Rayachoti

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?Rayachoti Andhra Pradesh • India
Rayachoti
Coordinates: 14°03′N 78°45′E / 14.05, 78.75
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	• 380 m (1,247 ft)
District(s)	Cuddapah
Population	72,196 (2001)

Coordinates: 14°03′N 78°45′E / 14.05, 78.75 Rayachoti is a census municipality in Kadapa district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

Contents 1 Geography 2 Demographics 3 Temples 4 References

[edit] Geography

Rayachoti is located at 14.05° N 78.75° E.^[1] It has an average elevation of 380 metres (1246 feet).

Now its almost 2 km radius city. Rayachoti is well connected to Bangalore by road and is at a distance of 180 km. To reach Rayachoti from any place one can go to Kadapa by Train and then go to Rayachoti by bus services provided by KSRTC (Karnataka Road Transport Corporation) or APSRTC (Andhrapradesh Road Transport Corporation). It takes about 5 hours to reach this place from Bangalore.

This town recently has been changes as a Municipality. This is 3rd biggest town in the Kadapa district. To reach the place, By train nearest station is Kadapa-48km , Tirupathi-110km. By Air Tirupathi - 120km, Bangalore - 180km.

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census^[2], Rayachoti had a population of 72,196. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Rayachoti has an average literacy rate of 61%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 71%, and female literacy is 51%. In Rayachoti, 14% of the population is under six years of age.

[edit] Temples

Rayachoti's Sri Veerabhadreshwara Swamy temple was constructed during the reign of the Vijayanagar kings. This temple has recently been renovated. Every year Sivarathri and Karthika Pournami celebrations are held on a grand scale; Devotees from far off places too, visit the shrines regularly.

Kanyaka Parameshwari Temple, Venkateswara Swamy temple at Masapet, Gundanjaneya temple and Saibaba temple are the other popular temples.

Rayachoti has a beautiful Sai Baba Temple Located at Sanjeeva Nagar colony.

Rayachoti has a long history dating back 1000-years. The Veerabhadra temple itself is 1000-years old. It is said that the great King Krishnadevaraya used to camp at Rayachoti whenever he visited Srivari temple at Tirupati. Rayachoti draws thousands of devotees as the Lord Veerabhadreshwar is a very popular GOD among the Lingayat community in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and to some extent in Tamilnadu too as it considers the Deity as their 'ILAVELPU'. Swamy Veerabhadra's temple is accompanied by temple for GODDESS Kalikadevi, and Shiva in the temple precincts.

A lot of renovation work and improvements have taken place in the surrounding areas of Temple. There are sufficient chhatras available now for devotees coming from out stations. Recently in early 2008 , Annadaana seva (Free Food service) has also been initiated.Every day there will be Annadaana seva between 12-30 to 2PM. One can donate monetarily to this service to keep this service running.

Apart from the Temple, the river Mandavya flows across the town. Legend has it that when the flowing river took away the 'Kamandalam' and other belongings of a great rishi who was in deep meditation, it had to face the wrath of the rishi who cursed it, and [despite heavy rains once in a decade], the river remains mostly dry.

[edit] References