Adilabad district is an administrative district located in the northern part of the Indian state of Telangana. It lies in the region historically known as Telangana within the erstwhile princely state of Hyderabad, and shares its northern boundary with the state of Maharashtra. The district takes its name from its headquarters, the town of Adilabad, which is also the principal urban and administrative centre. Until the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, Adilabad was a district of Andhra Pradesh; it became part of the new state of Telangana on 2 June 2014.
| State | Telangana |
|---|---|
| Region | Northern Telangana |
| Headquarters | Adilabad |
| Country | India |
| Previous state | Andhra Pradesh (until 2014) |
| Neighbouring state | Maharashtra (to the north) |
Adilabad is named after Yusuf Adil Shah, a ruler associated with the Bijapur Sultanate, although the town and surrounding tract came under successive regimes including the Mughals, the Marathas and ultimately the Asaf Jahi Nizams of Hyderabad. After the integration of Hyderabad State into the Indian Union in 1948, Adilabad continued as a district under Hyderabad State and, from 1956, under the newly formed Andhra Pradesh following the States Reorganisation Act.
The district has historically been home to a significant Adivasi (tribal) population, including the Gond and Kolam communities, whose cultural and agrarian traditions are an important part of its identity. The area is also associated with the work of the anthropologist Christoph von Fürer-Haimendorf, who carried out detailed studies of the Gonds in the mid-20th century.
The district lies on the Deccan Plateau and forms part of the catchment of the Godavari river system, with several tributaries draining its terrain. The landscape is characterised by forested hills, plateaux and agricultural plains. Significant forest cover, including teak and bamboo, has historically supported both biodiversity and forest-based livelihoods. The Kawal Tiger Reserve, notified to protect tiger habitat in northern Telangana, lies in this part of the state.
In October 2016, the Government of Telangana undertook a major reorganisation of districts, increasing their number across the state. As part of this exercise, the former, larger Adilabad district was divided into four districts: Adilabad, Komaram Bheem (Asifabad), Mancherial and Nirmal. The present Adilabad district therefore covers a smaller area than the undivided district that existed before 2016.
The district's economy is predominantly agrarian, with cotton being among the most prominent commercial crops, alongside jowar, soybean, pulses and paddy in irrigated tracts. Forest produce, handloom weaving and small-scale industry also contribute to local livelihoods. Telugu is the principal language, while Marathi, Urdu, Lambadi and Gondi are also spoken in various communities, reflecting the district's location on the linguistic and cultural frontier between Telangana and Maharashtra.
Adilabad town is connected by National Highway 44 (the Nagpur–Hyderabad corridor) and lies on the rail route linking Hyderabad with Nagpur and central India. Road links connect the district headquarters with Nirmal, Mancherial, Asifabad and the neighbouring districts of Maharashtra.
Adilabad serves as a gateway between Telangana and central India, and its tribal heritage, forest landscape and border location give it a distinct character within the state. Annual cultural events such as the Nagoba Jatara at Keslapur, observed by the Mesram clan of the Gonds, are notable for their ethnographic importance.