Rajahmundry

The city earlier was called Rajamahendravaram, derived from the Sanskrit name Rajamahendrapuram (The city of King Mahendra).[3] Carrying the same meaning, it is also referred to as Rajamahendri, which during the British colonial era became Rajahmundry. On 10 October 2015, the State Government of Andhra Pradesh officially renamed the city with its original name.[13] Rajamahendravaram Municipal Corporation upgraded to Greater Rajamahendravaram Municipal Corporation (GRMC) on 28 January 2020.[1]

Portrait of Nannayya

Painting representing historical significance of Rajahmundry city at a wall in Rajahmundry railway station

Rajahmundry was established by Ammaraja Vishnuvardhana the First (919–934 AD). The city as a prominent settlement can be traced back to the rule of the Eastern Chalukya[14] king Rajaraja Narendra, who reigned around 1022 AD.[15] Remains of 11th-century palaces and forts still exist.[16]

Rulers:[17]

• Eastern Chalukyas
• Kakatiyas
• Reddy and Gajapathi Rulers
• Vijayanagar Rulers
• Nizam Rule
• European Rulers and Zamindars

Rajamahendravaram was under Dutch rule for some time. In 1602, the Dutch constructed a fort here. In 1857, the British conquered the Dutch. They converted it into a jail in 1864 and elevated it into a central jail in 1870. The jail is spread over 196 acres (79 ha) out of which the buildings occupy 37.24 acres (15.07 ha).

In the Madras Presidency, the District of Rajahmundry was created in 1823.[7] It was reorganised in 1859 and was bifurcated into Godavari and Krishna districts. During British rule, Rajahmundry was the headquarters of Godavari district, which was further bifurcated into East Godavari and West Godavari districts in 1925. When the Godavari district was split, Kakinada became the headquarters of East Godavari and Eluru became headquarters of West Godavari.[18]

Rajahmundry was the hotbed of several movements during India's freedom struggle and acted as a base for many key leaders. When the Indian National Congress had its first meeting in Bombay (Mumbai), two leaders from Rajahmundry, Nyapathi Subba Rao and Kandukuri Veeresalingam, participated in it. Subba Rao, founder of Hindu Samaj in Rajahmundry, was also one of the six founders of India's noted English daily, The Hindu.

The Renaissance of Andhra Pradesh started in Rajahmundry. Kandukuri Veeresalingam is known as the Father of reforms in Andhra Pradesh. He started a monthly magazine Vivekavardhini, and a school for girls at Dowleswaram in 1874. The first widow remarriage took place on 11 December 1881. A society with 16 members was started on 22 June 1884, which used to look after widow remarriages in Rajahmundry. The town hall was established in 1890 by Veeresalingam. Bipin Chandra Pal visited Rajahmundry in April 1905 during the Vandemataram Movement. During his visits, he used to address the public in "Pal Chowk" (the present-day Kotipalli Bus Stand). Annie Besant visited Rajahmundry twice. First, she came during the foundations of a branch of the Divya Gyan Samaj at Alcot Gardens were being laid. She came again during the opening ceremony. Ramakrishna Mission was established in the city during 1950–51 near Kambal tank. The place is now the Ayakar Bhavan.

Rajahmundry is acclaimed as the birthplace of the Telugu language—its grammar and script evolved from the pen of the city-born poet Nannayya. Also known as 'Ādi Kavi' (the first poet) of Telugu, Nannayya, along with Tikkana and Yerrana, translated the Sanskrit version of Mahabharata into Telugu. Kandukuri Veeresalingam – a social reformer and the author of Rajashekhara Charithra, the first Telugu novel – was also from Rajahmundry.

Rajamahendravaram is located at 16.98°N 81.78°E / 16.98; 81.78.[19] with an average elevation of 14 metres (46 ft). It is geographically located at centre of Godavari Districts.There is paddy, sugarcane and various varieties of flowers cultivation in the area. River Godavari flows through the west of Rajahmundry.

The Rajahmundry traps, part of the Deccan Traps, are located on the Godavari river and are of particular interest to geologists.[20]

The weather is hot and humid, with a tropical climate and, therefore, no distinct seasons. The mean maximum temperature is 32 °C. The hottest season is from April to June, with temperature ranging from 34 °C to 48 °C with maximum of 52 °C recorded in May 2002 and May 2007. The coolest months are December and January, when it is pleasant at 27 °C to 30 °C. There is heavy monsoon rain at the end of summer, with depressions in the Bay of Bengal.

[1]

As of 2011 Census of India, the city had a 648,558 and metro population 1,039,894.[3] 29,883 children are in the age group of 0–6 years, of which 15,152 are boys and 14,731 are girls—a ratio of 972 per 1000. The average literacy rate stands at 84.28% (male 88.14%; female 80.54%) with 264,653 literates, significantly higher than the national average of 73.00%.[4][21]

Rajamahendravaram City is spread over an area of 238.5 km² (92.1 sq mi) and metro area of 770.73 km² (297.58 sq mi) with population of 648,558 and metro population 1,039,894.[22][23] The Government is constructing an Under Ground Drianage system in the city.[24] The govt of AP merged of 23 surrounding villages from Korukonda, Rajanagaram, Rajahmundry Rural and Kadiam Mandals into Rajamahendravaram Municipal Corporation and upgraded to Greater Rajamahendravaram Municipal Corporation (GRMC).[22] The city has now achieved greater status. AP govt issued GO no:85 on 28 Jan 2020 and published it in the Gazette on 31.01.2020. Godavari Urban Development Authority (GUDA) is also working for the progress of new master plan.

Present representatives of City:

• Margani Bharat Ram (Rajahmundry Lok Sabha).
• Jakkampudi Raja (Rajanagaram).
• Gorantla Butchaih Chowdary (Rajamahendravaram Rural).
• Adireddy Bhavani (Rajamahendravaram Urban).

Mandals in city:

• Seethanagaram
• korukonda
• Rajanagaram
• Rajahmundry Urban
• Rajahmundry Rural
• Kadiam.

Rajamahendravaram city is also famous for flowers. Various varieties of flowers are cultivated here. Nurseries here are spread more than 3,500 acres in Kadiam, Rajahmundry Rural mandals of City. Floriculture is expanding to Mandapeta town. Central Floriculture Institute and Research Centre is in construction at Vemagiri in the city.[25] Government is exporting these flowers from Rajahmundry Airport through Cargo planes.

Rajamahendravaram is a commercial hub for East Godavari and West Godavari Districts. Nurseries in Kadiam Mandal of city generates huge revenue to Rajahmundry revenue division. A floriculture research centre is in construction at Vemagiri, Rajamahendravaram to give a major boost to nurseries in Godavari Districts. Floriculture is expanding to Mandapeta, Alamuru and Atreyapuram Mandals. Main Road and Tadithota are main marketing places in the city. Many shopping complexes, multiplexes, hotels and convention halls are in construction near NH 216A (old NH 16) and it is becoming another shopping centre. Tourism also generate revenue to this region.[26] It is one of the largest bullion markets in India which consists hundreds of gold, silver and platinum shops throughout the city.

Rajamahendravaram City is an industrial hub with huge industries generating employment. Rajahmundry City is the head quarter for ONGC, GAIL in K.G Basin. Godavari Districts are one of the largest petrochemical hubs in India. There are two huge paper mills in the city located at Luthergiri and Kadiam. There are two power plants in city i.e., GMR Power Plant and Vijjeswaram Hydel Power Plant. Government of Andhra Pradesh have set up industrial parks and industrial clusters at Nidigatla, Pallakadiam, Rajanagaram, Kadiyam, Jegurapadu areas in the city.[27] The present five year plan of district consists of making Rajahmundry City as an IT Hub.

Art and crafts

Damerla Rama Rao Art Gallery – It is dedicated to the works of the artist Damerla Rama Rao of the city has various paintings by him such as Krishna Leela, Godavari of Eastern Ghats and Milkmaids of Kathiawar.[28]

Ratnam pens – These are the first handcrafted pens in India since 1932.[29] The pens are made from ebonite with gold or silver plated nibs. Ratnamson is a brand name of the K.V.Ratnam and sons, Ratnam Ball pen works at Fort Gate, Rajmudry.[30]

Literature

Nannayya is the earliest known Telugu poet, and the author of the first third of the Andhra Mahabharatam, a Telugu retelling of the Mahabharata. Sri Kandukuri Veeresalingam (1848–1919), a renowned social reformer, is widely considered as the man who first brought about a renaissance in Telugu literature and Telugu people; he is also known to have fought for women's issues.[31] General Sir Arthur Thomas Cotton, (15 May 1803 – 24 July 1899) was a British general and irrigation engineer.[32] Sri Adurthi Subba Rao, Prominent Old-time Director & Producer of Telugu Films. Julia Maitland, a campaigner for "native" education, founded a multilingual school and reading room in the town in 1837.[33]

Music and films

Durga Cinetone was the first south Indian film studio, to be built in Rajamahendravaram in the year 1936 by Nidamarthi Surayya. Many other films are being shot in the city.[34]

The city has produced many well-known artists in the Telugu film industry such as S.V.Ranga Rao, Ali, Raja Babu, Jaya Prada, Sameera Reddy, Bhanupriya, Sriman, Meghna Reddy, Thotakura Venkata Raju, Uma Pemmaraju, Ramesh, and J. D. Chakravarthy.

Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage in Rajamahendravaram on River Godavari

Cotton museum

The river Godavari and its bridges and the Sir Arthur Cotton Museum[35] are some of the attractions in the city. Rajamahendravaram is a tourist destination in the state. Daily tourist boats are availed from Pushkar Ghat to Papikondalu and Bhadrachalam. Heli Tourism is introduced from Rajahmundry Airport to see tourist places in Godavari Districts. Nurseries in Kadiam Mandal of City is another tourist destination. Government of Andhra Pradesh is rehabilitating Havelock Bridge and constructing resorts, convention centers, film studios, hotels, recreational places at Pichukalanka and other islands on River Godavari and eco-tourism centre at Kadiyapulanka, Zoological Park. Government of Andhra Pradesh is constructing Rajamahendravaram International Cricket Stadium on PPP mode to host international matches.[36] Greater Rajamahendravaram Municipal Corporation (GRMC), Godavari Urban Development Authority (GUDA) and Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) is planning River Front Development on 22 km stretch of River Godavari from Venkatanagaram to Vemagiri. State Government is making MoUs with private agencies for Malls, Multiplexes, Hotels, Convention Centers and Recreational places on PPP mode as a part of tourism development. Rajahmundry Airport is being developed as an international airport for giving a major boost to tourism in Godavari Districts. Polavaram Project, which is 25 km away from city will become another major tourist site near city.[37]

Godavari Rail Bridges view from PushkharGhat

Rajahmundry Railway station Entrance

Rajahmundry Airport

The bridges across Godavari River are an important transport infrastructure for connectivity such as, the Godavari Bridge,[38] which is the third longest railroad bridge in India;[39] and the Godavari Arch Bridge, commissioned on 14 March 1997 for Howrah–Chennai main line.[40] While, the Old Godavari Bridge (The Havelock Bridge) was the earliest of all, built in 1897 and was decommissioned in 1997.[39][41][42]

The primary and secondary school education is imparted by government, aided and private schools, under the School Education Department of the state.[50][51] As per the school information report for the academic year 2016–17, the city has 55,501[52] students enrolled in 244 schools.[53] The medium of instruction followed by schools are Telugu, English.[54][55] The Railway High School in the city has a history of more than hundred years, established in the year 1909.[56]

The city has one of the thirteen regional offices of the Board of Intermediate Education, which administers Intermediate education (10+2) education.[57] The Government Junior College is the only government run junior college, established in 1974 and there are four private-aided, twenty private-unaided colleges in the city.[58]

The Government Arts College was founded more than 150 years ago by the reformer, Kandukuri Veeresalingam Panthulu.[59] The BEd Training Institute is one of the oldest in India. Adikavi Nannaya University was established in March 2006, named after an 11th-century poet, Nannayya.[60] Other major universities in the city include Sri Potti Sri Ramulu Telugu University,[61] Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University,[62] Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University Study Center.[63] the city contains nannya university as new era. Andhra Pradesh State Forest Academy is located in the city for Forest skills training.[64]

National Institute of Technology, Andhra Pradesh, Tadepalligudem is located 34 km from Rajamahendravaram city.

Central Government Institutions in the city are as follows:

• "Central Tobacco Research Institute (CTRI)".
• "National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)".
• "National Academy of Constructions (NAC)".[60]

"Central Floriculture Institute and Research Centre" is in construction at Vemagiri.[25] "Science City" is in construction at Bommuru.[65]

After the Reorganization of Andhra Pradesh State the following institutes are sanctioned for the city:

• "Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy (IIPE)".
• "National Civil Aviation Academy".[58]
• "National Institute of Drama (NID)".
• "AP State Forest Academy".[56]

• List of cities in Andhra Pradesh
• List of municipal corporations in India

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rajahmundry.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Rajahmundry.

• Rajahmundry corporation website