Adilabad

Adilabad is the northernmost district of Andhra Pradesh with four rivers, including the Godavari, flowing through it. It is also known as the ‘City of Cotton’, because of its booming cotton trade. It is 280 km from Hyderabad, the state capital.

It was originally known as Edulapuram and was ruled by the Kakatiya kings of Warangal as well as the Qutub Shahi and Asaf Jahi dynasties. The name of the town has been derived from the medieval Bijapur ruler, Adil Shah.

Other rulers of Adilabad include the Chalukyas, Rashtrkutas, Yadavas, Kakatiyas and the Bahmanis. The Gond rajas of Sirpur and Chandrapur also ruled Adilabad. From the mid-13th to the mid-18th centuries, the Gond kings held power over Adilabad. Some of the rulers also constructed minor forts in the area.

The Gonds’ contribution to the district was evident during the insurrection against the British rule, when Ramji Gond led the Rohilas and Gonds in their many hostilities against the repressive British rule. Komaram Bhim, a hero of the tribal people who led the struggle of his community against the Zamindars is a legendary name in Adilabad and is best remembered for his guerrilla warfare against the landlords.  

Adilabad is famous for its pilgrim points and handicrafts. Half the district is under forest cover and the tribal people as well as the handicrafts of Adilabad draw many tourists from all over the country. The famous handicrafts of Adilabad include bell metal craft, toys and Nirmal paintings.

Basara, Utnoor and Keshlapur are the pilgrimage centres that can be visited from Adilabad. Basara is a temple town where Goddess Saraswati is worshipped. There are also a few wildlife sanctuaries and waterfalls like Kuntala and Pochera in Adilabad. The most famous sanctuary in Adilabad is the Sivaram Wildlife Sanctuary. Two other sanctuaries are Kawal and Pranahita.

Adilabad lies on NH7 and is well connected by road to the rest of the country. It is also well connected by railway network to cities like Nellore, Tirupati, Mumbai, Nagpur and several others. Modern day Adilabad is a fusion of Telugu and Marathi cultures. The best time to visit Adilabad is during the months of November to March.