Karimnagar

Karimnagar, formerly known as Elagandula, is a city and District Headquarters in the Indian state of Telangana. Karimnagar is a major urban agglomeration in the state. It is the 4th largest City in the state after Hyderabad, Warangal and Nizamabad and is the Municipal Corporation headquarters of the Karimnagar district. It is situated on the banks of Manair River, which is a tributary of the Godavari River. It is the third largest and fastest growing urban settlement in the state, according to the 2011 census. It has registered a population growth rate of 45.46% and 38.87% respectively over the past two decades between 1991 and 2011, which is the highest growth rate among major cities of Telangana. It serves as a major educational and health hub for the northern districts of Telangana. It is a major business center and widely known for its agricultural and granite industries, earning the nickname "City of Granites." It has been selected as one of the hundred Indian cities to be developed as a smart city under PM Narendra Modi's flagship Smart Cities Mission by replacing Hyderabad based on the request from the former Chief Minister of Telangana K. Chandrashekar Rao.