Karimnagar also known as Elagandula is a city in the Indian state of Telangana. Karimnagar is the fifth-largest city in the Telangana state. Karimnagar is governed by the municipal corporation and is the headquarters of the Karimnagar district.
According to the 2011 census, Karimnagar is the fourth-largest and fastest-growing urban area in the state. Karimnagar city is situated on the banks of the Manair River, a tributary of the Godavari River.
Karimnagar is the major educational and health hub for the northern districts of Telangana. Also, it is a major business center mainly for Granite and Agro-based industries. Hence, Karimnagar is also called as “City of Granites”. Let us know about the city in more detail.
GEOLOGY
The Karimnagar is a part of the Indian Peninsular shield. It is a stable land mass since the formation of the earth’s crust. The land was initially formed by Archaeans, (igneous and highly metamorphosed).
In the later years, due to weathering, the molten lava from the fissures flowed on the west coast and spread over the western and central parts of the Peninsula. There was no significant change in the geological history of the region for the last 50 million years.
- Rivers
The river Godavari originating in the Western Ghats divides the district. Karimnagar is surrounded by the Bidar, Nanded, Rajura, and Chandrapur districts of Maharashtra and the Bastar district of Madhya Pradesh.
The tributary to the Godavari, river Maner originates near the village of Kalkur and traverses through the Karimnagar district from the west to the east. The river stretches to a length of about 130km and forms an important source of irrigation Karimnagar district. Some other minor rivers in the Karimnagar District are Peddavagu and Chinnavagu.
- The Archaeans
The major part of Karimnagar is occupied by the Archaean group of rocks. Peninsular granite is found in pink and grey. The color of the granite depends upon the amount of feldspars. Granite is usually composed of quartz, potash, feldspar (pink or grey), mica, and hornblende minerals.
- The Deccan Traps
The Deccan traps consist of basalt (solidified lava). It has given rise to flat-topped hills with plateau-like appearance. The granite complex is marked by igneous sedimentary groups. The mineral composition of basalt is feldspars and pyroxenes which occur in equal amounts.
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MINERAL RESOURCES
- Iron Ore
Jagityal taluk of Karimnagar district is home to Magnetitic quartz rocks. Karimnagar district has 3 minor deposits in Karimnagar, Peddapalli, and Manthani taluks. The rich iron ores of Karimnagar and Nizamabad regions were the suppliers to the ancient iron smelters at Konasamudram. People there used to export iron for Damascus steel (forged steel of the swords). Karimnagar was visited by the earlier Roman and Persian traders for steel. Hence, Karimnagar was well-known throughout the Ancient East.
- Soap-stone
Small pockets of soapstone occur at Turakala Maddikunta. It is about 10 km from the Peddabankur and Paltham and Metpalli areas of the Jagtyal taluk. Limestone is abundantly found at Basantnagar near Ramagundam.
CLIMATE
- Rainfall
The average rainfall in Karimnagar is 1035 millimeters (40.70 in). July is the month with the highest rainfall. The rainfall increases from the east towards the west. The southwest monsoon constitutes about 86 percent of the annual rainfall.
- Temperature
The rapid rise in temperature in Karimnagar is noticed from February and May is the hottest month with a daily maximum temperature of 41.4 C. (106.5 F). Sometimes the day temperature rises up to 46C. (114.8F.). The temperature is even more higher in the hilly regions of Manthani and Laxettipet and the valleys appear like hot pans.
NATURAL RESOURCES
- Forests
The forests in the region can be classified into 2 types: southern tropical mixed deciduous and southern dry teak type. There are some other kind of forests like Babul forest, Hard Wikia forest, Dry Deciduous Scrub forest, and Secondary Dry Deciduous forest.
The Mahadevpuram forest area near the bank of river Godavari has the best quality of trees with a dominant height of 18 to 24 m. Karimnagar is also considered as the best state of Telangana to produce high quality teak.
- Fauna
Apart from the minerals and resources, the forests of Karimnagar region are rich in fauna. A large variety of wildlife is found in the forests of Karimnagar. The ecological distribution varies with the quality and density of the forest.
Rare animals like deer and other horned varieties, are noticed in the Manthani area. Some other species like blackbuck, four-horned antelope, tiger, and panther, were abundant in the past. Recently the number of these rare species is alarmingly decreasing in the recent years. Its a concern for us especially for the ecologists and naturalists.
The blackbuck and the tremendous Indian bison, the nilgai or blue bull, spotted deer, porcupine, rabbit, hare, chital, wild sheep, and sambar are quite common now. Some carnivorous animals like the tiger and panther are noticed in the Tadicherla, Mahadevpur, and Singaram blocks.
- Game Birds
The forests of Karimnagar district are rich in various species of birds like green pigeon, peacock, peafowl, water duck, partridges, sand-goose, wood-duck, snipe, red jungle fowl, kingfisher, bulbul, dove, crow, Rayna, oriole, parakeet, woodpecker and the common pigeon. Many birds even migrate from the North India and Himalayan regions to the regions of these forests during winter season.
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