Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh

Anantapuram
Anantapuram Location of Anantapuram in Andhra Pradesh and India
Coordinates	14°41′N 77°36′E / 14.68°N 77.6°E / 14.68; 77.6
Country	India
State	Andhra Pradesh
District(s)	Anantapuram district
Population	516,359 (2006[update])
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	• 335 m (1,099 ft)
Codes • Pincode • 515001 • Telephone • +08554 • Vehicle • AP02

Anantapur (Telugu: అనంతపురం, Urdu: اننت پور, Kannada: ಅನಂತಪುರ) pronunciation (help·info) is a city and a municipal corporation in Anantapur district in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is the headquarters of the Anantapur District. Anantapur was headquarters of "Datta Mandalam" (Rayalaseema and Bellary districts) in 1799 and Sir Thomas Manro was the first collector for ceded districts. Anantapur was the important place for the British Indian Army in 2nd World War. Current JNTU-CEA campus, once a bunker for the British artillery. The remains can be found on campus location.

Geography

Anantapuram is located at 14°41′N 77°36′E / 14.68°N 77.6°E / 14.68; 77.6^[1]. It has an average elevation of 335 metres (1099 feet).

Demographics

As of 2006^[update] India census^[2], Anantapur has a population of 516359 (agglomeration 620,359) in City Corporation and has around 6.5 Lakhs along with Raptadu Tapovanam Sk University and other extensions. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Anantapur has an average literacy rate of 69%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 56% of the males and 44% of females literate. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age. Telugu and Kannada are the predominant languages of this city.

History

Anantapur offers some vivid glimpses of the prehistoric past. It is generally held that the place got its name from 'Anaatasagaram', a big tank, which means "Endless Ocean". The villages of Anaantasagaram and Bukkarayasamudram were constructed by Chilkkavodeya, the minister of Bukka-I, a Vijayanagar ruler. Some authorities assert that Anaantasagaram was named after Bukka's queen, while some contend that it must have been known after Anantarasa Chikkavodeya himself, as Bukka had no queen by that name.

Anantapur is familiarly known as "Hande Anantapuram" was named after the Hande family who ruled Anantapur and Bukkarayapatnam. The Hande family belonged to the Balija/Kapu/Naidu Community. Anantapur and a few other places were gifted by the Vijayanagar rulers to Hande Hanumappa Naidu of the Hande family.

The place subsequently came under the Qutub Shahis, Mughals, and the Nawabs of Cuddapah, although the Hande chiefs continued to rule as their subordinates. It was occupied by the Palergar of Bellary during the time of Ramappa but was eventually won back by his son, Siddappa. Morari Rao Ghorpade attacked Anantapur in 1757. Though the army resisted for some time, Siddappa ultimately bought off the enemy for Rs.50,000.

It then came into the possession of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Tipu hanged all the male members of the Siddappa family except Siddappa who escaped from his confinement at Srirangapatnam. After Tipu's death, it was once again taken back by Siddappa. Siddappa submitted himself to Nizam because of the treaty of 1799, who took the total control of the area. He was later pensioned off when British occupied the territory.

Anantapur city

The city of Anantapur has a population of 516359 (agglomeration 620,359) as per the 2006 census. Anantapur is known for its tourist attraction. Bhagvan Satya Sai Baba was born in Anantapur District near Puttaparthy and studied in Uravakonda in Anantapur district.

Education

Anantapur is an important education center.

Universities

1. Sri Krishnadevaraya University
2. Javaharlal Nehru Technological University (Covers Rayalaseema and nellore district's engineering colleges from 2008-09)
3. Satya Sai Deemed University, Anantapur Campus.

Institutions

1. Sri Sathya Sai Arts & Science junior college for women-Anantapur
2. Govt., ITI for women, Anantapur.
3. Govt., ITI for boys, Anantapur^[3]
4. SSBN PG and Degree College (Autonomous)
5. Sri Sai College of Nursing
6. Government Medical College
7. Government Junior College for Boys, New Town
8. Kasturba College of Physiotheraphy
9. Ragavendra College of Pharmacy
10. Little flower group of schools and B.E.D college
11. Sri Gayathri English Medium School, 1st Road, Anantapur.
12. Police Training College
13. Govt Polytechnic College
14. Sri Satya Sai Baba BEd College, Penukonda
15. Anantapur Development Initiative
16. Sri Krishnadevaraya Engineering College (University Campus)
17. Moula Ali Engineering College
18. INTELLECTUAL Engineering College, (formerly INTELL engineering college)
19. Sri Balayesu Educational Institutes, Hindupur.
20. Gates Institute of Technology, (Gooty,47 km away from Anantapur)
21. Sri Krishnadevaraya Engineering College, Gooty
22. SV Degree & PG college
23. Sri Satya Sai Educational Institutions
24. INTELL M.C.A College
25. Sri Vani PG College
26. CVLNR PG College
27. Sri Balaji PG College
28. Besant PG College
29. CMI Degree College
30. Sri Sai Degree College
31. Corporate Colleges like Nalanda, Sri Chaitanya, Narayana etc
32. Viswa Bharathi English Medium School
33. Vivekananda Educational Academy, Chittoor, Anantapur, Kadapa etc
34. Concept schools like Narayana E-Techno schools,K eshava Reddy Talent Schools etc
35. Sri Rama Rural Development And Educational Soceity Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, India.
36. SPVM Degree College, Gorantla (Anantapur dist) by Mr. Bhakthavatsalam (principal)
37. The greater Gownipalli Z.P. High school
38. Medhavi Jr College, Anantapur
39. Baba Residential Learning Centre, Brahmanapalli,Puttaparthi
40. LRG High School

Government Arts College (affectionately known as The Grand Old Lady of Rayalaseema) Anantapuram, established in the year 1916. The college boasts a long list of high profile alumni including India’s former presidents, Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan and Dr. Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy; Former Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh like Sri Damodaram Sajeevaiah and Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy; and other persons like Dr U.R. Rao, former Chairman, ISRO and Y. Venugopala Reddy, the present Governor of Reserve Bank of India.

Money/Economy

Being a District headquarters, Anantapur is a financial centre. Jewellery, Gold business and cinema seem to have a special place. Most nationalised banks have branches in Anantapur. Some of these banks have ATM and locker facilities. Following is a list of some banks in Anantapur:

1. State Bank of India (ATM)
2. Andhra Bank (ATM)
3. Syndicate Bank (ATM)
4. Punjab National Bank (ATM)
5. HDFC Bank (ATM)
6. Indus Ind Bank (ATM)
7. ICICI Bank (ATM)
8. Axis Bank (ATM)
9. Karur Vysya Bank (ATM)
10. Vijaya Bank (ATM)
11. Bank of Baroda (ATM)
12. Indian Overseas Bank (ATM)
13. Canara Bank (ATM)
14. State bank of Hyderabad ATM
15. Andhra Pragathi Grameena Bank
16. City Union Bank (ATM)
17. UCO Bank (ATM)
18. Corporation Bank (ATM)
19. Indian Bank (ATM)
20. ING Vysya Bank (ATM)
21. DCCB Bank
22. Karnataka Bank (ATM)
23. Bank of India (ATM)
24. IDBI Bank (ATM)
25. Lakshmi Vilas Bank

Cinema Halls:

1. Triveni ---|
2. Tarangini--| Known as Triveni Big Cinemas
3. Tejaswini--|
4. Neelima
5. Ganga
6. Gowri
7. Gayatri
8. Gowthami
9. Venkatewara
10. Shanti
11. Swapna
12. Sudha
13. Krishna
14. Raja
15. Ramana
16. Ramesh

Sports

Anantapur has many sports facilities and has played host to Irani cup in 1963-64 when Rest of India scored their lowest total of 83 against the then Ranji trophy winners Bombay played at Sanjeeva Reddy stadium. Several Ranji trophy matches and other regional tournaments for basketball, bll badminton, etc. have been hosted in Anantapur. Rafael Nadal, the Spanish Tennis Star is setting up the Nadal Tennis School (NTS), the first of its kind in the world, at the Anantapur Sports Village (ASV).^[4]

The Anantapur Sports Village (ASV), located alongside the National Highway 7, has all the makings of a major sports destination. The Anantapur Cricket Ground (featured in these columns earlier), no doubt, enjoys the pride of place in the 40-acre spread, but the other facilities here do not lag behind either. That the complex is managed by the Rural Development Trust (RDT), an NGO, is commendable, but where it scores is in the maintenance. Unlike other infrastructure, say in Hyderabad or Pune where they lie mostly unused, there’s activity here, almost right through the year.^[5]

Places of interest in and around Anantapur

Clock Tower

ISKCON Temple

1. Anantapur Clock Tower is in the heart of the city which brings back the memories of the Independence days during which it has been built.
2. Lepakshi Temple (is renowned as the repository of the best mural paintings of the Vijayanagar Kings. Lepakshi consists of three shrines dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and 'Virabhadra'). The temple is decorated with superbly sculptured pillars on which are carved life-size representations of musicians and dancers in various poses displaying spirit and vigour. One can also see the world's largest Nandi (stone sculpture of the bull which Lord Shiva rides and the gate keeper of the Shiva) Lepakshi is 14 km from Hindupur
3. Puttaparthi, Prasanthi Nilayam (Home of Sri Satya Sai and to many facilities such as super speciality hospital, educational institutions, founded by Sri Satya Sai)
4. Thimmamarri manu (A large Banyan tree spread over 5 acres (20,000 m²) of land near Kadiri. This tree was recorded as the biggest tree in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1989)
5. Venkateswara Swamy Temple & Shiva Temple in Tadipatri. Architectural beauty.
6. Hanuman temple, Kasapuram, near to Guntakal
7. Belum Caves (natural Caves), 28 km from Tadipatri.
8. Sri Nallalamma Swamy Temple in the village Kanampalli, approximately 22 km from Anantapur.
9. Sri Nagalingeswara Swamy Temple in the village Neelampalli, approximately 12 km from Anantapur.
10. Buttre pally waterfall near kadiri 15 km from kadiri which falls only in rainy season.
11. Lakshmi Narasimha swamy temple Pennaohbulam which is 35 km from Ananthapur.
12. Kadiri Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple famous for the idol sweating^[6]
13. Devarakonda only hill in Anantapur has a temple at the top.
14. ISKCON temple on the outskirts of the city on NH 7.
15. Temple of Lord Siva and Parvathi in Kuderu 20 km from Anantapur.
16. Temple of Sri Subramanyeswara Swamy in Pampanuru 20 km from Anantapur.
17. Temple of Sri Shiva in Kandukaru village 10 km from Anantapur (Old temple found in diggings).
18. Penukonda (Ghanagiri) 70 km from Anantapur and 120 km from Bangalore Air port: Hazrat Baba Fakroddin Dargah, Biggest Hanuman Statue laid from 14th century at entrance of Penukonda, Port wall, Timmarusu Samadhi, Big Narasimha swamy temple and big tank at hill top, One of the oldest Jain temple in the world (Pache Parswanatha swamy temple), Gagan Mahal (Summer resort for empire Krishna devaraya) are located in only Spiritual Town
19. Hanuman temple near Somuladoddi
20. Sri Rama Swamy temple in Kalyandurg
21. Katakoteshwara Temple near to Chillavaripalli in Anthapur disrtict
22. Sri Ramalingeswara Swami temple in Jarutla Rampuram near to Uravakonda. 15 KM from Uravakonda and 65KM from Anatapur. 15 Km from Penna Ahobilam. This temple is in remote area. In this temple the water always flows under Siva Lingam from north to south. Thats why we calld its South Kasi. Beside this temple one big hill and big forest (its around 6500 acres) and behind this temple penna river and M.P.R Dam. Now roads also good if any body wants to see this temple come its butiful and peacepull place.
23. Ganesh Park or popularly "Cheruvukatta" a series of temples starting with Musalamma katta is on the bank of Ananthsagar in the old town of the city.
24. Sri Sringeri Sankar Matt situated on the Bengaluru High way opposite the Sri Satya Sai Institute of Higher Learning is s seat of knowledge. The temple complex is situated on a land of 1.8 acres and has the shrines of Sri Saradamba, Lord Ganesha, Sri Sankaracharya and Lord Chandra mouleeswara. The serene atmosphere and picturesque location makes the temple aa place to be visited daily.
25. Pampanuru a shrine of Lord Subramanya is 30 km away from the city.
26. Mallapuram mountains at 68 km from Anantapur

Transportation

Anantapur City is well connected to most major cities in India by the National Highways 7 and 205. Anantapur also has direct train connection to Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Bhubaneswar, Pune, Vishakapatnam, etc. Puttaparthi which is 80 km south of Anantapur is the nearest airport with scheduled air services while Bangalore, 168 km away (Devana Halli) has an international airport and is well connected to rest of India.

References

• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

External links

• Official Website on Anantapur by National Informatics Center
• Anantapur.com
• Information from AP Government websites
• District - Anantapur