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Telangana at a glance

A free, evergreen quick-reference for competitive exams and general knowledge — the key facts, the statehood movement, and the people who shaped Telangana.

Key facts

The static facts most often asked about the state — useful for Group I–IV and other competitive exams, and for everyday general knowledge.

Formed
2 June 201429th state of India
Formation Day
2 JuneTelangana Formation Day
Capital
Hyderabad
First Chief Minister
K. Chandrashekar RaoSworn in 2 June 2014
First Governor
E. S. L. Narasimhan
Official languages
Telugu · Urdu
Districts
33
Area
≈112,077 km²43,273 sq mi · landlocked
Major rivers
Godavari · Krishna
State legislature
119 MLAs · 40 MLCsAssembly + Council (bicameral)
In Parliament
17 Lok Sabha · 7 Rajya Sabha
High Court
HyderabadTelangana High Court, from 2019

State symbols

The official state symbols of Telangana — a common exam and quiz topic.

State bird
Palapitta
Indian Roller
State animal
Jinka
Spotted Deer
State tree
Jammi Chettu
Prosopis cineraria
State flower
Tangedu
Tanner's Cassia
State game
Kabaddi
Traditional sport
State emblem
Kakatiya Thoranam
with the Charminar

Geography

The land — where Telangana sits, its rivers, and what lies beneath.

Telangana lies on the Deccan Plateau in southern India — a landlocked state bordered by Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The land slopes towards its two great rivers, the Godavari and the Krishna, which together drain almost the whole state.

Location
Deccan Plateau, southern India — landlocked (no coastline).
Bordering states
Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Highest point
Doli Gutta (about 965 m), on the Telangana–Chhattisgarh border.
Main rivers
Godavari and Krishna, with tributaries such as the Pranahita, Manjira, Manair, Musi and Kinnerasani.
Climate
Semi-arid — hot summers and a June–September south-west monsoon.
Minerals
Coal, mined by the Singareni Collieries in the Godavari valley, plus limestone and granite.

History & dynasties

The powers that shaped the region, in order — a favourite exam topic.

Satavahanas
One of the earliest Deccan dynasties (around the 2nd century BCE onwards); an early capital lay at Kotilingala in present-day Telangana.
Kakatiyas
Ruled from Warangal (Orugallu) in the 12th–14th centuries; left the Ramappa and Thousand Pillar temples and the Warangal Fort.
Qutb Shahis
Ruled from Golconda; founded the city of Hyderabad and built the Charminar in 1591.
Asaf Jahis
The Nizams of Hyderabad (1724–1948) ruled a vast princely state until it joined the Indian Union in 1948.

The statehood movement

How Telangana became a separate state — one of the most-asked topics in state exams.

Telangana's demand for a separate state ran for decades. After the Telugu-speaking regions were merged into Andhra Pradesh in 1956, many in Telangana felt safeguards agreed for the region were not honoured — over jobs, water and development. That grievance drove a long movement that finally achieved statehood in 2014.

1948
Hyderabad State joins the Indian Union.
1956
The Telugu-speaking regions are merged to form Andhra Pradesh — the roots of the later grievance.
1969
A student-led agitation demands a separate Telangana over unmet safeguards; Osmania University becomes a centre of the protests.
2001
K. Chandrashekar Rao founds the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), reviving the statehood demand as an electoral movement.
2009
An indefinite hunger strike reignites the agitation; the central government announces that the process for statehood will begin.
2014
Parliament passes the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act; on 2 June 2014 Telangana is formed as India's 29th state.

The educationist Prof. K. Jayashankar is widely remembered as the intellectual voice of the movement.

People of Telangana

Historical figures from Telangana who often appear in general knowledge and exams.

Komaram Bheem
Tribal freedom fighter of Adilabad — the cry Jal, Jangal, Jameen.
Chakali Ailamma
Icon of the Telangana peasant armed struggle.
Suravaram Pratapa Reddy
Reformer and historian — the Telangana Vaithalikudu.
Kaloji Narayana Rao
People's Poet (Praja Kavi); Telangana Language Day namesake.
Dasarathi Krishnamacharya
Poet whose verse challenged the Nizam's rule.
Prof. K. Jayashankar
Ideologue of the statehood movement.
C. Narayana Reddy
Jnanpith-winning Telugu poet (Cinare).
P. V. Narasimha Rao
Former Prime Minister of India (1991–96).

Full profiles of Telangana's notable figures →

Arts & folk culture

Living folk traditions that often appear in exams and quizzes.

Perini Shivatandavam

Warrior dance

A vigorous Kakatiya-era "dance of warriors", once performed before Lord Shiva ahead of battle — revived on the modern stage.

Oggu Katha

Ballad storytelling

A folk narrative form that sings the tales of deities like Mallanna and Beerappa with rhythm and drama.

Burrakatha

Storytelling

A lead narrator with a tambura and two companions weaves history and legend into a lively performance.

Gussadi

Gond tribal dance

An Adilabad Gond dance of the Dandari festival — dancers wear headgear of peacock feathers and deer antlers.

Important days

State days worth remembering.

2 June
Telangana Formation Day — the state came into being in 2014.
9 September
Telangana Language Day — the birth anniversary of the poet Kaloji Narayana Rao.
17 September
Anniversary of Hyderabad State joining the Indian Union (1948).

The great folk festivals — Bathukamma (autumn) and Bonalu (monsoon) — follow the lunar calendar, so their dates shift each year.

Firsts & superlatives

The "bits" that turn up again and again.

First Chief Minister
K. Chandrashekar Rao
First Governor
E. S. L. Narasimhan
Highest peak
Doli Guttaabout 965 m
Longest river
Godavari
Largest district (area)
Bhadradri Kothagudem
Smallest district (area)
Hyderabad
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Ramappa Templeinscribed 2021
World's largest lift irrigation
Kaleshwaram
"Bulk Drug Capital of India"
Hyderabad

Test yourself

Tap a question to reveal the answer — a quick way to revise.

When was Telangana formed?

On 2 June 2014, as India's 29th state.

Who was Telangana's first Chief Minister?

K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR).

Who was the first Governor of Telangana?

E. S. L. Narasimhan.

How many districts does Telangana have?

33.

What is the state bird?

The Palapitta (Indian Roller).

Which dynasty ruled from Warangal and built the Ramappa temple?

The Kakatiyas.

Who built the Charminar, and in which year?

The Qutb Shahis, in 1591.

What is the world's largest multi-stage lift-irrigation project?

Kaleshwaram, on the Godavari.

Which two rivers drain most of Telangana?

The Godavari and the Krishna.

Telangana Language Day (9 September) marks whose birthday?

The poet Kaloji Narayana Rao.

Which tribal leader raised the slogan "Jal, Jangal, Jameen"?

Komaram Bheem.

How many Lok Sabha seats does Telangana have?

17.

What is the highest peak in Telangana?

Doli Gutta (about 965 m).

Who founded the Telangana Rashtra Samithi in 2001?

K. Chandrashekar Rao.

Which city is called the "Bulk Drug Capital of India"?

Hyderabad.

Which Act of Parliament created Telangana?

The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.

Telangana became India's how-many-th state?

The 29th.

How many Rajya Sabha seats does Telangana have?

7.

How many seats does the Telangana Legislative Assembly have?

119.

Where does the High Court of Telangana sit?

Hyderabad.

Telangana Formation Day is observed on which date?

2 June.

What is Telangana's state animal?

The jinka (spotted deer, or chital).

What is Telangana's state tree?

The jammi tree (Prosopis cineraria).

What is Telangana's state flower?

Tangedu (Tanner's cassia).

What is Telangana's state game?

Kabaddi.

What two elements appear on the Telangana state emblem?

The Kakatiya Thoranam and the Charminar.

What is Telangana's approximate area?

About 112,077 km².

Telangana lies on which plateau?

The Deccan Plateau.

Which four states border Telangana?

Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.

Which river flows through the city of Hyderabad?

The Musi.

Name Telangana's two tiger reserves.

Amrabad and Kawal.

Which lake in Hyderabad has a monolithic Buddha statue at its centre?

Hussain Sagar.

Which international airport serves Hyderabad?

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA).

Which dynasty built the Thousand Pillar Temple at Hanamkonda?

The Kakatiyas.

What was the Kakatiya capital called?

Orugallu — today's Warangal.

Who founded the city of Hyderabad?

Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah.

Which dynasty ruled from Golconda before founding Hyderabad?

The Qutb Shahis.

Which early dynasty ruled the Deccan before the Kakatiyas?

The Satavahanas.

By what title were the Asaf Jahi rulers of Hyderabad known?

Nizam.

Who was the last Nizam of Hyderabad?

Mir Osman Ali Khan.

In which year did Ramappa Temple become a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

2021.

Where is the Ramappa Temple located?

At Palampet, in Mulugu district.

Which 1948 operation merged Hyderabad State into the Indian Union?

Operation Polo (the Police Action).

Rani Rudrama Devi belonged to which dynasty?

The Kakatiyas.

In which year did the first major separate-Telangana agitation take place?

1969.

Who is widely regarded as the ideologue of Telangana statehood?

Prof. K. Jayashankar.

The Telangana Armed Struggle was directed against whom?

The Nizam's rule and the feudal landlord system.

Which festival is Telangana's floral festival?

Bathukamma.

Which two wild flowers are central to Bathukamma?

Tangedu and gunugu.

What is the final and grandest day of Bathukamma called?

Saddula Bathukamma (also Pedda Bathukamma).

Bonalu is offered chiefly to which goddess?

Mahankali.

In which Telugu month does Bonalu mainly fall?

Ashadam — July into August.

Which martial temple dance of Kakatiya times has been revived in Telangana?

Perini Shivatandavam.

Gussadi is a dance of which community?

The Gond Adivasis, chiefly in the old Adilabad country.

Pochampally is famous for which craft?

Ikat tie-and-dye weaving.

Which craft inlays silver into a blackened zinc-and-copper alloy?

Bidriware.

Nirmal in Telangana is known for what?

Paintings and lacquered toys.

Cheriyal is known for which art form?

Scroll paintings.

Which Telangana town is famous for silver filigree work?

Karimnagar.

Which slow-cooked wheat-and-meat stew is a Ramzan speciality in Hyderabad?

Haleem.

Sarva pindi is made chiefly from which flour?

Rice flour.

Which Hyderabadi dessert is made from dried apricots?

Qubani ka meetha.

Sakinalu is a crisp snack made especially for which festival?

Sankranti.

What is Hyderabad's IT belt nicknamed?

Cyberabad.

What is the name of Telangana's life-sciences cluster?

Genome Valley.

Which company mines coal in the Godavari valley?

Singareni Collieries.

What is Telangana's single-window industrial clearance system called?

TS-iPASS, also written TG-iPASS.

Which Telangana incubator supports women entrepreneurs?

WE Hub — India's first state-led incubator for women.

Which is the state's flagship startup incubator at Madhapur?

T-Hub.

Which sector overtook pharma in Telangana's exports in 2025-26?

Aerospace and defence.

Sircilla is known for which industry?

Power looms — the bulk of the state's looms are there.

Which mega textile park is being built in Warangal?

The Kakatiya Mega Textile Park.

Hyderabad is often called India's capital of what, in medicine?

The bulk drug capital — it makes a large share of India's active ingredients.

Which poet's birthday is marked as Telangana Language Day?

Kaloji Narayana Rao's — 9 September.

Who was Chakali Ailamma?

A woman who defied a feudal landlord, a symbol of the Telangana armed struggle.

Suravaram Pratapa Reddy is remembered as what?

A writer, editor and social reformer, associated with Golconda Patrika.

Komaram Bheem belonged to which community?

The Gond Adivasis.

Which is Telangana's second-largest city?

Warangal.

Bhadrachalam is famous for a temple to which deity?

Sri Rama.

Basara is known for a temple to which goddess?

Gnana Saraswati.

The Yadadri temple is dedicated to which deity?

Lakshmi Narasimha.

The Ramagundam power station is in which district?

Peddapalli.

The Vemulawada temple is in which district?

Rajanna Sircilla.

Gadwal is famous for what?

Its handloom sarees.

Which town is known for Narayanpet handloom weaves?

Narayanpet.

Planning where to study? See Universities & institutions in Telangana →
Wondering where the jobs are? See Industries of Telangana →

An independent study reference. These are stable, evergreen facts. For anything that changes year to year — exam dates, notifications, cut-offs, admissions or scholarships — always check the official commission or university website. Telangana.com is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the Government of Telangana or any official body.