Vikarabad District, located in the western part of Telangana, is historically part of the Deccan plateau and Manjira river basin. The region's strategic position made it a crossroads for major South Indian dynasties. Historically, it was part of the Rashtrakuta, Chalukya, Kakatiya administrative networks and later integrated into the Hyderabad State under the Nizams.
Vikarabad District in Telangana State, India was formed on October 11, 2016, with 18 mandals from the erstwhile Rangareddy and Mahaboobnagar Districts.
Vikarabad is also known as Gangawaram (ancient name) and is a town named after the 5th Amir of Paigah (1881-1902) and the Prime Minister of Hyderabad, Nawab Sir Vicar-ul-Umra Bahadur. Dharur and Ananthagiri hills were known as the mini hill stations of the Deccan.
The Paigah family was a noble family from the former Hyderabad State. The family maintained their own court, individual palaces, and a standing army of about fourteen thousand infantry and cavalry troops.
Vikarabad had much natural beauty — hills and valleys, lakes, and dense forests with abundant wildlife. “Hunting was a popular sport. But no outsider was allowed except the Nizam and the Paigah family. The village of Machanapalli attracted lots of birds, including migratory birds and partridges. By 1898-99, the population of the newly founded town rose to 1029 — 441 men, 269 women, and 319 children,” Faiz Khan said.
Sir Vicar built Vicar Manzil, a palatial mansion for himself, Sultan Manzil for his son Nawab Sultan-Ul-Mulk, besides a railway station, Paigah police station, post office, hospital, Vikarabad Bazaar, and a wooden hunting lodge which he had imported from London in 1882. He later gifted these to Nizam VI, Nawab Mir Mahboob Ali Khan Bahadur.
Sir Vicar Ul Umra, known to be the founding father of the game of polo in India, established two polo grounds in Vikarabad. There were five places of worship — Vikarabad Mosque, Aashoor Khana, Darga Alam Shaheed R.U.A, Anantha Padman-abha Swamy Temple (after which Ananthagiri Hills were named), and the church built by Rev. Gathwan.
The River Musi starts from Ananthagiri Hills and flows through the city of Hyderabad even today, though it is now just a mere trickle.
Vikarabad District has 2 Revenue Divisions:
- Vikarabad Revenue Division: Marpalle, Mominpet, Nawabpet, Vikarabad, Pudur, Kulkacherla, Doma, Pargi, Dharur, Kotepally, Bantwaram mandals from Rangareddy District.
- Tandur Revenue Division: Basheerabad, Doulthabad, Tandur, Peddemul, Yelal mandals from Rangareddy District, and Kodangal, Bommaraspet mandals from Mahaboobnagar District.
The district is spread over an area of 3,386.00 square kilometres (1,307.34 sq. mi). Its boundaries are shared with the districts of Sangareddy, Rangareddy, Mahaboobnagar in Telangana state and Karnataka state. As of the 2011 Census of India, the district has a population of 927,140.
The ancient Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple, located in Ananthagiri Hills, draws many visitors. Lord Vishnu is in the form of Sri Anantha Padmanabha Swamy, and Ananthagiri is named after the main deity. The district is also home to many other temples, such as Pambanda Ramlingeshwara Temple, Bhavigi Bhadreshwara Temple, Bugga Rameshawaram, Bhukailas, Ekambareshwar, Jhuntupally Rama, and Kodangal Venkateshwara Swamy temples.
Projects such as Kotipally, Jhuntupally, Laknapur, and Sarpan Pally cater to the irrigation needs of the district, besides being places of tourist interest.
Tandur, one of the important towns in the district, is the industrial hub. Tandur is the main producer and distributor of blue & yellow limestone and is also famous for Redgram (Pigeon pea) production. Laterite and other stone mines, cement factories, and many toor dal mills located in and around Tandur employ many people.
More than 50 unique sculptures, dating from the 8th to 13th centuries, were discovered scattered in neglect in Kankal village. These artifacts were documented by renowned archaeologist and CEO of Pleach India Foundation, Emani Shivanagi Reddy.
The sculptures represent multiple dynasties and religious traditions:
- 8th century: Ganesha and Nandi sculptures from Badami Chalukya period.
- 9th century: Jain sculptures of Parsvanatha and Mahavira, Yaksha and Yakshani from Rashtrakuta period.
- 11th century: Naga deities from Kalyani Chalukya era.
- Later period: Saptamatrika sculptures and stone artifacts from Kakatiya period.
Two ancient inscriptions, warrior sculptures, and other artifacts were also found, many damaged during battles, highlighting the site's rich but neglected heritage.
Kankal village is confirmed as a millennium-old Digambara Jain site, alongside Chilukuru (Rangareddy district) and Ellakonda (Vikarabad district). The site reflects historical importance across Jain, Shaiva, and Shakta traditions.
Archaeologist Reddy has urged authorities to declare Kankal as a heritage village and develop it as a tourist destination, emphasizing urgent preservation measures for these artifacts.
No confirmed inscriptions from Vikarabad. Likely occupied by megalithic agricultural communities along the Manjira basin and rocky areas around the Ananthagiri Hills.
Megalithic tribes and clan chiefs overseeing settlements along river plains and forested hill regions.
Megalithic sites, including dolmens, cist burials, and other stone structures, have been recorded near Ananthagiri Hills and around Damagundam Ramalingeshwara Swami Temple. These indicate early human settlement, although no direct inscriptions have been found in Vikarabad itself.
The Ananthagiri Hills, about 70–75 km from Hyderabad, form a dense forested area holding both prehistoric megalithic remains and modern cultural sites, making the region significant for archaeological exploration.
No confirmed inscriptions in Vikarabad. Region likely under southern frontier surveillance via Manjira settlements.
Managed indirectly via village heads and frontier guards.
Mauryan coins and pottery found in surrounding districts; no direct epigraphic evidence in Vikarabad.
No direct inscriptions in Vikarabad, but influence extended via Kondapur-Kalwakurthy trade routes.
Village elders and minor governors managing trade and agriculture.
Coins and Satavahana pottery fragments in neighboring districts; no direct Vikarabad evidence.
No confirmed rule in Vikarabad. Influence inferred from nearby Kondapur mint and trade networks.
Likely limited influence; presence in Manjira basin speculative.
While no direct inscriptions are found in Vikarabad, Kankal village yielded 8th century Ganesha and Nandi sculptures from the Badami Chalukya period, highlighting the dynasty’s cultural and religious reach into the region. Neighboring Medak and Ranga Reddy inscriptions provide additional administrative context.
- Mahamandaleshwar Kundamarasa (1015 - 31 CE) : 1028 CE (December): (Irivabedagadevara (997-1008CE) putra), 'Banavasipuravaresvara', Lombaliki-70 pranthavannu adalita maduttiddaru.
- Satyashraya II (1031 CE) : In a record from AD 1031 (Kodugere inscription), Satyashraya, son of Kundamarasa makes a land grant and is praised with epithets reflecting his status and military prowess, showing that he was an active ruler and benefactor in his own right.
- 1101 CE: Jakkanabbe Arasi (Tribhuvanamallara rani) issued land grants in the region.
- c. 1090–1120 CE: Maha-Pasayita Pemmarasa – High Imperial Official (Chief of the Royal Household) under Vikramaditya VI.
- 1120–1132 CE: Mahamandalika Singarasa (son of Maha-Pasayita Pemmarasa). During this period, he oversaw the Bemmi-100 and Muliki-300 divisions.
- 1129–1132 CE: Bijjarasa (Local Chief), Somideva Preggada, mattu Gavunda (Bemminayaka, Nabhanayaka) managed local temple endowments in Kankalla-24.
- 5 December 1028 CE (Mittakandala): King Jagadeka Malla-I and Kundamarasa donated land in Mitta Kadambura to Gundana Basadi.
- 28 October 1101 CE (Chandippa): Grant by Queen Jakkanabbe of 6 mas Keriya and Gadde land to Somesvara temple.
- 6 March 1120 CE (Chintamani Patnam): Singarasa recorded a gift of 4 mas Nirunela under the Hiriya-kere tank in Bemmi-100.
- 8 January 1132 CE (Kankal): Inscription from the 6th regnal year of Someswara III (Chalukya-Vikrama Year 56) detailing local administration by the Choudaries and Gavundas under the broader authority of the Mahamandalika.
- Recherla Nayakas: Military leaders holding Nayankara (land assignments) for administrative and military service.
- Sthala-Karanam: Officials managing revenue and land records for the Andola-Sthala unit.
- Ayagars: A formalized system of twelve village functionaries (including Gowda, Karanam, and Talari) overseeing local governance.
- Anumakonda Inscription (1163 CE): Rudradeva records the submission of the western regions (formerly under Chalukya Tailapa III) to Kakatiya sovereignty.
- Land Management: Transition from numerical districts (like Muliki-300) to the Sthala system for more intensive agrarian control.
- Tehsildar: Revenue and judicial head of the Vikarabad Taluka.
- Paigah Ameers: Specifically the Vikar-ul-Umra branch, who held the region as a private estate (Elaka).
- Patel & Patwari: Hereditary village officers managing the Girdawari (land inspection) and revenue collection.
- Zila-bandi Records (1864): Official gazettes defining the boundaries of the Medak Zilla.
- 1893 CE : Vikrabad Name change - The ancient settlement of Gangawaram was renamed Vikarabad in the late 19th century following its development as a private estate by the Amir-e-Paigah, Nawab Sir Viqar-ul-Umra. Between 1881 and 1893 CE, the construction of royal mansions and the Nawab’s elevation to Prime Minister led to the official adoption of the name in the Medak Zilla administrative records. Despite this formal change, the original name survived for decades in revenue documents as Gangawaram-paiki, preserving the link to the town’s inscriptional past.
- Revenue Maps: Cadastral maps showing Khalsa (State) and Jagir lands.
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