By Srinidhi Murthy 

The state of Telangana is situated in the south-central area of the country, on the Deccan plateau. The land is blessed by two major rivers, the Krishna and the Godavari. It has witnessed the passing of many powerful kings and dynasties. 

The Name

The name Telangana comes from the word ‘Trilinga Desa’ which means the land of the three lingas. Three ancient Shiva Temples at Srisailam, Draksharam, and Kaleshwarama are found in the state. Other scholars say that the etymology of this word lies in the Telugu word ‘Telugu Angana’ meaning a place where Telugu is spoken; to differentiate it from the areas where Marathi was spoken during the reign of Nizams. 

Early History

Telangana has been governed by various dynasties such as the Chalukyas, the Kakatiyas, the Mughals and the Qutub Shahis among others. The Satavahanas ruled over a large area of the peninsula including Telangana around 1000 BCE to 300 BCE. Art and literature flourished during this period. 

Next, the Kakatiya dynasty ruled over......