara ,

located in khammam district 80 km from khammam town.
* Warangal, capital city of Kakatiyas
* Veyisthambala Gudi, Hanamkonda, Warangal District.
* Basara Saraswathi Temple, a temple of Saraswati, one of the two temples in India, which is
located in Adilabad Dist 60 km away from Nirmal Temple Web site
* Medak: Famous for outstanding church & Medak khila
* Bhongir fort:Famous single stone hill with fort , 45 km from Hyderabad (Wgl-Hyd highway)
* Yadagirigutta: Famous Laxmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, 50 km from Hyderabad (Wgl-Hyd
highway)
* Vemulawada - Rajarajeshawara Temple: Located 38 km from Karimnagar built by chalukyas
between AD 750 and 975.
* Kaleshwaram : 130 km from Karimnagar
* Dharmapuri : On the banks of River Godavari, 78 km from Karimnagar, is the 15th century
temple town of Dharmapuri.
* Nagunur Fort : The village of Nagunur is about 8 km from Karimnagar Town.
* Dhulikatta : 20 km from Karimnagar is Dhulikatta an important Buddhist spot visited by
monks from all over the world.
* Kondagattu :About 35 km from Karimnagar is this breathtaking temple of Lord Anjaneya
Swamy. Apart from the temple, the fort of Kondalaraya & Bojjapotana caves are worth seeing
at Kondagattu.
* Molangoor Quilla : 30 km from Karimnagar, strategically located on summit of a big isolated
granite hill, this fort was built by the Kakathiyas.
* Manthani : Ancient center for Vedic teachings. It is located on the banks of River Godavari,
and at a distance of 70 kilometers from Karimnagar.
* Elgandal fort : Located 15 km away from Karimnagar.
* Nirmal:is very famous for handicrafts and paintings
* Basar: The famous saraswathi(goddess of wisdom) temple on the banks of River Godavari in
Adilabad District
* Alampur : is a temple-town, Home to the very ancient Navabhramma temples and is referred
to as Dakshina Kashi. The principal deities at Alampur are Brahmeshwara and Jogulamba.
* Kuntala Water falls : Adilabad district.

IRRIGATION
Andhra Pradesh is situated in the central stretch of the eastern seaboard of the Indian Peninsula.
Telangana is situated at a high altitude in an up-land area. The river Godavari is flowing on the
North and the river Krishna is flowing on the South in Telangana region. Apart from the major
rivers, there are other small rivers such as Bhima, Dindi, Kinnerasani, Manjeera, Manair,
Penganga, Praanahita, and Peddavagu and Taliperu.
In erstwhile Hyderabad State, medium projects, like Pocharam, Dindi, Palair, Vyra, Manair,
Khanapur were constructed apart from Nizamsagar Project, which was completed in 1924-31. It

was envisioned to utilize 58 TMC water to irrigate 2,75,000 acres of land in Nizamabad
District.
The total permitted utilization of water under Godavari and Krishna for Telangana region in
erstwhile Hyderabad State was under 951 MOU. The following given table shows the River
Basin with projects existing, under execution and contemplated.
GODAVARI BASIN :
EXISTING
Total TMC
1. Nizamsagar Project
58.00TMC
2. Medium Projects
60.00TMC
3. Minor Projects
35.00 TMC
153.00 TMC
UNDER EXECUTION
Total TMC
1. Godavari Basin
364.00 TMC
2. Kadam
53.00 TMC
3. Lower Manair
12.00 TMC
4. Devanoor
27.0 TMC
465TMC
CONTEMPLATED
1. Ichampally Project
TOTAL
KRISHNA BASIN :
EXISTING
1. Rajoli Banda
2. Medium Projects
3. Miner Projects
UNDER EXECUTION
1. Nagarjunsagar left canal
2. Tungabhadra left canal
CONTEMPLATED
1. Upper Krishna Project
2. Bhima

32.00 TMC
609.00 TMC
Total TMC

15-90TMC
36-10 TMC
90.80 TMC
142.00 TMC
Total TMC
161.00 TMC
19.00 TMC
180.00 TMC
Total TMC
54.40 TMC
100.60 TMC
155.00 TMC

Total

322.00 TMC

(TOTAL TMC OF WATER FOR GODAVARI AND KRISHNA BASIN is 931.00 TMC)
After the formation of the state of Andhra Pradesh, the proposed projects under Godavari,
Krishna basin were not implemented. Also the water resources were diverted to the Andhra
region.
Server projects envisaged under Godavari delta basin were ignored and Devnoor project
was completely removed. The Pochampad project was sanctioned under pressure from
Telangana leadership, but the entire water utilization under Godavari was now reduced from
400 TMC to 112 TMC. The reservoir capacity was finally sanctioned for storing 82 TMC of
water. With this capacity, the Godavari valley projects irrigation is now reduced to 10.25 lakh
acres from 40 lakh acres. Many projects sanctioned could not be implemented properly even
after four decades of formation of Andhra Pradesh.
Usually the allocation of water is based on the available water in catchment area and the
land available for irrigation. Under the Nagarjuna Sagar Project's left canal, 161 TMC of water
should have been allocated, but only 82 TMC of water is available for irrigation.
The water allocation to the Andhra Pradesh state was 1480 TMC under Godavari basin
and 856 TMC under Krishna basin. By looking at the ground facts, it is obvious that how much
disparity has been shown on Telangana region. The given below are the facts of water
allocation for Andhra and Telangana regions from Godavari and Krishna rivers.
The river Godavari flows for about 79% of its catchment area in Telangana.
Geographically about 70% of Telangana land is suitable for irrigation. On this basis Telangana
region should get 70% (1036 TMC) allocation out of 1480 TMC and the rest of 30% (144
TMC) only should have been allocated to Andhra region. But the ground realities are quite
different and shocking. The water utilization under Godavari basin is about 760 TMC so far, out
of which 320 TMC of water is being diverted to Andhra region as against 124 TMC. This
resulted in diverting 281 TMC of water from Telangana region to Andhra region.
River Krishna is no different from river Godavari. River Krishna flows for about 68.5%
in the catchment area in Telangana and 31.5% catchment in Andhra region. Only 37% of water
(266.8 TMC) is allocated to Telangana region against 68.5%. Where as 500.1 TMC water is
allocated to Andhra region. Only 27% of water is available for cultivable lands in Telangana. It
means 50% of the Ayacut under Krishna basin in Telagana is not getting water.
The following table which shows how the total irrigated area in Telangana region
decreased compared to Andhra region from the year 1956 97.
TOTAL IRRIGATED AREA IN HECTARES
56-57
65-66
67-70
83-84
96-97
ANDHRA
Srikakulam
21,600 2,44,000 2,54,000 1,83,000 1,60,000
Vizayanagaram 1,26,000 1,34,000
Visakhapatnam 1,99,000 1,39,000 1,71,000 1,02,000 1,24,000
East Godavari 2,99,000 2,39,000 2,37,000 4,30,000 4,01,000
West Godavari 3,65,000 2,74,000 2,88,000 5,24,000 4,25,000
Krishna
3,33,000 3,04,000 3,89,000 4,46,000 4,00,000
Guntur
2,08,000 2,62,000 3,64,000 3,56,000 3,10,000
Prakasham
85,000 1,30,000 1,30,000
Nellore
2,95,000 2,25,000 2,28,000 2,48,000 1,95,000

Chittore
Cuddapah
Anantapur
Kurnool
Total

2,05,000 91,000 1,13,000 86,000 98,000

1,27,000 61,000 84,000 71,000 49,000
1,29,000 68,000 86,000 70,000 59,000
69,000 87,000 1,31,000 1,32,000 1,08,000
24,45,00019,44,00025,35,00029,04,00025,93,000

TELANGANA
Ranga Reddy 55,000
Hyderabad
1,000
Nizamabad
1,33,000
Medak
1,15,000
Mahabub Nagar1,19,000
Nalgonda
1,33,000
Warangal
1,26,000
Khammam
55,000
Karimnagar
1,45,000
Adilabad
31,000
Total
9,12,000

500
1,15,000
75,000
80,000
68,000
1,14,000
1,10,000
1,01,000
31,000
7,12,000

200
1,32,000
69,000
72,000
1,56,000
1,32,000
80,000
81,000
37,000
7,79,000

26,000 14,000
150
196
1,53,000 71,000
93,000 38,000
1,00,000 35,000
2,01,000 1,53,000
1,28,000 98,000
1,24,000 1,39,000
1,42,000 1,28,000
49,000 42,000
10,16,0007,18,000

*Source:Director of Economics and Statistics, A.P.

The total irrigated area in Andhra region increased from 24.45 lakhs hectares to 26.00 lakhs
hectares where as the total irrigated area in Telangana region decreased from 9.12 lakh hectares
to 7.18 lakh hectares, about 22% decrease. This shows a dangerous trend of decreasing
cultivable lands in Telangana.
The bar chart given below clearly shows the disparity between Coastal Andhra and Telangana
region in utilising canal water for irrigation.

Region wise Total Irrigated Area

Region
Canal
Wells
Coastal Andhra 12,24,559 1,31,002
Rayalseema
1,24,567 1,68,077
Telangana
3,00,621 5,88,884

Distribution of surplus water under Krishna Basin

The Krishna water tribunal awarded 800 TMC of water for Andhra Pradesh. It also permitted to
utilize the surplus water as a tail end state. It was agreed after prolonged discussions on
utilization of surface water between Andhra and Telangana Regions, that the surplus water

should be utilized in the ratio of 50-50 of the available water resources. The allocation was
made as follows.
A) ANDHRA REGION
1) Telugu Ganga Project
29 TMC
2) Sreesailam Right Bank Canal
19 TMC
B) TELANGANA REGION
1)Sreesailam Left Bank Canal
30 TMC
2)Bheema Lift Irrigation
20 TMC
Though allocation was made as above, so far the benefits are being accrued under Telugu
Ganga Project and SreeSailam Right Bank canal. These schemes are being implemented with
World Bank Loan by merging Sreeramsagar Project (in Telangana) by showing it as AP II, APIII. The SreeSailam bank canal is yet to be completed, and Bheema left irrigation project is kept
under cold storage.
The future development of ayacut in Telangana is mainly dependent on the development and
execution of Godavari river basin. Although The Andhra Pradesh Government has constituted
Godavari utilization authority years back, so far there is no progress. The Inchampally and
Polavaram Projects were planned on Godavari long back, but since last forty years interstate
dispute was not resolved and these projects are kept pending.
Andhra Pradesh, Maharastra and Madhya Pradesh reached an agreement in1978 regarding
Inchampally. As per this agreement, Andhra Pradesh can utilize only 85 TMC of water and the
balance of water can be utilized only to generate Hydroelectric Power. The expenditure has to
be borne by Andhra Pradesh, Maharastra & Madhya Pradesh at the ratio of 78%, 10.5% and
11.4% respectively. Andhra Pradesh will get 27% of the generated power. Experts believe that
the Inchampally project would benefit Andhra region more than Telangana region. Out of 360
TMC of water, only 85 TMC will be utilized for irrigation in Telangana. The rest of the water
after utilization for generation of power will flow down wards to Dhawaleswaram Barrage or to
Polavaram project.
1) Pedda Bellalla (below the confluence of kadem)
2) VenKatapuram down stream of ichampaiiy
3) Yellampally (further down to Manchiryal)
4) Dummugudem (near Luxettipet)
With these minor and medium projects and with lift irrigation, at least 200 TMC of water can be
utilized for 10 lakh acres in kharif and another 5 lakh acres in rabi seasons.

Hyderabad is the largest city in the Telangana region

In Treta yuga, it is believed that Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana arrived into TELANGANA from
DANDAKAARANYA( today'sCHATTISGARH). They initially stepped in karimnagar district and lived in many places like
Ramagiri Khilla hills, illantha
kunta village etc... and then they moved along Godavari River spent their life in exile at
Parnashala on the banks of the
Godavari river, which is about 25 km from Bhadrachalam in Khammam District in the
Telangana region.
The Telangana region is believed to have been mentioned in the Mahabharata as the Telinga
Kingdom which is said to have
been inhabited by the tribe known as Telavana,who fought on the Pandavas side in the great
war of Kurukshetra. There is
also Pandavula Guhalu in Warangal district (where the Pandavas spent their life in exile
(Lakkha Gruham).
Telangana has been the homeland to the Sathavahanas and Kakatiyas. Kotilingala in
Karimnagar was the first capital of the
Sathavahanas before Dharanikota. Excavations at Kotilingala revealed coinage of Simukha, the
first Satavahana emperor.
The region experienced its golden age during the reign of the Kakatiyas, a Telugu dynasty that
ruled most parts of what is
now Andhra Pradesh from 1083 CE to 1323. Ganapatideva was known as the greatest of the
Kakatiyas and the first after the
Satavahanas to bring the entire Telugu area under one rule. He put an end to the rule of the
Cholas, who accepted his
suzerainty in the year 1210. He established order in his vast dominion that stretched from the
Godavari delta in the east
to Raichur (in modern day Karnataka) in the west and from Karimnagar & Bastar (in modern
day Chattisgarh) in the north to
Srisailam & Tripurantakam, near Ongole, in the south. It was also during his reign that the
Golkonda fort was first
constructed by the Kakatiyas. Rani Rudramadevi and Prataparudra were prominent kings from
the Kakatiya dynasty.
Telangana then came under Muslim rule in 14th century by the Delhi Sultanate, followed by
Bahmanis, Qutb Shahis, and the
Mughals. As the Mughal Empire began to disintegrate in the early 18th century, the Muslim
Asafjahi dynasty established a
separate state known as Hyderabad. Later, Hyderabad entered into a treaty of subsidiary alliance
with the British Empire,
and was the largest and most populous princely state in India. Telangana was never under direct
British rule, unlike the
Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh, which were part of British India's

Madras Presidency.