Chicacole

Chicacole, was the former name for the city of Srikakulam that was applied by British colonial rulers. It is said that the word Chicacole came from two Persian words - Chica and Khol. Chica means "a small cloth bag which can be closed by pulling a thread around its neck" and Khol means 'open'. Under the Muslim rule, this place was used as a toll gate where traders were demanded by the staff in Persian "Chika Khol", which means 'open the bag and pay toll'. Unaware that the meaning of these Persian words were a demand to pay toll, people used to call the place as "chicacole". Which in later periods became Srikakulam. We can say that this is a kind of reverse transliteration.After the fall of Gajapati empire of Orissa during the period of Akbar the empire of Orissa was divided into five Sarkars and Chicacole Sarkar was one of the Sarkars',also known as Kalinga Dandapat.The Nizam of Hyderabad occupied the area between Rajahmundry to Srikakulam in 16th century.During Muslim rule, Srikakulam was called as Gulshanabad (Garden city). Srikakulam was headquarter of fauzdars (local governors) under Muslim rule of Orissa Province of Mughals. The popular one of those fauzdars was Sher Mohammad Khan (Sher Khan). He was titled as Sher-e-Gulshanabad (Lion of Gulshanabad). Village Sher Mohammed Puram in Etcherla mandal in Srikakulam district was built by Sher Mohammed Khan and tank named Sher Khan Cheruvu was also built by him. Ruined tombs of Muslim kings are still seen in Srikakulam. Srikakulam is situated in north of Andhra Pradesh. Modern Srikakulam district was formed on August 15, 1950. Srikakulam, the northernmost district in the Andhra Pradesh, was a part of Vishakapatnam District until it was bifurcated in 1950. Srikakulam town, the headquarters of the district, is located on the both sides banks of the River Nagavali. Towards the west is Bay of Bengal and towards the South East is Vijayanagaram district and towards north is state of Orissa.

Handloom weaving is the chief cottage industry here. Srikakulam is also famous for its high quality muslin. The most important places of interest in the town include a mosque known as Jumma Masjid, built by Sher Muhammad Khan, and the temple of Kotisvaraswami.Chicacole or Srikakulam was a part Kalinga rulers until 17th century.In the olden days; Chedi dyanasty kings,Eastern Ganga Kings,Surya Vamsi Gajapati, Satavahana kings and Golkonda nawabs ruled some part of this district.