Anantapur
Anantapur is a city and district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the eight districts in the Rayalaseema region of the Andhra Pradesh. The district headquarters is located in Anantapur city. It is one of the driest places in South India. In the year 2022, as part of re-organisation of districts, Sri Sathya Sai district was carved out.[1]
Variants
- Official name Anantapuramu[2]
Location
Anantapur is located at 14.68°N 77.6°E. It has an average elevation of 335 m (1,099 ft). It is located at a distance of 484 km from Vijayawada, 148 km from Kurnool and 210 km from Bengaluru which is the closest international airport.
The city is located on National Highway. It was also the headquarters of the Datta Mandalam (Rayalaseema districts of Andhra Pradesh and Bellary district of Karnataka) in 1799. It was also a position of strategic importance for the British Indian Army during the Second World War.
Etymology
The name Anantapuramu was named after a reservoir called Anantasagaram, a big tank, which means "Endless Ocean". The villages of Ananthasagaram and Bukkarayasamudram were constructed by Chikkappa Wadeyar, the minister of Bukka Raya I. Some authorities assert that Anaantasagaram was named after Ananthamma, wife of Bukka Raya I, one of the founders of the Vijayanagar empire.[3] , while some contend that it must have been known after Anantarasa Chikkavodeya himself, as Bukka-Raya had no queen by that name.
History
Gooty Fort, a major fort in the medieval history of the region was a stronghold of the Marathas, but was taken from them by Hyder Ali. In 1789 it was ceded by his son Tipu Sultan to the Nizam of Hyderabad. In 1800 the Nizam ceded the surrounding districts to the British in payment for a subsidiary British force.[4]
In 1882, Anantapuram district was formed by carving out from Bellary district.[5] 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 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 Ananthapur district.[6]
External links
References
- ↑ "Here's how new ap map looks after districts reorganisation". 3 April 2022.
- ↑ Rayudu, C. S. (1 January 1991). Rural Credit in India: A Study of Andhra Pradesh. Mittal Publications. p. 2. ISBN 9788170992486.
- ↑ "There is history behind names of places". The Hindu. 30 March 2009
- ↑ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Anantapur". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 913.
- ↑ Rayudu, C. S. (1 January 1991). Rural Credit in India: A Study of Andhra Pradesh. Mittal Publications. p. 2. ISBN 9788170992486.
- ↑ CPO (2022). District handbook of statistics - 2020, Anantapur district (PDF).p.1