Telangana is a state in Southern India. It is bordered by the states of Maharashtra to the north and north-west, Karnataka to the west, Chhattisgarh to the north-east, and Andhra Pradesh to the south and east. On 2 June 2014, Telangana became the 29th state of India, consisting of the ten north-western districts of Andhra Pradesh, with Hyderabad as its capital.

Cities

Location of Telangana within India

Here are some of the most notable cities.

• 1 Hyderabad — the pearl city of India, and capital of Telangana

• 2 Adilabad — a fine starting point to explore the landscapes of the surrounding areas

• 3 Alampur — Jogulamba temple (Shakthi peetam)

• 4 Ankapur (Ankapoor) — a small self-sufficient, progressive model village

• 5 Bhadrachalam — a major pilgrim town situated on the banks of the Godavari River

• 6NOT EXISTING LISTING IMAGE Bhongir — a town with the impressive and fascinating Bhongir Fort

• 7 Dharmapuri — a town with a number of temples including Narasimha Swamy, Venkateshwara Swamy and Vigneshwara Swamy

• 8 Karimnagar — a fast developing district with many famous monuments and temples

• 9 Khammam — home to the Khamman Fort and the Narasimha Swamy Temple

• 10 Mancherial (Garmilla) — commercial hub and agricultural markt

• 11 Nalgonda — Nagarjuna Sagar is the world's largest masonry dam

• 12 Nirmal — well known for its wooden toys and paintings and the Nirmal Fort

• 13 Nizamabad — home to the famous Temple of Lord Shiva (Kanteshwar around 1400 BC)

• 14 Warangal (City carved in stone) — a city to see various temples, lakes, gardens and the Warangal Fort

Other destinations

• 1 Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park — a small park in Jubilee Hills in which the Chiran Palace is located. It is a green space (a jungle in the concrete city) of the busy city of Hyderabad. One may find peacocks and a variety of small mammals and birds here

• 2 Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park — largest green space in the city of Hyderabad inhabited by black buck, cheetal deer as well as reptiles and many species of birds

• 3 Manyam Konda (Manyamkonda) — hilltop temples

• 4 Mrugavani National Park — located at Chilkur in Moinabad (mandal). This park has a large variety of plants; animals such as the Indian hare, civet cat, mongoose, cobra, Russel Viper and bird species.

• 5 Pakhal Lake — part of the the Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary

• 6 Ramoji Film City — a film-themed park with a studio modeled after Universal City in California

• 7NOT EXISTING LISTING IMAGE Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve — the largest tiger reserve in India contained within 5 districts of Telangana

• Nelakondapally
• Medak church
• Edupayalu
• Kuntala Water falls
• Golkonda Fort
• Hussain Sagar lake and Buddha Statue

Understand

Telangana is a state in southern India. Historically, this region's statehood status has seen multiple changes throughout its existence. Originally called the state of Hyderabad, it was annexed in 1950, shortly after India became independent. In 1956, it was merged with Andhra State to form Andhra Pradesh. On 2 June 2014 this region was promoted to statehood, with the city of Hyderabad as its capital, and called Telangana following a popular movement for separation. Don't let the newness of the state deceive you; Telangana is rich in cultural heritage and historical sites.

Telangana is landlocked and two major rivers flow through it: the Godavari River to the north and Krishna river in the south. The majority of its land is used for farming. A more cosmopolitan atmosphere can be found in the major city and capital, Hyderabad. Summers are sweltering, starting around March and lasting until May. Monsoon season occurs from June to September. The state experiences mild winters between November and early January, and this may be the best time to visit if heat or humidity are a concern.

Talk

Telugu is the official language and is spoken by the majority of the populace. However, most educated people will also be able to speak Hindi and English. Like most South Indians, Telugu people are very protective of their language and culture and will respond more readily to English than to Hindi. The exception is Hyderabad, where Hindi and Deccani Urdu are more commonly spoken.

English is widely spoken in Hyderabad and other major cities. Apart from Telugu, the major languages spoken in Hyderabad are Hindi and Urdu, Tamil in the south and Kannada in the west. Minimum knowledge of Telugu will be extremely useful (but not essential).

Get in

By plane

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad is the only international airport in Telangana. It has direct flights from many countries. International carriers are Air India, Emirates, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Srilankan Airlines and Thai Airways. Domestic connections are excellent with Air India (and their subsidiary Indian Airline), Deccan, GoAir, IndiGo, Jet Airways, JetLite and SpiceJet operating from here.

See

Hyderabad is the heart of Telangana and features a wide assortment of historical sites, bazaars, restaurants and bars.

A delightful fusion of Hindu and Muslim styles of architecture can be seen throughout the state. Many temples in Telangana are well worth visiting.

Telangana has several national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. It contains India's largest tiger sanctuary: the Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve. Please note that unrest and extremist activities in the area of and inside the sanctuary can make visiting undesirable at this current time.

Eat

Chicken Hyderabadi Biryani

Perhaps unique from its surrounding states, millet-based breads are more common in Telangana. Common dishes, known and popular in other Indian states, can be found here but may be called by a different name. Check with the locals if you are craving a particular dish and are unsure if it is offered. Curries here are often more tamarind-based and may be called koora or pulusu. In general you will find that tamarind, red chilies (koraivikaram) and asafetida are frequently used to flavor dishes.

For variety and ease of access, Hyderabad is the place to eat. Don't forget to taste Hyderabadi biryani when you go to Hyderabad, as the city is considered to be the dish's birthplace. It is spicy but worth the taste. Eat at renowned biryani restaurants like Paradise, Bawarchi, and Cafe Bahar for the best experience.

It is important not to dismiss food establishments found in the smaller villages. Many times the best and most authentic experiences can be found off the main streets.

It's been said that the farther south you travel in India, the hotter the dishes become. Keep in mind that Telangana is no exception to this rule.

Drink

A traditional alcoholic drink available in most parts of Telangana is kallu (English: toddy). This drink is extracted from two types of palm tree known as "Eetha chettu" and "Thaati chettu". Its taste is a delicious mix of sweet and sour. Kallu extracted from "Thaati Chettu" is called "Thaati Kallu". Kallu extracted from "Eetha Chettu" is called as "Eatha Kallu", which is considered good for your health when consumed fresh and on an empty stomach. The purported health benefits are especially good for persons suffering from kidney stones, chicken pox (and formerly, smallpox), and is believed among locals to cool the body.