Warangal is one of the two metropolitan cities in the Indian state of Telangana. It is the district headquarters of Warangal Urban District. Warangal is the second most populous city in the state, with the other being state capital, Hyderabad. As of 2011 census of India, it had a population of 819,406 and an area of 471 km2 (182 sq mi). Warangal is situated 145 kilometers from Hyderabad.
Warangal served as the capital of the Kakatiya dynasty which was established in 1163. The monuments left by the Kakatiyas include fortresses, lakes, temples and stone gateways which, in the present, helped the city to become a popular tourist attraction. The Kakatiya Kala Thoranam was included in the emblem of Telangana by the state government.
Geography and Climate
Warangal is located at 18.0°N 79.58°E. It has an average elevation of 302 metres (990 feet). It is settled in the eastern part of Deccan Plateau made up of granite rocks and hill formations which left the region barren making the cultivation dependent on seasonal rainfall. There are no major rivers flowing near the city, making it reliant on the Kakatiya Canal which originates from Sriram Sagar Project to meet the city’s water requirements. 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.
DEMOGRAPHICS
As of 2011 Census of India, the city has population of 627,449, which later increased to the present popuation of 811,819.
TRANSPORT
Air: The nearest international airport is Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad located 160 km away from Warangal.
Rail: Warangal is well connected to many of the 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-Chennai-Kolkata route. Every day nearly 132 trains pass through this section apart from goods trains.
Road: The city is connected to major cities and towns by means of road and railways. National and state highways that pass through the city are, National Highway 163, connecting Hyderabad and Bhopalpatnam; NH 563 connecting Ramagundam and Khammam; State highway 3. From Hyderabad, there are direct buses available at regular intervals to Warangal.