Amaravathi, Guntur district

The word Amaravathi translates as the place for immortals.[14] It was also known as Dhanyakataka and Andhranagari.[4]

The recorded history of Amaravathi and nearby Dharanikota dates to the 5th century BCE. It is a town said " a continuous history of at least 2,300 years."[15] It was the capital of Satavahanas who ruled from the 3rd century BCE to the 3rd century CE. After the decline of Satavahanas, Andhra Ikshvakus and later Pallava kings ruled Krishna river valley. Subsequently, Eastern Chalukyas and Telugu Cholas held sway over the region. Kota Kings were in control of Amaravathi during the medieval times. Kota kings were subdued by Kakatiyas in the 11th century CE and Amaravathi became part of the unified Telugu empire. The Skanda Purana gives a picture of the place and the Siva temple located here.[16]

Amaravathi was part of Delhi Sultanate, Musunuri Nayaks, Bahmani Sultanate, Vijayanagara Empire, Sultanate of Golconda and Mughal Empire successively before the founding of the Nizam of Hyderabad in 1724. It was ceded to France in 1750 but was captured by England in 1759. Guntur returned to the Nizamate in 1768 but was ceded to England again in 1788. It was briefly occupied by Hyder Ali. It was part of Madras Presidency during the British colonial period.

Amaravathi is situated at 16.579444°N 80.311111°E / 16.579444; 80.311111. It is spread over an area of 1,524 ha (3,770 acres).[2]

Gram panchayat office in Amaravathi

As of 2011 Census of India, the town had a population of 13,400 with 3,316 households. The total population constitute, 6,432 males and 6,958 females —a sex ratio of 1,082 females per 1,000 males. 1,321 children are in the age group of 0–6 years, of which 647 are boys and 674 are girls —a ratio of 1,042 per 1,000. The average literacy rate stands at 71.34% with 8,617 literates, higher than the state average of 67.41%.[3][17]

Amaravathi gram panchayat is the local self-government of the village.[1] It is divided into wards and each ward is represented by a ward member.[18] The village as a part of Amaravathi mandal, represents Pedakurapadu assembly constituency.[19] The present MLA representing the constituency is Kommalapati Sridhar of Telugu Desam Party.[20]

Panorama of Amaravathi Cultural Heritage Museum

The town is a centre of pilgrimage to both Hindus and Buddhists. The inscriptions on the walls of the Amareswara temple depicts the reign of Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu who ruled before the advent of the British rule. He was well known for his benevolence, munificence and for the construction of a large number of temples and education centres in the Krishna river delta.[21] It also hosts 125 ft tallest Buddhist statue in India.[22] The ancient structures and replicas can be found at Kalachakra museum, renamed as Amaravathi Heritage Centre and Museum.[23] The ruined Buddhist stupa and other remains are one of the centrally protected monumemts of national importance.[24] The main Hindu festivals celebrated are Mahasivaratri and the Navaratri. The 30th Kalachakra festival, a popular Buddhist ritual was held at Amaravathi in the first week of January 2006. It is the home for the oldest tourist places for Buddhists.[25]

Amaravathi bus station

The only means of connectivity for the village is by road. The Vijayawada–Amaravathi Road connects the village with cities of Vijayawada, Tenali, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh capital city areas of Undavalli, Penumaka, Rayapudi.[26] While, the Guntur–Amaravathi Road connects it with the district headquarters, Guntur.[27] It also has road connectivity from Sattenapalle, Mangalagiri and Krosuru. APSRTC operates buses from major bus stations like, NTR bus station of Guntur, Pandit Nehru bus station of Vijayawada and also to the Tenali bus stand of Tenali.[27][28][29] The village has no rail connectivity.

A waterway categorised as class–III is planned from Pulichintala to Prakasam Barrage, which connects the nearby villages of Harishchandrapuram and Vykuntapuram.[30]

As per the school information report for the academic year 2018–19, the village has a total of 12 schools. These schools include 4 MPP, one KGBV and 12 private schools.[31]

• List of villages in Guntur district

• Ramaswami, N. S. (1971). Indian Monuments. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 978-0-89684-091-1.