Telangana

Telangana is a state in south-central India, the newest in the country, centered on the dynamic, historic city of Hyderabad, its capital. A major technology and pharmaceutical hub, Hyderabad blends a rich Islamic heritage with a booming modern economy. The state is known for its distinctive Telugu culture and cuisine.

Telangana lies on the Deccan Plateau, a region of rolling uplands, granite outcrops and rivers including the Godavari and Krishna. The climate is largely semi-arid, hot in summer with a monsoon season.

Telangana has a distinct cultural identity within the Telugu-speaking world, with its own festivals such as Bathukamma, a rich Hyderabadi cuisine famous for biryani, and a heritage blending Hindu and Islamic traditions from the era of the Nizams.

Long ruled by dynasties and later the princely state of Hyderabad under the Nizams, the region was merged into Andhra Pradesh in 1956. After a long statehood movement, Telangana was separated to become India's 29th state in 2014, with Hyderabad as its capital.