Telangana Geography for UPSC: Interactive Map, Rivers and Protected Areas
a state of the Deccan plateau's rocky, semi-arid uplands
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Protected areas mapped
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Rivers mapped
At a glance
Capital
Hyderabad
Language
Telugu
Dance
Perini Sivatandavam
Area
1,12,077 km²
Coastline
Landlocked
Highest peak
Doli Gutta · 965 m
Borders
Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka
Why UPSC asks about Telangana
Telangana is the Deccan's dry plateau: the Godavari and Krishna basins, the Kaleshwaram lift-irrigation project, and Hyderabad on the Musi. UPSC tests the Godavari-Krishna water disputes, the state's 2014 formation, and the granite-gneiss plateau geography.
Did you know
Telangana has no biosphere reserve. India's 18 biosphere reserves are spread across only 16 states, and Telangana is not among them. The nearest is Seshachalam (Andhra Pradesh).
Godavari
Rises Trimbakeshwar, Nashik district, Maharashtra; flows to Flows through northern Telangana (Bhadrachalam) into Andhra Pradesh
The Godavari crosses Telangana's north; the Kaleshwaram and Sriram Sagar projects lift its water onto the plateau.
Krishna
Rises Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra; flows to Flows along Telangana’s southern border into Andhra Pradesh
The Krishna drains Telangana's south; the Nagarjuna Sagar and Srisailam dams mark the AP boundary.
Dams
- Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
Musi
Rises Anantagiri hills, Vikarabad district; flows to Joins the Krishna near Wadapally, Nalgonda district
Dams
- Osman Sagar
- Himayat Sagar
Manjira
Dams
- Nizam Sagar Dam
Tungabhadra
Rises Gangamoola, Karnataka; flows to joins the Krishna at Alampur (Telangana)
The Tungabhadra joins the Krishna on the Telangana-AP border near Alampur.
Bhima
Rises Bhimashankar, Maharashtra; flows to joins the Krishna near Raichur
The Bhima touches Telangana's north-west corner before meeting the Krishna.
Kasu Brahmananda Reddy NP
An urban park in Hyderabad (Jubilee Hills), once the palace estate of the Nizam's family, now a green lung with peacocks and deer within the city.
Hyderabad's Jubilee Hills palace-estate park.
Mahavir Harina Vanasthali NP
A park near Hyderabad created for the blackbuck on former Nizam hunting grounds, with dry deciduous scrub.
Blackbuck park on former Nizam hunting grounds.
Mrugavani NP
A park in Rangareddy district near Hyderabad, with dry deciduous forest, deer and a rich butterfly diversity.
Dry deciduous park near Hyderabad.
Pocharam WLS
A sanctuary around the Pocharam reservoir in Medak district, a wintering ground for waterfowl and habitat for deer.
Pocharam reservoir wetland sanctuary in Medak.
Pranahita WLS
A sanctuary in Mancherial district on the Pranahita river, with teak forest and the blackbuck, near the Maharashtra border.
Pranahita river teak forest; blackbuck habitat.
Kawal WLS
A sanctuary in Adilabad district, core of the Kawal Tiger Reserve, with dry teak forest and tigers dispersing from Tadoba.
Core of Kawal Tiger Reserve in Adilabad.
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