Puttaparthi

Puttaparthi (IAST: Puṭṭaparthy) is a municipality and district headquarters of Sri Sathya Sai district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located in Puttaparthi mandal of Puttaparthi revenue division. The original name of Puttaparthi was Gollapalli.[2] The town is located on the banks of Chitravathi River which is a tributary of Penna River, and is surrounded by undulating hills.[3] It is widely known for the birthplace of the Indian spiritual leader and guru Sathya Sai Baba and his ashram, Prasanthi Nilayam.

Puttaparthi
Town
Prasanthi Nilayam and surrounding areas
Prasanthi Nilayam and surrounding areas
Puttaparthi is located in Andhra Pradesh
Puttaparthi
Puttaparthi
Puttaparthi is located in India
Puttaparthi
Puttaparthi
Coordinates: 14.166°N 77.811°E / 14.166; 77.811
Country India
StateAndhra Pradesh
DistrictSri Sathya Sai
Government
 • BodyMunicipality
Area
[1]
 • Total45.47 km2 (17.56 sq mi)
 • Rank45th (A.P.)
Elevation
475 m (1,558 ft)
Population
 • Total59,000 (2,011 census)
DemonymPuttaparthian
Languages
 • OfficialTelugu
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
515133, 515134
Telephone code91-8555
Vehicle registrationAP–02
Websitewww.sathyasai.org

Etymology

Puttaparthi means "village of anthills." A local legend says that a cobra snake cursed the village after being hit by a cowherder, which caused the proliferation of anthills in this area.[4]

Demographics

The official language in Puttaparthi is Telugu. Other common languages spoken in Puttaparthi are Kannada and English. Various national and international languages are understood and spoken due to the presence of national and international devotees.[5]

Geography

Climate
The Chitravathi River at Puttaparthi

The climate is generally hot and dry throughout the year,[5] summer temperatures ranging from 34–42 °C (93–108 °F) and winter 22–27 °C (72–81 °F).[6] The hotter months are from March until July and the milder months are from November until January.[5]

The southwest monsoons play a major role in determining the climate. The northeast monsoons are responsible for about one-third of the total rainfall. Some rainfall may be expected during the months of July and August and again from October to December."[6]

Puttaparthi is 475 meters (1558 feet) above sea level.[7]

Transport
Entrance to Puttaparthi

Road

The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) operates bus services from Puttaparthi bus station.[8] People visit Puttaparthi from all over India, and most State transport services also supply buses to Puttaparthi.

Puttaparthi is well connected by road to Anantapur (84 km), Bangalore (154 km), Hyderabad (441.6 km), Chennai (529 km) and all parts of Anantapur district.

Rail
Prashanthi Nilayam Railway Station

Puttaparthi has a railway station named as Sri Sathya Sai Prasanthi Nilayam. The Railway station was inaugurated and became functional from November 23, 2000, Baba's 74th birthday. It is about 8 km to the west of the ashram. This station falls under the Bangalore Division of the South Western Railway and lies on the Bangalore–Guntakal railway line. It is easy to reach the town from the railway station in 20-25 mins, through various modes of transport like cabs, autorickshaws and APSRTC buses. The town is connected directly by train to Bangalore, Secunderabad, Chennai, Vishakapatnam, Vijayawada, Coimbatore, Mumbai, New Delhi, Bhuvaneshwar and Kolkata.[9] and Sri Sathya Sai Prasanthi Nilayam railway station is the 5th busiest station in Bangalore division of SWR.

Air

Puttaparthi Airport is a domestic airport situated in the town.

The nearest International airport is the Kempegowda International Airport at Devanahalli, a suburb of Bangalore which is about 119 km from Puttaparthi.

Sports

Sri Sathya Sai International Centre for Sports and Sri Sathya Sai Hill View Stadium are two sporting facilities in Puttaparthi. Hill View Stadium was established in 1985 and mainly used cricket and capacity of 50,000 people. International Centre for Sports was established in 2006 with indoor facilities for Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis, Squash, Table Tennis, Badminton, Gymnastics and Yoga/Aerobics.[10]

References
  1. "Municipalities, Municipal Corporations & UDAs" (PDF). Directorate of Town and Country Planning. Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  2. Gollapalli
  3. "Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, Prasanthi Nilayam". www.srisathyasai.org.in.
  4. Srinivas, Smriti (31 January 2008). In the Presence of Sai Baba: Body, City, and Memory in a Global Religious Movement. BRILL. p. 167. ISBN 978-90-474-3300-2.
  5. "Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, Prasanthi Nilayam". www.srisathyasai.org.in.
  6. "Prasanthi climate". www.sathyasai.org.
  7. "World Aero Data: SRI SATHYA SAI -- VOPN". worldaerodata.com.
  8. "Bus Stations in Districts". Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  9. "Sri Sathya Sai Prashanti Nilayam/SSPN to Kolkata Howrah/HWH". India Rail Info. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  10. "Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, Prasanthi Nilayam". www.srisathyasai.org.in.
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