Warangal

This article is about the municipality in India. For its namesake district, see Warangal district.

Warangal
—  city  —
Kirti torana of Kakatiya Dynasty
Warangal Location of Warangal in Andhra Pradesh and India
Coordinates	18°00′N 79°35′E
Country	India
State	Andhra Pradesh
District(s)	Warangal
Population	8,65,527 (2011)
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 302 metres (991 ft)

Warangal ( pronunciation ; also known as Orugallu, and Ekasila Nagaram) is a city and a municipal corporation in Warangal district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Warangal is located 148 kilometres (92 mi) northeast of the state capital of Hyderabad and is the administrative headquarters of Warangal District. Warangal city is the second biggest city after Hyderabad in the Telangana Region and sixth biggest city in the state. This district is a combination of three cities: Warangal, Hanamakonda and Kazipet. It has a population of nearly 1 million including Hanamakonda and Kazipet. Warangal city is going to be Greater Warangal in few months as Basavaraju Saraiah, minister for backward castes welfare, said that the next Municipal Elections will be in Greater Warangal.^{[citation needed]} Even faster steps were being taken for this proposal.^{[citation needed]}

History

Warangal was the capital of a Hindu Shaivaite kingdom^{[citation needed]} ruled by the Kakatiya dynasty from the 12th to the 14th centuries. The old name of this newly formed city is Orugallu. Oru means one and Kallu means stone.

Kakatiya sculpture at Warangal

The Kakatiyas left many monuments, including an impressive fortress, four massive stone gateways, the Swayambhu temple dedicated to Shiva, and the Ramappa temple situated near Ramappa Lake. The cultural and administrative distinction of the Kakatiyas was mentioned by the famous traveller Marco Polo. Famous or well-known rulers included Ganapathi Deva, Prathapa Rudra, and Rani (queen) Rudrama Devi. After the defeat of Pratapa Rudra, the Musunuri Nayaks united seventy two Nayak chieftains and captured Warangal from Delhi sultanate and ruled for fifty years. Jealousy and mutual rivalry between Nayaks ultimately led to the downfall of Hindus in 1370 A.D. and success of Bahmanis. Bahmani Sultanate later broke up into several smaller sultanates, of which the Golconda sultanate ruled Warangal. The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb conquered Golconda in 1687, and it remained part of the Mughal empire until the southern provinces of the empire split away to become the state of Hyderabad in 1724 which included the Telangana region and some parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka. Hyderabad was annexed to India in 1948, and became an Indian state. In 1956 Hyderabad was partitioned as part of the States Reorganization Act, and Telangana, the Telugu-speaking region of Hyderabad state which includes Warangal, became part of united Andhra Pradesh state.

1000 pillar temple at Warangal

Geography and climate

Warangal is located at 18.0°N 79.58°E / 18.0; 79.58. It has an average elevation of 302 metres (990 feet).

Climate

Warangal
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     15   30 16     5   33 18     5   37 22     7   40 26     15   42 28     50   37 28     85   32 25     170   31 25     160   33 23     70   33 22     10   31 18     0   30 15 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm Source: mustseeindia.com
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     0.6   86 61     0.2   91 64     0.2   99 72     0.3   104 79     0.6   108 82     2   99 82     3.3   90 77     6.7   88 77     6.3   91 73     2.8   91 72     0.4   88 64     0   86 59 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches

Located in the semi-arid Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh, Warangal has a predominantly hot and dry climate. Summers start in March, and peak in May with average high temperatures in the 42 °C (108 °F) range. The monsoon arrives in June and lasts until September with about 550 mm (22 in) of precipitation. A dry, mild winter starts in late November and lasts until early February. With little humidity and average temperatures in the 22–23 °C (72–73 °F) range, this is the best time to visit Warangal.

Economy

Warangal's economy is predominantly agricultural. It has a large grain market in Enumamula village close to Warangal city near Desaipet. Rice is the main crop in this region for local consumption and commerce. Cotton has also been a major cash crop since the early 1990s; however the cotton sector has been troubled in recent years, and there was a highly publicized spate of suicides by cotton farmers in 1997-1998.

Industry has been neglected in the region by successive governments. Some industries existing during the Nizam's rule, like Azam Jahi Cloth Mills, were closed down; Warangal has several small to medium scale industries.

A STPI (Software Technology Parks of India) has been set up at National Institute of Technology, Warangal with the intention of taking the benefits of the Information Technology revolution to second tier cities. Warangal makes an excellent location for this because of its proximity to Hyderabad, the student pool from some of the best institutes in the country, good transportation facilities, infrastructure, lower traffic problems, etc.

There is a large amount of foreign investment coming from the NRIs who settled in abroad.

Governance

Warangal city is the headquarters of Warangal district. Warangal district contributes a total of twelve seats (city has two; that of Warangal East and Warangal West) in the lower house of the State Legislature and two seats (Warangal and Mahabubabad) in lower house of Indian Parliament.

Politics

Warangal witnessed a bloody chapter in its history in 1969, when the people of Telangana Region felt discriminated against the people of Andhra Region in the unified state of Andhra Pradesh. This has caused the Telangana Agitation including the Mulki (locals) agitation by Telangana Praja Samithi (TPS) party lead by Dr. Marri Chenna Reddy and other leaders asking for a separate state as was the case before 1956. Warangal was the brewing ground of the movement. Students, peasants and government employees all joined forces. More than 400 students lost their lives in the struggle. The college students also lost an academic year due to this movement.yh

Warangal West

• Assembly Election Results in 2010(Bi Election) - DASYAM VINAYA BHASKER Won with 74.85 votes %
• Assembly Election Results in 2009 - DASYAM VINAYA BHASKER Won with 39.64 votes %

Warangal East

• Assembly Election Results in 2009 - BASWARAJU SARAIAH Won with 32.66 votes %

Demographics

As of 2011 India census, Warangal had a population of 759,594. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Warangal has an average literacy rate of 84.16%, higher than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 91.54%, and female literacy is 76.79%. In Warangal, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Transport

Air

The Mamnoor village, on the south-east outskirts of Warangal on Warangal Khammam Road, was used as a air force base and for glider training. This airport was the biggest airport in India till 1947 build by Hyderabad Nizams convenient for Kagaznagar Paper mill and Azam Jahi Mill. The nearest international airport is Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad located 160km away from Warangal.

Rail

Warangal Railway Station

Warangal is connected well to many major cities of India by rail. It falls under the South Central Railway zone of the Indian Railways. Kazipet Junction Railway Station in Kazipet, about 13 km from Warangal is a major railway junction on the Hyderabad-New Delhi-Vijayawada-Chennai-Kolkata route. Warangal Railway Station in Warangal is a station located on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada-Chennai-Kolkata route. Every day nearly 132 trains pass through this section apart from goods trains.It is one of the biggest Railway Junction in the country.

Road

National Highway 202 under construction from Hyderabad to Bhopalapatnam in Chhattisgarh passes through Warangal city.

There are two major bus stations in Warangal and Hanamakonda. Long-distance deluxe buses ply from Warangal to Bangalore, Madras, Hyderabad, Tirupathi, Anantapur, Hubli, and Belgaum; and standard express buses to Guntur via Vijayawada, Cherial, Jangaon, Kodad, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Adilabad, Suryapet, Palampet, Jagtial, Mahabubabad, Narsampet, Parkal, Khammam, Bhadrachalam and Basar. Direct buses are available from Hyderabad to Warangal every hour with a travelling time of 3.5 hours.

Panoramic picture of the ruins of the Warangal fort.

Education

Warangal city hosts some of the Nations best institutions and is considered an educational hub. Warangal is the forth-largest city in Telangana(currently Andhra Pradesh) and is known for important educational institutions like National Institute of Technology, Warangal and Kakatiya Medical College. Established in 1959 as the first of Regional Engineering Colleges in the country, (foundation stone laid by the first prime minister of India, Sri Jawahar Lal Nehru), the NIT grew into an important national level institute for engineering studies. Warangal NIT is one of the best Institutes among all the NIT's in India. From 1959 onwards, this institute has successfully produced innumerable global citizens and scientists. Ex President of India, Sri Abdul Kalam visits this institute almost every year. This institute attracts the best talent from India and best MNC(International/National) for campus recruitment. In 2011, Facebook recruited BTech computer science student with the highest ever pay package of Rs 45 lakh per annum .

St. Peter's Central Public School

• National Institute of Technology, Warangal (formerly known as Regional Engineering College)
• Kakatiya University
• Kakatiya Medical College
• CKM(Chanda Kanthiah Memorial) Arts & Science college
• Kakatiya Institute of Technology and Science [1] (also known as KITS), Yerragattu, Bheemaram, Warangal
• Warangal Institute of Technology and Science [2] (also known as WITS), Oorugonda, Gudepadu, Warangal
• JAYAMUKHI Institute of Technological Sciences [3] (also known as JITS), Moqdumpuram, NARSAMPET, Warangal
• Swaantha Vidyaranya Junior College, near Adalath, Hanamkonda, WARANGAL
• A V V High School,Warangal
• A V V Junior & Degree College,Warangal
• Srivani Hoght School, Parkal, Warangal
• Sri Gurukula Vidyalaya,Maheswaram
• University College of Law, Subedari, Warangal
• Government Polytechnic College
• Mahaboobia High School, JPN Road, Warangal
• Mahboobia Panjetan Educational Society, Matwada, Warangal
• Vaagdevi College of Engineering. [4]
• Vaagdevi Group of Colleges which has institutions from kindergarten to post graduation.
• S R Engineering College (also known as SREC) [5]
• Pathfinder Engineering College Hanamkonda
• S R College Of Pharmacy [6]
• Balaji Institute of technology & science (also known as BITS) [7]
• Balaji Institute of Engineering & science
• Balaji Institute of Pharmaceutical science
• Warangal Institute of Technology and Science [8]
• Ramappa Engineering College, Hunter Road, Hanamkonda [9]
• Islamia Arts and science college, warangal

• Univ. Arts & Science College (renowned as Arts College)
• Lal Bahadur College (renowned as LB College)
• Masaterji Degree College, Hanamkonda, Warangal
• Masterji College of Architecture, Warangal
• New Science Degree and PG College, hanamkonda, warangal
• SRL Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Madikonda, Kazipet,Warangal
• Alluri Institute of Management Sciences, Hunter road, Warangal(also known as AIMS, Warangal)

There are several non-governmental organizations active in primary and secondary education in Warangal District. Of these, the best known are KITS, WITS, Rural Development Foundation and Institute for Technology and Management, Warangal (ITM Warangal).

Culture

Telugu is the major language spoken by most of the people in Warangal. People of Warangal wear traditional attire like Saree, Dhoti and also modern dresses. Warangal is famous for the poets like Bammera Potana who has translated the Maha Bhagavatham from Sanskrit to Telugu and also Palkuriki Somanna to present day poets/writers like Kaloji Narayana Rao. Most popular culture here is most of the young generation are widespread in all countries mostly in USA mainly into software related professions. Almost each home has some members in foreign countries.^{[citation needed]} People are well known for their IT skills.^{[citation needed]} This has brought a major influx of IT companies from USA and European countries.

Festivals

The district hosts the Sammakka Saralamma Jatara or congregation bi-annually, and approximately 6 million people gather around the small village of Medaram and its adjacent stream/rivulet, Jampanna Vagu, 90 km from Warangal city for over three days. This fair is said to be the largest repeating aggregation of tribal communities in the whole world and commemorates the valiant fight put up by a mother and daughter (Samakka and Sarakka) with the reigning Kakatiya king over an unjust law. This is also the second biggest congregation in Asian continent after Kumbha Mela in India.

References

External links

• Warangal District official website

• Warangal travel guide from Wikitravel