Anantapur district

Anantapur district (officially: Anantapuramu district[4]) is one of the four districts in the Rayalaseema region of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The district headquarters is located at Anantapur city.[5] As of 2011 census of India, it is the largest district in the state by area and with a population of 4,083,315, it is the eighth most populous district.[1]:19

This article is about the district. For its eponymous headquarters, see Anantapur.

Anantapur district
District
Anantapuramu district
Etymology: Telugu: Anantasagara (Big Tank)
Coordinates: 14°42′N 77°36′E
CountryIndia
StateAndhra Pradesh
Named forBig Tank
HeadquartersAnantapur
Administrative Divisions
Government
 • District collectorSri. Gandham Chandrudu
 • Lok Sabha
 • Assembly
Area
 • Urban
[1]:19
376.89 km2 (145.52 sq mi)
 • Rural
[1]:19
18,753.11 km2 (7,240.62 sq mi)
Area rank1st
Population
 (2011)[2]
 • District4,081,148
 • Rank8th
 • Density213/km2 (550/sq mi)
 • Density rank19th
 • Urban
[1]:19
1,145,711
 • Rural
[1]:19
2,935,437
 • Households
968,160
 • Sex ratio
977 (females per 1,000 males)
Languages
 • OfficialTelugu
Literacy
 • Literates2,310,960
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Postal Index Number
515xxx
Area codes+91–8518
ISO 3166 codeIN-AP
Vehicle registrationAP-02 (former) AP–39 (from 30 January 2019)[3]
Websiteananthapuramu.ap.gov.in
Anantapur district is a part of Rayalaseema region (highlighted in blue) in Andhra Pradesh

Etymology

The name Anantapur was named after a big tank called Anantasagara. It existed during reign of Vijayanagara Empire, which was named after Ananthamma, wife of Bukkaraya, one of the founders of the empire.[6]

History

Gooty fort was a stronghold of the Marathas, but was taken from them by Hyder Ali. In 1789 it was ceded by his son Tipu Sultan to the Nizam of Hyderabad, and in 1800 the nizam ceded the surrounding districts to the British in payment for a subsidiary British force.[7] In 1882, Anantapuram district was formed by carving out from Bellary district.[8]

Geography
Districts of Andhra Pradesh

It is the largest district of Andhra Pradesh and 7th largest district in India spanning an area of 19,130 square kilometres (7,390 sq mi),[9] comparatively equivalent to Japan's Shikoku Island.[10] It is bounded on the north by Kurnool District, on the east by Kadapa District, on the southeast by Chittoor District, and on the southwest and west by Karnataka state.[11] It is part of Rayalaseema region on the state. Its northern and central portions are a high plateau, generally undulating, with large granite rocks or low hill ranges rising occasionally above its surface. In the southern portion of the district the surface is more hilly, the plateau there rising to 2,000 ft (610 m). above the sea.[7] Six rivers flow within the district: Penna, Chithravathi, Vedavathi, Papagni, Swarnamukhi, and Thadakaleru. The district receives an average annual rainfall of 381 millimetres.

Anantapur city is 485 km (301 mi) from Vijayawada, 354 km (220 mi) from Hyderabad, and 200 km (120 mi) from the neighbouring state capital of Bengaluru. Anantapur connects Hyderabad and Bangalore through National Highway 7. There is an airport in the district located in Puttaparthi, known as Sri Sathya Sai Airport; however this airport currently has no scheduled service. Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru is nearest commercial airport to Anantapur District.

Demographics

As of 2011 census of India, Anantapur district has a population of 4,081,148 with 9,68,160 households, ranking it as the 7th most populous district in the state. It is the largest district in the state with an area of 19,130 km2 (7,390 sq mi).[1] Anantapur has a sex ratio of 977 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 64.28%.[12] Urban population in the district is 28.9% of total population.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
19011,025,322—    
19111,053,449+0.27%
19211,040,166−0.13%
19311,138,081+0.90%
19411,273,079+1.13%
19511,483,591+1.54%
19611,767,464+1.77%
19712,115,321+1.81%
19812,548,012+1.88%
19913,180,863+2.24%
20013,640,478+1.36%
20114,081,148+1.15%
source:[13]

Economy

The Gross District Domestic Product (GDDP) of the district is ₹35,838 crore (US$5.0 billion) and it contributes 6.8% to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). For the FY 2013–14, the per capita income at current prices was ₹69,562 (US$980). The primary, secondary and tertiary sectors of the district contribute ₹9,944 crore (US$1.4 billion), ₹7,752 crore (US$1.1 billion) and ₹18,142 crore (US$2.5 billion) respectively to the GDDP.[14]

Agriculture and allied services Paddy and Groundnut are major agricultural crops in the district. When it comes to horticulture Banana and Papaya are heavily cultivated.

Industries Industries like Constructions, Manufactures and Electricity are major contributors for GVA.[14] Anantapur has a major potential for development of industry due to its strategic location between Bengaluru – Chennai and Bengaluru – Hyderabad routes and availability of vast tracts of land. In 2006 the Indian government named Anantapur one of the country's 250 most backward districts (out of a total of 640).[15] It is one of the thirteen districts in Andhra Pradesh currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).[15]

Minerals Anantapur is a major producer of Dolomite and Iron Ore minerals.

Power plants Solar thermal power plant of 50 MW was commissioned at this village under Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission which was named as Megha Solar Plant. It is one of the 7 solar thermal plants in the country.[16][17]

Silk sarees

Dharmavaram region in Anantapur is world-famous for the handmade pure silk sarees. It's a major hub for Silk trade with end to end silk related industries situated in the region supporting a major portion of population. Tadipatri region in Anantapur is an industrialised town famous for Granite and Cement production. Ultra Tech Cements a unit of Industrial major Larsen & Toubro has a major Cement production unit near the town.

Agriculture

The economy is principally agrarian with a developing industrial sector. Anantapur receives very less rainfall due to its location in the rain shadow area of Indian Peninsula. Prominent crops include groundnut, sunflower, rice, cotton, maize, chillies, sesame, and sugarcane. Silk trade, limestone quarrying, iron and diamond mining. Anantapur town is known as Groundnut City in reference to the neighbouring Bengaluru being called as Garden City.

Religious tourism

Lepakshi, a village in Anantapur District famous for temple of Vijayanagara architectural style, Monolithic Lepakshi Nandi, and Hanging Pillar, Monolithic Naagalingam.

Puttaparthi region in Anantapur is home to the Ashram of Sathya Sai Baba, one of the most popular spiritual gurus of India. Puttaparthi has developed into a major tourist destination due to vast infrastructure created by the ashram he founded, known as Prasanthi Nilayam.

The Gooty Fort, also known as Ravadurg, is a ruined fort located on a hill in the Gooty town of anantapur Andhra Pradesh, India. The word Gooty (locally pronounced "Gutti") is derived from the town's original name, Gowthampuri. It is one of the centrally protected monuments of national importance.

Administrative divisions
Revenue divisions map of Anantapur district

The District has five Revenue Divisions viz., Anantapur, Dharmavaram, Kadiri, Kalyandurg and Penukonda divisions. Kadiri and Kalyandurg divisions are formed in 2013.[18][19] These revenue divisions are further divided into 63 mandals.[1]:14

The mandals of the district are listed in the following table:

NoAnantapur DivisionDharmavaram DivisionKadiri DivisionKalyandurg DivisionPenukonda Division
1AnantapurBathalapalleAmadagurBeluguppaAgali
2AtmakurChennekothapalleBukkapatnamBommanahalAmarapuram
3BukkarayasamudramDharmavaramGandlapentaBrahmasamudramChilamathur
4GarladinneKanaganapalleKadiriD.HirehalGorantla
5GootyMudigubbaKothacheruvuGummagattaGudibanda
6GuntakalRamagiriNallacheruvuKalyandurgHindupur
7KudairRaptaduNallamadaKambadurLepakshi
8NarpalaTadimarriNambulapulakuntaKanekalMadakasira
9PamidiObuladevaracheruvuKundurpiParigi
10PeddapappurPuttaparthiRayadurgPenu Konda
11PeddavadugurTalupulaSetturRoddam
12PutlurTanakalRolla
13SinganamalaSomandepalle
14Tadipatri
15Uravakonda
16Vajrakarur
17Vidapanakal
18Yadiki
19Yellanur

Erstwhile Talukas in District
S.No. Erstwhile Talukas in 1971 Newly formed Talukas in 1978 Newly formed Mandals in 1985
1. Anantapuram Anantapuram Anantapuram, Kudair, Atmakur, Raptadu, Garladinne [part]
Singanamala [12] Singanamala, B.K. Samudram, Narpala, Garladinne [part]
2 Gooty Gooty Gooty, Guntakal, Pamidi, Peddavadugur
3 Urvakonda Urvakonda Urvakonda [part], Vidapanakal, Vajrakarur
4 Rayadurgam Rayadurgam Rayadurgam, D.Hirehal, Gummagatta
Kanekallu [13] Kanekallu, Bommanahal, Urvakonda [part]
5 Kalyanadurgam Kalyanadurgam Kalyanadurgam, Belugappa
Kambadur [14] Kambadur, Kundurpi, Settur, Brahmasamudram
6 Penukonda Penukonda Penukonda, Roddam, Somanandipalle
Puttaparthi [Satya Sai Taluka] [15] Puttaparthi, Bukkapatnam, Kothacheruvu
7 Madakasira Madakasira Madakasira, Rolla, Agali, Gudibanda, Amarapuram
8 Hindupuram Hindupuram Hindupuram, Parigi, Gorantla, Lepakshi, Chilamathur
9 Kadiri Kadiri Kadiri, Nallacheruvu, Tanakal, Gandlapenta, Talapula, Nambulipulikunta
Nallamada [16] Nallamada, Obula devara Cheruvu, Amadagur, Mudigubba
10 Dharmavaram Dharmavaram Dharmavaram, Bathalapalle, Tadimarri
Chennekothapalle [17] Chennekothapalle, Kanaganapalle, Ramagiri
11 Tadipatri Tadipatri Tadipatri, Yadiki, Yallanuru, Putlur, Peddapappur

Towns in District

The Following are the towns in district.

Municipal Bodies in Anantapuramu District
S.No. Town Civic Status of Town Municipality

Formation Year

 2011 Census

Population

 2001 Census

Population

 1991 Census

Population

 1981 Census

Population

 1971 Census

Population

1 Anantapuramu Municipal Corporation 1869 340,613 252,298 174,924 119,531 80,069
2 Hindupur Municipality Selection Grade 1920 151,677 125,074 104,651 55,901 42,595
3 Guntakal Municipality Selection Grade 1948 126,270 117,103 107,592 84,599 66,320
4 Dharmavaram Municipality Selection Grade 1964 121,874 103,357 78,961 50,969 30,876
5 Tadipatri Municipality Special Grade 1920 108171 86,843 71,068 53,920 31,618
6 Kadiri Municipality Special Grade 1964 89,429 76,252 63,378 52,774 33,810
7 Rayadurgam Municipality Grade - 2 1963 61,749 54,125 40,848 32,745 26,154
8 Gooty Municipality Grade - 3 2011 48,658 43,389 37,814 29,302 21,706
9 Puttaparthi Nagar Panchayat 2011 32,998 25,672 10,864 7,326 5,517
10 Kalyanadurgam Municipality Grade - 3 2012 32,328 29,266 23,106 17,049 13,260
11 Penukonda Nagar Panchayat 2020 27,382 23,910 17,030 12,373 9,264
12 Pamidi Nagar Panchayat 2012 26,886 22,585 19,697 14,615 10,963
13 Madakasira Nagar Panchayat 2011 21,464 19,432 16,762 13,182 10,600
Erstwhile Taluka HQs of District
S.No. Town Civic Status of Town 2011 Census

Population

1 Urvakonda Census Town 35,565
2 Kambadur Grama Panchayat 15,441
3 Nallamada Grama Panchayat 10,944
4 Chennekothapalle Grama Panchayat 7,387
5 Singanamala Grama Panchayat 4,986
Remaining Census Towns in District
S.No. Town Civic Status of Town 2011 Census

Population

1 Somandepalle Census Town 18,895

Transport

The total road length of state highways in the district is 1,298 km (807 mi), the longest in the state.[20] It has a total Rail Network of which 340 km (210 mi) is Broad gauge and 249 km (155 mi) is Meter gauge. The major railways stations are Guntakal Junction, Dharmavaram Junction, Gooty Junction,Rayadurg Junction, Penukonda Junction, Sathya Sai Prasanthi Nilayam, Hindupur.

Education

The primary and secondary school education is imparted by government, aided and private schools, under the School Education Department of the state.[21][22] As per the school information report for the academic year 2015–16, there are a total of 5,024 schools. They include, 28 government, 3,435 mandal and zilla parishads, 4 residential, 1,154 private, 25 model, 62 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV), 261 municipal and 55 other types of schools.[23] The total number of students enrolled in primary, upper primary and high schools of the district are 563,710.[24] The total number of students enrolled in primary, upper primary and high schools of the district are 563,266.[24]

Anantapur is an important education centre with many prominent educational, schools, colleges and universities situated in the district. Anantapur city has become a major hub with many education institutions situated in its vicinity. Some of the institutions include Sri Krishnadevaraya University, JNTU Ananthapur, Sri Sathya Sai University, Government Medical College, Government polytechnic anantapur, Srinivasa Ramanujan Institute of Technology, Government Polytechnic Hindupur. Gates Institute of Technology. Central University of Andhra Pradesh, Dalavai Chalapathi Rao

Temples

The following sixty five temples under the management of Endowments Department[25]

References
  1. "District Census Hand Book – Anantapur" (PDF). Census of India. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  2. "Population". Census of India. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  3. "New 'AP 39' code to register vehicles in Andhra Pradesh launched". The New Indian Express. Vijayawada. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  4. Reporter, Staff. "Anantapur district to be renamed Anantapuram". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  5. "Anantapur Assembly Constituency : Triangular contest on the cards". www.thehansindia.com. 20 January 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  6. "There is history behind names of places". The Hindu. 30 March 2009. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  7.  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Anantapur". Encyclopædia Britannica. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 913.
  8. Rayudu, C. S. (1 January 1991). Rural Credit in India: A Study of Andhra Pradesh. Mittal Publications. p. 2. ISBN 9788170992486.
  9. Srivastava, Dayawanti; et al., eds. (2010). "States and Union Territories: Andhra Pradesh: Government". India 2010: A Reference Annual (54th ed.). New Delhi, India: Additional Director General, Publications Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Government of India. pp. 1111–1112. ISBN 978-81-230-1617-7.
  10. "Island Directory Tables: Islands by Land Area". United Nations Environment Program. 18 February 1998. Retrieved 11 October 2011. Shikoku 18,545km2
  11. "Historical Background". Archived from the original on 15 May 2013.
  12. "Census 2011". Official website of Anantapuram district. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  13. Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
  14. "Economy of Anantapur District". Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  15. Ministry of Panchayati Raj (8 September 2009). "A Note on the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme" (PDF). National Institute of Rural Development. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  16. "Megha Solar Plant". National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Archived from the original on 28 April 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  17. "Anantapur Gets Solar Power Plant". The New Indian Express. Hyderabad. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  18. "Historical Background". Anantapur District Official website. National Informatics Centre. Archived from the original on 26 December 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  19. "Anantapur gets two more revenue divisions". The Hindu. Anantapur. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  20. "Existing State Highways" (PDF). Andhra Pradesh Road Development Corporation. Government of Andhra Pradesh. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 September 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  21. "School Education Department" (PDF). School Education Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  22. "The Department of School Education – Official AP State Government Portal". www.ap.gov.in. Archived from the original on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  23. "School Information Report". Commissionerate of School Education. Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original on 8 November 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  24. "Student Information Report". Commissionerate of School Education. Child info 2015–16, District School Education – Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original on 22 May 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
  25. "Trust Boards Abstract". AP Temples Portal, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
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