About Telangana

Telangana is India's youngest state. It was formed on 2 June 2014 from the northwestern part of Andhra Pradesh, and its name is usually explained as "land of the Telugus". Hyderabad, one of India's largest cities and a major centre for information technology and pharmaceuticals, is its capital.

Capital: Hyderabad
Formed: 2 June 2014, from Andhra Pradesh
Area: about 112,000 km²
Population: about 3.5 crore (35 million, 2011 census)
Languages: Telugu; Urdu is the second official language
Districts: 33

History

The region was the heartland of the Kakatiya dynasty, which ruled from Warangal between the 12th and 14th centuries. Later the Qutb Shahi sultans built Golconda and founded Hyderabad in 1591, and from the 18th century the Asaf Jahi Nizams ruled Hyderabad State. It joined India in 1948 and its Telugu-speaking districts were merged with Andhra State in 1956 to form Andhra Pradesh. After a long movement for a separate state, Telangana was created in 2014. Hyderabad served as the shared capital of both states for ten years, until 2024.

Geography

Telangana lies on the Deccan Plateau in south-central India. The Godavari and Krishna rivers flow through the state, which borders Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Places to visit

Hyderabad's Charminar and Golconda Fort, the Thousand Pillar Temple and Warangal Fort, and the Ramappa Temple near Mulugu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2021. The flower festival Bathukamma and the Bonalu festival are celebrated across the state.

Maps of Telangana cities

Page added October 2026. Some older city pages on this site still describe these cities as part of Andhra Pradesh.