Yadadri Bhuvanagiri is a district in the Indian state of Telangana. It was carved out as part of the reorganisation of districts in Telangana that came into effect on 11 October 2016, when the state government restructured its administrative geography to bring governance closer to citizens. The district takes its name from two principal towns: Yadagirigutta (also rendered Yadadri), known for the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple, and Bhuvanagiri (Bhongir), a historic town associated with the Bhuvanagiri fort.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| State | Telangana |
| Formed | 11 October 2016 |
| Headquarters | Bhuvanagiri (Bhongir) |
| Parent district | Nalgonda (former) |
| Notable town | Yadagirigutta |
The district lies in the south-eastern part of Telangana. It is bordered by Medchal–Malkajgiri and Siddipet districts to the west and north-west, Janagaon and Suryapet districts to the north-east and east, and Nalgonda and Rangareddy districts to the south. The terrain is largely part of the Deccan plateau, characterised by rocky outcrops, scattered hillocks and agricultural plains. The Musi river flows through parts of the district.
The district headquarters is at Bhuvanagiri, commonly known as Bhongir. For administrative purposes, the district is organised into revenue divisions and mandals, with municipalities at Bhongir and Yadagirigutta among other urban local bodies. The district is part of the Bhongir Lok Sabha constituency for parliamentary representation.
Before October 2016, the area now constituting Yadadri Bhuvanagiri was part of the larger Nalgonda district. As part of a state-wide exercise that increased the number of districts in Telangana from ten to thirty-one (and later more), Yadadri Bhuvanagiri was created from the northern mandals of Nalgonda district. The reorganisation was undertaken by the Government of Telangana under Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao.
The district is best known for the temple town of Yadagirigutta, where the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple is located on a hill. The temple has been the focus of a major redevelopment programme by the Yadagirigutta Temple Development Authority (YTDA), constituted by the state government to expand temple infrastructure, pilgrim amenities and the surrounding township. The shrine draws devotees from across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and beyond, and is considered one of the most visited Vaishnavite pilgrimage centres in the state.
Bhongir town is dominated by the Bhuvanagiri Fort, a monolithic rock fortification associated with the Western Chalukya ruler Tribhuvanamalla Vikramaditya VI, after whom the town is said to be named. The fort and the rock are popular sites for heritage tourism and rock climbing activities.
The economy of the district is predominantly agrarian, with paddy, cotton, maize and pulses among the principal crops. Granite quarrying and stone-cutting industries are active, given the abundance of high-quality grey and black granite in the region. Pilgrim tourism centred on Yadagirigutta contributes significantly to the local service economy. Proximity to Hyderabad along the Hyderabad–Warangal corridor (National Highway 163) has encouraged peri-urban growth, real-estate development and small-scale industries.
The district is served by National Highway 163 connecting Hyderabad with Warangal, which passes through Bhongir. The Secunderabad–Kazipet railway line of the South Central Railway runs through the district, with Bhongir being an important station. The nearest major airport is Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad in Hyderabad.