Jagtial

One of the biggest towns of the Karimnagar district in Andhra Pradesh, Jagtial (also known as Jagityal) is a hub for the district’s commercial and entertainment activities. Being on the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, Jagtial has an elevation of 264 meters above mean sea level. It has a population of 89,438 according to the Indian census taken in 2001, with the females edging the number of males at 52% compared to 48%. Jagtial is 60 kilometers northwest of the district headquarters of Karimnagar, and an approximate 5-hour drive away from the state capital of Hyderabad.

Prior to India’s independence, Jagtial was among the places that were under the rule of the Nizams. As a result, the architecture of most of the historical ruins in the town still carries with it the grace and form of Nizam constructions. There are a couple of stories as to how the town got its name. One states that the name is taken from two Western engineers named Jack and Tale, who helped in the construction and probable renovation of certain historical monuments in the town. Another – and much more likely – is that the name was taken from the ruler Jaggadeva, who was one of the successors of Medaraja of Polasa. Today, the town is considered as one of cleanest cities in Andhra Pradesh. The most widely used languages are English, Telugu, Hindi and Urdu.

One of the most prominent landmarks of Jagtial is a big mosque located near another historical fort, the Jama Masjid. The mosque was created by the Nizams who ruled the region when the town was founded in the 18th century, and has since been renovated. As such, the architecture of the structure shows unmistakable influences of the Nizam. The fort nearby was built by the Mughal emperor Ibrahim and from the air, it is shaped like a star, with cannons that were reportedly made by Mohammed Khasim, who was also the clock repairer of the clock tower in another Hyderabad attraction, the Chowmahalla Palace.

Jagtial itself is surrounded by many important Hindu pilgrimage sites such as Vemulevada, notable for the Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Temple, Dharmapuri, which has one of the largest settlement of Vedic Brahmins in the state, and Kondagattu, a temple that is dedicated to Lord Anjaneya Swamy. Other historical sites include the village of Polasa, which was significant during the dynasties of Chalukya, Rashtrakuta and the Kakatiyas. Jagtial is now the center of education for the villages that surround it, especially since it has the SKNR Degree College, which created many politicians as well as being the only college in the town. Aside from this, most of the reputable schools in Karimnagar district are found in Jagtial, foremost of which is Gouthama, which received three consecutive ranks, on par with any institutions in Andhya Pradesh.

The town’s economy is engaged mainly in commercial and retail consumer business. As such, it has become the shopping center for the neighboring towns and villages. The majority of the goods being traded are related to groceries, iron, clothes and hardware. Starting in the 1980s, Jagtial has started to become a hub for health care, with several doctors and specialists setting their practices there.