When you hear “Telangana”, what comes to your mind? Hyderabad? Biryani? Charminar? Bathukamma?

For me, Telangana is much more than all of these.

So, I thought, why not spend the next 10 days exploring the state we call home — its history, culture, food, people, festivals and all those little things that make Telangana special?

Welcome to Day 1 of Telangana in 10 Days. ❤️

First, where is Telangana?

Telangana is a landlocked state in southern India, located on the Deccan Plateau.

It shares borders with Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

The state covers around 1.12 lakh square kilometres and has 33 districts, with Hyderabad as its capital.

Two major rivers, the Godavari and Krishna, flow through the state and have played an important role in its geography and people’s lives.

But here’s the interesting part — Telangana may be a young state, but its history is ancient.

A young state with an old history

Telangana officially became a separate state on June 2, 2014.

But the history of this region goes back thousands of years.

The land has seen the rule of several powerful dynasties, including the Satavahanas, Kakatiyas, Qutb Shahis and Asaf Jahis — the Nizams of Hyderabad.

The Kakatiyas left behind some incredible architectural treasures, including the famous Ramappa Temple near Warangal, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Qutb Shahis shaped Hyderabad as an important centre of culture and trade, while the Nizams left their own unforgettable mark on the city’s architecture, food and lifestyle.

And then there is Hyderabad!

Let’s be honest — when people outside Telangana think of the state, Hyderabad is probably the first thing that comes to mind.

And I completely understand why.

Charminar, Golconda Fort, Qutb Shahi Tombs, Chowmahalla Palace, Laad Bazaar, Irani chai and biryani — Hyderabad has a personality of its own.

But today’s Hyderabad is also HITEC City, Cyberabad, startups, IT companies and a fast-growing modern city.

It is this beautiful combination of old and new that makes Hyderabad so unique.

You can have an Irani chai in the morning and attend a corporate meeting in Cyberabad a few hours later.

That’s Hyderabad for you! 😄

Telangana’s language and culture

Telugu is the predominant language, but Telangana’s cultural identity has been shaped by many languages and communities.

And if you’re from Hyderabad, you already know that our conversations can effortlessly move between Telugu, Urdu, Hindi and English.

That unique Hyderabadi way of speaking?

That’s an experience in itself!

Our culture is equally diverse — from traditional art and handlooms to music, food, festivals and folk traditions.

Bathukamma, Bonalu and more

Two festivals that are deeply associated with Telangana are Bathukamma and Bonalu.

Bathukamma, with its beautiful flower arrangements and women coming together to celebrate, is one of the most beautiful expressions of Telangana culture.

Bonalu brings its own colour, energy and devotion through traditional celebrations dedicated to Goddess Mahakali.

And then we have festivals like Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara at Medaram, along with Ugadi, Dasara, Ramzan and many other celebrations that reflect Telangana’s diverse cultural fabric.

The story of statehood

We cannot talk about Telangana without talking about its statehood movement.

Telangana was part of Hyderabad State, and in 1956, the Telangana region was merged with Andhra State to form Andhra Pradesh.

The demand for a separate Telangana continued for decades, with major movements, particularly in 1969 and the later statehood movement.

After a long political and social struggle, Telangana became a separate state on June 2, 2014.

So, Telangana’s identity isn’t just about a place on the map.

For many people, it represents belonging, culture, language and pride.

What makes Telangana special?

For me, it isn’t one particular monument or festival.

It is the combination.

It’s the sarees, flowers, festivals, food, Telugu conversations, Hyderabadi humour, old forts, modern cities, villages, temples, mosques and the warmth of its people.

It’s old Telangana and new Telangana existing together.

And perhaps that’s what makes it beautiful.

A few Telangana facts

🌿 State: Telangana
📅 Formation: June 2, 2014
🏙️ Capital: Hyderabad
🗺️ Districts: 33
🌊 Major rivers: Godavari and Krishna
🗣️ Predominant language: Telugu
🌸 Popular festivals: Bathukamma and Bonalu
🏛️ Important dynasties: Satavahanas, Kakatiyas, Qutb Shahis and Asaf Jahis

And this is just Day 1!

I wanted to start this series with the basics because before we explore the food, festivals, places and traditions, we need to know the story of the land itself.

Over the next nine days, we’ll go beyond Hyderabad and explore the many sides of Telangana.

Because there is so much more to Telangana than what we usually talk about.

Now tell me — what does Telangana mean to YOU?

Is it Hyderabad? Your hometown? Biryani? Bathukamma? The language? The people?

Drop your answer in the comments and share this with someone who proudly says, “Mana Telangana!” ❤️

See you on Day 2.