Warangal

This article is about the municipality in India. For its namesake district, see Warangal district.
Warangal
వరంగల్
وارنگل
City
Warangal
Coordinates: 18°00′N 79°35′E / 18.0°N 79.58°E / 18.0; 79.58Coordinates: 18°00′N 79°35′E / 18.0°N 79.58°E / 18.0; 79.58
Other Names Orugallu
Ekasila Nagaram
Country India
State Telangana
District Warangal
Named for Heritage
Government
 • Body Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation(GWMC)
 • Commissioner of Police Sudheer Babu[1]
Area[2]
 • City 407.77 km2 (157.44 sq mi)
Area rank 17th(India) 2nd(State)
Elevation 302 m (991 ft)
Population (2011)[2]
 • City 811,844
 • Rank 62nd (India)
2nd (state)
 • Density 2,000/km2 (5,200/sq mi)
 • Metro 948,554
Demonym(s) Warangalite
Languages
 • Official Telugu, Urdu
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Telephone code +91-870-XXX XXXX
Vehicle registration TS–03[3]
Ethnicity Indian
Website Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation
Sunset at Bhadrakali Lake
Carved pillar at Thousand Pillar Temple

Warangal  pronunciation ; is a city and the district headquarters of Warangal district in the Indian state of Telangana.

In 2014, the city was included in the proposed HRIDAY - Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana by Government of India, along with eleven other Indian cities.[4] It was also listed among the 100 proposed smart cities that will be eligible for additional investment to improve urban infrastructure and industrial opportunities.[5] It has a population of about one million and this made the city corporation to be upgraded to Greater Warangal in early 2015.[6]

Etymology

"Oru" means 'single' and "Kal" is referred as a 'stone' in local language. The word "Orugallu" synonyms, one rock, which describes the city was carved out of a single large stone. The word "Ekasila nagaram" is other way of describing the name Orugallu which literally means same as "City Carved Out of Single Stone", used very commonly in the period of Kakatiyan empire. As the time went on, Orugallu was changed to "Warangallu" and finally settled as Warangal.[7]

History

Warangal, then known as Orugallu, was the capital of the Kakatiya dynasty from 1195 CE until that ruling family was defeated by the Delhi Sultanate in 1323. The city was then renamed as Sultanpur.[8]

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 Marco Polo. After the defeat of Prataparudra II, the Musunuri Nayaks united 72 Nayak chieftains and captured Warangal from Delhi Sultanate and ruled for fifty years. After the demise of the Nayaks, Warangal was part of the Bahmani Sultanate and then the Sultanate of Golconda.

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 Reorganisation Act, and Telangana, the Telugu-speaking region of Hyderabad state, which includes Warangal, became part of Andhra Pradesh.

Geography and climate

Warangal is located at 18°00′N 79°35′E / 18.0°N 79.58°E / 18.0; 79.58. It has an average elevation of 302 metres (990 feet).

Warangal
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
15
 
 
30
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5
 
 
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18
 
 
5
 
 
37
22
 
 
7
 
 
40
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15
 
 
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37
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85
 
 
32
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170
 
 
31
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33
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70
 
 
33
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10
 
 
31
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0
 
 
30
15
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: mustseeindia.com
Waddepally lake, Warangal

It is settled in the eastern part of Deccan Plateau made up of granite rocks and hill formations[9] which left the region barren making the cultivation depend on seasonal rainfalls. There are no river flows nearby warangal, which makes it to rely on Kakatiya Canal which originates from Sriram Sagar Project to meet the drinking water requirements.[10][11] Located in the semi-arid region of Telangana, Warangal has a predominantly hot and dry climate. Summer starts 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 October and lasts until early February, when there is little humidity and average temperatures in the 22–23 °C (72–73 °F) range. Many hill rocks and lakes are located around warangal. Thousand Pillar Temple,[12] Padmakshi hill and Govinda Rajula Gutta are two famous hills with temples.[13][14] Bhadrakali and Waddepally are the two famous lakes which adds scenic beauty and also are the major sources of drinking water.[15]

Governance

Civic administration

Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation is the civic body of the city, which oversees the civic needs. In July 1951 the city was upgraded to Special Grade Municipality status. Later, in July 1960, it was upgraded to Selection Grade Municipality. On 18 August 1994, the city was declared a municipal corporation.[16] On 28 January 2015, city was upgraded to Greater Municipal Corporation by the state government of Telangana[17]

Presently, the GWMC covers over 407.71 square kilometres (157.42 sq mi).[18] City planning is governed by the Kakatiya Urban Development Authority, which was constituted in 1982. That body oversees development of infrastructure and other projects in the city.[19]

The former Warangal Municipal Corporation implemented some pilot projects, such as the Solid Waste Management programme, that were so successful that other corporations have since implemented them.[20][21] The city is divided into 58 political wards where each ward is represented by an area corporator.

Law and order

Police patrol vehicle in Warangal

The urban police district, which is responsible for maintaining law and order in city and agglomerated areas around Warangal was converted into a Police Commissionerate by the state government in 2015.[22][23] Inspector General will be working as police commissionear who is also given magisterial powers. There are around 19 police stations present under warangal commissionerate.[24]

Healthcare

The 1200-bed Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital is the largest hospital in the city. It also serves the needs of patients from the neighbouring districts of Khammam and Karimnagar.[25]

Apart from major public hospitals such as those for maternity, chest and tuberculosis, there are many private specialist hospitals like Lifeline, Rohini, Jaya, Guardian, St.Ann's.[26]

Economy

Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation (WMC)

According to the 2011 census of India, Warangal is one of the Indian cities that has seen rapid growth of urbanisation. This category is led by cities such as Gandhinagar (35% to 43%), Warangal (19% to 28%), Kozhikode (38% to 67%).[27]

Agriculture is the main economic activity with irrigation depending mainly on monsoon and seasonal rainfalls. Major crops are paddy, cotton, mango and wheat. Warangal benefits from the Godavari lift irrigation scheme which is designed to lift water from the Godavari river to irrigate drought prone areas in the Telangana region.[28]

The city hosts Asia's second-biggest grain market, located in Enumamula.[29] It is also attracting investors in information technology.[30] The incubation tower at Madikonda is likely to play a significant role in this development.[31]

Transport

Traffic on warangal Roads

Roadway

National Highway 163 connecting Hyderabad in Telangana and Bhopalpatnam in Chhattisgarh, NH 563 connecting Ramagundam and Khammam passes through warangal. Central bus terminal is located in Hanamkonda, connects warangal with neighbouring cities.[32] Along with Garuda, Indra, Super luxury and Express Bus services, ordinary services to neighbouring towns and villages are operated by Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC). City buses runs in various routes across the city and sub urban areas.[33] City ordinary, city merupu are the main local services used by the people and are the cheapest mode of transportation. There are 3 bus depots located in heart of the city.

Konark Express in Kazipet Junction

Railway

Indian Railways connects Warangal with all other Indian cities. Kazipet railway station and Warangal railway station are two major stations which falls under south central railway Secunderabad division. Kazipet Junction is located on Delhi-Nagpur-Kazipet-Secunderabad route. It is one of the biggest railway junctions in India, acting as a gateway between north and south India having a high traffic of 147 trains passing through it every day.[34] Kazipet Junction shelters both Electric and Diesel Loco sheds with a capacity of holding 175 and 142 locos[35][36]
Warangal railway station is located on Delhi-Nagpur-Vijayawada-Chennai route at a distance of 14 kilometres (9 mi) from Kazipet Junction. It is administrated by South Central Railway zone. Kazipet town, Vanchanagiri, Hasanparthy Road are the other railway stations within Warangal city limits.

Airway

Warangal has a small airport built by the Nizams at Mamnoor, in 1930. Many Cargo services and Vayudoot services have also used it as their hub.

This airport is currently being used as NCC Training Centre by No. 4(A) air squadron for gliding sorties, skeet shooting and aero-modeling[37] by police. Currently, there is no scheduled commercial air service from this airport.

Education

view of NIT warangal

University

Colleges

Engineering

Medical

Culture

Religions in Warangal[38]
Religion Percent
Hindu
  
 83.41%
Muslim
  
 14.39%
Christians
  
 1.65%
Others†
  
 0.55%
†Includes Sikhs, Jains

Bathukamma

Bathukamma is a floral festival celebrated by women of warangal, worshipping the goddess with different flowers for nine days.[39] Though the festival is celebrated all over the state, it is famously known as major festival of warangal. After arranging different flowers in attractive manner which are available in the season, women carry their "Bathukamma" to nearest temple in their locality, after crowd gatherings they clap, sing and dance rhythmically around the Bathukamma.[40] Along with Bonalu, bathukamma is declared as state festival on 15 June 2014.[41]

Medaram Jatara

Sammakka Saralamma Jatara or Medaram Jatara is a popular religious congregation in the honour of Goddesses which is celebrated at Medaram in Warangal district . It is said to be the largest religious congregation in India after Kumbha Mela. This 3-day festival attracts many devotees in the country.

Cuisine

South Indian dishes includes Dosa, Vada, Puri are common breakfast items. Rice with variety of curries including curd is taken as main food. "Biryani" is a famous delicious food item which is served in all hotels, biryani available in the hotels of old city area of mandi bazar is very famous for its taste. Special food items Harees and Haleem are traditional food items available in the season of Ramzan.[42]

Tourism

The Glorious Kakatiya Temples and Gateways have been added to the tentative list of World Heritage sites by UNESCO.[43]

Tourist attractions include:[44]

References

  1. ↑ "Commissioner of Police". Warangal.
  2. 1 2 "Warangal Municipal Corporation, Budget 2014-15". Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "District Codes". Government of Telangana Transport Department. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  4. ↑ "Warangal Gets Heritage Push with Hriday Touch". New Indian Express. 20 December 2014. Retrieved 2015-04-07.
  5. ↑ "5 in Telangana & Only 4 Smart cities in AP". AP Today. 12 September 2014. Retrieved 2015-04-07.
  6. ↑ "‘Greater’ tag to Warangal Corporation". Deccan Chronicle. 29 January 2015. Retrieved 2015-04-07.
  7. ↑ "History of Warangal". Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  8. ↑ Eaton, Richard M. (2005). A Social History of the Deccan: 1300–1761. Cambridge University Press. pp. 17–21. ISBN 978-0-52125-484-7.
  9. ↑ "Deccan Plateau, Andhra Pradesh - Things to do in Andhra Pradesh". Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  10. ↑ "Three towns in the grip of water crisis". The Hindu. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  11. ↑ "Drinking Water". Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  12. ↑ "Warangal Tourism". Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  13. ↑ "Govindarajula Gutta, Warangal India: Find Timings, History and review of Govindarajula Gutta". Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  14. ↑ "About - Welcome to Padmakshi Temple". Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  15. ↑ D. Thhatikkonda. "Lake Water Quality and its Interaction with Aquifers in Warangal City". Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  16. ↑ "Welcome to Warangal Municipal Corporation". Ourwmc.com. 18 August 1994. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  17. ↑ "Greater warangal municipal corporation formed". Telangana State Information, History, Tourism, News, TSPSC News & Results. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  18. ↑ "Warangal Municipal limits altered with inclusion of 42 villages - hidden - National Panchayat Portal". Warangzp.appr.gov.in. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  19. ↑ "Kakatiy Urban Development Au". Kuda.in. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  20. ↑ Special Correspondent (11 October 2012). "Drive to keep Warangal clean". The Hindu. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  21. ↑ "Warangal model for solid waste management". The Hindu. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  22. ↑ "Warangal to Get Police Commissionerate". The New Indian Express.
  23. ↑ "వరంగల్.. ఇక పోలీసు కమిషనరేట్". Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  24. ↑ "Jurisdiction of Police Stations". Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  25. ↑ "MGM (Mahatma Gandhi Memorial) Hospital in Warangal - Sehat". Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  26. ↑ "Biomedical wastes pose a threat to lives". http://www.deccanchronicle.com/. External link in |work= (help)
  27. ↑ "High growth North yet to match spatial spread of South, West". The Indian Express. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2014.
  28. ↑ "Detailed Profile Of The Project". Irrigation.cgg.gov.in. 23 May 2003. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  29. ↑ "Enumamula Village, Hanamkonda Mandal, Warangal". India Growing. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  30. ↑ Special Correspondent (3 February 2014). "STPI-Warangal woos investors". The Hindu. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  31. ↑ /article1516044.ece#.UzFl9BSaUn4 "Warangal has good scope to be IT hub: Ponnala" Check |url= value (help). The New Indian Express. 25 March 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  32. ↑ "APSRTC Hanmakonda Bus Station - Hanmakonda Bus Station Map". Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  33. ↑ "Guntur still awaits city RTC services". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  34. ↑ "KARIMNAGAR-District Panchayat". Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  35. ↑ http://www.scr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?id=0,1,291,357,950,952
  36. ↑ http://www.scr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,291,357,950,951
  37. ↑ http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140921/nation-current-affairs/article/mamnoor-airport-function-only-after-2030
  38. ↑ "Warangal City Population Census 2011 - Andhra Pradesh".
  39. ↑ Special Correspondent. "Bathukamma: Festivities in the air". The Hindu. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  40. ↑ Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao. "Bathukamma festivities to begin from Sept. 24". The Hindu. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  41. ↑ "Bonalu, Bathukamma declared state festivals". The Times of India. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  42. ↑ "City Of Warangal » Harees popular than Haleem in Warangal". City Of Warangal. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  43. ↑ http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5889/
  44. ↑ http://www.telanganatourism.gov.in/partials/destinations/regions/warangal.html

Further reading

External links

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