Warangal, the erstwhile capital of the great Kakatiya Kingdom which ruled during 12th- 14th century, is presently an ushering industrial and cultural centre in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. The Warangal city is credited as the fifth largest city in the state and has the historical legacy of being known as Oruguallu or Omtikonda or Ekasilanagaram mainly due to the existence of a huge hillock seems to be carved out of one stone.
It is assumed that the Prola Raja of great Kakatiya Kingdom built this beautiful town in 12th century and given the incredible status of the Capital city. The Kakatiyas who ruled more than 200 years left many grandeur monuments, architectural marvels like Warangal fort, a Shiva temple known as Swayambhu temple and many such ancient structures. Travel diaries of great traveler Marco Polo also has mentions of this great city.
Warangal basically consists of an agricultural community, cultivating rice, red chillies, cotton and tobacco. Warangal is renowned for its granite quarries, exported to many other states.
Present Warangal attracts many tourists, thanks to Warangal's important history, exquisite monuments, grand temples, superb gardens, beautiful lakes, and sanctuaries with rich fauna & flora. The Main draw of tourists in the city include Warangal Fort, the 13th century star shaped Shiva temple, Bhadrakali temple and the thousand pillared temple. Wildlife Sanctuaries at Pakhal and Eturnagaram and Pakhal Lake are other tourist spots which are worth visiting. Natural beauty with magnificent manmade structures leaves Warangal with an enviable spot in the tourist map of India.
Warangal was under the rule of the Kakatiyas during the 12th to 14th century during which the area flourished with the Kakatiyas. It is a well known fact that the Kaktiyas were very fond of the arts and promoted them extensively during their rule. This transalated into the Kakatiya kings building many temples and forts which still stand today. The Kakatiya kings built an impressive fortress and stone archways across the town as also a few temples. The Mughal emperor Aurangazeb acquired Warangal as part of the Golconda sultanate in 1687 and it became a part of the state of Hyderabad. In 1948 Hyderabad was taken over the by Indian government and Telangana region where Warangal is situated became part of the state of Andhra Pradesh. Warangal has always been a cultural centre and has been patronized by all the great kings who ruled here.