Tenali

This article is about the town. For the Tamil film, see Thenali. For the court poet and jester, see Tenali Ramakrishna.

Tenali తెనాలి Andhra Paris
—  Town  —
Tenali Location in Andhra Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 16.25°N 80.58°E / 16.25; 80.58
Country	India
State	Andhra Pradesh
District	Guntur
Elevation	11 m (36 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	164,649
Languages
• Official	Telugu
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	522201

Tenali (తెనాలి), is a town and a mandal in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh, South India. It has a population of 164,649 (2011 census). Tenali is famous for its culture. It is Known as Andhra Paris because of three canals of the Krishna River flow through Tenali making it a part of the rice bowl of Andhra Pradesh. One of the canals is navigable up to Nizampatnam port. Tenali is a major railway junction connecting Guntur, Vijayawada, Repalle and Chennai. It is located 16 miles east of Guntur City and 21 miles south of Vijayawada. Great Poet "Vikata Kavi" Tenali Ramakrishna was born in a small village near Tenali.

Overview

Tenali Railway Station

Tenali popularly known as "Andhra Paris", is known for its rich historical, agricultural, cultural and literary legacy....It is the Second largest town after Guntur in Guntur District. It has produced many famous poets, theatre artistes, scholars, actors, scientists and academicians. Tenali Ramakrishna, who was a court-poet of Krishnadeva Raya of the Vijayanagara empire and well known for his wit and impressive Telugu poetry was born in Tumuluru near Tenali in the 16th century. It is well known for the Vaikuntapuram temple which gets visited by an average of 35,000 devotees every month to get a glimpse of the Lord Venkateswara.^{[citation needed]} Vinayaka vigrahamit is about 60 feet in height, every year on vinayaka chavithi celebration are being done and about thousands of people visit the temple on that day and it is the tallest statue of lord vigneswara in south INDIA.

Transportation

Tenali town is well connected to the major cities of South India by road and rail. Nearest cities to Tenali are Guntur & Vijayawada, which are on National Highway NH5. It is a 30 min drive by road and 20 min journey by train from Guntur and 45 min drive by road and 30 min journey by train from Vijayawada. Tenali is well connected to the State Capital (Hyderabad), the National Capital (New Delhi), Chennai, Kolkata & Bangalore by Indian Railways & Roadways. Tenali has a modern and well-developed railway station with five platforms with goods carrier facilities and all basic passenger facilities. Tenali Railway Junction lies in busiest route of trains in south central railway. Taxis and Auto Rickshaws are available at Train & Bus stations round the clock.

Climate

Tenali is located 42 km from the sea coast. It is generally hot and humid during summer with temperatures ranging between 28 and 42 C. Winters are milder with temperatures between 14 and 25 C. Heavy rains are experienced between July and November during monsoon time.

Demographics

As per provisional data of 2011 census, Tenali municipality had a population of 164,649, out of which males were 81,324 and females were 83,325. The literacy rate was 82.63 per cent.

See also: List of cities in Andhra Pradesh

As per 2011 Indian census, Tenali had a population of 164,649. Both males and females constitute equal share in the population. Tenali has an average literacy rate of 84% which is higher than the national average of 74.04%. About 10% of the population in Tenali is under 6 years of age.

Economy

The town thrives on trade and agriculture. The region around the town has fertile soil irrigated by the Krishna river and its canals. Major crops include Lemons, Bananas, Sugar Cane, Rice, Lentils, Sapota (Chickoo) and Turmeric(Pasupu). Pulses like black gram and red gram are grown as rice fallows in the area. Maize has recently been introduced in the region which has become a major commercial crop. Tenali is famous for Handloom Pattu (Silk) Sarees, Gold Jewelry, Wood and Steel Utensils.

The town holds a huge middle class, making up more than 75% of the total population. Major source of income is agriculture (with two to three crops each year) followed by small-scale businesses. Tenali is also considered as the most reliable town for the purchase of Pure Gold in Andhra pradesh.

Martyr’s Memorial and Independence Movement

During the QUIT INDIA movement, situation went out of control and several enraged youth have stopped PURI passenger train that was entering the railway station burnt it in spite of polite requests from the local congress leaders Kalluri Chandramouli, Ravi satyanarayana and veluvolu Sitaramaiah who reached the station a few minutes before. After burning the train the mob has reached the old bus stand area and the district collector and the top police officials have also reached the area at the same time. The collector has issued firing orders when the stone pelting has started. Seven people were shot dead and several were injured. That place is now called RANARANGA CHOWK(Battle field)and Chandramouli and Sitaramaiah were arrested in a few hours and sent as detenues to Vellore central jail. The martyrs Memorial at Ranarangam Chowk is a well known symbol in Tenali; it was unveiled to mark the sacrifices made by seven martyrs in the Quit India Movement. The memorial has a statue of Mother India holding a dying child in her arms with 7 pillars as a backdrop representing 7 freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives. Soon,there was ban on congress and a new outfit named "Andhra Congress Assembly" was started as Chandramouli as president who was released from the prison because of failing health. State head office was established at Tenali at Veluvolu sitaramaiah's business premises and financed by him since Congress's bank account was frozen.

Nearby villages

• Nandivelugu located 5 km away from Tenali and also 20 km from Guntur.
• Manduru located 10 km far away from Tenali is famous for Paddy.
• Valiveru located 9 km from Tenali and near Edlapalli is famous for Paddy, Lemon, Maize, and Banana etc.
• Amruthaluru : A flourishing village on the way to Cherukupalli and a developed and modern village.
• Anantharam, or Ananthavaram is a village in Kolluru Tehsil. It is located 6 km from Kolluru and 16 km east from Tenali town.
• Angalakuduru is located on the road to Guntur City from Tenali (5 km from Tenali).
• Athota is a Village located 6 km from Tenali which is famous for its agriculture.
• Bhattiprolu, located twenty-eight kilometres from Tenali, is well known for its Buddhist stupa built in the third century BC. The most ancient known kingdom, ruled by King Kuberaka, in South India had Pratipalapura as its capital. A variant of Ashokan Brahmi found on the urn containing Buddha's ashes gave rise to the Telugu script and many other South-East Asian language scripts.
• Burripalem is a village near Tenali and the hometown of Tollywood actors Ghattamaneni Sivarama Krishna and Mahesh Babu.
• Chakrayapalem is a village which is far 7 km from Tenali.
• Champadu, located 11 km from Tenali is famous for its Vegetables and especially for Banana.
• Chavali is a village Located 22 km from Tenali and it is one of the major panchayath in Guntur District.
• Chebrolu, known as Dakshina Kasi because of its vast number of temples is located around 20 km from Tenali. 15 out of 101 temples which were built around (700 AD) still exist. The Brahma temple which is one of the two temples dedicated to Brahma is located in this village. Chebrolu is also well known for its freedom fighters.
• Chintalapudi: A project is undertaken by a voluntary organization called Ashanet that has contributed to the welfare of the village.
• Edlapalli located at 7 km from Tenali and near to Valiveru is famous for Paddy, Lemon etc.
• Garuvupalem (or Gandhi Nagar) is a small village located at 6 km from Tenali. The famous Buckingham Canal flows through this village.
• Govada: This village is neighbouring Amruthluru with an ancient Shiva temple.
• Gudivada, located at 7 km from Tenali is famous for its Lord Siva temple which was built by Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu.
• Jampani is located 8 km from Tenali. The major crops are sugarcane, Rice and Lemon. The village has a Sugar factory. And is known for skilled carpenters and wood carvers. There are about 100 families with wood carving as their profession. Home town Dr. Shyam Sundar, who received Arjuna and Drona awards for his contribution in Volleyball as player and coach for India.
• KAKARLAMUDI which is far 10 km distance from Tenali, famous for agricultural fields, and This Village is developed educationally.
• Kanagala: HMKS & MGS College of Engineering (www.hmksmgs.com) is located here.
• Kancherlapalem is situated 3 km from Tenali.
• Katevaram, located at 2 km from Tenali is famous for Lord Shiva temple built in 10th century and renovated during the Vijayanagara period and recently in 2009. Paddy, Turmeric and Lentils are the main crops grown in this village.
• Kodi Thadiparu, is one of the famous villages in Tenali division. There is a famous Chennakesava swamy temple.
• Kolakaluru, located 6 km from Tenali, is famous for the Shiva Temple, a huge chariot and Lord Vishnu Temple.
• Kollipara: Village of rich agricultural tradition. Krishna river is 1 km away from the village.
• Kollur: A Tehsil located at 20 km from Tenali is very famous for brick manufacture. It covers around 20 island villages which produce Rice, Dal, Turmeric, Bananas, Sugar cane etc.,
• Kuchipudi, located 6 km from Tenali is rich in agriculture. A temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and built by Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu has one of the tallest Gopurams in Guntur district.
• Manduru is a village Located 10 km from Tenali and is famous for its Lord Shiva Temple.
• Modukuru is a historical village located 18 km from Tenali town. Modukuru is famous for its Durga temple.
• Moparru located at 16 km from Tenali. A village with modern facilities and an orphanage.
• Mulpuru located at 10 km from Tenali is famous for Paddy, Turmeric and Banana.
• Panchalavaram.
• Pedapudi, a village which is located 12 km away from Tenali which has a rich agricultural tradition.
• Pidaparthipalem: A small village located at 22 km from Tenali.
• Pedagadelavarru, a small village located at 25 km from Tenali and famous for its fertile land.
• Sangam Jagarlamudi, located between Tenali and Guntur, is famous for its Lord Sangameswara Swamy (Siva) temple and banana plantations.
• Thurumella located at 14 km from Tenali. A high school was established in early 1900s and with its hostel facilities served students from near and far until 1960s.
• Tumuluru, 18 kilometres from Tenali, is one of the few Internet villages in India where all village transactions are conducted online. The court poet of Krishnadevaraya, Tenali Ramakrishna was born in this village. It is a place which was visited by "Father of Nation" Mahatma Gandhi. It is also famous for Turmeric Trading. "Shivalayam" is one of the Pilgrim places.
• Vadlamudi, is one of the major panchayaths in Guntur District and is located in between Tenali and Guntur. The biggest farmers' Co-operative dairy in Andhra Pradesh, Sangam Dairy, is situated here. One of the prestigious educational institutes of Andhra Pradesh, Vignan University is located here. Vadlamudi is well known for its Shivaratri festival celebrations. The Vadlamudi "QUARRY" has been sustaining the livelihoods of thousands of household over the last 50 years.
• Nelapaadu, a village located 3 km North-Eeast to Perantalamma temple Ithanagar, Tenali.
• Tealaprolu, a village located 1 km North to Perantalamma temple Ithanagar, Tenali.
• Vejendla is a village located 15 km from Tenali simultaneously from guntur which is famous for its agriculture
• Pedaravur: 3 KM away from TENALI, Village of rich agricultural tradition and Village digital Library anagurated by Nadendla Manohar (India's villages of first digital Library)
• Gopayapalem: A village 14 km away from Tenali.
• Hanuman Palem is a village located at a distance of 24 km from Tenali.

Hindu Temples

There are a good number of famous temples in Tenali town:

• Sri DurgaParvathi sametha ramalingeswara Swamy Temple, Ramalingeswara peta
• Sri suvarchalasametha Prasannanjaneya Swamy Temple, Ramalingeswarapeta
• Vishwakarma Temple (Kothapeta,Tenali)
• Sri Math Virat potuluri Veera Brahmendra Swamy Temple (Ghandichowk,tenali)
• Patha Shivalayam(Ramalingeswara Aalayam).
• Vinayaka Temple (Nandulapet, Gandhi Nagar).
• Ganganamma temple (Ganganamma Pet). A Temple for this deity as village goddess (Grama Devatha) for Tenali.
• Sri Vasavi Kanyaka Parameswari temple (Bose Road).
• Vaikuntapuram (also known as Chinna Tirupathi).
• Patha Anjaneyaswami temple.
• Chitti Anjaneyaswami temple.
• Sri SeethaRama mandiram, Bose Road.
• Morrispet Shivalayam.
• Saibaba temple.
• Appalaswami temple.
• Devi Gudi in Devi Chowk.
• Donga Ramudu Gudi (Near Market)
• Asta Lakshmi Temple.
• Venugopala Swamy temple (Ithanagar).
• Perantalamma Temple (Ithanagar). A famous ritual called Perantalamma Tirunalla happens here in this temple. This festival happens for 7 days which includes Gummadi Cidi and Meka Cidi on two of the days. Gummadi cidi is a ceremony where the goddess perantalamma takes the chariot made of a tree trunk (Called cidi) with Gummadi Kaya (Ash Gourd) hanged to it. The Chariot goes on the streets of Tenali over night and returns to the temple in the morning. Similarly, Meeka (lamb) Cidi is a ceremony where the goddess takes the chariot with a Lamb tied to it. The lamb will be left free after the ceremony, which will later be treated sacred.
• Vinayaka vigraham (is situated opposite to the V S R & N V R College) it is about 60 feet in height and established in 1996 and was inaugurated by sri china jeyar swami and every year on vinayaka chavithi celebration are being done and about thousands of people will visit to the temple on that day and it was heightest lord vigneswara statue in south INDIA

Other Temples

Kalika matha temple

Miscellaneous

• Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church (A.E.L.C) is located in the heart of Tenali, which was constructed in 1925 and even many denominations were widely spread in the town.
• The heart of Tenali is referred as Gadi Bavi, which derives its name from an old well that used to exist there. Gadi Bavi is now a famous marketplace.
• Festivals are celebrated on a grand scale throughout the year in Tenali. The most famous being Sri Rama Navami, where the Pandiri or Pandal stretches over the entire main roads in Tenali, attracting a gathering of about 200,000 people each year. Vinayaka Chavathi and Deepawali are the main festivals. From Ugadi until Rama Navami, all the main streets are decorated with displays of various gods and goddesses. The celebrations continue for ten days. During the Sankranthi festival, Lord Venkateswara's idol along with those of Lakshmi and Padmavati are taken on a decorated boat in one of the Krishna canals. On the festive day of Sivarathri a huge jathara/festival will be celebrated in nearby Siva kshetras viz., Vadlamudi Quarry, Sangam Jagarlamudi, Tsundur and Gowada.

Scientists

• Famous scientists from Tenali include late Y. Nayudamma, Prof. D. Basavaiah from University of Hyderabad, Padmasree Dr. A. V. Rama Rao, former Director of IICT, Prof. Sambasiva Rao Kotha from IIT Bombay, Dr P. Ananda Kumar, Director, National Research Centre on Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi and Professor Rambabu Kodali, Director, National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur, Dr. Venkateswara Rao Surisetty, Research Scientist, E. I. Dupont Canada Company, Canada.
• Prominent scientists of India are honoured by Dr Nayudamma Award. The awardees include A P J Abdul Kalam, M S Swaminathan, Verghese Kurien and Kota Hari Narayana.

Educational Institutions

Tenali is well known for its educational institutions and one of the major destinations for students from nearby villages.

Further education

• Nannapaneni Venkat Rao College of Engineering & Technology
• Tenali Engineering College, Anumarlapudi.
• Priyadarshini Engineering College, Chintalpudi
• Sri Sai Jr.College
• Smt.D.Indira Jr.College
• Viveka Junior College
• A.S.N. Degree College
• Dr. B.R.Ambedkar Educational Institutions
• Gajanphar Engineering College
• Gupta college
• JMJ (Joseph, Mary and Jesus) College for Women
• K.S.S.W engineering college for womans group of A.S.N
• Taluka Junior School & College
• V.S.R & N.V.R College which is one of the oldest colleges in Andhra Pradesh.
• Vignan University
• Vignan Engineering College
• Vignan's Lara Institute of Technology and Science http://www.vignanlara.org/
• PriyaDarshini degree college, Kothapet, tenali
• F.A.L.T.U UNIVERSITY
• K Chandrakala P.G College, Nelapadu tenali

Schools

Government Schools:

• Nallamotu Chenchu Rama Nayudu Municipal High School, Morrispet, Tenali

International Schools:

1. Westberry School

Private Schools:

• Sri Maruthi Vidya Niketan, Balaji Rao Pet, Tenali
• Teja public school
• Sharon Talent School, Devi Chowk, Vimanammeda, Tenali
• Sri Raghavendra Vidya Niketan, Morrispet, Tenali
• Sri Chaitanya Techno School, Buripallem Road, Tenali
• Adarsh Public School, Amaravathi Plots,Tenali.
• Dr. Kodali Veeraiah Educational Academy
• Dr.K.K.R's gowtham concept school
• Goutham model school, chenchu peta, tenali.
• Haritha Bala Kuteer, Ganganamma peta, tenali.
• Kennedy English Medium School{KEMS},Tenali.(1989-2004),renowned as the best school in Tenali town run by Mr.BJRK RAO (Principal).
• Kerala English Medium School,Tenali. (s)
• Kusuma Vidyalayam, Sharoff Bazar
• Little Citizens School
• Nehru Niketan English Medium School
• Prasanthi Vidya Vihar
• Ratna sri public school
• Ravindra bharati school, near ratna takis tenali.
• Sai Residential School
• Montessori Public School, Burripalem road, tenali
• Smt.D.Indira Jr.college,Ganganamma pet,Tenali.
• Sri Aurobindo center of education, Tenali
• Bashyam public school Burripalem road, Tenali
• Sri devi convent
• Ideal public school, Burripalem road
• Sri Harsha Junior College
• Sri Saraswathi Vidya Niketan, Ganganammapet, Tenali
• Sri Raghavendra Vidya Niketan, Morrispet, Tenali
• Sri Rama Rural Gurukula Pathasala,
• Sri vasireddy pitchaiah ideal public school, burripalem road,tenali.
• St. Johns English Medium School
• Viveka Foster School ( KG-V)
• Viveka Junior College (Residential and Day-Scholar)
• Viveka Public School (VI-X)
• Viveka Women's College (Residential and Day-Scholar)
• Sri Vivekananda Central School (KG-VII)
• Sri vivekananda central school(Affiliated to CBSE with no: 130267),Viveka nagar Tenali
• Sri Vivekananda Junior College (Residential)
• West berry public school burripalem tenali
• Mahesh Concept School, Near RTC Busstand, Tenali.
• NSSM High School, Ithanagar, Tenali.
• Modern convent & tutorials, TENALI
• Rama Krishna Bala Kuteer Nandulapet, Tenali, Tenali, Andhra Pradesh.

Veda Pathashala

One of the oldest vedic schools of Andhra Pradesh, established in 1893, is Sree Yalavarthy Anjaneya Sastry Veda Pathashala, which is located in Gandhi Nagar. Traditional Vedic smartham was taught here by late Prathanacharya Sri Pandita pamarthi Nagabhushana Sharma. <http://yalavarthivedapathasala.org/> . Sri Ravi Sambasiva Rao Municipal Boys High School (S R S M B H School), Tenali. Near To Ranta Takies And Court And Jail.

• Vishwabrahmana Veda Pathasala (Tenali)

Cinema theaters

There are a number of cinema theaters in Tenali:

1. Gaiety Theater DTS,
2. Lakshmi Deluxe PXD,
3. Mini Sangameswara A/C DTS,
4. Priya BIG CINEMAS A/C DTS screen 1
5. Priya BIG CINEMAs A/C DTS screen 2
6. Pemmasani's digital dts A/C,
7. Sangameswara QUBE,A/C
8. SriLakshmi A/C DTS,
9. Swaraj Deluxe A/C DTS,
10. Veda Deluxe DTS,A/C,
11. Venus Theatre QUBE,
12. Alankar Deluxe.

Notable personalities

• Kotha Raghuramaiah M.A., L.L.B. (Telugu: కొత్త రఘురామయ్య) (6 August 1912 – 6 June 1979) was a famous Indian Politician and Member of Parliament
• Padmavibhushan Kotha sachidananda murthy(philososphy)
• Nannapaneni Venkat Rao, Ex M.L.A, Ex Municipal Chairman, Founder, Nannapaneni group of Institutions, Tenali
• Nannapaneni Linga Rao, Chairman, NVR CO-Operative Sugars, Jampani
• Alapati Venkataramaiah, ex-Minister, Yadlapalli
• Avula Sambasiva Rao, former Chief Justice Andhra Pradesh High Court, ex-VC Andhra University; Mulpuru
• Ghattamaneni Krishna, film actor, director, producer
• Ghattamaneni Mahesh Babu, film actor
• Gummadi Venkateswara Rao, movie actor, Ravikampadu
• Kalluri Chandramouli, ex-Minister, Moparru
• Kodavatiganti Kutumbarao, Telugu writer
• Kongara Jaggayya, movie actor, Morampurdi
• Konijeti Rosaiah - Former Chief minister of Andhra Pradesh and two-time Finance Minister, Present Governor (Tamil Nadu) Vemuru
• Lankapalli Bullayya - ex-VC Andhra University
• Chandu Sambasivarao, politician
• M. S. Rama Rao, aka Sundara Dasu, from Moparru
• Nadendla Bhaskara Rao, Former chief Minister(Donepudi)
• Nadendla Manohar- Speaker of Andhra pradesh
• Savitri, South Indian actress from Chirravuru
• Raghavulu Divi chairman of the DIVI trust Bhattiprollu, bhattiprollu.
• Sharada, actress
• Tenali Ramakrishna, court poet of the Vijayanagara dynasty during the reign of Sri Krishnadevaraya
• Tripuraneni Ramaswamy, ex-Municipal chairman, poet and social reformer
• Veluvolu Sitaramaiah, Founder president,V.S.R.&N.V.R college and Freedom fighter
• Yelavarthy Nayudamma - Scientist
• Tarak Ramgopal Anumolu - Research Engineer, Samsung - South Korea
• Haji Shaik Bashu Shaheb - Famous Business Man
• Shaik Nazeer Basha - Director, Abdul Nazeer Industries(ANI)Steel Company in Ganganamma Pet
• Professor Rambabu Kodali - Director, NIT - Jamshedpur
• Grandhi Gopala Krishna Murthy - District & Sessions Judge, Chief legal Advisor C.I.D.
• Chandu Sambasivudu famous Doctor (MS gold medalist)
• Bharadwaja Chakkilam
• Alamuri Vijaya Lakshmi - First female chairperson of Tenali Municipality.
• Smt. Kolla Thayaramma(late) - Freedom fighter
• Ravi Ammayya - Freedom fighter, Leader, Communist party of India.
• Ravi Satyanarayana - ex-Municipal Chairman of Tenali Municipality.

Modern Literature

In the area of modern literature, contributions from Tenali are laudable with the works of;

• Chakrapani
• Chalam
• G. V. Rao
• Gopichand
• Kodavatiganti Kutumbarao
• Natarajan (Sarada)
• Tripuraneni Ramaswamy
• Bollimunta Sivarama Krishna
• Jonnalagadda Satyanarayana Moorthy {Vihaari}
• Dr.Nakka Vijayaramaraju writer of Bhattiprolu Kathalu from Ilavaram village.

Artists

Tenali (and nearby villages) has contributed the major share of artists to Telugu stage. There are quite a few extraordinary artists who later moved on to film industry such as;

• Amanchi Venkata Subrahmanyam (AVS, Telugu Comedian)
• Bhanumathi
• Chittor V. Nagaiah
• Dr. Govindarajula Subba Rao
• Bollimunta Sivarama Krishna
• Ghattamaneni Krishna
• Gummadi Venkateswara Rao
• Jamuna
• Kanchanamala
• Kongara Jaggayya
• Mahesh Babu
• M. S. Ramarao (Sundara Dasu)
• Mudigonda Lingamurthy
• Prabha
• Sarada
• Savitri
• Vangara Venkata Subbaiah

Scientists

• Dr. Y. Nayudamma (after whose name the "Nayudamma Award" has been instituted )
• Prof. D. Basavaiah from University of Hyderabad
• Padmasree Dr. A. V. Rama Rao, former Director of IICT.
• Prof. Sambasiva Rao Kotha from IIT Bombay
• Professor Rambabu Kodali, Director, NIT - Jamshedpur
• Professor Gujjarlamudi Krupachary, Former Dean, Director of Research In Telugu

References

  5.Yarava Venkata reddy (Vegetable Market President),Tenali.

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External links

• Dr. Goli Anjaneyulu Contributed Video on Tenali Mahavaibhavam.