Rajahmundry
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| ?Rajahmundry Andhra Pradesh • India |
|
 |
|
| Coordinates: | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
• 14 m (46 ft) |
| District(s) | East Godavari |
| Population | 413,347 (2001) |
| Codes • Pincode • Telephone • Vehicle |
• 53310x • ++91 883 • AP-5 AP-6 |
Rajahmundry (Telugu: రాజమండ్రి) is a city and a municipal corporation in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh state in the Republic of India. Located on the holy banks of River Godavari, it is the fifth largest city in Andhra Pradesh. It is known as cultural capital of Andhra Pradesh as it has a rich cultural past with a flourishing present and a promising future. The population is 6,13,347 (agglomeration 7,08,341) (2006 census). It is located at the top of the Godavari River delta.
Contents |
[edit] History
Its original name being Rajamahendri or Rajamahendravaram, it was the first capital of many known Telugu Kingdoms. The Chalukya ruler Rajaraja Narendra ruled this city around 1022. The city has traces of 11th century fine palaces and fort walls. However, new archeological evidence suggests that the city may have existed far before the Chalukyas.[1]. The original name underwent a gradual metamorphosis with the name changed to Rajahmundry during the British rule.
Nannayya, the poet laureate also called 'Adi Kavi' (The first Poet) of Telugu belonged to this place. He, along with Tikkana and Yerrana, was responsible for the translation of Jaya, Sanskrit version of Mahabharata, into Telugu. nannaya was the person to change telugu from an oral language to a language with script. Kandukuri Veeresalingam, who was a social reformer and also the author of Rajashekhara Charithra, the first Telugu novel, was also from Rajahmundry. Shri Avasarala Rama Rao, a founding member of the Jana Sangh and leading lawyer in the 60s, was from Rajahmundry. Ravi Kuchimanchi, founder of AID (US based NGO), is also from Rajahmundry.
[edit] Geography
Rajahmundry is located at .[1] with an average elevation of 14 metres (45 feet).
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001 India census[2], Rajahmundry had a population of 653,987 with males and females sharing the population almost equally. Rajahmundry has an average literacy rate of 70%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy being 74%, and female literacy 66%. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.
[edit] Attractions
The biggest attraction in Rajahmundry is River Godavari. The two bridges are the most attractive long bridges found in Andhra Pradesh. There are many beautiful ghats and parks on the river bank. Sir Arthur Cotton had great plans for Rajahmundry but he decided to build a dam in Dowleswaram due to its proximity to a hill that suited his purpose. The dam consisted of four divisions: Dowleswaram Division, Ryali Branch Division, Madduru division and Vijeswaram division. This was in all 900 yards (800 m) long and 9 feet (3 m) high. It was a great moment in the life of this great man to achieve this rare feat. The Godavari lost a lot of its fury and was able to generate fourfold revenue through irrigation and Godavari district suddenly jumped from being a poor district to one of the richer ones, second only to Tanjore. Asia's largest rail-cum-road bridge on the river Godavari linking Kovvur and Rajahmundry is considered to be an engineering feat. The First Godavari Rail Bridge was built in the year 1897, under the supervision of Er. Walton, a British Engineer, across the mighty River Godavari connecting East Godavari with West Godavari. Stretching for three kilometres, constructed with stone masonry and steel girders, this bridge served the trains plying between Chennai and Howrah. With the increased traffic in goods and passengers, a rail-cum-road bridge was built a quarter century ago across the downstream of the river. The Dowleswaram bridge across the Godavari is seven kilometres south of Rajahmundry. Rallabandi SubbaRao museum has an amazing collection of artifacts including coins, sculpture, pottery, inscriptions and palm-leaf manuscripts.
It is also one of the Hindu piligrimages. There are a number of temples here like the Kotilingalu (10 million Sivalingas) temple on the bank of the river Godavari. The city hosts holy congregations called the Pushkaram[2] that takes place only once in every 12 years, which brings together millions of people from all over the country to take a holy dip in the river. It generally lasts for 12 days and people over prayers and make offerings to their departed family members. A huge Krishna temple has been constructed by the ISKCON foundation on the banks of Godavari. Popularly called as Gowthami Ghat, it is a major attraction for young population as a recreational center. Papi Hills and its surroundings located near Rajahmundry is a visual treat to the spectators. There is a village called Perantala Palli on papi hills, which is visited by every person who goes there, because of its beautiful waterfall. Another spot is Pattiseema. Pattiseema is known for its natural beauty. Many film shootings on R.Godavari happen here. It is also a belief that films shot in this location will be a hit. And Pedapatnam Lanka is a beautiful place. It is called as Konaseema which lustres with greenery. Many places in konaseema are rich sources of oil and natural gas.
Andhra Pradesh's First Super speciality Hospital is also located in Rajahmundry. Founded by Dr AV Subbarao, DM, Cardiologist, SV Heart Care Centre is located in Syamala Nagar, in pristine surroundings. The hospital caters to the needs of heart patients from 3 districts of East and West Godavari districts, Khammam and parts of Orissa and Chattisgarh. The hospital was founded with the main objective of Preventive Cardiology.
[edit] Cloth and gold business
People from different places come here to purchase clothes. In and around Rajahmundry there are many cooperative handloom houses where we can get fine quality of Sarees with different designs and borders, suiting and shirting’s in large varieties of cloths from cotton to silk. In fact Rajahmundry is the second biggest cloth market in India, next only to Mumbai. Of all the cloth makers around Rajahmundry, the Bandarulanka production unit is famous for sarees, with Gold/Silver bordered hand woven. Rajahmundry has the Mahatma Gandhi Cloth Complexes which is one of the biggest shopping complexes in Asia. The gold/silver market of Rajahmundry is famous in AP.
[edit] Industrial development
Rajahmundry also hosts a few corporates and multinationals as part of its industrial development, such as, ITC Ltd, ILTD Division,[3], GlaxoSmithKline[4], Andhra Pradesh Paper Mills [5], Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) etc. With thousand's of crores of rupees flowing in for the whole East godavari district, this city is all set to be the center of industrialization.
[edit] Educational institutions
Rajahmundry has some well established educational institutions. Government Arts College in Rajahmundry was founded more than 150yrs ago. Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Former President of India worked at Govt Arts College. Sri Chaitanya Educational Instituitionsstarted a branch in Rajahmundry half a decade ago, and now it is the most successful corporate college in the city. This year Sri Chaitanya Techno Schoolhas been started. The Institutes founded by Sri Kandukuri Veeresalingam Panthulu have now grown into large colleges and organisations. S K R Women's college is famous for its huge campus and the excellent teaching facilities. The B.Ed Training Institute is one of the oldest in India. The city has a Medical College (G S L Medical College), an Engineering College (Godavari Institute of Engineering and Technology), two law colleges, a dental college and a number of prestigious degree college.MBA college and MCA college are starting from 2008 academic year. Central Tobacco Research Institute [6] headquarters is situated in Rajahmundry. Regional Filaria Training and Research Centres [7] is also located in Rajahmundry. Vyass Information Center, [8] first training center in Virtual Working.
[edit] Transportation
- Rajahmundry is well connected to all parts of the state. NH-5 passes by this place so it as an excellent road connectivity to all important places like Ippanapadu, Kakinada (district head quarters), and Amalapuram town
[edit] External links
- A complete Information on Rajahmundry
- A comprehensive source of information on Rajahmundry
- Vyass Information Center, Rajahmundry Business Directory and Other Information related services
- Rajahmundry profile
- Rajahmundry in its entirety
- A complete Information on Rajahmundry, Rajahmundry Yellow Pages
[edit] References
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Rajahmundry
- ^ Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns. (Provisional). Census Commission of India. Retrieved on 2007-09-03.
- ^ ITC Ltd
- ^ Glaxo Smith Kline
- ^ Andhra Pradesh Paper Mills Ltd
- ^ CTRI Central Tobacco Research Institute
- ^ Regional Filaria Training and Research Centre
- ^ Vyass Information Center
|
||||||||||||||
|
|||||
[edit] Picture Gallery
 Railway Bridge, Rajahmundry |
