Growing up, travel was as much about the process as the destination. My family lived in Delhi and Madras, but our roots pulled us back to our ancestral village via Warangal and Hanamkonda.
I have a vivid memory of the Grand Trunk Express pulling into Kazipet station. As kids, we were fascinated by a specific operational quirk: the locomotive had to reverse there. It was a mandatory pause, a mechanical ritual that defined the journey. Warangal then was a quiet agricultural market, famous for chilis and tomatoes, and known for the Regional Engineering College (REC) and later, the KITS college.
The Long Pause and the Sudden Shift
For decades, time seemed to move slower in Warangal than in the metros. The landmarks remained the same; the pace was leisurely. But development often happens like a bamboo shoot—years of invisible root systems followed by sudden, vertical growth.
The formation of Telangana as a state in June 2014 acted as that catalyst. The change since then is not just visible; it is palpable.
Connectivity as a Currency
Today, the engine reversal is a memory, replaced by the efficiency of the Vande Bharat Express running from Secunderabad to Vizag. Warangal is no longer just a halt; it is a priority stop.
The infrastructure tells the story better than any politician could:
- The highway from Hyderabad (NH-163) is now a smooth 4-lane experience, completed in 2020.
- The stretch from Kazipet to Warangal, once a dusty road, is a continuous commercial corridor.
- We even spotted a Minisu store. When global retail chains enter a Tier-2 city, it signals disposable income and consumer confidence.
Warangal has always held historical weight as the capital of the Kakatiya kingdom. With the Ramappa Temple receiving UNESCO World Heritage status in 2021, the city is finally balancing its rich past with a bustling future.
According to the 2011 Census, Warangal was the second-largest city in the region, but recent estimates suggest the population is surging toward the 1 million mark. The literacy rate stands at over 84%, well above the national average.
I am not looking at the politics of it. I am just a traveler happy to see a place I love flourishing. The quiet town of my childhood has grown up, and it is ready for business.
Reflect: What is a city or town you have visited recently that has completely changed from your childhood memories? I would love to hear your story in the comments.
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