History of Karimnagar District

The Parbhani plates of the Vemulavada Chalukya ruler Arikesari III, dated S. 888 (A.D. 996), register the gift of Kuttum-vritti Vanikatupalu in the Repaka-12 in the Sabbi-Sayira (1000) district. This is the earliest specific inscriptional record associated with the wider historical region from which the present Karimnagar District was later constituted.

Arikesari III was the last known ruler of the Vemulavada Chalukya dynasty of present-day Telangana. He was a vassal of the Rashtrakuta king Krishna III.

The record places Repaka and the Sabbi-Sayira district within the administrative framework of the Vemulavada Chalukyas in the late 10th century.

Source: Parbhani plates of Vemulavada Chalukya Arikesari III, S. 888 (A.D. 996).

Sabbi-nadu is mentioned in medieval inscriptions and early Telugu literary works. The Parbhani plates of Arikesari III refer to the Sabbi-Sayira (1000) district.

The Western Chalukya Vikramaditya VI conferred on the Kakatiya chief Beta II the Sabbi-Thousand as an appanage. An inscription of the time of Kakati Rudra, dated S. 1092 (A.D. 1170), mentions Nagarur in Sabbi-nadu.

Madiki Singana, in the introduction to his Padmapurana-Uttarkhandam, states that his patron Muppa Mahipala was ruling from his capital Ramagiri-pattana over Sabbi-nadu, situated on the southern bank of the Gautami (Godavari). Veligandla Kesana, the commander of the army, built a temple for the god Vishnu in Ramagiri and set up a satra (free feeding house), and celebrated festivals of god Nrisimha in Dharmapuri.

The places Repaka, Nagarur, Ramagiri and Dharmapuri mentioned above are all found in the present Karimnagar district or the wider old Karimnagar region. Parts, if not the whole, of this area must have corresponded to the Sabbi-Thousand district of ancient Telingana.

Padmanabhayya was a maha samanta and maha prachanda figure associated with the region. An inscription from Durki, Banswada, mentions a certain maha samanta and maha prachanda Padmanabhayya. The beginning of the inscription is lost, and the grant portion is damaged. It mentions Gavundas and Ganuga Sunka (levy on oil mill).

1011 AD: Padmanabhayya was in charge of Lombulike-Seventy at the time of the issue of this inscription and the one issued in Saka 933. Chilkur appears to have been the headquarters of this division, since a subsequent inscription dated A.D. 1096 of the time of Vikramaditya VI clearly states that this Chilkur was the capital (rajadhani) of the Lombulike-Seventy.

The record belongs to the reign of the Western Chalukya king Ahavamalla Somesvara I, who ruled from A.D. 1042 to 1068.

The inscription registers the gift consisting of 40 gold gadyanas, remission of tax on perika in the grama of Marpugonda, one punasa of wetland along with 100 ratanas and 2 mattars of garden land as Nandanavana, and 15 mattars of Kisukadu situated to the north of the grama Suvipaka included within Atukuru-70 of Sabbi-1000 by Chamaraja, a Mahajana and the Lord of Suvupaka agrahara, and his wife Sri Marakabbe, to the temple of the god Trailokya Narayana, built by them and named after their overlord Somesvara I Trailokyamalla.

The gift was made by the assembly of the Mahajengs for the purpose, headed by Chamaraja and Revaraja. To this the residents of the four sthanas of Arangaluru, Vachhanuru and Suvipaka were made witnesses. The record was engraved by Padmanabhayya and composed by Narayana.

Source: Inscriptional record cited in Karimnagar historical material, Narasingapuram.

This inscription is on a stone lying in Ramalaya. It registers the gift of a ratana (momta) to a temple, name not clear, by mahasamanta Cha[mda]yyarasar of Remgomda (village) on the occasion of the solar eclipse.

Source: Inscriptional record cited in Karimnagar historical material, Potlapalli.

Beta II, also known as Tribhuvana Malla, was a Kakatiya chief. The Western Chalukya Vikramaditya VI conferred on him the Sabbi-Thousand as an appanage. This shows the close political relationship between the Kakatiyas and the Western Chalukyas during this period.

The Western Chalukyas, also known as the Kalyani Chalukyas, emerged after the decline of Rashtrakuta power. Their centres included Manyakheta and later Kalyani, present-day Basavakalyan in Karnataka. Their period forms part of the broader medieval political history of the Deccan and northern Telangana.

The Vemulavada Chalukyas were an important feudatory dynasty associated with the Rashtrakutas. They ruled Karimnagar and Nizamabad and the north-western part of the Telangana region, with Vemulavada as their capital. Their dynasty is traced to Pulakeshin II, the Badami Chalukya king.

Arikesari III was the last known ruler of the Vemulavada Chalukya dynasty of present-day Telangana. He was a vassal of the Rashtrakuta king Krishna III. The Parbhani plates of Arikesari III, dated S. 888 (A.D. 996), register the gift of Kuttum-vritti Vanikatupalu in the Repaka-12 in the Sabbi-Sayira (1000) district.

The Kakatiyas ruled as vassals to the Kalyani Chalukyas and started ruling over a small territory comprising the southern portion of modern-day Warangal district and parts of neighbouring Karimnagar district, with Anumakonda (Hanumakonda) as their capital.

The Polavasa chiefs were based immediately north of the Kakatiya territories. They ruled over most of Karimnagar district and the northern part of Warangal district from their capital at Polavasa, which is the modern-day Polas in Jagtial taluk. The Polavasa chiefs were subordinates of the Western Chalukyas, but revolted against their overlords during the early 12th century. However, they were eventually subdued by King Jagadekamalla II.

The Kakatiyas became the dominant political power in much of the Telangana region, with their principal capitals at Hanumakonda and later Warangal.

The Kakatiya period had a major influence on the political, economic and cultural development of Telangana.

Kataya Nayaka, son of Rajanayaka and Ravvamamba, is associated with an inscription at Godiasla (Upparapally), Huzurabad, dated 24 January 1236 CE.

Kataya set up temples to Shiva, tanks and gardens, and granted the village Pincharapaili to the deity Panchalinga. His other gifts of lands and gardens at several places and the levy of amgadi-sunkomu for the worship and offerings to the gods are also recorded.

Source: Inscriptional record cited in Karimnagar historical material, Godiasla (Upparapally), Huzurabad.

Assaka, also known as Asmaka or Ashmaka, was one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas mentioned in early Buddhist literature. Its territory is generally associated with the Godavari region and parts of present-day Maharashtra and Telangana.

The traditional identification of Potana, Potali or Paudanya with Bodhan is associated with the Asmaka tradition. Bodhan, however, is in present-day Nizamabad District, not Karimnagar District.

Historical note: The Asmaka connection is relevant to the wider northern Telangana historical landscape but should not be presented as evidence that the present Karimnagar district headquarters was the Asmaka capital.

The northern Telangana region came within the wider political and cultural sphere of the Mauryan Empire. The precise extent of Mauryan administrative control over the area corresponding to modern Karimnagar is not sufficiently established to assign a precise local reign period.

The Satavahanas were one of the major early historic powers of the Deccan. Their political and commercial networks extended across substantial parts of present-day Telangana, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.

Kotilingala is described in the source tradition as the first capital of the Satavahana Kingdom. Kotilingala was historically part of the wider Karimnagar region, but it is now located in present-day Jagtial District. Its evidence should therefore be described as part of the wider regional history rather than as a site within present-day Karimnagar District.

Note: The source labels the Satavahanas as vassals of the Mauryan Empire. This should be treated as a simplified chronological label rather than a precise political status.

The Ikshvakus are placed in this sequence from c. 220–250 AD in the source. Their history forms part of the wider early Deccan political landscape. The precise extent of their control over the area corresponding specifically to modern Karimnagar is not sufficiently documented to assign a fixed local period.

The Vakatakas were a major Deccan power. Their influence extended across parts of present-day Maharashtra, Telangana and neighbouring regions. The precise administrative status of the present Karimnagar area during individual Vakataka reigns is not sufficiently documented to assign a fixed local period.

The Vishnukundins were an important Deccan dynasty. Their history is relevant to the wider medieval Deccan, although the surviving evidence does not justify treating every part of modern Karimnagar as their directly administered territory.

The Badami Chalukyas, based at Vatapi (Badami), became a major power in the Deccan. Their influence extended across large parts of present-day Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra regions at different times.

The Rashtrakutas, who established their principal capital at Manyakheta, controlled extensive areas of the Deccan. Their political influence included territories in present-day Telangana and neighbouring regions.

In 1323, the forces of the Delhi Sultanate defeated the Kakatiyas at Warangal. Ulugh Khan, the commander who led the campaign, later became Muhammad bin Tughluq. Warangal was incorporated into the Delhi Sultanate and was known for a period as Sultanpur.

The Musunuri Nayaks led a major rebellion against Tughlaq rule and took control of Warangal. Their period forms an important stage in the political history of Telangana after the end of Kakatiya rule.

The Bahmani Sultanate was established in 1347 under Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah. Its principal capitals included Gulbarga and later Bidar. The Bahmani period formed an important stage in the political history of the Deccan.

The Vijayanagara Empire, under the Tuluva dynasty, reached a major political and cultural peak during the rule of Krishna Deva Raya (1509–1529 AD). His reign is relevant to the wider Deccan and Telangana historical landscape.

After the breakup of the Bahmani Sultanate, the Qutb Shahi dynasty established the Golconda Sultanate in 1518. Golconda became an important centre of political and commercial activity in the Deccan.

In 1636, the Qutb Shahi state accepted Mughal suzerainty under the settlement associated with Emperor Shah Jahan and his Deccan policy. Mughal rule became direct after Aurangzeb conquered Golconda in 1687.

After the conquest of Golconda in 1687, the territory became part of the Mughal imperial system in the Deccan.

In 1713, Mir Qamar-ud-din Khan was appointed governor of the Deccan and received the title Nizam-ul-Mulk. In 1724, he established effective independent control over Hyderabad after defeating the Mughal governor Mubariz Khan at the Battle of Shakar Kheda.

The Asaf Jahi dynasty ruled Hyderabad from the establishment of Nizam-ul-Mulk’s independent authority in 1724 until the integration of Hyderabad State into the Indian Union in 1948.

In 1798, Hyderabad entered into the Subsidiary Alliance system with the British East India Company under Governor-General Lord Wellesley.

Following the Indian military action known as Operation Polo in September 1948, Hyderabad State was integrated into the Indian Union. The Karimnagar region subsequently remained part of Hyderabad State until the reorganization of Indian states in 1956.

Under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, the Telugu-speaking Telangana region of Hyderabad State was merged with Andhra State to form the new State of Andhra Pradesh.

The demand for a separate Telangana state became a major political movement in 1969 and re-emerged strongly during the later statehood movement of the 2000s and early 2010s.

The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 created Telangana as a separate state, with the new state coming into existence on 2 June 2014.

During the Telangana district reorganization in 2016, the old undivided Karimnagar District was reorganized. The modern district structure includes Karimnagar, Jagtial, Peddapalli and Rajanna Sircilla districts, with Karimnagar town as the headquarters of Karimnagar District.

Because of this reorganization, several places historically associated with the old Karimnagar region — such as Kotilingala, Vemulavada and Polavasa / Polas — now fall in neighbouring districts. They are retained here as part of the wider historical context.

Source: Government of Telangana district administration and reorganization records.

The city of Karimnagar was named after Syed Karimuddin, who is thought to be its founder. This attribution forms part of the city’s local historical tradition.

Historical caution: The Syed Karimuddin attribution should be treated as an established local and official tradition rather than as independently verified ancient evidence.