Narasapuram

This article is about a town in West Godavari district. For other uses, see Narsapur.

Narasapuram Narsapuram
Town

Narsapur (Telugu: నరసాపురం) is a town, Mandal and a municipality in West Godavari district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Its geographical coordinates are 16° 27' 0" north, 81° 40' 0" east. Some say there are other narasapurams in Krishna and Medak districts.

Its original name was "Narasapuram". It was also known as "Nrusimhapuri" and "AbhinavaBhootapuri".

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Narsapur had a population of 58,508. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Narsapur has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 78%, and female literacy is 71%. In Narsapur, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Culture

Sunrise at Valandhar revu

The town is a blend of rustic charm and modern amenities. Narsapur has a unique culture which has been influenced by the many communities that have made it their home. Narsapur is quite a cosmopolitan town with people of various ethnic groups and faiths living in it. Predominantly Hindu, the town also has a large Christian population. The town has been a major centre for the Lutheran missionary activity in the 18th century. It is famous for its lace handicraft industry. Many families from this town have greatly benefitted from the lace industry.

Tourist attractions

Cool climate allows you to visit Narsapur at any time during the year. Antarvedi nearby Narsapuram (7 km) is an important vishnava temple(narasimha temple), a must see. During February, there is a Rathasaptami celebrated here in the temple which is famous in the nearby villages as well. Thousands of people visit the temple during this festival for a holy dip in the Sea. Velankani Maatha temple situated 12 km from Narsapur at Perupalem Beach, is the second tallest church in South India after Velankani Maatha temple at Nagappatinam, Tamil Nadu. Perupalem Beach is worth visiting. During Karthika Maasa (that is from November to December) lot of Hindu Piligrims visit this place and make vanabhojanalu and take a holy dip in the Sea. The congruence place of mingling mighty River Godavari in the Bangla Sea is situated 8 km from Narsapur. In the Town itself, there are two old and glorious churches built during the British Period. Kovela temple built by Sri Puppala Ramanappa Naidu garu is a big vishnava temple.

Churches

Christ Lutheran Church, Narsapur, built 1929

Narsapuram has many famous Churches. The town has a large christian population which explains the many churches. It was the centre of the Lutheran Missionary activity in the delta region of the Godavari. The Canadian Baptist Mission and the Godavari Delta Mission were the other two famous missions. The Christ Lutheran Church, Narsapur, a beautiful gothic church built in 1929 recently celebrated it's platinum jubilee. The church is a famous landmark and it's old bell can still be heard all over the town. It is still knelled at a member's death. Other famous churches include the Bethany Baptist Church, Roypeta and the newly constructed Seventh-Day Adventist Church at Rustumbad. Most of the churches run their own schools, the oldest and the most famous one being the Mission High School run by the Baptist mission. This school has some distingusihed alumni. Narsapur is the base for the Manna International Ministries which is involved in educational and charity work in the area

Lace industry

Narsapur is famous for the crochet lace products. The cluster has around 50 exporters who export to major world markets in USA, Europe and Japan. The cluster has around 2 lakh women artisans doing the lace work. The cluster is located in and around Narsapur, Andhra Pradesh, India, in various villages like Sitarampuram, Palakol, Venkatrayapalem, Antarvedi, Royapet, Mogaltur, etc. The cluster specialises in lace work and products like dollies, furnishings, garments, tablemats, etc.

Interesting facts

• Great Revolutionist Alluri Sita Rama Raju, Madhva raj studied in Taylor High School, Narsapur.

• Cine stars (Shri Krishnam Raju, Chiranjeevi and Dasari Narayana Rao) also studied in YNM College founded by the father of Dr. Gopala Krishna Murthy, Sri Yerramilli Narayana Murthy.

• Lace is an art of stitching lace threads to form door mats, decorative articles, bags, table cloths etc. This forms the primary livelihood for poor rural folk. Many lace businessmen with business deals with Australia, UK & US have origins in Narsapur.

• There are few rice mills, ice factories situated in this town. Aqua culture and fisheries are other industries.

• Narsapur is the centre of education for all the surrounding villages and smaller towns. There are six engineering colleges with in a radius of 25 km. There are many Arts & Science colleges (government and private) in the town.

• Also Dr. Yerramilli Gopala Krishna Murthy, who is the son of the famous Yerramilli Narayana Murthy is the Governing Body Member in Sri YNM College founded by Yerramilli Narayana Murty.

• Yerramilli Narayana Murthy is also the first municipal chairman of Narsapur.

• The town has trains connecting it to the major cities in the state. The Narsapur Express connecting the town to the capital Hyderabad is a part of the town's daily life. It is also connected to Vizag and Tirupati.

• Famous Telugu movie directors Jandhyala Subramanya Sastry, known as Jandhyala & Satti Raju lakshmi narayana(Bapu)were born here.Bapu's mother is daughter of Nidumolu family

• Freedom Fighter Chilakamarthi Lakshmi Narasimham Studied in Mission High School, Narsapur.

• Sri Sripada Lakshmi Narasimham - the great intellectual, scholar, philosopher, respected lawyer, trade union leader, and a humanist, who fought for introduction of the bonus payments for P & T class III, IV employees and Banks' employees - lived and died in Narsapuram.

• Gandham Adinarayana murthy famous cine&drama artist is also from Narsapur.

• Publicity Designer Lanka Bhaskar and Director Dhavala Satyam were also from Narsapuram

• The Sole Ghazal singer in Telugu & Guinness record holder Ghazal Srinivas is from this town (www.ghazalsrinivas.com)

• High Court Judge Sri Justice D.S.R. Varma was born at Narsapur

• Famous writer garimella viswanadh worked and lived in Narsapur

Injustice to the Town

• • Narasapur town lacked proper development in the fields of business, mainly due to the greed or negligence of the politicians. Narsapur was ideal choice for construction of Vasista bridge on Gadavari river, but the bridge location shifted 7 km away from Narsapur by the influence of politicians who were enjoying power in those days and these politicians were supported by the local politicians from Narsapur. As a result Palakol and Bhimavaram developed to a considerable extent. The life of petty businessmen in the Town became miserable after the floating population started travelling via Palakol. Major delay in the construction of Municipal shopping complex added more owes to the local vendors.

• • Narsapur is both Assembly and Parliamentary Constituency. But nobody in power has shown interest in developing the town. Only during the last Godavari pushkaram some roads were built.

• • Moreover the central government is showing no interest in Kotipalli-Narsapur Railway line. Every year one can find a single line in Railway budget to study this project, but nothing materialized till now.

• • So far the town had seen many MPs and MLAs, who have neglected the Constituency.

• • As one can see while travelling to or from Narsapur the conditions of the roads is at a pitiable state.These roads are only repaired only at the time of the arrivial of any dignitary such as the Chief Minister or any other person of high rank.

Members of Parliament

Lok Sabha	Duration	Name of M.P.	Party Affiliation
Second	1957-62	Uddaraju Ramam	Communist Party of India
Third	1962-67	D. Balaramaraju	Indian National Congress
Fourth	1967-71	D. B. Raju	Indian National Congress
Fifth	1971-77	M. T. Raju	Indian National Congress
Sixth	1977-80	Subhash Chandra Bose Alluri	Indian National Congress
Seventh	1980-84	Subhash Chandra Bose Alluri	Indian National Congress
Eighth	1984-89	Bhupathiraju Vijayakumar Raju	Telugu Desam Party
Ninth	1989-91	Bhupathiraju Vijayakumar Raju	Telugu Desam Party
Tenth	1991-96	Bhupathiraju Vijayakumar Raju	Telugu Desam Party
Eleventh	1996-98	Kothapalli Subbarayudu	Telugu Desam Party
Twelfth	1998-99	Kanumuri Bapiraju	Indian National Congress
Thirteenth	1999-04	Venkata Krishnam Raju Uppalapati	Bharatiya Janata Party
Fourteenth	2004-09	Chegondi Venkata Harirama Jogaiah	Indian National Congress
Fifteenth	2009-Incumbent	Bapiraju Kanumuru	Indian National Congress

Educational institutions

• Sri Pichupalem Municipal High School
• Sri Rama Krishna Degree College
• Swarnandhra College of Engineering and Technology (SCET)
• Swarnandhra Institute of Engineering & Technology(SIET)
• Vijetha Institute of Technology & Sciences(VITS)
• Narsapur Institute of Technology(NIT)
• Sri Surya Junior College
• Viveka Bala Bharathi
• Sri Ramakrishna educational academy
• Sri Akshara talent school
• Mission High School
• Sri Yerramilli Narayanamurthy College (YN College)]
• Flaiz Memorial Seventhday Adventist High School
• Taylor High School
• BGBS Women's College
• Gautami Junior College
• Sunshine School
• Sri Nukala Somasundaram Municipal High School
• J.Sikile School
• J.Sikile Academy
• Beracha Vocational Collage
• Visison Vocational Collage
• Vasista School
• Peechupalem High School
• KVJ English medium high school
• Mission English medium school
• Rustumbada municipal high school
• Vidya Public School
• Gayatri Public School
• Gowthami Public School
• Ruth Junior College
• Chaitanya Techno School, near valendar revu, narsapur
• Ruth Junior College
• Gowthami Foundation School
• Dattatreya Educational Academy

Surrounding Hamlets

• Kalipatnam
• Mogaltur (Krishnam Raju's Village and Chiru's Village)
• Chittavaram
• Chamakuri Palem
• Gondi
• Perupalem
• Seetharampuram
• Venkatrayapalem
• Agarthipalem
• Vemuladeevi
• Dharbarevu
• Laxmaneswaram
• Bynapalem
• L.B.Charla
• Enuguvanilanka
• Navarasapuram
• Saripalli
• Rajullanka
• Chinna Mamidipalli
• Yerramsetti varipalem
• Peetani meraka
• Digamarru
• Rustumbada (Achanta Ravi Shankar Place)
• Mallavaram
• Kopparru
• Mutyalapalli
• Jettipalem
• Ramannapalem
• Seetharampuram
• Pasaladeevi
• Mamidipalli
• Sarava
• Ramannapalem
• Matyapuri
• Madavayyapalem
• Sriharipeta
• Ponnapalli