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Rangareddy District History

Formerly known as Atraf-e-Balda (meaning "Environs of the City"), Rangareddy District has historically served as the protective and economic ring surrounding Hyderabad. Formed on August 15, 1978, and named after the freedom fighter and Deputy Chief Minister Sri K.V. Ranga Reddy, it represents a fusion of ancient Deccan civilizations and modern administrative evolution.

Ranga Reddy District initial called as Hyderabad Rural was formed on 15th August, 1978 by carving out some portion of Hyderabad Urban Taluk & the merger of the entire Rural and Urban Areas of the remaining Taluks of Erstwhile Hyderabad District.

The Name of the District was Hyderabad (Rural) to begin with. It was changed as K.V. Ranga Reddy District and later on Ranga Reddy District. It was named after famous freedom fighter and Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Sri K.V. Ranga Reddy.

The district encircles the city and district of Hyderabad, and the city of Hyderabad also serves as the administrative center of the district. The district headquarters is Vikarabad. The district has 1055 villages grouped into 37 mandals.

Location : The District is located in the Central Part of the Deccan Plateau and lies between 160 30' and 180 20' of North Latitude and 77030' and 79030' of East Longitudes.

Boundaries : The District is bounded on the North by Medak District, East by Nalgonda District, South by Mahaboobnagar District, West by Gulbarga District & North West of Bidar District of Karnataka State. It covers an area of 7564.88 Sq. Kms.

Ranga Reddy District is at the cross roads of India geographically, historically and has been the meeting ground for the fusion of various civilisations, religions, races, cultures, languages and traditions with the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad as its core.

This District including present Hyderabad Urban District was formerly known as Atrafe- Balda District and was a part of the gulshanabad, Medak Division (Subah). In 1931-34 Baghat taluk from Atraf-e-Balda District was made a separate Baghat District under the Commissioner (Subedar) of Medak Division. After police Action in 1948., Atraf-a-Balda and Baghat District were merged to from the Hyderabad District. Later in 1978, it was split into Hyderabad Urban District and Hyderabad Rural District or Ranga Reddy District.

Administrative Divisions : Prior to 25-5-1985, the District was administered with 3 Revenue Divisions and 11 taluks . These Taluks had been further sub-divided into 42 Firkas, Each of which in turn consists of a Number of Villages. However 11 erstwhile Taluks were delimited into 10 Panchayat Samithis, almost coterminus with the taluks except for a few minor changes in respect of Medchal, Hayathnagar, Ibrahimpatnam, Maheshwaram and Rajendranagar Taluks.

1. Mauryan Empire (300 BCE – 185 BCE) Dakshinapatha Expansion
Deccan Plateau
Imperial Ruler: Emperor Ashoka

The central Deccan plateau, including the Rangareddy belt, was integrated into the Mauryan sphere. This era established the early trade routes that would later define the region as a "meeting ground" for various cultures.

2. Satavahana Dynasty (230 BCE – 220 CE) Imperial Sovereignty
Vassals of Mauryas (Initially)
Status: Agrarian & Trade Expansion

As the Satavahanas rose to power, the area around present-day Rangareddy became a crucial agricultural hinterland. The district's location at the "crossroads of India" began to take shape during this period of stability.

3. Ikshvaku Dynasty (220 CE – 250 CE) Post-Satavahana Transition
Vijayapuri Influence
Rulers: Ikshvaku Kings

Following the Satavahana decline, the Ikshvaku tribe asserted control. This brief but significant era saw the continued patronage of both Buddhist and Brahmanical traditions across the plateau.

4. Vakataka Dynasty (250 CE – 500 CE) Northern Deccan Hegemony
Upper Plateau Administration
Status: Imperial Influence

The Vakatakas exerted influence over the northern reaches of the district, aligning the region with the cultural and political developments of the central Indian states.

5. Vishnukundin Dynasty (500 CE – 543 CE) Indrapalanagara Era
Keesaragutta Focus
Key Site: Keesaragutta Hill Fort

The Vishnukundins left an indelible mark on the district. Keesaragutta was constructed during this period, serving as a major religious and strategic center. The dynasty controlled large parts of the region during the 5th and 6th centuries AD.

Architectural Proof

The foundations of the Keesaragutta temple and surrounding brick structures date back to this era, showcasing early medieval Telangana engineering.

6. Badami & Rashtrakuta Eras (543 CE – 982 CE) Vatapi & Manyakheta Rule
Deccan Military Axis

The Badami Chalukyas (543–753 AD) followed by the Rashtrakutas (753–982 AD) integrated Rangareddy into their vast military networks. The district served as a supply line for the continuous wars between the western and eastern powers.

7. Western Chalukyas (982 CE – 1158 CE) Kalyani Hegemony
Chilkur-70 Administration
Soma Permadi I (987 - 1006 CE)
Gangayyarasa (1006 - 1017 CE)
Pampa Permadi (1014 CE - 1069 CE)
Asagarasa (1065 AD - 1077 AD) : Kolanupaka
Key Inscription: Chilkur (September 16, 1067 AD)

Under Trailokyamalladeva, the region saw high administrative organization. Asaga Bhupati, a Rashtrakuta subordinate with titles like Chola Gaja Ghatamalla, governed this area.

Chilkur Records:

A grant was made to the Sarabesvara temple (built by Sayinimmadi Devi). It mentions Polisetti, chief of the town's merchants (Nakara), and details "Angali Siddhaya" (shop taxes) collected in various grades.

Epigraphic Detail

Saka 989: The record lists shop taxes of 1 dramma from Uttama, 6 from Madhyama, and 44 from Kanishta varieties, proving a thriving commercial economy.

8. Kakatiya & Musunuri Eras (1158 CE – 1350 CE) Orugallu Sovereignty
Telangana Liberation

The Kakatiyas brought an era of tank-building and stone architecture. After the brief Tughlaq occupation (1323–1336), the Musunuri Nayaks led a liberation struggle that restored local rule to the Rangareddy-Hyderabad plateau.

9. Bahmani Sultanate (1350 CE – 1518 CE) Gulbarga & Bidar Frontiers
Sarkar Kondurg
Status: Military Buffer Zone

The district became a battlefield between Bahmani and Vijayanagara forces. Key administrative centers included Kondurg.

Kondurg Inscription:

Dated 1470-71 AD during the reign of Muhammad Shah III. Records the construction of a mosque by Khan-i-A'zam Farhat Khan through the efforts of Maliku'sh Sharq Ma'ruf Khani.

10. Qutb Shahi & Mughal Eras (1518 CE – 1724 CE) Atraf-e-Balda
Gulshanabad Subah

Under the Qutb Shahis, Rangareddy was known as Atraf-e-Balda (Environs of the City). It was part of the Gulshanabad (Medak) Division. The Mughals continued this administrative naming after 1687, focusing on the region's revenue for the Deccan Subah.

11. Asaf Jahi Dynasty (1724 CE – 1948 CE) Baghat & Atraf-e-Balda Districts
Modern Consolidation
Formation: 1931-34 Baghat District

During the Nizam era, Baghat Taluq was made a separate district under the Medak Commissioner. After the 1948 Police Action, Baghat and Atraf-e-Balda were merged to form the unified Hyderabad District, which was later split in 1978.

Comments

  1. Government Order of Forming RR district on 15th August 1978 not Available!

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