Khammam

Khammam is a district in the state of Andhra Pradesh that sprawls across an area of 16,029 sq km. Khammam has its headquarters in its namesake town, which is located about 193 km east of the state capital, Hyderabad.

The district shares its southern borders with Krishna district, while East and West Godavari districts bound it in the east. Khammam is lined by Nalgonda and Warangal districts to the west, while the state of Chhattisgarh borders it towards the north. River Godavari entering from the Warangal district flows nearly 250 km across the district.

Originally, the district was named as 'Kammamet', which was later transformed to 'Khammam Mettu' and subsequently to 'Khammam'. The name of the district has been derived from the vertical rock, called ‘Kamba’, which lies under ‘Stambhadri’ temple (formerly ‘Narsimhadri’ or ‘Stamba Sikhari’).

Khammam town was earlier a part of the larger Warangal district, serving as the seat of Taluk Administration. On 1 October, 1953 however, the five talukas of the Warangal district were carved out and a new district Khammam was established, with Khammam as district headquarters.

In 1959, the Bhadrachalam and Nuguru Venkatapuram taluks of East Godavari district, located on the other side of the river, were merged into Khammam. The district was bifurcated in 1976 to form a new taluk, named Tirumalayapalem. Post the introduction of Mandal system in 1985, the Khammam district was divided into 46 mandals, in four revenue divisions. Out of the 46 mandals, 29 are occupied by Koya, Lambada and Konda Reddi tribes, while about 2 are partially populated by tribal people. Khammam is thus the largest tribal populated district in Andhra Pradesh.

The culture of Khammam district is a conglomeration representing a mosaic of Hindu, Muslim and Christian religions. An integral part of the Hindu community is constituted with a considerable number of sizeable tribes, particularly Koyas and Lambadas. These tribal people follow their own traditions and customs, for instance, the Koya tribe speaks a language called Koya, while Konda Reddis speak an ancient dialect of Telugu.

One of the coal mining districts of India, Khammam is popular for a number of irrigation sources, the major source being the Nagarjunasagar Project. Major attractions of the district include the Narasimha Swamy Temple and Khammam Fort.

Khammam Fort is known for its architecture, a blend of both Hindu and Muslim architecture. Nelakondapalli is a site of historical importance as artefacts like terracotta figurines, bronze idol of Buddha and miniature Stupa of 3rd and 4th centuries have been found here. Another popular tourist spot in the destination is the Lakaram Lake, where boating can be done.

Reaching Khammam is easy with flights, trains and buses. The closest airport to Khammam is the Vijayawada Airport, which is located at a distance of around 105 km and serves only domestic flights. Travellers from international destinations can board flights at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad.

Khammam Railway Station connects Khammam with major cities like Hyderabad and Vijayawada. Apart from this, Khammam is well connected with Hyderabad through frequent government and private operated buses.

The ideal time to visit Khammam is during the winter season, which extends from the months of December till February.