History of Nalgonda District

Extra-ordinarily interesting unifacial Palaeolithic implements of the Soan type were found at Yeleshwaram, testifying to early human habitation.

Traces of Neolithic culture were found at Chota Yelupu, where sling stones and other objects of interest were unearthed. Megalithic burials at Tipparti, Nakrekal, Nalgonda reveal the existence of Megalithic culture.

The political history of the district commences with the Mauryas. During the reign of Ashoka, the Great, they held sway over this region. Later the region came under the overlordship of the Satavahanas.

Founder: Simuka. Languages: Prakrit, Sanskrit, Telugu. The region established trade contacts with the Roman Empire during this period. Buddhism flourished.

Ikshvakus attained control over the region and ruled with their capital Vijayapuri. During this period, Sakas and Scythians settled in this region. Buddhism flourished.

Founder: Vindhyashakti. They held sway over parts of the region before the rise of the Vishnukundins.

Founder: Indravarma (380–394 CE). Capitals: Amrabad, Indrapala (Nalgonda), Bhuvanagiri, Keesaragutta. Languages: Telugu, Sanskrit. Religion: Hinduism (Vaishnavism).

Govindavarman I (419–456 CE) issued the famous Tummalagudem inscription in his 37th regnal year, granting two villages to a Buddhist monastery built by his chief queen.

Madhavavarma IV (569–611 CE) expanded the empire to Vengi and bore the title 'Janasraya'. He had to face Chalukyan assaults in his last years.

Founder: Pulakeshin I. Pulakeshin II completed the conquest of the Vishnukundin territories in 611 CE. Languages: Kannada, Sanskrit.

Founder: Dantidurga. Inscriptions at Padaturu (913 CE) and Velamaila record grants by their subordinates. Kannada and Sanskrit were used.

They exercised sway over the district with Kollipaka (Kolanupaka) as headquarters – a subdivision of Kollipaka-7000. They were assisted by subordinate chiefs like the Kanduri Chodas.

A significant Telugu-speaking dynasty founded by Eruva Bhima I (c. 1040–1060 CE) who ruled Panugallu (Panagallu).

Bhima Chola II (c. 1077–1091 CE) expanded the territory after supporting Vikramaditya VI in a Chalukya civil war and was granted Kandurunadu (1100 villages).

Udaya Chola II (1136–1178 CE) clashed with Kakatiya Rudradeva and was forced to give his daughter Padma in marriage to Rudradeva, accepting Kakatiya suzerainty.

Kata II (1155–1199 CE) allied with Kakatiya Rudradeva and was granted Jammuluru and later Cheraku with 60 villages.

Bolla II (1199–1253 CE) served three Kakatiya monarchs and was titled Kakatiya-Kanaka-prakara ("the golden fort-wall of the Kakatiyas"). He built temples, excavated tanks, and established agraharas.

Gangaya Sahini (1239–1258 CE) was granted the title Gandapendara. He led a successful expedition against the Seuna kingdom.

Ambadeva II (1272–1294 CE) became the most powerful Kayastha chief. He revolted against the Kakatiyas, killed Rudramadevi in battle, and later moved his capital to Gandikota. He was eventually defeated by Kakatiya Prataparudra.

Permandi (1260 CE) donated lands to Brahmins during Ganapatideva's reign.

Sarangapani (1267 CE) administered Panugallu under Kakatiya Rudramadevi.

Visvanatha Maharaja (1268 CE) made a grant of Guddupalli.

Founder: Venna. Capitals: Anumakonda, Orugallu. Prola II (1116–1158 CE) brought Panagallu and surrounding areas under Kakatiya control. Rudradeva (1158–1195 CE) was the first independent Kakatiya ruler.

The greatest Kakatiya ruler, he expanded the empire to its zenith, ruling over most of Telangana and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

One of the few female rulers in Indian history. She successfully defended the kingdom but was later killed in battle by Kayastha chief Ambadeva.

Last Kakatiya ruler. In 1323 CE, Ulugh Khan (Muhammad bin Tughluq) captured Warangal, ending the Kakatiya dynasty.

Muhammad bin Tughluq appointed Kapayanayaka of the Musunuri clan to govern the region.

Kapaya Nayaka (brother of Prolaya Nayaka) is recorded in the Pillalamarri inscription (1357 CE) re-installing the god Erakesvara, which had been ruined by Alauddin Khalji.

Capitals: Rachakonda and Devarakonda. Mada Nayaka I (1361–1384 CE) and Vedagiri I (1399 CE) are recorded in inscriptions. They ruled the region until the Bahmani invasion.

Sultan Ahmad Shah I invaded Telangana in 1433 CE and occupied several forts, including Bhongir and Rachakonda. In 1455 CE, Jalal Khan rebelled but was suppressed.

Shitab Khan (Sitapati Raju) was governor of Rachakonda from 1480–1512 CE. He declared independence in 1503 CE but was subdued by the Qutb Shahis.

Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk declared independence from the Bahmanis. The region remained under Qutb Shahi rule until the Mughal conquest in 1687 CE.

1687 CE: Aurangzeb conquered Golconda. 1724 CE: Mir Qamaruddin Siddiqi (Asaf Jah I) established the Asaf Jahi dynasty. The region remained part of Hyderabad State until 1948.

17 September 1948: Operation Polo integrated Hyderabad into India. 1 November 1956: Andhra State and Telangana region were merged to form Andhra Pradesh State.

2 June 2014: Telangana was formed as the 29th state of India.

11 October 2016: The erstwhile Nalgonda district was bifurcated to create new districts. The residual Nalgonda district retained 31 mandals and 5 revenue divisions, with headquarters at Nalgonda town.

Kolanupaka was the headquarters of the Western Chalukya subdivision Kollipaka-7000. It is a renowned Jain and Buddhist centre, with inscriptions recording gifts to Jain basadis and Buddhist monasteries.

These inscriptions, written in Sanskrit and Southern characters, belong to the Vishnukundin dynasty. One set (c. 4th–5th century CE) records a grant by Govindavarman to a Buddhist vihara. Another set (566 CE) records a grant by Vikramendravarman II to the same vihara built at Indrapura.

An ancient town near the district headquarters with a massive tank (c. 1088 CE), numerous inscriptions, and structural temples. It served as a major political, trade, and religious centre under the Kandur Chodas and the Kakatiyas.

A multi-layered medieval hill fort situated in Devarakonda town. It served as a formidable stronghold for the Recherla Nayaks before later passing under the control of the Bahmanis and the Qutb Shahis.

Located on the banks of the Krishna River (now an island hillock within the Nagarjuna Sagar reservoir). Archaeological excavations at this prolific site unearthed Palaeolithic tools, megalithic burials, and historical structures spanning from the Ikshvaku and Vishnukundin eras to the Kakatiya period.