Guntur district

The district derives its name from its district headquarters, Guntur.[9]

Brahmi Script inscribed on a Railing Pillar at Velpuru

Districts of Andhra Pradesh

The original Sanskrit name (ancient Vedic culture) for Guntur was Garthapuri. The 'Agasthyeswara Sivalayam' in the old city of Guntur is an ancient temple for Siva.

It has inscriptions on two stones in 'Naga Lipi' (ancient script). It is said that Agastya built the temple in the last Treta-Yuga around the Swayambhu Linga and hence the name. The 'Nagas' were said to have ruled the region. The place of Sitanagaram and the Guthikonda Caves can be traced (through Vedic Puranas) back to the traditional timescale Treta-Yuga and Dwapara-Yuga.

Guntur District is home to the second oldest evidence of human habitation in India, in the form of Palaeolithic (old stone age) implements. Ancient history can be traced from the time of Sala kings who ruled during the 5th century BCE. The earliest reference to Guntur, a variant of Guntur, comes from the Idern plates of Ammaraja I (922–929 CE), the Vengi Chalukyan King. Guntur also appears in two inscriptions dated 1147 and 1158 CE.

Since the beginning of Buddhist time, Guntur stood in the forefront in matters of culture, education and civilisation. Gautama Buddha preached at Dharanikota/Dhanyakatakam near Guntur and conducted Kalachakra ceremony, which takes its antiquity to 500 BCE.[11] Taranatha, a Buddhist monk writes: "On the full moon of the month Caitra in the year following his enlightenment, at the great stupa of Dhanyakataka, the Buddha emanated the mandala of "The Glorious Lunar Mansions" (Kalachakra).[12] Buddhists established universities in ancient times at Dhanyakataka and Amaravathi. Scores of Buddhist stupas were excavated in the villages of Guntur district. Acharya Nagarjuna, an influential Buddhist philosopher taught at Nagarjunakonda and is said to have discovered Mica in 200 BCE. Chinese traveller and Buddhist monk Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) visited Amaravati in 640 C.E., stayed for sometime and studied 'Abhidhammapitakam'. He observed that there were many Viharas and some of them were deserted, which points out that Hinduism was gaining ground at that time. Xuanzang wrote a glorious account of the place, Viharas and monasteries that existed.[13]

Guntur was successively ruled by famous dynasties such as the Satavahanas, Andhra Ikshvakus, Pallavas, Ananda Gotrikas, Vishnukundina, Kota Vamsa, Chalukyas, Cholas, Kakatiyas, Musunuris, Reddys, Vijayanagara and Qutb Shahis during ancient and medieval times. The famous battle of Palnadu which is enshrined in legend and literature as Palnati Yuddham was fought in Guntur district in 1180 CE.

During the 16th century, Guntur was ruled by the Suryadevara Nayaks.[14] Guntur became part of the Mughal empire in 1687 CE when the emperor Aurangzeb conquered the Qutb Shahi sultanate of Golconda, of which Guntur was then a part. In 1724 CE, Asaf Jah, viceroy of the empire's southern provinces, declared his independence as the Nizam of Hyderabad. The coastal districts of Hyderabad, known as the Northern Circars, were occupied by the French in 1750. Raja Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu (1783–1816) shifted his capital from Chintapalli in Krishna district to Amaravati across the river Krishna. He ruled with munificence and built many temples in Guntur region. Guntur was brought under the control of the British East India Company in 1788, and became a district of Madras Presidency.

Guntur Coast by NASA

Guntur district occupies an area of approximately 19,391 square kilometres (7,487 sq mi),[17] comparatively equivalent to Indonesia's Bangka Island.[18] The Krishna River forms the northeastern and eastern boundary of the district, separating Guntur District from Krishna District. The district is bounded on the southeast by the Bay of Bengal, on the south by Prakasam District, on the west by Mahbubnagar District, Telangana and on the northwest by Nalgonda District, Telangana.

Guntur Coast is located on the south east coast of India (also known as the Coromandel Coast) (quotes from NASA site). River Krishna merges into Bay of Bengal at the coastal area of Guntur district. The braided stream channels, broad floodplain, and extensive sandbars suggest that this part of the Krishna River flows through relatively flat terrain and carries substantial amounts of sediment, especially during the monsoon season. Surya Lanka near Bapatla Bobbarrlanka in Repalle , "Nizampatnam Beach", in Nizampatnam are tourist beaches in Guntur coastline.

As of 2011 census of India, the district had a population of 4,887,813 with a density of 193 persons per sq.km. The total population constitute, 2,440,521 males and 2,447,292 females –a ratio of 1003 females per 1000 males. The total urban population is 16,52,738 (33.81%).[6]^:19 There are 29,60,441 literates with a literacy rate of 67.40%.[6]^:20

The district is divided into four Revenue divisions, namely, Guntur, Tenali, Narasaraopet and Gurazala. These are sub-divided into 58 mandals,[19] which are in turn divided as 57 Panchayat Samiti (Block)s, 712 villages and 16 towns. These 16 towns includes, 1 municipal corporation, 14 municipalities[20] and 1 census town. Gurazala revenue division was newly formed in the year 2013.[21][22] Guntur city is the only municipal corporation and district headquarter another Vaddeswaram is categorised as a census town.[23] The 14 municipalities in the district are Mangalagiri, Sattenapalli, Tadepalle, Tenali, Ponnur, Bapatla, Repalle, Narasaraopet, Chilakaluripet, Vinukonda, Macherla, Piduguralla, Dachepalle and Gurazala.[24][25]

Mandals

Guntur District Mandal Map

The below table categorises 57 mandals into their respective revenue divisions in the district:[1]

#	Guntur Division	#	Tenali Division	#	Narasaraopet Division	#	Gurazala Division[21]
1	Amaravati	20	Amarthaluru	38	Bollapalle	49	Dachepalle
2	Atchampet	21	Bapatla	39	Chilakaluripet	50	Durgi
3	Bellamkonda	22	Bhattiprolu	40	Edlapadu	51	Gurazala
4	Guntur East	23	Chebrolu	41	Ipur	52	Karempudi
5	Guntur West	24	Cherukupalle	42	Nadendla	53	Machavaram
6	Krosuru	25	Duggirala	43	Narasaraopet	54	Macherla
7	Mangalagiri	26	Kakumanu	44	Nekarikallu	55	Piduguralla
8	Medikonduru	27	Karlapalem	45	Nuzendla	56	Rentachintala
9	Muppalla	28	Kollipara	46	Rompicherla	57	Veldurthy
10	Pedakakani	29	Kolluru	47	Savalyapuram
11	Pedakurapadu	30	Nagaram	48	Vinukonda|
12	Pedanandipadu	31	Nizampatnam
13	Phirangipuram	32	Pittalavanipalem
14	Prathipadu	33	Ponnur
15	Rajupalem
16	Sattenapalle	34	Repalle
17	Tadepalle	35	Tenali
18	Tadikonda	36	Tsunduru
19	Thullur	37	Vemuru
20	Vatticherukuru

Lord Hanuman temple, Ponnur

The district has many festivals such as Rama Navami,[26] Maha Sivaratri,[27] Vinayaka Chavithi,[28] Vijaya Dasami,[29] Deepawali,[30] Holi,[31] Ugadi,[32] Eid,[33] Krishnastami,[34] Christmas.[35] There are hill temple festivals at Kotappakonda, Mangalagiri.

Guntur Tourism

Places of historical importance in Guntur District are Amaravathi, Bapatla, Ponnur, Bhattiprolu, Vinukonda, Kotappakonda, Undavalli caves, Gurazala, Macherla, Kondavid fort, Tenali and the archaeological museum in Guntur. There are many places of interest like Uppalapadu Bird Sanctuary, Kondaveedu Fort, Guttikonda Caves. The district has coastline of almost 100 kilometers, with beaches like Suryalanka Beach.

Tradition and spirituality

Prolaya Vema Reddi built number of Lord Shiva temples during his reign. Number of temples were constructed in Krishna valley during the reign of Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu. Tall towers (Gaali Gopuram) of these temples in many villages and towns of Guntur district stand testimony to his devotion and munificence. Some of the famous destinations are Nadivelamma Talli Temple in Rajavolu, and there will be annual festival on Full moon day in the month of Chaitra maas. Amaravathi temple, the abode of Lord Shiva, present in the form of a 15 ft (4.6 m) Shiva Linga. The Auspicious Hill of Mangalagiri town, is dedicated to Lord Narasimha with three temples of Panakala Narasimha Swamy on the hill, Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy at the foot of the temple, Gandala Narasimha Swamy at the top of the hill, are also famous. Other famous temples are Bhavanarayanaswami temple in Bapatla, Sri Laxmi Chennakesava Swamy Temple in Macherla, Kotappakonda,[36] Pedakakani, Vykuntapuram in Tenali.and also subramaneswara Swamy temple,polleramathalli temple ,agastheswaraswamy temple (which was built in 8 century by agasthaya mahrashi and rebuilt by Sri Krishna Devaraya)

Amaravathi Cultural Heritage Museum

Tobacco Drying at Grandhasiri village in Guntur district

The Gross District Domestic Product (GDDP) of the district is ₹49,722 crore (US$7.0 billion) and it contributes 9.5% to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). For the FY 2013–14, the per capita income at current prices was ₹82,026 (US$1,200). The primary, secondary and tertiary sectors of the district contribute ₹16,111 crore (US$2.3 billion), ₹8,770 crore (US$1.2 billion) and ₹24,841 crore (US$3.5 billion) respectively to the GDDP.[37]

The major products contributing to the GVA of the district from agriculture and allied services are, paddy, cotton kapas, chillies, banana, milk, meat and fisheries. The GVA to the industrial and service sector is contributed from construction, electricity, manufacturing, transport and education.[37]

General Hospital in Guntur

Healthcare is provided by government and private institutions. The Guntur Government Hospital provides free healthcare.[38] All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) is there in Mangalagiri.[39] The nonprofit or charity hospitals are the Sankara Eye Hospital.[40][41]

The total road length of state highways in the district is 1,258 km (782 mi).[42] There exists 406 km (252 mi) of rail network in the district.[37]

A college campus

A university campus

The primary and secondary school education is imparted by government, aided and private schools, under the School Education Department of the state.[43][44] As per the school information report for the academic year 2015–16, there are a total of 4,739 schools. They include, 32 government, 2,839 mandal and zilla parishads, 2 residential, 1329 private, 14 model, 24 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV), 296 municipal and 203 other types of schools.[45] The total number of students enrolled in primary, upper primary and high schools of the district are 637,031.[46] The district being home to the capital city, it is experiencing a growth in private international schools as well.[47] The Central Board of Secondary Education, Secondary School Certificate or the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education are the different types of syllabus followed by different schools. The medium of instruction followed by different schools are English, Telugu and Urdu.[48][49]

There are several junior colleges which are under government, residential, social welfare, disabled welfare, private aided and unaided for the purpose of imparting (10+2) education and the students sit for the certificate of Board of Intermediate Education.[50] AC college is the oldest private aided college of the district, established in 1885.[50] The higher education colleges have various fields of study like medical, nursing, degree, post graduate, polytechnic, law, teaching, pharmacy, engineering, veterinary etc.[51] The Acharya Nagarjuna University is a state university which has fourteen autonomous colleges as per Universities Grant Commission.[52][53] The KMC, GMC, AIIMS are some of the premier medical institutes in Guntur. There are also many private universities like Vignan University, KL University in the district. The Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University at Lam is a public agricultural university, equipped with a Regional Agricultural Research Station.[54][55]

• Timeline of Guntur
• List of people from Guntur
• Kollur Mine

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Guntur district.

• Official site
• Guntur district marked on OpenStreetMap