Vizianagaram

The official residence of the District Collector

Vizianagaram (Template:Lang-te), sometimes spelt as Vizianagram is the main city of the Vizianagaram District of North Eastern Andhra Pradesh in Southern India. Vizianagaram district was formed on the 1st of June 1979, with some parts carved from the neighbouring districts of Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam. It is located about 18 km inland from the Bay of Bengal, and 40 km northwest of Visakhapatnam. It is also sometimes referred to as the city of education in these parts as there are many colleges and schools here. It was a main buisiness and educational center for north coastal Andhra and adjoining Orissa.

History

Rulers of this Zamindari belong to the Pusapati family. The village Pooshpadu in Nandigama Taluq was built by Amala Raju. The village later came to be known as Pusapadu. Therefore, the Kshatriyas living there came to be known as Pusapati.

In 1754, Pusapati Vijayarama Gajapathi Raju, of the ruling family of Vizianagaram, made an alliance with the French, but a few years later the territory was ceded to the British. It remained under their control until independence in 1947.

Vizianagaram Fort was constructed in the year 1712-1714 A.D. Traditionally five Vijayas or signs of victory were present at the inception of this fortress. It was named Vizianagaram (place of victory) after its founder Vijaya Rama Raju and the foundations were laid on Tuesday (Jayavaram in Telugu), the tenth day (Vijaya Dasami) of the Dasara Festival in the year Vijaya of the Hindu Calender.

Pusapati timeline

• Pusapati Amala Raju (Founder)
• Pusapati Rachi Raju
• Pusapati Tama Bhupaludu (1620-1670)
• Pusapati Peda Vijaya Rama Raju (1670-1756)
• Pusapati Chinna Vijaya Rama Raju (1760-1794)
• Pusapati Vijaya Rama Gajapati Raju (1826-1879)
• Pusapati Ananda Gajapati Raju³ (1879-1897)
• Pusapati Vijaya Rama Gajapati Raju (1883-1902)
• Pusapati Alaka Narayana Gajapati Raju (1902-1937)
• Pusapati Vijaya Rama Gajapati Raju (1945-1995)
• Pusapati Ananda Gajapati Raju (1950- )
• Pusapati Ashok Gajapati Raju (1951- )

Gajapati: Lord of elephants.

Geography

Vizianagaram is located at 18.12°N 83.42°E / 18.12; 83.42. It has an average elevation of 74 metres (242 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,Template:GR Vizianagaram had a population of 174,324. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Vizianagaram has an average literacy rate of 68%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 75%, and female literacy is 62%. In Vizianagaram, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Assembly Constituency

List of Members of Legislative Assembly:

• 1952 - Gantlana Suryanarayana
• 1952 and 1955 - Pusapati Vijaya Rama Gajapati Raju
• 1962 - Bhattam Sri Ramamurthy
• 1967 - V. Rama Rao
• 1972 - Appasani Appanna Dora
• 1978, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1994, and 1999 - Pusapati Ashok Gajapati Raju
• 2004 - Kolagatla Veera Bhadra Swamy

Places to visit

• Pedda Cheruvu, a man-made lake of about 170 acres located adjacent to the Maharaja's Fort.
• The Maharaja's Fort.
• The Rani's Fort.
• Pydithalli Ammavari Temple: According to the legend, one of the daughters of the Pasupati royal family was the reincarnation of the presing deity, Pydithallamma. The locals believe that with the blessings of the Goddess one can lead a happy and prosperous life. The idol of the Goddess was discovered on Vijayadasimi day way back in the year 1752. To mark the occasion, an annual jatra is held on this day which attracts large crowds.
• Ghanta Stambham (Clock Tower).
• The Venkateswara Alayam.
• The Hare Krishna Ashram, located about 7 km from Vizianagaram town, on Jonnavalasa Road, on Korukonda sainik school route.

Educational instituations

• Maharaja's High School (1857).
• Maharaja's College (1879).
• Maharaja's Music College.
• Maharaja's Sanskrit College.
• Maharaja's College of Education (1950).
• Maharaja's College for Women and Home Sciences (1962)
• Maharaja's Girls High School (1974)
• Maharaja's Model High School (1974)
• MANSAS Industrial Training Centre (1977)
• MANSAS English Medium School (1979)
• Maharaja's Vijayaram Gajapathi Raju Law College (1986)
• Maharaja's Post-graduate Centre (1987)
• Maharaja Vijayaram Gajapathi Raju College of Engineering (1996).
• Maharaja's Institute of Medical Sciences, Nellimarla.

Famous people

• Gurajada Apparao, writer శ్రీ గురజాడ అప్పారావు
• Ghantasala, singer శ్రీ ఘంటసాల వెంకటేశ్వరరావు
• P. Suseela, singer శ్రీమతి పి.సుశీల
• Dwaram Venkata Swamy Naidu, musician శ్రీ ద్వారం వెంకటస్వామినాయుడు
• Ajjada Adibhatla Narayana Dasu, Harikatha శ్రీ అజ్జాడ ఆదిభట్ల నారాయణదాసు
• Chaganti Somayajulu, writer శ్రీ చాగంటి సోమయాజులు (చా.సో.)
• Saraswathi Gora, an atheist social worker and wife of Goparaju Ramachandra Rao (popularly known as Gora).
• C.Y. Chintamani, popular editor, journalist, politician and parliamentarian.

References

2. Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Vizianagaram

1. Francis W, Madras District Gazetteera, Vizagapatnam, 1915.
2. Poosapati Ananda Gajapati Raju by Dr. V.V.B. Rama Rao. Published by International Telugu Institute, Hyderabad, 1985.

External links

• 1.Official Site
• 2.[1]
• 3.[2]