Warangal District History

Orugallu or Ekashila or Warangal was the capital of Kaktiya dynasty. Warangal and Hanamkonda as legend goes is linked with the dynasties of Great "Vishnukundins" and even prior to it also of the Buddhist and pre_Buddhist periods of indian History.During Eighth Century A.D. , Warangal with an old name "Orukal" has served as Capital City of Yadava king of the Kakatiyas or Ganapatis making Warangal as Capital City.The name of Warangal "Orugallu" is said to be correct form of Orukal which is the original designation, the old town.

700 BC - 300 BC : Assaka/Asmaka/Ashmaka (The 16 Mahajanapadas)
300 BC - 185 BC : Mauryan Empire

230 BC – 220 AD : Satavahanas ( Were vassals of Mauryan Empire)​

220 AD - 250 AD : Ikshvaku Tribe

250 AD - 500 AD : Vakataka Dynasty

500 AD - 543 AD : Vishnukundins

543 AD - 753 AD : Badami Chalukyas

753 AD - 973 AD : Rashrakuta Dynasty 
Kakatiyas ruled as vassals to Rashrakuta Dynasty 
848 AD - 888 AD : Sankaraganda
It is said that many Jaina Basadis were built by Mahamandaleshwarudu Shankaragandaras of Kolanupaka during Rashtrakuta rulers period

753 AD - 756 AD : Dantidurga

973 AD - 1163 AD : Western Chalukyas (Kalyani Chalukyas) 
Bhimarasa
932-33 AD : Kajipet, Warangal District.
Dated Nandana (A.D. 932-33). Records some awards to the local officials and some specifications of fines for offences. The king’s feudatory Satyasraya Bhimarasa is referred to as Mahamandalesvara.

Kakatiyas ruled as vassals to Western Chalukyas with Kakatipura, Anumakonda (Hanumkonda), Orugallu (Warangal) as there capitals.

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. 

1003 AD - 1007 AD : Gunagarasa
1004 AD : Narayanagiri, Warangal District.
This inscription is inscribed on a boulder outside the village. It states that a certain chief named Gunagarasa who bears the titles Ekkala-sahasa, mahasamantadhipati, Satyagraha kulanvaya was ruling the kingdom, his subordinate Gamgeyarasar granted some gift to the god Mallikarjuna installed by his padida Samkamayya.

1006 AD : Narayanagiri, Warangal.
The epigraph is in Kannada and dated Saka 928 (A.D. 1006), records the conservation of the deity Mallikarjuna by a certain Gangeyya, the Sumka-verggade of kings. The king Gunagarasa belonging to Satyasraya-kula, is eulogised in the epigraph as Raja Vidyadhara, Tumgavedanga and Ekkalasahasa.

Jaffarghad, Warangal District : Rashtrakuta.
This inscription is on a rock near the tank. The record begins with the eulogy of the Rashtrakuta family and a subordinate family called Panara-kula. It records the construction of the tank by a certain Samkaraganda of Panara-kula.

Kakatiya Dynasty
1076 AD - 1108 AD: Beta II (Tribhuvana Malla)
25th December, 1082 AD : Banajipe, Narsampet 
Pillar lying near Central Primary School. Built in records the gift of land and house sites by mahamandalesvara Kakatya Betarasa to Vir[ai]kamala Jinalaya built by mahamandalesvara Madarasa of Uravadi a subordinate of Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya (VI). The latter was stated to have belonged to Vengonda-kula and to the family of Madhavavarma who was described as a possessor of 8000 elephants, 10 crores of horses and countless foot-soldiers. The inscription was written by Aryapayya and Sridhara.

26th December A.D. 1079 : Kumarapalli, Warangal District.
This inscription is near Malapochamma temple. States that on the occasion of the Solar eclipse in S. 1001, Siddharthi (A.D. 1079, December, 26th Thursday), Mahamandalesvara Betarajulu who bears the title Vikramachakri made a gift of land, a house and an oil mill free from all impediments for maintaining perpetual lamp(s) in the shrines of Prolesvara and Betesvara.

1116 AD - 1158 AD : Prolla II Brother of Durgaraja. Son of Beta II
March 4, 1120 AD : Matedu Inscription of Prola II
The Telugu inscription is on a stone in front of the Gopalaswamy temple and records the gift of lands for offerings etc., to the temples of Mahadeva, Vinayaka and Kesavadeva, consecrated by Mahasamanta Vemabola Boddama-Mallenayaka, the servant (bantu) of Mahamandalesvara Kakatiya Prolaraja on Vaddvaru su 3, of Chaitra in the year Sarvari, corresponding to the Saka year 1042= Thursday 4 March A.D. 1120.

1122 AD : Polavasa Dynasty
11th February, 1122 AD : Govindapur, Narsampet Taluk, Warangal District
This inscription is on a stone pillar erected in the tank called Komaticheruvu. Built in. Traces the genealogy of the chiefs Meda and Gunda belonging to Madhavavarmman's family and introduces Nagadeva, the minister of Gunda. States that Nagadeva was described as the follower of Meghachandra Siddhanta Deva, a Jaina pontiff of Krandrgana and Meshapashana- gacbcha who constructed the temple of Parsva Jinesvara and donated gift of lands with the consent of Medaraja. It also records the gift of lands by the merchants belonging to Vaji-kula of Sanagara.

1158 - 1323 AD : Kakatiya Dynasty Independent rule
1158 AD - 1195 AD : Rudradeva Son of Prola II
1195 AD - 1199 AD : Mahadeva Brother.
1199 AD - 1261 AD: Ganpatideva
1261 AD - 1289 AD : Rudramadevi
1289 AD - 1323 AD : Prataparudra

1310 : Malik Kafur general of Delhi Sultanate Alauddin Khilji defeated Prataprudra II and was forced to pay annual tribute to Delhi. It was probably at this time that the Koh-i-Noor diamond passed from Kakatiya ownership to that of Alauddin, along with 20,000 horses and 100 elephants

1323 : Ulug Khan son of Ghiyasuddin captured Warangal from Parataparudra II.

1323 AD - 1336 AD :  Tughlaq Dynasty (1320 AD - 1413 AD)
1323 AD - 1325 AD : Ulug Khan or Muhammad bin Tughluq (1325 AD -1351 AD)
Ghiyasuddin Tughluq's son and general Ulugh Khan (Muhammad bin Tughluq) captured Warangal in 1323, Ulugh Khan himself took over the Governorship of what is now a new province of "Teling" (Telangana) in the Sultanate. Gannaya was captured and converted to Islam, given the name Malik Maqbul and found a place in the new regime. When Ulugh Khan left for Delhi soon afterwards, he left Warangal in the charge of Malik Maqbul. Ulugh Khan succeeded Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq as the new Sultan of Delhi under the name Muhammad bin Tughluq

1325 AD - 1336 AD : Malik Maqbul or Gona Gannaya III, was a commander of the Kakatiya Empire under Prataparudra (r. 1289–1323). Marana's Markandeya Puranamu (in Telugu) names him as "Gannavibhudu" and describes him as the commander (Kataka paludu) of Warangal Fort, the capital of Kakatiyas. The term Mala Devudu (meaning "Lord") implies that he was very high up in the hierarchy.

1336 AD :  Kapaya Nayaka took control of Warangal from Malik Maqbul

1336 AD - 1368 AD : Musunuri Kapaya Nayak
1328 AD : A movement was started at Rekapalli on the bank of the Godavari under the leadership of Musunuri Prolaya Nayaka and his cousin Kapaya Nayaka

Kapaya Nayaka became the ruler in A.D.1333, after the demise of Prolaya Nayaka, and captured Warangal in 1336 AD.

Aug 3, 1347  - Feb 11, 1358 A.D : Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah 
1347 AD : In 1347 AD Bahmani Dynasty was formed by Bahman Shah who wrested deccan from delhi 

1350: Bahman Shah led his first campaign against Warangal in 1350 by Bahadur Khan and forced its ruler Kapaya Nayaka to cede to him the fortress of Kaulas in Kamareddy. 

Bahman Shah divided his kingdom into 4 provinces, the capitals of which are Gulbarga, Daulatabad, Ellichpur and Bidar. Bidar has Kandhar, Indur and Kaulas


1355 AD : Ala-ud-Din Hasan Bahman Shah attacked Telangana with a much larger army and conquered some forts, which involved Bhuvanagiri. 

March 23, 1363 : Vinayaka Deva, the son of Kaapaya was sent to free the fort of Bhuvanagiri and Kaulas from Bhaman Shah. He was being helped by Bukka Raya, the king of Vijayanagar. However, eventually he was killed in a disastrous manner.

Mahumad Shah sent Azami-i-Humayun to occupy Golconda and the expedition against Warangal was led by Saffdar Khan Sistani with the army of Berar. 

Kapaya Nayak fled from his capital and took refuge in the jungles, at the same time sending many of his most trusty and able couriers to Bahadur Khan  to entreat him to use his influence to sign a treaty with Bahadur Khan as  intermediary. 

Muhamad Shah retied to Bidar and left Azami-i-Humayun in Golconda and Bahadur Kahn in Kaulas to see that terms of peace were fulfilled. 


1364 AD : Warangal was ceded by the Musunuri Kapaya Naidu to the Bahmani Sultanate as part of a treaty in 1364. Signed a treaty with three hundred elephants, thirteen lake of huns, and two hundred horses.  In a second audience the envoys presented to Muhammad Shah a precious turquoise throne of warangal (jeweled throne ) which had originally been  made by Prataparudradeva II for Muhammad bin Tugghlaq. This throne, which was afterwards known as the takht-i-firusa was made of ebony and was three yards in length and two and half in breadth. It was overlaid with plates of gold heavily jeweled which were removable and packed in box for travelling. In the reign of Mahumad Shah the throne was valued at ten millions of huns or 400,000 pounds. Muhamad Shah, in consideration of this splendid gift gave a solemn undertaking that he would regard Golconda as his frontier and would not seek warangal unless the raja should break the peace.


1368 AD : Recherla Nayakas Anavotha nayaka, son of Singama nayaka along with his brother Mada nayaka, fought several battles with the Kondaveeti Reddy rulers and Vijayanagara rulers. He also killed the Musunuri ruler Kapaya nayaka in 1368. He conquered the Warangal, Panagallu and Bhuvanagiri forts and took the title of “Tribhuvana Rayarao’.

1368 AD - 1383 AD : Recherla Anavotha nayaka (1361 AD - 1383 AD)
Capital : Rachakonda

1383 AD - 1399 AD : Recherla Singama nayaka-II / Singabhupala-II

1399 AD -1421 AD : Recherla Anavotha Nayaka-II
Anapotanayaka mounted a successful campaign in 1417 AD against Panugallu. During the campaign the Bahamani sultan Tajuddin Ferozshah laid siege to Panugallu. At that time Panugallu was under the Vijayanagara kings. The Recherla Nayaks also went along with their armies to help Ferozshah, but during the campaign their relations soured. Seeing the opportunity Devaraya I negotiated with the Velamanayakas and turned them into his favor. During a fierce battle at Panagallu fort the Velamanayakas like Anapotanayaka came over to the side of Devaraya along with their armies. Due to this Ferozshah ‘s assumed victory turned into defeat and he could barely escape and reach his capital Gulbarga. Anapotanayaka died during this battle in 1421 AD.

1421 AD - 1430 AD : Recherla Mada Nayaka II  of Devarakonda
After Anapotanayaka, his brother Madanayaka came to the throne in 1421 AD.,probably because Anapotanayaka’s eldest son Singamanayaka was too young to assume charge.

1423 AD : Khan-i-Azam Abdul Latif Khan Governor of Telangana

1424 AD : After the battle of Panagallu, the recherla's maintained enmity with the Bahmani Sultans and helped the Vijayanagara rulers in every way they could. During the battle between Ahmed Shah (Bahmani sultan) and Devaraya-II in 1424, Madanayaka helped the latter. Because of this, though Ahmed Shah made peace with Devaraya.


1425 AD : Khan-i-Azam Abdul Latif Khan

1425 AD : after the battle was over, he sent his deputy, Azam Khan to capture Warangal (kingdom of Mada nayaka). In this battle, Azam Khan captured not only Warangal,but also many forts in Rachakonda and Devarakonda kingdoms.


When Ahmad Shah was immersed in a war with the Sultan of Gujarat, the Rachakonda kings recovered all their lost forts.


1430 AD - 1458 AD : Recherla Singama Nayaka III son of Anavotha Nayaka II
In Devarakonda, the contemporary of Mummadi Singhabhupala was the son of Kumara Madanayaka, known as Lingamanayaka. Lingamanedu was very valiant in battle and at the age of 12 years itself, he led the forces and fought a battle. The Vamsavali attributes a lot of victories to him, but many of them could not be confirmed. However, it is certain that Lingamanedu’s attack on the Rajamahendravaram Reddy kingdom weakened and destroyed it. 

The Recherla Nayaks of Rachakonda and Devarakonda supported the Bahamani Sultan’s for sometime, the Vijayanagara kings for sometime and the Gajapati’s of Orissa for sometime and fought with their respective enemies.

1457 AD : Sanjar Khan as Governor of Telingaṇa conferring Bhongir as Jagir on him

1458 AD - 1460 AD : Sanjar Khan general of Humayun Bahman Shah 
Captured warangal in 1458 AD and ceased to exist as independent kingdom and marched against Devarakonda. Recherla Lingama Nayaka sought help from Orissa Gajapathis.

Sanjar Khan was fighting the ‘Uriah leader of Telingana’, who had ‘nearly two hundred thousand elephants’. This could be none other than the Gajapati king, and the way in which he is referred to shows that he was the ruler of the neighbouring kingdom.

Firishta says that the motive that led the Gajapati king to help the Raja of Devarakonda was the temptation of the ‘offers of great sums of money’ by the Raja of Devarakonda.

1460 AD: Gajapati Kapileswara of Orissa
2nd February, 1460 A.D : conquest of Warangal Fort by Kapilesvara's son Hambira or Ambira and Raghudeva was the second in command. It is interesting to note that Hambira`s inscription is found on the eastern gate of the Warangal fort while Raghudeva`s record is incised on its western gate, locally known as the fifth gate. This appears to show that the two leaders of the Gajapati forces led the attack on the Warangal fort from two different sides. 

The conquest of Warangal by the generals of Kapileswara is one of the events in the struggle between the Bahmanis of Gulbarga and the Gajapatis of Orissa. Varumgallu(Warangal) within the domination of Umainusaha (saha) described as the Suratana of Kalubaraga, i.e. the Bahmani Sultan Humayan Shah (1458-61 A.D.) of Gulbarga

This land is stated to have been situated in the western tract of the Andhra country which formed a part of 
Bharatavarsha lying in the Jambudvipa section of the earth. This is in consonance with the old conception according to which Jambu-dvipa was one of the four or seven dripas constituting the earth.

The inscription is important as it confirms the statement of Firishta that the Gajapati king intervened in the political affairs of Telingana to the detriment of the interests of the Bahmani kingdom. Firishta states that when the Bahmani forces besieged Devarakonda, the Gajapati king sent some forces to help the ruler of Devarakonda. It was probably this same expeditionary force that marched to Warangal after relieving Devarakonda, and under the command of Ambira-deva succeeded in capturing the Warangal fort. The name of the fort, Varumgallu, is interesting as a development from Orugallu.  


1460 AD - 1464 AD : Dharma Nayaka son of Singama Nayaka III
1462 A.D: Shayampet inscription - Dharmanayudu / Dharmanayaka, brother of Singama nayaka-III was appointed as the ruler of Warangal. However, now Recherla Nayaks became the tributaries of the Gajapatis of Orissa.

21st April, A.D. 1464 : Sayampeta, Parakal 
This long but incomplete inscription belongs to the Recherla chiefs, and records the gift of the village of Muccherla together with Mandapalle in Kothagattu sthala included, in the Voruganti Sima, with all the rights together with all the cultivators (Krishi valulu) on the occasion of lunar eclipse to God Tiruvengalesvara of Machcherla and to 12 Ayyangars and 12 Mahajanas both numbering 24 by Ravu Dharma Naidu’s son of Pinnamanayadu and Singamamba, grandson of Peda Anapotanayaka. The chief bears all the usual titles of the Recheria chiefs including, Kakatirajya Sthapana Acharya. The gifted village was divided into 34 vrittis of which 10 vrittis were allotted for the God Tiruvengalesvara of Macherla. 12 vrittis to Ayyangars and 12 vrittis to Mahajana and for the 24 murttis. On the second side, the name of the donors with their gotras and pedigrees are given. This is dated in S. 1386, Tarona, Vaisakha Su. 15. Vaddavara, Lunar eclipse; corresponding to Sunday 21st April, 1464 A.D.

This inscription is on a stone pillar erected about two furlongs off from Venkateswara temple, dated S. 1386, Tarana, Vaisakha su 15, Saturday, Lunar eclipse, (A.D. 1464, April 21). This inscription records the gift of villages Maccherla and Mada situated in Kottagattu sthala and Warangallu sima, by Dharmanayaka son of Pinnamanayaka, grandson of Peda- singamanayaka, and great grandson of Peda Annavota Nayaka of the Recherla family to the god Tiruvengaleswara of Maccherla, 12 ayyangars and 12 mahajanas. It is interesting to note that vrittis 10 to the god, 12 to the ayyangars and 12 to the mahajanas altogether 34 vrittis were granted to the donees together with the cultivators attached to them. The inscription contains a long list of the donees with their parentage and gotras.

1464 AD : Sultan Mohammad Shah Bahmani dispatched Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk to the Telangana region to quell disturbances. Sultan Quli quelled the disturbance and was rewarded as the administrator of the region.

1475 AD : Azam Khan son of Sikandar Khan
Warangal was placed under Prince Azam Khan, son of Sikandar Khan. This arrangement was not liked by Nizam - ul - Mulk who really wanted to govern the whole of Telangana and therefore resolved on the destruction of its author Mahmud Gawan.

Jul 30, 1463 - Mar 26, 1482 A.D : Muhammad Shah-lll
Mar 26, 1482 - Dec 27, 1518 AD : Mahmood Shah Bahmani II
1482 AD - 1503 AD : Adil Khan Deccani Governor
Yusuf Adil Shah (1450–1510), referred as Adil Khan or Hidalcão by the Portuguese, was the founder of the Adil Shahidynasty that ruled the Sultanate of Bijapur for nearly two centuries. As the founder of the newly formed Bijapur dynasty (as the Adil Shahi dynasty is also known), Yusuf Adil Shah is credited with developing the town of Bijapur and elevating it to significant status.

1503 AD - 1564 AD: Shitab Khan or Sitadu or Sitapati Raju ruled from Rachakonda, Warangal and Khammam forts.
The evidence relating to Shitab Khan may be divided into four distinct groups, the first relating to Shitab Khan of about A.D. 1460, the amir of the Bahmani ruler Humayun, and the second to the hero of the Warangal inscription dated A.D. 1504. The third group of evidence relates to the opponent of Krsna-deva-raya of Vijayanagara about A.D. 1516, during his Kalinga campaigns, and the last to the contemporary of Ibrahimi Qutb Shah for whom we have the date A.D. 1570.

21th January, A.D. 1504 : This inscription is on four sides of a red stone pillar lying in front of Sambhunigudi in the fort. Dated Saka 1425 (tattva-devavaraja-vibhu), Raktasamvamin (Rudhirodgarin), Magha su. 5, Sunday=1504 A.D., January 21. Records the capture of Warangal and the restoration of certain temples in it by Sitapa-Khana of the Bhogi family whose ancestry and exploits are  described at length.

1504 AD : In 1504 Qutb-ul-mulk defeated the combined forces of Sitab Khan also known as Sitaram the chief of Khammammel and Warangal and Raja Ramacandra of Orissa by marching on Warangal.

1512 AD : Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk  defeated Shitab Khan to capture Khammam fort. 

21st January, A.D. 1564 : Warangal,
This inscription is situated near the Southern Torana, Sambunigudi. The inscription records the exploits of Chittapakhana of the Bhogi-kula, son of Manaya and Gauramba and grandson of Naga. He conquered Rajadri and other forts. Having vanquished the Muhammadans, wrested from them the beautiful city of Ekasilapuri formerly ruled by the Kakatiya kings. For the worship of the gods and brahmanas he reinstalled the images of the god Panchalaraya (Krishna), of the goddess Kakati the Lakshmi of the Kakatiya kingdom, and of Siva, the primaeval and self-existent of lord removed by the Turushkas in their respective shrines. Chittapakhana had two wives, Devambika and Anumamba. By the former he had two sons, Avadutakhan and Puramtaka; and by the latter he had three sons, Amara, Bhogi and Rama. The inscription was composed by Madhava, son of Annarya of Apastamba-sutra and Bharadvaja-gotra and was set up on Adivara, Magha su.5 of the year Rudhirodgari, Saka 1425 (Sunday, 21st January, A.D. 1564).

1518 AD : Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk declared Independence

1509 AD – 1529 AD : Vijayanagara Empire (Tuluva dynasty) - Krishna Deva Raya Rule

1518 AD – 1687 AD : Qutbshahis / Golconda Sultanate


After krishnadevaraya this area came under the rule of golconda qutubshahis.abdul hasan tanisha was the last ruler whose employee was kancharla gopanna whose name was known as bhadrachala ramadas.Ministers akkana,madanna were from warangal.In 1636, Shah Jahan forced the Qutb Shahis to recognize Mughal suzerainty, which lasted until 1687 when the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb conquered the Golcondan sultanate.
1687 AD - 1724 AD : Mughal Empire 1713 : Mir Qamaruddin Siddiqi was appointed governor by the Mughals.1724 : Mir Qamaruddin Siddiqi was granted the control of Hyderabad by the Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah with the title Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah after defeating the rival from Maratha Empire.
1724 AD - 1948 AD : Asaf Jahis
1798 : Hyderabad became the first Indian royal state to accede to British protection under the policy of Subsidiary Alliance instituted by Arthur Wellesley.
1946 - 1951 : Telangana Rebellion
Aug 15, 1947 : Indian Independence from British. Osman Ali Khan ASAF Jahi VII chose to remain independent.
Sep 17, 1948 : Operation Polo, was a military operation ordered by then Indian Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on Sep 13 1948 in which the Indian Armed Forces invaded the State of Hyderabad and overthrew its Nizam on Sep 17 1948, integrating Hyderabad in to India.
Sep 17, 1948 - Oct 31, 1956 : Hyderabad State, India.

Sep 17 1948 - Dec 31 1949 : Major General J. N. Chaudhuri who led Operation Polo stayed on as Military Governor.
26 January 1950 - 31 October 1956 : Last Nizam, Osman Ali Khan ASAF Jahi VII as Rajpramukh. Rajpramukh was an administrative title in India which existed from India's independence in 1947 until 1956. Rajpramukhs were the appointed governors of certain of India's provinces and states.
26 Jan, 1950 - 6 March, 1952 : M. K. Vellodi was Chief Minister of the state appointed by Government of India.
6 March, 1952 - 31 October 1956 : In the 1952 Legislative Assembly election, Dr. Burgula Ramakrishna Rao was elected Chief minister of Hyderabad State.
1 November, 1956 - 1 June, 2014 : Andhra Pradesh State, India
Andhra State and Telangana region of Hyderabad State were merged to form Andhra Pradesh State, India.
2 June, 2014 : Telangana, India.


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