Anakapalle

Anakapalle
Anakapalle Montage
Clockwise from Top Left: Rock-cut Buddha Statue at Bojjannakonda, View of Anakaplli Town, Anakapalli railway Station, Streets of Anakapalli, Rail Bridge on Sarada River, View of Satyanarayana Konda
Anakapalle
Location in Andhra Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 17°41′29″N 83°00′14″E / 17.6913°N 83.0039°E / 17.6913; 83.0039Coordinates: 17°41′29″N 83°00′14″E / 17.6913°N 83.0039°E / 17.6913; 83.0039
Country India
State Andhra Pradesh
District Visakhapatnam
Area[1]
 • Total 23.28 km2 (8.99 sq mi)
Elevation[2] 29 m (95 ft)
Population (2016)[3]
 • Total 122,519
 • Density 5,300/km2 (14,000/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Telugu
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN 531001/02
Telephone code 08924
Vidhan Sabha constituency Anakapalle
Lok Sabha constituency Anakapalle
A View of Anakapalle Railway station
Anakapalle Municipal Office

Anakapalle is a suburb of Visakhapatnam in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The municipality was merged with Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation.[4] It has the second largest jaggery market of the country.[5]

History

The town was originally under the rule of the Kalinga Empire (ancient Orissa), different dynasties ruled this region i.e. Chedi Kingdom of Kalinga (Orissa), Eastern Ganga dynasty of Orissa, Gajapati Kingdom of Orissa, Kakatiya, and Qutub Shahi empires. Around 1450, Kakarlapudi Appala Raju Payakarao took over the rule of region under the Nawab of Arcot, with Anakapalle as his fortified headquarters. The saga of Anakapalle starts with a historian named "Tallapragada" place and found that Anakapalle. This was proved from the historical evidences found on Bojjana Konda. Satavahanas, Vishnukundina, Gajapathi's, Vijayanagara Samrats, Golkonda Samanta Rajulu ruled the area.

Its alias names are Aniankapalli, Anekaphalle, Vijaypuri, Veniapalii, Kanakapuri, Bellampatnam, and Anakapalli. It is located by the side of a holy Sarada River. During the Independence struggle of India, many prominent leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar visited Anakapalle. It is around 34 km in distance from Visakhapatnam.

Buddhist era

One of the most significant Buddhist sites in Andhra Pradesh, Sankaram is located some 3.5 km away from Anakapalle and 41 km away from Visakhapatnam on the Sabbavaram by-pass road. The name Sankaram derives from the term Sangharama. Sankaram is famous for the whole lot of votive stupas, rock-cut caves, brick-built structural edifices, early historic pottery and Satavahana coins that date back to the 1st century AD. The main stupa here was initially carved out of rock and then covered with bricks. where you can see a number of images of the Buddha carved on the rock face of the caves. At Lingalametta, there are hundreds of rock cut monolithic stupas in rows, spread all over the hill. Among other Buddhist attractions here are relic casket, three chiatya halls, votive platforms, stupas and Vajrayana sculptures. The Vihara was functional for around a millennium and saw the development of the not only Theravada form of Buddhism but also Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism. Later Anakapalle went to estate of Vavilavalasa Inuganty kings and ruled a long time.

Geography

Anakapalle is located at 17°41′29″N 83°00′14″E / 17.6913°N 83.0039°E / 17.6913; 83.0039, on the banks of River Sarada and at an altitude of 29 m (95 ft).[2] It is spread over an area of 23.28 km2 (8.99 sq mi).[1]

Demographics

According to Imperial Gazetteer of India,[6] Anakapalle had an area of 297 square miles (770 km2) containing 143 villages.

As of the 2001 Indian census,[7] Anakapalle had a population of 84,523. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Anakapalle has an average literacy rate of 67%, higher than the national average of 59.5%, with 54% of the males and 46% of females literate. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

In spite of the Bojjannakonda and Lingalakonda caves, Buddhist population contributes only 1‱ of total population as of 2011.[8]

Governance

The municipal council was established in 1878.

Economy

Agriculture mainly consists of production of Rice, Corn, Sugarcane, and all types of vegetables. The chief crop cultivated in this region is sugarcane and Anakapalle is well known for its jaggery market, which is the second largest in India.[5] Velagapudi Steels own a steel mill near Anakapalle.[9]

Transport

National Highway 16, a part of Golden Quadrilateral highway network, bypasses the town.[10] Anakapalle railway station is on Howrah-Chennai main line. It is under Vijayawada division of South Central railway zone. APSRTC run the buses to all over state. Vizag city buses run from Maddilapalem, Dwaraka Bus Station, Gajuwaka, Yelamanchili etc.

APSRTC routes
Route Number Start End Via
500 Anakapalle RTC Complex Lankelapalem, Kurmannapalem, Old Gajuwaka, NAD Kotharoad, Gurudwar
500A Addaroad Maddilapalem Anakapalle, Lankelapalem, Kurmannapalem, Old Gajuwaka, NAD Kotharoad, Gurudwar
500A/C Achutapuram RTC Complex Anakapalle, Lankelapalem, Kurmannapalem, Old Gajuwaka, NAD Kotharoad, Gurudwar
500P Anakapalle PM Palem Lankelapalem, Kurmannapalem, Old Gajuwaka, NAD Kotharoad, Gurudwar, Maddilapalem, Hanumanthuwaka, Yendada
500Y Yalamanchili RTC Complex Anakapalle, Lankelapalem, Kurmannapalem, Old Gajuwaka, NAD Kotharoad, Gurudwar
600 Anakapalle Scindia Lankelapalem, Kurmannapalem, Old Gajuwaka, New Gajuwaka, Malkapuram
99A/C Chodavaram Collector Office Anakapalle, Lankelapalem, Kurmannapalem, Old Gajuwaka, New Gajuwaka, Malkapuram, Scindia, Convent, Town Kotharoad, Jagadamba
888 Anakapalle Tagarapuvalasa Sankaram, Sabbavaram, Pendurthi, Shontyam, Gudilova, Anandapuram

References

  1. 1 2 "District Census Handbook – Visakhapatnam" (PDF). Census of India. pp. 26, 52. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Maps, Weather, and Airports for Anakapalle, India". fallingrain.com.
  3. ↑ "Census 2011". The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
  4. ↑ Reporter, Staff. "CM okays merger of Anakapalle and Bhimili with GVMC". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  5. 1 2 Madan, Manish (30 March 2015). "Anakapalli jaggery market stares at bitter future – Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  6. ↑ "Imperial Gazetteer2 of India, Volume 5, page 334 -- Imperial Gazetteer of India -- Digital South Asia Library".
  7. ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  8. ↑ Anakapalle Population Census 2011
  9. ↑ "Re-rolling steel mill inaugurated". The Hindu Business Line.
  10. ↑ "National Highways Development Project Map". National Highways Authority of India. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
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