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Warangal (old district)

The old Warangal district lay in northern Telangana in undivided Andhra Pradesh. Its headquarters was Warangal, the former Kakatiya capital. The Nizam's district of Khammamett took Warangal's name in 1905. Its boundaries took their final form in 1953, when Khammam became a separate district. Warangal was known for its Kakatiya lakes and temples, carpets and Azam Jahi Mills. In 2016 Telangana divided it into Warangal Urban, Warangal Rural, Jayashankar, Jangaon and Mahabubabad districts.

The old Warangal district lay in the northern part of the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh.1 Its headquarters was the city of Warangal, which had been the capital of the Kakatiya kings.23 The district’s boundaries took their final form on 1 October 1953.45 Telangana divided it into five districts on 11 October 2016.45

The 2001 census handbook calls it a district of great lakes, old monuments, temples and forts.6 Its story runs from the Kakatiya kings, through the Nizam’s district of Khammamett, to the cotton mills of the twentieth century.78

Early history and kingdoms

According to the 2001 census handbook, the name Warangal comes from Orugallu.6 The name refers to the lone rock that stands in the middle of Warangal fort.6 The 1976 district gazetteer names the powers that ruled parts of the district over the centuries:2

By local tradition, Hanamkonda was the capital of the country before Warangal was founded, the 1909 gazetteer says.9 The Thousand Pillar Temple at Hanamkonda belongs to the time of its inscriptions, 1162–63.10 The Ramappa temple stands at Palampet, on the shore of the Ramappa lake.10 An inscription at Palampet says the lake was built in 1213, when Ganapatideva was king.11

Ganapatideva began the stone fort of Warangal, and Rudramadevi completed it, the 2001 census handbook says.12 The fort and Hanamkonda hill were the two most famous Kakatiya strongholds in the district.13 The Kakatiyas also built the Pakhal, Laknavaram, Ramappa and Ghanpur lakes.14

The Delhi armies came in 1303 and again in 1310, when King Prataparudra agreed to pay a yearly tribute.1516 Later an army under Ulugh Khan took the fort and sent Prataparudra to Delhi as a prisoner.1513 The Bahmani sultans took Warangal in 1422, by the 1909 gazetteer’s date.15 When the Bahmani kingdom broke up, Warangal passed to the Qutb Shahis of Golconda.15 The hall of the chief Shitab Khan still stands in Warangal fort.1710

The Nizam’s district

Before 1866 the Nizam’s government gave contractors the right to collect village revenue in return for fixed payments, the 1909 gazetteer says.18 Under this system, contractors often paid much of the revenue to the government in advance, and then collected it from the villages.19 Sir Salar Jung I, Prime Minister from 1853, replaced the revenue farmers with paid officials.19 The 1909 gazetteer dates the formation of regular districts to 1866.18

In 1867 groups of districts were joined into divisions.20 Warangal, then part of Khammam district, went into the Eastern Division with Nalgonda and Nagarkurnool.20 The 1909 gazetteer describes “Warangal District (formerly called Khammamett)”, with an area of 9,729 square miles before 1905.7 It stretched along the Godavari to the borders of the Madras districts of Godavari and Kistna.7

In 1905 the district lost Parkal taluk to Karimnagar, and Cherial and Kodar to Nalgonda.21 The 1976 gazetteer says the headquarters moved to Warangal in the same year.2 The 1909 gazetteer names Hanamkonda, the twin town of Warangal, as the headquarters of both the district and the Warangal Division.221823

In 1947 the movement to join the Indian Union spread across the district.24 On 3 September 1947 police fired on a flag-hoisting procession at Parkal, and the 1976 gazetteer says 150 people were killed.24 After the Police Action of September 1948, the Nizam’s state joined the Indian Union.24 The post of Subedar (head of a division) was abolished, but Warangal stayed a district headquarters.10

1953 and 1956

This was Hyderabad State’s largest district, and the government found it hard to run.24 So on 1 October 1953 it was split in two.4 The taluks of Khammam, Yellandu, Madhira, Burgampadu and Palvancha formed the new Khammam district.425 Warangal kept the taluks of Warangal, Mulug, Mahbubabad and Pakhal.4 It gained Parkal taluk from Karimnagar and Jangaon taluk from Nalgonda.4

In 1956 it was one of the Telangana districts that were joined to the Andhra State to form Andhra Pradesh.26

1956–2014

In 1960–61 Pakhal taluk was renamed Narasampet, after its headquarters town.4 The census of 1981 counted Warangal among the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh.27

In 1985 the 15 taluks of the district were reorganised into 50 mandals (smaller blocks of villages).1 A mandal parishad (local council) was formed for each mandal.1 In 1996 a new revenue division was formed at Jangaon.1 In 1997 part of Hanamkonda mandal was separated to form a new Warangal mandal.1

The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 placed the district in the new State of Telangana.28

Division, 2016

On 11 October 2016 Telangana divided the district into five districts:5

Some of its mandals also went to Siddipet.29 Today’s Warangal district was formed in 2021, from Warangal Urban and Warangal Rural.30

Administration

After the changes of 1905, the 1909 gazetteer lists eight taluks.21 They were Warangal, Pakhal, Tarvai, Khammamett, Yellandlapad, Mahbubabad, Kallur and Paloncha.21 A First Talukdar (district officer) ran the district, with three Second Talukdars over its sub-divisions.22 A tahsildar (taluk officer) was in charge of each taluk.22

The 1976 gazetteer lists six taluks in two revenue divisions:4

  • Warangal (Hanamkonda) division: Warangal, Jangaon and Parkal taluks
  • Mahbubabad division: Mahbubabad, Mulug and Narasampet taluks4

By 2001 the district had 51 mandals in four revenue divisions: Warangal, Mahabubabad, Mulug and Jangaon.131 Warangal was the headquarters in 1976 and in 2001.232

Land, farming and water

In 1901 the main food crops were jowar, rice, bajra and maize, the 1909 gazetteer says.33 Cotton covered only 32 square miles.33 In 1903–04, tanks, wells and channels watered 326 square miles.33 The gazetteer names the Pakhal, Laknavaram, Ramappa and other large tanks, but adds that “some of these are in disrepair”.33

The Pakhal lake was made by a dam 2,000 yards long across the Pakhal river.7 When full, it covered 13 square miles.7 The Nizam’s government set up an irrigation department in 1896, and it restored the four big lakes.34 Laknavaram was restored in 1909, Ramappa in 1919 and Pakhal in 1922.1434

In 1965–66 the district irrigated 1,25,200 hectares, a quarter of its sown land.14 Tanks watered 94,201 hectares of this, and wells only 19,382.14 The district had no major irrigation project.35 The Salivagu project in Parkal taluk, finished in 1964, was a medium one.36

By 1999–2000 the picture had changed.37 That year wells other than tube wells watered 1,93,100 hectares, and tanks 69,334.37 Paddy was the main crop, grown on 1,84,142 hectares.38 Cotton had grown to 1,54,855 hectares.37

Crafts and industries

In 1909 Hanamkonda was known for its silk and cotton cloth, and for its carpets.39 Mathwada, Karimabad and Warangal made cotton, silk and woollen carpets “of excellent make”, and traded them with Europe.39 Tasar silk was spun from local cocoons, and weavers at Hasanparti and other places made saris and turbans from it.39 The district then had only four cotton-ginning factories and four oil mills, with 132 workers.39

The district also had coal mines.39 The Singareni mines in Yellandlapad sub-taluk employed 6,360 miners, and produced 4,19,546 tons that year.39 Yellandu went to Khammam district in 1953, and the mines with it.4

The 1976 gazetteer says the carpet industry is believed to go back to Persian settlers.40 The Azam Jahi Mills at Warangal were then the largest cotton mills in the State, with 42,536 spindles.8 An industrial estate opened at Warangal in 1958.41 A second one opened at Jangaon in 1961.42 Handloom weavers at Hanamkonda, Karimabad and other centres made a special knotted and dyed cloth, the chutki or talia rumal.42

In 2001 the district had 15 large and medium industries, with 2,902 workers.43 They included the Azam Jahi Mills, a rayon pulp factory and a granite works.43

People

The 2001 census handbook lists the district’s population within its 2001 boundaries, from 1901 onward.44 The 2011 figure is from the 2011 handbook.45

Census yearPopulation
19016,53,721
195113,29,836
196115,45,435
198123,00,295
200132,46,004
201135,12,576

In 1901 about 86 per cent of the people of the larger district spoke Telugu.21 Only 2.8 per cent could read and write.46 In 2001 the literacy rate was 57.1 per cent.32

Where the sources disagree

  • The 1909 gazetteer says Ulugh Khan captured Warangal in 1321.15 The 1976 district gazetteer dates his campaign to 1323.16
  • The 1909 gazetteer dates the Bahmani capture of Warangal to 1422.15 The 2001 census handbook, following Firishta, dates it to 1424.17
  • The 1909 gazetteer calls Rudrama Devi Ganapati’s “wife or daughter”, and says his widow completed the fort.15 The 2001 census handbook calls her his daughter.12

For an overview of district changes, see How the map changed.

Footnotes

  1. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Warangal District (2006), p. 12 (PDF p. 53) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  2. M. V. Rajagopal, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Warangal (1976), p. 1 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  3. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Warangal District (2006), p. 10 (PDF p. 51) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  4. M. V. Rajagopal, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Warangal (1976), p. 2 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11

  5. Government of Telangana, Revenue (DA-CMRF) Department, G.O.Ms. No. 231 (Warangal Urban), No. 232 (Warangal Rural), No. 233 (Jayashankar), No. 234 (Jangaon) and No. 235 (Mahabubabad), 11 October 2016, final notifications: notification PDF p. 2, Schedule-I PDF p. 3 (archive.org copies of the goir.telangana.gov.in orders: 231 (opens in a new tab), 232 (opens in a new tab), 233 (opens in a new tab), 234 (opens in a new tab), 235 (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  6. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Warangal District (2006), p. 5 (PDF p. 46) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  7. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (1909), p. 162 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  8. M. V. Rajagopal, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Warangal (1976), p. 92 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  9. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (1909), p. 172 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  10. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Warangal District (2006), p. 8 (PDF p. 49) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  11. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Warangal District (2006), p. 9 (PDF p. 50) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  12. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Warangal District (2006), p. 6 (PDF p. 47) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  13. M. V. Rajagopal, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Warangal (1976), p. 37 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  14. M. V. Rajagopal, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Warangal (1976), p. 69 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  15. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (1909), p. 164 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  16. M. V. Rajagopal, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Warangal (1976), p. 36 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  17. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Warangal District (2006), p. 7 (PDF p. 48) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  18. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (1909), p. 169 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  19. M. V. Rajagopal, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Warangal (1976), p. 140 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  20. M. V. Rajagopal, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Warangal (1976), p. 141 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  21. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (1909), p. 165 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  22. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (1909), p. 168 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  23. M. V. Rajagopal, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Warangal (1976), p. 213 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  24. M. V. Rajagopal, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Warangal (1976), p. 52 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  25. S. S. Jaya Rao, Census of India 1981, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Khammam District (1986), PDF p. 17 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  26. History of the Andhra Pradesh Police (1961), p. 260 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  27. Ch. Purnachandra Rao, Census of India 1981, Andhra Pradesh: Portrait of Population (1981), p. 13 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  28. The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 (Act No. 6 of 2014), ss. 2–4, pp. 1–2 (Gazette copy (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  29. Government of Telangana, Revenue (DA-CMRF) Department, G.O.Ms. No. 238 (Medak), No. 239 (Sangareddy) and No. 240 (Siddipet), 11 October 2016, final notifications: notification PDF p. 2, Schedule-I PDF p. 3 (archive.org copies of the goir.telangana.gov.in orders: 238 (opens in a new tab), 239 (opens in a new tab), 240 (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  30. Government of Telangana, Revenue (DA) Department, G.O.Ms. No. 74, 12 August 2021 (Hanumakonda and Warangal districts, final notification), PDF pp. 1–3 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  31. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Warangal District (2006), p. 13 (PDF p. 54) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  32. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Warangal District (2006), p. 14 (PDF p. 55) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  33. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (1909), p. 166 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  34. M. V. Rajagopal, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Warangal (1976), p. 70 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  35. M. V. Rajagopal, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Warangal (1976), p. 68 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  36. M. V. Rajagopal, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Warangal (1976), p. 71 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  37. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Warangal District (2006), p. 18 (PDF p. 59) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  38. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Warangal District (2006), p. 17 (PDF p. 58) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  39. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (1909), p. 167 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  40. M. V. Rajagopal, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Warangal (1976), p. 90 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  41. M. V. Rajagopal, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Warangal (1976), p. 93 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  42. M. V. Rajagopal, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Warangal (1976), p. 94 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  43. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Warangal District (2006), p. 21 (PDF p. 62) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  44. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Warangal District (2006), p. xxxi (PDF p. 23) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  45. Directorate of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2011, Andhra Pradesh, Series-29 Part XII-A: District Census Handbook, Warangal (Village and Town Directory) (2014), p. 11 (PDF p. 29) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  46. Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (1909), p. 170 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

Places in this district (19)

Monuments in this district (13)

Inscriptions found in this district (19)

References

Sources (10)
  1. Ch. Purnachandra Rao (Census of India 1981), Census of India 1981, Andhra Pradesh: Portrait of Population (opens in a new tab), Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, 1981, pp. 13. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  2. Government of India, Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Hyderabad State (opens in a new tab), Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta, 1909, pp. 162–170. [Public domain]
  3. M. V. Rajagopal, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Warangal (opens in a new tab), Government of Andhra Pradesh (Government Central Press, Hyderabad), 1976, pp. 1–2, 36–37, 51–52, 68–71, 90, 92–94, 140–141, 213. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  4. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Warangal District (Parts A and B) (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 2006, xxxi, 5–14, 17–18, 21–22. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  5. Directorate of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2011, Andhra Pradesh, Series-29 Part XII-A: District Census Handbook, Warangal (Village and Town Directory) (opens in a new tab), Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, 2014, pp. 11. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  6. Government of Telangana, Revenue (DA-CMRF) Department, Formation / reorganisation of districts, revenue divisions and mandals: final notifications, G.O.Ms. Nos. 221 to 250 (11 October 2016) (opens in a new tab), Government of Telangana (goir.telangana.gov.in), for the Telangana Gazette Extraordinary of 11 October 2016, 2016, PDF pp. 2–3 of each order. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  7. S. S. Jaya Rao (Census of India 1981), Census of India 1981, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Khammam District (opens in a new tab), Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, 1986, PDF p. 17. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  8. Inspector-General of Police, Andhra Pradesh, The History of the Andhra Pradesh Police (1861-1961) (opens in a new tab), Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, 1961, pp. 260. [Public domain in India]
  9. Parliament of India, The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 (Act No. 6 of 2014) (opens in a new tab), Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 1 (1 March 2014), 2014, pp. 1–2 (ss. 2–4). [Public domain (Indian enactment; Copyright Act 1957, s. 52(1)(q))]
  10. Government of Telangana, Revenue (DA) Department, Reorganisation of Warangal Urban and Warangal Rural districts into Hanumakonda and Warangal districts: final notification, G.O.Ms. No. 74 (12 August 2021) (opens in a new tab), Government of Telangana (goir.telangana.gov.in), 2021, PDF pp. 1–3. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]

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