Guntur district

The district derives its name from its district headquarters, Guntur.[8]

There are several opinions on the meaning and origin of the word Guntur. The word owes its origin to words like gundu (a rock), gunta (a pond) and kunta (1/3 of an acre). In Sanskrit Guntur is called Garthapuri (Guntlapuri).

The earliest reference to Guntur, a variant of Guntur, comes from the Idern plates of Ammaraja I (922-929 AD), the Vengichalakyan King. Guntur also appears in another two inscriptions dated 1147 AD and 1158 AD.

The original Sanskrit name (ancient Vedic culture) for Guntur was Garthapuri. The 'Agasthyeswara Sivalayam' in the old city of Guntur is an ancient temple for Siva. It has inscriptions on two stones in 'Naga Lipi' (ancient script). It is said that Agastya built the temple in the last Treta Yuga around the Swayambhu Linga and hence the name. The 'Nagas' were said to have ruled the region. The place of Sitanagaram and the Guthikonda Caves can be traced (through Vedic Puranas) back to the traditional timescale Treta Yuga and Dvapara Yuga. Guntur District is home to the second oldest evidence of human habitation in India, in the form of Palaeolithic (old Stone Age) implements. Ancient history can be traced from the time of Sala kings who ruled during the 5th century BCE. The earliest reference to Guntur, a variant of Guntur, comes from the Idern plates of Ammaraja I (922–929 CE), the Vengi Chalukyan King. Guntur also appears in two inscriptions dated 1147 and 1158 CE.

Brahmi Script inscribed on a Railing Pillar at Velpuru

Since the beginning of Buddhist time, Guntur stood in the forefront in matters of culture, education and civilisation. Gautama Buddha preached at Dharanikota/Dhanyakatakam near Guntur and conducted Kalachakra ceremony, which takes its antiquity to 500 BCE.[10] Taranatha, a Buddhist monk writes: "On the full moon of the month Chaitra in the year following his enlightenment, at the great stupa of Dhanyakataka, the Buddha emanated the mandala of "The Glorious Lunar Mansions" (Kalachakra).[11] Buddhists established universities in ancient times at Dhanyakataka and Amaravathi. Scores of Buddhist stupas were excavated in the villages of Guntur district. Acharya Nagarjuna, an influential Buddhist philosopher taught at Nagarjunakonda and is said to have discovered Mica in 200 BCE. Chinese traveller and Buddhist monk Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) visited Amaravati in 640 C.E., stayed for sometime and studied 'Abhidhammapitakam'. He observed that there were many Viharas and some of them were deserted, which points out that Hinduism was gaining ground at that time. Xuanzang wrote a glorious account of the place, Viharas and monasteries that existed.[12]

Guntur was successively ruled by famous dynasties such as the Satavahanas, Andhra Ikshvakus, Pallavas, Ananda Gotrikas, Vishnukundina, Kota Vamsa, Chalukyas, Cholas, Kakatiyas, Musunuris, Reddys, Vijayanagara and Qutb Shahis during ancient and medieval times. The famous battle of Palnadu which is enshrined in legend and literature as Palnati Yuddham was fought in Guntur district in 1180 CE.

Guntur Coast by NASA

Guntur district occupies an area of approximately 2,443 square kilometres (943 sq mi),[16] [17] The Krishna River forms the northeastern and eastern boundary of the district, separating it from Krishna district. The district is bounded on the southeast by the Bay of Bengal, on the south by Bapatla district, on the west by Palnadu district and on the northwest by NTR district and north east Krishna district.

Guntur Coast is located on the south east coast of India (also known as the Coromandel Coast) (quotes from NASA site). Krishna river merges into Bay of Bengal at the coastal area of Guntur district. The braided stream channels, broad floodplain, and extensive sandbars suggest that this part of the Krishna river flows through relatively flat terrain and carries substantial amounts of sediment, especially during the monsoon season. Suryalanka Beach near Bapatla, Bobbarrlanka in Repalle, Nizampatnam Beach in Nizampatnam are tourist beaches in Guntur coastline.

As of 2011 census of India, the district had a population of 4,887,813 with a density of 193 inhabitants per square kilometre (500/sq mi). The total population constitute, 2,440,521 males and 2,447,292 females – a sex ratio of 1003 females per 1000 males. The total urban population is 16,52,738 (33.81%).[5]^: 19 There are 29,60,441 literates with a literacy rate of 67.40%. After bifurcation the district had a population of 20,91,075. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 4,21,861 (20.17%) and 69,017 (3.30%) of the population respectively.[18]^: 77–82

At the time of the 2011 census, 86.14% of the population spoke Telugu and 12.32% Urdu as their first language.[20]

The district is divided into Two Revenue divisions, namely, Guntur, Tenali. These are sub-divided into 18 mandals,[21] which are in turn divided as 57 Panchayat Samiti (Block)s, 712 villages and 16 towns. These 16 towns includes, 1 municipal corporation, 4 municipalities[22] and 1 census town. Gurazala revenue division was newly formed in the year 2013.[23][24] Guntur city is the only municipal corporation and district headquarter. Vaddeswaram is categorised as a census town.[25] The 4 municipalities in the district are Mangalagiri, Tadepalle, Tenali, Ponnur.[26][22]

Guntur (Lok Sabha constituency)

Guntur constituency presently comprises the following legislative assembly segments:[28]

Cities and towns

Largest cities or towns in Guntur District As per the 2011 Census
	Rank		Division	Pop.
Guntur Mangalagiri	1	Guntur	Guntur Division	670,073	Tadepalle Tenali
	2	Mangalagiri	Tenali Division	207,197
	3	Tadepalle	Tenali Division	174,937
	4	Tenali	Tenali Division	164,937
	5	Ponnur	Tenali Division	59,913
	6	[[{{{city_6}}}]]	[[{{{div_6}}}]]	{{{pop_6}}}
	7	[[{{{city_7}}}]]	[[{{{div_7}}}]]	{{{pop_7}}}
	8	[[{{{city_8}}}]]	[[{{{div_8}}}]]	{{{pop_8}}}
	9	[[{{{city_9}}}]]	[[{{{div_9}}}]]	{{{pop_9}}}
	10	[[{{{city_10}}}]]	[[{{{div_10}}}]]	{{{pop_10}}}

Municipal Bodies in Guntur District

S.No.	City / Town	Civic Status of Town	Municipality Formation Year	2011 Census Population	2001 Census Population	1991 Census Population	1981 Census Population	1971 Census Population	1961 Census Population	1951 Census Population
1	Guntur	Municipal Corporation	1866	670,073	514,461	417,051	367,699	2,69,991	1,87,122	1,25,255
2	Mangalagiri-Tadepalle	Municipal Corporation	1969	300,497	63,349	59,152	46,172	32,850	22,182	17,586
3	Tenali	Municipality Grade - Special	1912	164,937	153,756	143,726	119,257	102,937	78,525	58,116
4	Ponnur	Municipality Grade - 2	1964	59,913	57,640	54,363	50,206	31,463	22,872	17,972

Note -

• Dachepalli Nagar Panchayat includes Dachepalli and Nadikudi.
• Gurazala Nagar Panchayat includes Gurazala and Jangamaheswaram.

Erstwhile Talukas [Non-Municipalities] Population.

S.No	Town	Civic Status of Town	2011 Census Population
1	Prathipadu	Grama Panchayat	14,305
2	Tadikonda	Grama Panchayat	18,505

Lord Hanuman temple, Ponnur

The district has many festivals such as Rama Navami,[30] Maha Sivaratri,[31] Vinayaka Chavithi,[32] Vijaya Dasami,[33] Deepawali,[34] Holi,[35] Ugadi,[36] Eid,[37] Krishnastami,[38] Christmas.[39] There are hill temple festivals at Kotappakonda, Mangalagiri.

Tradition and spirituality

Prolaya Vema Reddi built number of Lord Shiva temples during his reign. Number of temples were constructed in Krishna valley during the reign of Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu. Tall towers (Gaali Gopuram) of these temples in many villages and towns of Guntur district stand testimony to his devotion and munificence. Some of the famous destinations are Nadivelamma Talli Temple in Rajavolu, and there will be annual festival on Full moon day in the month of Chaitra maas. Amaravathi temple, the abode of Lord Shiva, present in the form of a 15 ft (4.6 m) Shiva Linga. The Auspicious Hill of Mangalagiri town, is dedicated to Lord Narasimha with three temples of Panakala Narasimha Swamy on the hill, Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy at the foot of the temple, Gandala Narasimha Swamy at the top of the hill, are also famous. Other famous temples are Bhavanarayanaswami temple in Bapatla, Sri Laxmi Chennakesava Swamy Temple in Macherla, Kotappakonda,[40] Pedakakani, Vykuntapuram in Tenali.and also subramaneswara Swamy temple,polleramathalli temple, agastheswaraswamy temple (which was built in 8 century by agasthaya mahrashi and rebuilt by Sri Krishna Devaraya)

Amaravathi Cultural Heritage Museum

Tobacco Drying at Grandhasiri village in Guntur district

The Gross District Domestic Product (GDDP) of the district is ₹49,722 crore (US$6.2 billion) and it contributes 9.5% to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). For the FY 2013–14, the per capita income at current prices was ₹82,026 (US$1,000). The primary, secondary and tertiary sectors of the district contribute ₹16,111 crore (US$2.0 billion), ₹8,770 crore (US$1.1 billion) and ₹24,841 crore (US$3.1 billion) respectively to the GDDP.[41]

The major products contributing to the GVA of the district from agriculture and allied services are paddy, cotton kapas, chillies, banana, milk, meat and fisheries. The GVA to the industrial and service sector is contributed from construction, electricity, manufacturing, transport and education.[41]

General Hospital in Guntur

Healthcare is provided by government and private institutions. The Guntur Government Hospital provides free healthcare.[42] All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is situated in Mangalagiri.[43] The nonprofit or charity hospitals are the Sankara Eye Hospital.[44][45]

The total road length of state highways in the district is 1,258 km (782 mi).[46] There exists 406 km (252 mi) of rail network in the district.[41]

A college campus

A university campus

The primary and secondary school education is imparted by government, aided and private schools, under the School Education Department of the state.[47][48] As per the school information report for the academic year 2015–16, there are a total of 4,739 schools. They include, 32 government, 2,839 mandal and zilla parishads, 2 residential, 1329 private, 14 model, 24 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV), 296 municipal and 203 other types of schools.[49] The total number of students enrolled in primary, upper primary and high schools of the district are 637,031.[50] The district being home to the capital city, it is experiencing a growth in private international schools as well.[51] The Central Board of Secondary Education, Secondary School Certificate or the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education are the different types of syllabus followed by different schools. The medium of instruction followed by different schools are English, Telugu and Urdu.[52][53]

There are several junior colleges which are under government, residential, social welfare, disabled welfare, private aided and unaided for the purpose of imparting (10+2) education and the students sit for the certificate of Board of Intermediate Education.[54] AC college is the oldest private aided college of the district, established in 1885.[54] The higher education colleges have various fields of study like medical, nursing, degree, post graduate, polytechnic, law, teaching, pharmacy, engineering, veterinary etc.[55] The Acharya Nagarjuna University is a state university which has fourteen autonomous colleges as per Universities Grant Commission.[56][57] The KMC, GMC, AIIMS are some of the premier medical institutes in Guntur. There are also many private universities like Vignan University, KL University in the district. The Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University at Lam is a public agricultural university, equipped with a Regional Agricultural Research Station.[58][59]

• Aluri Chakrapani, film producer
• Jamuna, actress
• Krishna, film actor
• Kanna Lakshminarayana, former State Minister and BJP National Leader
• Posani Krishna Murali, actor, writer
• Dokka Manikya Vara Prasad, former State Minister
• Ambati Rayudu, former Indian Cricketer
• Kotha Raghuramaiah, Member of Parliament and former Central Minister
• N. G. Ranga, Member of Parliament
• N. Bhaskara Rao, former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh
• Alla Ayodhya Rami Reddy, Member of Parliament and Founded Ramky Group of Companies
• A. V. Gurava Reddy, leading surgeon
• Bhavanam Venkatarami Reddy, former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh
• Kallam Anji Reddy, the founder of Dr. Reddy's Laboratories
• Kallam Satish Reddy present Chairman of Dr. Reddy's Laboratories
• Savitri, actress
• Sharada, actress and Member of Parliament
• Sumalatha, actress and Member of Parliament

• Timeline of Guntur
• List of people from Guntur
• Kollur Mine

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Guntur district.

• Official site
• Guntur district marked on OpenStreetMap