Anantapur district

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Coordinates: 16°35′46″N 80°04′56″E / 16.596056°N 80.082092°E / 16.596056; 80.082092

For the city information, see Anantapur.

Anantapur District (Telugu: అనంతపురం జిల్లా, Urdu: اننت پور ضلع) is one of the 23 districts in Andhra Pradesh, India. The district headquarters is Anantapur town.

[edit] Formation

The district was constituted in 1882 from the erstwhile district of Bellary.

[edit] Geography

It is the largest district of Andhra Pradesh spanning an area of 19,130 km². 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. 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 ft (0.61 m). above the sea. Six rivers flow within the district: Penna, Chithravathi, Vedavathi, Papagni, Swarnamuki, and Thadakaleru. The district receives an average annual rainfall of 381 millimeters.

[edit] Demographics

The district had a population of 3,640,478 of which 25.26% is urban as of 2001. [1] Telugu is the widely spoken language in this region and it has a literacy rate of 56.69%. Anantapur includes 866 villages.

Main Religions are Hindus 3,225,156, Muslims 389,201 (10.7%), Christians 20,770.

[edit] Economy

The economy is principally agrarian with very few industries. With very little rainfall, the district is one of the most backward provinces in the state. Prominent crops include groundnut, rice, cotton, maize, chillies, sesame, and sugarcane. Silk trade, limestone quarrying, iron and diamond mining constitute the few industries that are there.

[edit] Cities and Historical places

Major cities within the district are Anantapur, Hindupur, Penukonda, Guntakal, Tadpatri, Kadiri, Dharmavaram, Uravakonda, Rayadurg and Kalyandurg. Other places of interest include Alur, Gooty,Kanampalli, Lepakshi, Pamidi, Puttaparthi, Konakondla, Kottacheruvu and Hemavati.

[edit] Anantpur

Anantpur is the district headquarters and the main city. Anantapur is nearest to Bangalore (210 KM, 5 hours by bus). Sri Krishnadevaraya University is located in Anantapur Anantapur dist. is very lorgest district in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

[edit] Tadipatri

Tadpatri is third largest city in Anantapur district. There are 2 historical temples are there. 1) Bugga Rama Lingeswara Temple 2) Chintala Venkata Ramana Temple

The famous ciema director KV Reddy is from Tadpatri

Tadpatri is well known industrial city in Rayalaseema. 1) More than 600 Slab units 2) Ultratech cement company 3) Penna cement company 4) SJK Steel plant

[edit] Hindupur

Hindupur is the second largest city in the district, bordering Karnataka.

[edit] Penukonda

Penukonda is a place with historic significance, it has 12th Century dargah (mausoleum) of Hazrat Baba Fakruddin (R.A), Fort of Rayal dynasty, Sherkhan Mosque- a artistic marvel.

[edit] Guntakal

Guntakal is one of the large Railway Junction.

[edit] Gooty

Gooty is one of the large Railway Junction. gooty is a historical town.

[edit] Dharmavaram

This small town in the heart of the district is famous for the production of silk sarees. Different varieties of silk sarees are made in the town . Also the dharmavaram tank is very famous for its water storing capacity. This tank was built by the great Sri Krishna Devaraya. And also this town is well known as Silk City.

[edit] Lepakshi

The temple town of Lepakshi is one of the well known historical places that are there in Anantapur District. The famous Veerabhadra, a wonderful example of the Vijayanagar architectural style and art, is located here. The largest single stone carving of Nandi (Bull) statue is sculptured here. It was built during the period of rayala kingdom. This period is called Golden Age in the history of South India. The Idol of Goddess Durga is sculptured in the pillar. She is renowned for her power in fulfilling the wishes of the devotees of her.

There are many attractions in the temple like hanging pillar, Idol of Lord Shiva on the five-headed snake. Especially the oil paints designed on the walls are widely used for designing the silk sarees. The sculptory over here is really amazing. Lord Veerabhadra is the other God situated in the same temple.

[edit] Puttaparthi

Puttaparthi, now popularly known as Prasanthi Nilayam, the abode of Supreme Peace, is the home town of Bhagawan Sri Satya Sai Baba and it is about 40 km away from Dharmavaram, 80 km from Anantapur and 200 km from Bangalore. World renowned and worshipped by His devotees all over the globe as God Incarnate, Sri Sathya Sai Baba has shown humanity a new way of life and through his simple teachings transformed millions of His devotees' lives. It indeed needs a divine intervention for anyone to achieve the accomplishments of Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Prasanthi Nilayam, the abode of supreme peace, is a place every human being should visit in his lifetime to experience for oneself what selfless and pure love can achieve.

[edit] Kadiri

Kadiri is well known for few tourist places like

Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Swami Temple (400 years old) temple is constructed by famous king Sri Krishnadevaraya.
World's largest Banyan tree (Timmamma Marrimaanu) which is spread over 9 acres.
Praja kavi Yogi Vemana Samadhi located at Katarupalli (10 km from Kadiri).

[edit] Hemavati

This is famous for the ancient Siddeswara (Henjerappa) and Doddeswara Temples built by Nolamba pallava kings in the 9th century. Every year during the time of Sivaratri, a jatara will be conducted here.

[edit] External links

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