Anantapur district | |
|---|---|
| Ananthapuramu district | |
 Bugga Ramalingeswara temple in Tadipatri | |
| Etymology:Telugu:Anantasagara (Big Tank) | |
.svg) | |
 Interactive map of Anantapur district | |
| Coordinates:14°40′41″N77°36′25″E / 14.678°N 77.607°E /14.678; 77.607 | |
| Country |  India |
| State |  Andhra Pradesh |
| Region | Rayalaseema |
| Established | 1882 |
| Reorganised | 4 April 2022 |
| Named after | Big Tank |
| Headquarters | Anantapur |
| Administrative Divisions | |
| Government | |
| • District collector | M.Gauthami |
| • Lok Sabha | |
| • Assembly | |
| Area | |
• Total | 10,205 km2 (3,940 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• Total | 2,241,105 |
| • Density | 219.61/km2 (568.78/sq mi) |
| • Sex ratio | 977 (females per 1,000 males) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Telugu |
| Literacy | |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Postal Index Number | 515xxx |
| Area codes | +91–8554 |
| ISO 3166 code | IN-AP |
| Vehicle registration | AP-02 (former)AP–39 (from 30 January 2019)[3] |
| Website | ananthapuramu |
Anantapur district, officiallyAnanthapuramu district,[4] is one of the eight districts in theRayalaseema region of theIndian state ofAndhra Pradesh. The district headquarters is located inAnantapur city. It is one of the driest places inSouth India.[5] In the year 2022, as part of re-organisation of districts,Sri Sathya Sai district was carved out.[1]
The name Ananthapuramu was named after a reservoir calledAnantasagaram, a big tank, which means "Endless Ocean". The villages ofAnanthasagaram andBukkarayasamudram were constructed by Chikkappa Wadeyar, the minister ofBukka Raya I. Some authorities assert that Anaantasagaram was named afterAnanthamma, wife ofBukka Raya I, one of the founders of theVijayanagar empire.[6], while some contend that it must have been known after Anantarasa Chikkavodeya himself, as Bukka-Raya had no queen by that name.
The region comprising present-day Anantapur district has a rich and layered history, with its earliest significance emerging as a hub forBuddhist culture and trade. From the 3rd century BCE to the 3rd century CE, the area around Anantapur was part of ancient trade routes. Archaeological evidence suggests thatGooty was a known Buddhist site, and the district lay along ancient trade and pilgrimage routes that connectedVengi to other Buddhist establishments.[7]
The region's strategic importance is underscored by theGooty Fort, one of the oldest hill forts in India. Following the decline of Buddhism, the region fell under the control of successiveHindu dynasties, including theChalukyas, and theVijayanagara Empire. During the Vijayanagara period, the area was administered byNayaka dynasties. After the fall of Vijayanagara in1565, the area was controlled by various Nayaka clans. In the 18th century, Gooty Fort became a strategic stronghold of theMarathas before being captured byHyder Ali. In 1789 it was ceded by his sonTipu Sultan to theNizam of Hyderabad. In 1800 the Nizam ceded the surrounding districts to the British in payment for a subsidiary British force.[8]
In 1882, Anantapuram district was formed by carving out fromBellary district.[9] Revenue mandals of Kadiri, Mudigubba, Nallamada, N.P.Kunta, Talupula, Nallacheruvu, O.D.Cheruvu, Tanakal, Amadagur and Gandlapenta (previous Kadiri Taluk) from erstwhile YSR Kadapa District were added in the year 1910. In the year 1956, the revenue mandals of Rayadurg, D.Hirehal, Kanekal, Bommanahal and Gummagatta of Bellary District were added, with the formation of Andhra Pradesh.As of 2011[update]census of India, it was the largest district in the state by area and had a population of 2,241,105. As per the Gazette notification No.122 dt 26 January 2022 (G.O.Rt.No.55, Revenue (Land-IV), 25 January 2022),Sri Sathya Sai district was formed from Ananthapuramu district.[10]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 1,025,322 | — |
| 1911 | 1,053,449 | +0.27% |
| 1921 | 1,040,166 | −0.13% |
| 1931 | 1,138,081 | +0.90% |
| 1941 | 1,273,079 | +1.13% |
| 1951 | 1,483,591 | +1.54% |
| 1961 | 1,767,464 | +1.77% |
| 1971 | 2,115,321 | +1.81% |
| 1981 | 2,548,012 | +1.88% |
| 1991 | 3,180,863 | +2.24% |
| 2001 | 3,640,478 | +1.36% |
| 2011 | 4,081,148 | +1.15% |
| source:[11] | ||
As of 2011[update]census of India, the undivided Anantapuramu district has a population of 4,081,148 with 9,68,160 households, ranking it as the 7th most populous district in the state.[12] It is the largest district in the state with an area of 19,130 km2 (7,390 sq mi).[12] Anantapur has asex ratio of 977females for every 1000 males, and aliteracy rate of 64.28%. Urban population in the district is 28.9% of total population.[12]
The Gross District Domestic Product (GDDP) of the undivided district for FY 2013-14 is₹35,838 crore (US$4.2 billion) and it contributes 6.8% to theGross State Domestic Product (GSDP). For the FY 2013–14, theper capita income at current prices was₹69,562 (US$820). Theprimary,secondary andtertiary sectors of the district contribute₹9,944 crore (US$1.2 billion),₹7,752 crore (US$920 million) and₹18,142 crore (US$2.1 billion) respectively to the GDDP.[13]
It is one of the largest districts of Andhra Pradesh spanning an area of 10,205 square kilometres (3,940 sq mi).[1] It is bounded on the north byKurnool district andNandyal district, on the east byKadapa district, and south bySri Sathya Sai district and on the southwest and west byChitradurga district andBellary district inKarnataka state.[10] It is part ofRayalaseema region on the state.
The northern part of the district has large areas of black cotton soil, while the southern part has mainly poor red soil.[10] There are two major hill ranges namely Mutchukota hills Nagasamudram hills, accounting for 70% of forest area.[14]
Penna,Chithravathi, Pedda Hagari, Chinna Hagari, Thadakaleru and Pandameru are the main rivers.The average elevation is about 1300 feet above the mean sea level. The annual normal rainfall of the district is 508.2 mm. Thus it secures least rainfall when compared to other parts of Andhra Pradesh.[14]
| Religion | Percent | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hinduism | 88.45% | |||
| Islam | 10.37% | |||
| Christianity | 0.69% | |||
| Other or not stated | 0.49% | |||
Based on the 2011 census, the district had a population of 2,241,105, of which 753,354 (33.62%) lived in urban areas. The district had a sex ratio of 978 females per 1000 males. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 3,34,142 (14.91%) and 70,161 (3.13%) of the population respectively.[12]: 78–83 Hinduism is the major religion with 88.45% followers, while Islam has 10.37%.
Based on the 2011 census, 84.59% of the population spokeTelugu, 9.64%Urdu, 3.03%Kannada and 1.42%Lambadi as their first language.[16]
There are two parliamentary constituencies in the district namely,Anantapuram Parliament constituency,Hindupuram parliament constituency(partial).
Legislative assembly constituencies in the district are given below.[17]
| Constituency number | Name | Reserved for (SC/ST/None) | Parliament |
|---|---|---|---|
| 155 | Raptadu | None | Hindupuram |
| 148 | Rayadurgam | None | Anantapuram |
| 149 | Uravakonda | None | |
| 150 | Guntakallu | None | |
| 151 | Tadpatri | None | |
| 152 | Singanamala | SC | |
| 153 | Anantapuram Urban | None | |
| 154 | Kalyandurgam | None |
The district is divided into 3 revenue divisions:Anantapuramu,Guntakal andKalyandurg, which are further subdivided into a total of 32mandals, each headed by a sub-collector.[12]: 14
The list of 31 mandals in Anantapuramu district, divided into 3 revenue divisions, is given below.
There are one municipal corporation and five municipalities,[18] one nagar panchayat in the district.
| Town | Civic Status of Town | Population (2011) |
|---|---|---|
| Anantapur | Municipal Corporation | 3,40,613 |
| Guntakal | Municipality Selection Grade | 1,28,142 |
| Tadipatri | Municipality Special Grade | 1,20,990 |
| Rayadurgam | Municipality Grade - 2 | 61,749 |
| Gooty | Municipality Grade - 3 | 48,658 |
| Kalyanadurg | Municipality Grade - 3 | 39,855 |
| Pamidi | Nagar Panchayat | 26,886 |
Agriculture
Theeconomy is principallyagrarian with a developing industrial sector. The district receives very less rainfall due to its location in the rain shadow area of Indian Peninsula. Prominent crops include groundnut, sunflower,rice,cotton,maize,chillies,sesame,sugarcane andSilk[19][20]
IndustriesIndustries likeConstructions,Manufactures andElectricity are major contributors forGVA.[13]
MineralsGold, Diamonds, Limestone, Iron ore, Quartz, Asbestos, Dolomite, Barytes, Steatite, Granite, Clay, Share are found in the district.[21]
Power plantsSolar thermal power plant of 50MW was commissioned at Nagalapuram village in Peddavadaguru mandal of the district occupying an area of 600 acres underJawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission which was named as Megha Solar Plant. It is one of the 7 solar thermal plants in the country.[22][23]
Tadipatri region in Anantapur is an industrialised town famous for Granite and Cement production. Ultra Tech Cements a unit of Industrial majorLarsen & Toubro has a major Cement production unit near the town.[24]
National Highway 44 (India) passes through the district via Anantapur. The major railway stations areGuntakal Junction,Gooty Junction andRayadurg Junction.
Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru is the nearest international airport at 190 km from the district headquarters. Other small-scale domestic airports are there in neighbouring districts ofKurnool andKadapa which are around 150 km and 200 km away respectively.
As per the year 2019-20, there were 3085 schools, 143 junior colleges, 42 degree colleges. There is 1 medical college, 14 engineering colleges, 23 ITI, 11 polytechnic and 18 degree colleges.[25]
Some of the institutions includeSri Krishnadevaraya University,JNTU Ananthapur,Sri Sathya Sai University,Government Medical College, Government polytechnic anantapur, Srinivasa Ramanujan Institute of Technology,Government Polytechnic Hindupur, Gates Institute of Technology, Central University of Andhra Pradesh,
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Gooty Fort is a historical fort on a hill dating to 11th century. It is at a distance of 52 kms from Anantapur. Penna Ahobilam is famous for Lakshmi Narasimhaswamy temple. It is at a distance of 36 km from Anantapur.[26]
Neelam Sanjiva Reddy born in Illur village, Garladinne mandal, rose to became President of India after serving in other roles such as Lok sabha speaker, chief minister of Andhra Pradesh and central minister.T. Nagi Reddy born in Tarimela village of Singanamala mandal. He was a freedom fighter and popular communist leader.
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Anantapur".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 913.CPO (2022).District handbook of statistics - 2020, Anantapur district(PDF). Retrieved19 April 2023.
Places adjacent to Anantapur district | |
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Capital:Amaravati | |
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