West Godavari district

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Template:Infobox India district West Godavari district is one of the 13 districts in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The district is situated in Coastal Andhra region of the state. Eluru is the administrative headquarters of the district.[1] As of 2011 census of India, it has an area of 7,742 km2 (2,989 sq mi) and a population of 3,936,966.[2] It is bounded by Krishna district on the west, East Godavari district on the east, Bay of Bengal on the south and the state of Telangana on the north.[3]

History

Eluru was a part of the Buddhist kingdom of Vengi. The Eastern Chalukyas ruled coastal Andhra from 700 to 1200, with Vengi, near Pedavegi village, as their capital. Historical evidences are found at the villages, Pedavegi and Guntupalli (Jilakarragudem). Eluru then became a part of the Kalinga Empire until 1471. Later it fell into the hands of the Gajapathis. In 1515 Sri Krishna Deva Raya captured it. After the fall of the Vijayanagara Kingdom, it was taken by the Sultan of Golkonda, Kutub Shah. In 1925, West Godavari District was formed with Eluru as its headquarters and all the district offices and regional offices were set up in Eluru city.

West Godavari district was formed from old Godavari district in the year 1925. The Godavari district was renamed as East Godavari district and the new district is named as West Godavari district.[4]

Geography

River Tammileru near Eluru

The district occupies an area of 7,742 km2 (2,989 sq mi). The district is bounded by Khammam district on the north, Bay of Bengal on the south. The Godavari River separates East Godavari district on east and Tammileru River and Kolleru Lake separates it from Krishna district on the west.[5]: 22  Dowleswaram barrage, Eluru canal, Vijayarai Anicut, Tammileru, Jalleru and Yerrakaluva reservoirs are the source of irrigation.[6]

Climate

The region has a tropical climate similar to the rest of the Coastal Andhra region. The summers (March–June) are very hot and dry while the winters are fairly pleasant. The temperatures in the summers often rise over 50 degrees during the day. The rainy season (July–December) is often the best time for tourist visits, as fields are brilliantly green with paddy crops, rivers flowing with monsoon water, and a relatively cool climate. The region has long been home to the Indian nobles due to its climate and fertile soil, and several zamindar large mansions are scattered around the Godavari area.

Caves on Dhammalingesvarasvami Hill at Guntupalle

Demographics

As of 2011 Census of India, West Godavari district has a population of 3,936,966 with 1,091,525 households, which is the 11th most populous district in the state.[5] The district population is approximately equals to the population of Liberia[7] and Oregon.[8]

In Andhra Pradesh, the West Godavari district is the 19th largest in terms of area with an area of 7,742 km2 (2,989 sq mi) and has a population density of 509/km2 (1,320/sq mi), which is the fourth most densely populated district in the state.[5] Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 3.45%.[9] West Godavari has a sex ratio of 1004 females for every 1000 males and stands it at eighth position. It stands at first position in terms of literacy rate in Andhra Pradesh with 26,52,389 (74.63%) literates.[2][5]

Economy

Agriculture is one of the main occupation in the district with the main produce being paddy. Sugarcane, cashew nut, mango, coconut and tobacco are other important crops.[6] Apart from agriculture, the farmers also indulge in aquaculture activities, such as, pisciculture and shrimp production.[10] Wooden Pile Carpet Industry in Eluru produces eco-friendly carpets from wool and are exported to foreign countries as well.[11][12]

Culture

Culture and traditions at Kalavalapalli village in West Godavari district

Telugu is the most widely spoken language.[10] Vedas, which has oral heritage recognition from by UNESCO are taught at Sri Venkateswara Veda Patasala of I.Bhimavaram village in the district.[13]

Dwaraka Tirumala Temple Gopuram

Tourism and landmarks

There are many landmarks and tourism destinations in the district. Eluru is the largest city of the district with many destinations related to Buddhists and Archeological importance such as Guntupalli Caves near the city.[14] Eluru city hosts 74feet high Buddha statue in the heart of the city. Some of the religious destinations include, Dwaraka Tirumala known with the name as Chinna Tirumala,[15] Pancharama Kshetras of Palacole and Bhimavaram etc.[16] Other destinatins of tourism importance are Perupalem Beach at Narasapuram, the Kolleru Lake being the largest fresh water in the country and a bird sanctuary,[17] Dowleswaram Barrage and Godavari river etc.

Divisions

Districts of Andhra Pradesh
See also: List of revenue divisions in Andhra Pradesh and List of mandals in Andhra Pradesh

The district has four revenue divisions, namely Eluru, Jangareddigudem, Kovvur, and Narasapuram. These revenue divisions are divided into 48 mandals in the district. These 46 mandals consists of 881 villages, 1 municipal corporation, 7 municipalities and 5 census towns. Eluru is the only municipal corporation, 7 municipalities include, Kovvur, Narasapuram, Nidadavolu, Palakol, Tadepalligudem, Tanuku, Bhimavaram and the 5 census towns are Dwarakatirumala, Sanivarapupeta, Satrampadu, Gavaravaram and Tangellamudi.[5]: 22–23, 54 

Revenue divisions map of West Godavari district

Mandals

The list of 46 mandals in West Godavari district under 4 revenue divisions are listed in the following table:[5]: 22–23 

# Eluru division Jangareddygudem
Division		 Kovvur Division Narasapuram Division
1 Bhimadole Buttayagudem Attili Achanta
2 Chintalapudi Gopalapuram Chagallu Akiveedu
3 Denduluru Koyyalagudem Devarapalle Bhimavaram
4 Dwaraka Tirumala Kukkunoor Iragavaram Kalla
5 Eluru Jeelugu Milli Kovvur Undi
6 Ganapavaram Jangareddigudem Nidadavolu Mogalthur
7 Kamavarapukota Polavaram Penugonda Narasapuram
8 Lingapalem Velerupadu Peravali Palacoderu
9 Nallajerla Penumantra Palakollu
10 Nidamarru Tallapudi Poduru
11 Pedapadu Tanuku Veeravasaram
12 Pedavegi Undrajavaram Yelamanchili
13 Pentapadu
14 T.Narasapuram
15 Tadepalligudem
16 Ungutur

Constituencies

There are two parliamentary and 15 assembly constituencies in the district. The parliamentary constituencies are Eluru, and Narsapuram.[18]

The Assembly constituencies are:

3

Transport

The district relies mostly on public transport such as, buses of APSRTC operating from all parts of the district. Most of the major highways and national highways pass through major towns in the district such as, AH 45, NH-16, NH-214A. South Central Railway division of Indian Railways operates many passenger and freight transport. Howrah-Chennai main line, Vijayawada–Nidadavolu loop line, Bhimavaram-Nidadavolu section, Bhimavaram–Narasapuram branch lines are the major lines and sections that provide rail connectivity in the district.

There are no air transport in the district, but has water transport. National Waterway 4 passes through the district and connects Vijayawada with Kakinada via Eluru canal. It has access to Bay of Bengal at Narsapuram.

Education

Literacy Rate of West Godavari District is 74.63% (Census 2011) making it the highly educated district in Andhra Pradesh state.

Universities

References

  1. ^ "District - West Godavari". Online Portal - Government of Andhra Pradesh. Government of Andhra Pradesh.
  2. ^ a b "West Godavari district profile". Andhra Pradesh State Portal. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  3. ^ "West Godavari". Official portal of Andhra Pradesh Government. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  4. ^ "West Godavari district profile". The Hindu. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "District Census Handbook - West Godavari" (PDF). Census of India. p. 24. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Ground Water Brochure, West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh (AAP- 2012-13)" (PDF). Central Ground Water Board. Ministry of Water Resources. p. 7. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  7. ^ US Directorate of Intelligence. [Ihttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2119rank.html "Country Comparison:Population"]. Retrieved 2011-10-01. Liberia 3,786,764July 2011 est.
  8. ^ "2010 Resident Population Data". U. S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-09-30. Oregon 3,831,074
  9. ^ "District Census 2011". Census2011.co.in. 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-30.
  10. ^ a b Mannan, M.A (3 January 2013). "Farmers turn away from agriculture to fish farming in Andhra Pradesh". indiatoday.intoday.in. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  11. ^ Nagaraja, G (20 March 2014). "Handmade carpet industry in doldrums". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  12. ^ Sajnani, Manohar (2001). Encyclopaedia of tourism resources in India. New Delhi: Kalpaz Pub. p. 66. ISBN 978-81-7835-018-9. Retrieved 26 November 2015.
  13. ^ "President inaugurates TTD's veda patasala in A.P." The Hindu. Akiveedu (West Godavari district). 25 December 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  14. ^ "Guntupalli caves are selected as India's top 30 heritage sites".
  15. ^ "Lord Venkateswara Temple".
  16. ^ "Someswaralayam in Bhimavaram".
  17. ^ "Kolleru Lake gets facelift".
  18. ^ http://ceoandhra.nic.in/Right%20to%20Infn.Act/annex1.htm District-wise Assembly-Constituencies in Andhra Pradesh

External links

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