Machilipatnam
| Machilipatnam మచిలీపట్టణం | |
|---|---|
| City, District Headquarter | |
| Koneru center, The Business Center of Machilipatnam | |
  Machilipatnam | |
| Coordinates: 16°10′N 81°08′E / 16.17°N 81.13°ECoordinates: 16°10′N 81°08′E / 16.17°N 81.13°E | |
| Country |
 India |
| State | Andhra Pradesh |
| Region | Andhra |
| District | Krishna |
| Government | |
| • MP[1] | Narayana Konakalla |
| Area | |
| • City, District Headquarter | 26.67 km2 (10.30 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 14 m (46 ft) |
| Population (2001) | |
| • City, District Headquarter | 183,370 |
| • Density | 6,875/km2 (17,810/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 250,895 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Telugu |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 521001,521002,521003 |
| Telephone code | 91-08672 |
| Vehicle registration | AP-16 |
Machilipatnam (
pronunciation (help·info)), also known as Masulipatnam and as Bandar in folklore, is a city and a special grade municipality and the District Administrative Head-Quarters of Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located 62 kilometres (39 mi) east of Vijayawada.
History
The town has existed since the 3rd century BCE (Satavahana period) when, according to Ptolemy, it was known as Maisolos. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea calls it Masalia in the 1st century BCE.[2] The port is located on the southeastern, or Coromandel Coast, of India. Situated in the mouth of the River Krishna on the Bay of Bengal, the Masula port has a flourishing sea trade. The naming of the eastern gate of Charminar as Machili-Kaman (literally meaning "gate of fish", in this case specifically meaning a gate to the fishing town of Machilipatnam) testifies the symbiotic relationship between the port and the capital.
There were Arab merchants in the area at least since the 13th century. The Portuguese controlled what they called Masulipatão between 1598 and 1610. The East India Company built its first factory in India in Masulipatnam. The Machilipatnam Port was established by the French and Dutch Countries people during 19th Nineteenth Century.
There was a demand for a Port to be establish in Machilipatnam. There were many strikes held in this area to establish a Port. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister has sanctioned RS 35,00,00,000 Thirty five crores (Rs. 35,000,000) to establish a Port.
Currently the port has a medium-size fishing harbor which can accommodate 350 fishing vessels and an active carpet-weaving industry. The other products from the town include rice, oilseeds and scientific instruments.
This town is a railway terminus and an important educational centre. A ndhra Bank was established in 1923 at Machilipatnam.
Geography
Machilipatnam city is located at 16°10′N 81°08′E / 16.17°N 81.13°E[3] on the southeast coast of India and in the east corner of Andhra Pradesh. The city has an average elevation of 14 meters (45 feet). The area is vulnerable to storm surges caused by the frequent cyclones in the Bay of Bengal. The 2004 Tsunami affected many fishing villages around Machilipatnam. The Government and NGOs are involved in rebuilding and reconstructing devastated villages.
Climate
Machilipatnam city gets most of its annual rainfall due to the southwest monsoon. It has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw) with hot summers and moderate winters. The hottest months are between April and June. The average normal rainfall in the district is 959 millimetres (37.8 in).
Machilipatnam city is frequently hit by cyclones originating in the Bay of Bengal. The Andhra Pradesh coast between Ongole and Machilipatnam is vulnerable to high surges of the sea due to cyclones. The 1977 Andhra Pradesh cyclone crossed the coast near Nizampatnam and took approximately 10,000 lives. As the storm approached the coast, gale winds reaching 200 km/h lashed Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna, East Godavari and West Godavari districts. A storm surge, 5 metres high, inundated the Krishna estuary and the coast south of Machilipatnam city (Bandar)
On 8 December 2004, a high capacity S-Band Doppler cyclone warning radar was installed, commissioned and made operational at the city.[4] It was purchased from a German manufacturer, Gematronik. With the installation of the radar, the state will be better equipped to track cyclones by the onset of monsoon, according to an official from the State Met Office talking to the newspaper The Hindu. This facility will monitor the 960 km long coastline of the state.[5] The radar's information is posted in real-time on the Indian Meteorological Department website.[6] Similar radars were installed in other coastal cities forming an S-Band Cyclone Detection Radar Network.[7]
| Climate data for Machilipatnam | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 32.4 (90.3) |
34.6 (94.3) |
38.1 (100.6) |
41.8 (107.2) |
46.5 (115.7) |
45.4 (113.7) |
40.8 (105.4) |
38.6 (101.5) |
36.8 (98.2) |
37.2 (99) |
33.3 (91.9) |
33.0 (91.4) |
46.5 (115.7) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 28.5 (83.3) |
30.2 (86.4) |
32.5 (90.5) |
34.6 (94.3) |
37.3 (99.1) |
36.7 (98.1) |
33.7 (92.7) |
32.6 (90.7) |
32.5 (90.5) |
31.6 (88.9) |
30.1 (86.2) |
28.8 (83.8) |
32.43 (90.38) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 23.8 (74.8) |
25.5 (77.9) |
27.5 (81.5) |
30.2 (86.4) |
32.4 (90.3) |
32.4 (90.3) |
29.7 (85.5) |
29.0 (84.2) |
28.9 (84) |
27.8 (82) |
25.8 (78.4) |
24.3 (75.7) |
28.11 (82.58) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 19.0 (66.2) |
20.8 (69.4) |
22.6 (72.7) |
25.7 (78.3) |
27.5 (81.5) |
27.0 (80.6) |
25.6 (78.1) |
25.4 (77.7) |
25.3 (77.5) |
24.0 (75.2) |
21.6 (70.9) |
19.9 (67.8) |
23.7 (74.66) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 14.0 (57.2) |
15.6 (60.1) |
17.3 (63.1) |
17.8 (64) |
17.6 (63.7) |
21.0 (69.8) |
18.8 (65.8) |
18.8 (65.8) |
18.1 (64.6) |
17.8 (64) |
15.3 (59.5) |
14.6 (58.3) |
14 (57.2) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 6 (0.24) |
9 (0.35) |
7 (0.28) |
9 (0.35) |
20 (0.79) |
86 (3.39) |
171 (6.73) |
181 (7.13) |
156 (6.14) |
177 (6.97) |
116 (4.57) |
21 (0.83) |
959 (37.77) |
| Avg. rainy days | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 7.7 | 13.8 | 12.6 | 10.4 | 9.2 | 5.6 | 1.2 | 65.1 |
| % humidity | 76 | 75 | 73 | 73 | 66 | 62 | 72 | 74 | 78 | 79 | 75 | 75 | 73.2 |
| Source: NOAA (1971–1990)[8] | |||||||||||||
Politics and administration
For administrative purposes, Machilipatnam falls into the Bandar revenue division of the Krishna District. It is a special grade municipality with 36 panchayats and 28 villages. The city area covers an area of 28 km2. Machilipatnam is a parliament constituency in Andhra Pradesh. It is governed by the Collector and the District Magistrate of the Krishna district. It is the first municipality in Andhra Pradesh, followed by Tenali.
Politicians of Machilipatnam
- Konakalla Narayana Rao (Member of Parliament – Lok Sabha)(TDP)[9]
- Perni Nani (former Member of Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh, Whip)[10] - disqualified as MLA in June 2013[11](INC)
Economy
Machilipatnam has big industries. Fashion gold (also called rold gold or gold covering) ornaments produced there. Agriculture is the most important occupation, with rice being the main food crop. Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a unit of the Union Defence Ministry, of the Government of India, operates a manufacturing unit in Machilipatnam.[12] BEL is involved in design, development and manufacture of Opto-electronic equipments that are used by the Indian Defence Services and paramilitary organisations. It also produces cyclone detection radar under the IMD Department of Science and Technology.
Demographics
As of the 2001 India census,[13] Machilipatnam Municipality had a population of 183,370. The population has since decreased to 170,119 in 2011 as nearly 30,000 people migrated to surrounding villages such as Potepalli and Navinmittal colony.[citation needed] Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Machilipatnam has an average literacy rate of 69%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 73%, and female literacy is 65%. In Machilipatnam, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Culture
Religion
People in Machilipatnam practice Hinduism, Islam and Christianity.
Language
Hindus and Christians generally speak Telugu while Muslims tend to speak Urdu.
Clothing
Women of all cultures and faiths typically wear the traditional Indian dress, the sari – sometimes Salwar Kameez.
Literary organisations
Bharathiya Sahitya Parishad, Indian Cultural Association, Hasya Lasya, Kalasagar, Padmasree Gantasala Samscruthika Sangam and Yuva Vedica are some of the leading literary missions active.
The literary organisation Saahithee Mitrulu was established in Machilipatnam in 1981 by Dr. Ravi Ranga Rao. It has conducted literary and cultural programes since then without pause, functioning chiefly to bring out the creative skills of youth and new writers; it has published at least 66 books of literature and treating of language and culture. In 1999, the organisation conducted the "Sathaavadhaanam" of Rallabandi Kavitha Prasad, created a history.
Drama
Sri Ramakrishna Natya Mandali, founded by Dr. Jandhyala Radha Krishna, conducts mythological dramas.
Dance
Kuchipudi, a popular Indian Classical Dance form originated at Kuchipudi, 25 kilometres from Machilipatnam. The dance form is in practice in Machilipatnam.
Arts & Crafts
The Kalamkari fabrics of Machilipatnam and Kalahasti, with their intricate designs, are used in clothing and wall hangings. Kalamkari refers to dye-painted cloths and the technique used to create them. Their name derives from kalam, for a pen-like tool used to draw outlines on the cloth, and kari (work). Fabrics are outlined with a cotton-tipped bamboo stick and dyed in vegetable or mineral colours. The process involves washing, rinsing, soaking and bleaching muslin, and applying mordants and dyes using natural substances like indigo for blue, madder for red, mango bark and dried myrobalan fruit for yellow, palm sugar and rusted iron for black. The dyeing process is very elaborate and can take several days to complete. While some pieces are hand-drawn, large canvas and sheets are block-printed. The work done in Machilipatnam, often using block printing in conjunction with hand painting, features decorative floral and vegetable designs that appealed to local kingdoms and to export trade. This culminated in European demand for Machilipatnam chintz, which derives its name from the Hindi word chint (spotted cloth). Machilipatnam is also famous for imitation jewellery called Chilakalapudi Bangram – an industry involving over 200 companies and 30000 artisans. The jewellery is exported to countries in South East and Middle East Asia and is also sold domestically to the South Indian film industry. Weaving of sarees and cloth is another primary occupation.
Cuisine
Seafood is the most famous and delicious food; it is part of the servings in many restaurants served in Andhra, along with other cuisines. The city is well known for sweet dishes called Bandar Laddu, Musr Laddu and Bandar Halwa.[14][15][16]
Tourism
Machilipatnam is a city with a rich history of foreign conquests, business and trade. The relics of Bandar Kota (Machilipatnam Fort) can be visited. The old light house is still standing.
Temples
Sri Sri Virat Vishwakarma Temple In Machilipatnam, Lakshmanarao Puram, Vishwabrahmana Colony, Machilipatnam - 2 Construction on the Krishna District Under Constructed By Brahmasri Kandamuri Ravikumar & Brahmasri Sriram Syam Prasad.[17]
Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, Batchupet, Sri Nageswara Swamy Temple, Kojjillipet, Sri Ramalingeswara and Sri Ranganayakaswamy Temples, R.Pet and Sri Bhadradri Sri Ramulavari Temple, Main Road, are the most famous temples in Machlipatnam.
Sai Devalayam at the district court centre of Machilipatnam is the main attraction of the town. It has the biggest statue of Sri Saibaba of Shirdi. The Indian Book of Records has recognised it as the "Tallest Saibaba statue" by Shri. BLV Rao and Shri. Srinivas Kishan on 25 August 2011.
Dattashram is a pilgrimage site on the coast. Dattashram has an ancient Shiva temple and a recently built Datta temple. Manginapudi is popularly known as "Datta Rameswaram" due to the consecration of 12 wells for bathing (recalling those at Rameswaram).[18]
Panduranga Swamy temple at Chilakalapudi near the city, is a famous pilgrimage site. It is a temple of Lord Vishnu, said to be similar to the temple at Pandaripur.
Sivaganga Temple is a historical temple maintained by Challapalli jameendars rather than the Government. It is one of the oldest temples in the area. Located on the Avanigadda road, it attracts tourists and devotees all through the year. On Shivaratri major celebrations are carried out by the temple trustees.
Anjaneya Swami Temple, in Paraspet, was built by Samarth Ramdas, the guru of Chatrapathi Sivaji. Ghantasala, 21 km from Machilipatnam. It includes the remains of an old Buddhist stupa.
Agastheeswara Temple, 36 km from Machilipatnam, is a temple of Lord Shiva and pilgrimage site. At this temple Lord Shiva is called by the name Ekaratri Mallikarjunaswamy. An annual festival is celebrated here and the deities are taken out in procession. At Gudivada, North west of Machilipatnam, visitors are attracted by the old ruins of the stupas.
Further up the coast of Machilipatnam there are five temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. These ancient temples are located at Amravati, Samalkot, Bhimavaram, Draksharama and Chebrolu. Prasanna Anjaneya Swamy temple, located at Godugupet, has a history of over hundred years.
The Jodugudlu temple in Edepalli is also one of the oldest temples with more than 150 years of history. The remple was built during the 19th century, by Velama Doralu which is a social group found mainly in Andhra Pradesh. Velamas are classed as "warrior caste". The temple was handed over to the Endowments Department in the year 1936. Currently the temple has been developed by an un-organised group.
Beaches
The beaches in Machilipatnam city are long, broad, pristine, and with pale blonde sands. Apart from Manginapudi beach, Palletummalapalem is a beach side fishing hamlet 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from Machilipatnam; it is well known for its scenic beauty and also as a historic port city. During its heyday this port served as a gateway to India. The beach has a natural bay with shallow waters. Recently access to the beach was recently banned due to some natural holes appearing underwater. The most famous beach being Sai Babu beach.[citation needed]
The Sri Ganganamma Temple was constructed in the year of 1977 when the great cyclone came i.e. uppena at Rajupet, Machilipatnam. The Sree Ramalam temple is 2 kilometres from Palletummalapalem.
Transport
Road
The National highway NH-9 (new no NH-65) from Pune via Hyderabad and Vijayawada is being extended to Bandar Fort through Machilipatnam. A coastal National highway NH-214A (new no NH-216) from Kattipudi to Ongole via Machilipatnam was sanctioned 4 years ago.
Rail
Machilipatnam railway station,South Indian Railway station built by British to link with Shipping Yard and Public Transportation.. on a branch line linked to the Visakhapatnam-Vijayawada section of Howrah-Chennai main line, is well connected to important cities of India. The nearest city is Vijayawada, the south central railway's important railway station and junction. There are eleven passenger trains to Vijayawada, one fast passenger to Visakhapatnam and express trains to Secunderabad, Tirupathi and Bangalore.
Sea
Navayuga won GO to build a sea port in Machilipatnam. Currently the government is in the process of acquiring land for the port development.[citation needed]
Air
The nearest airport is Gannavaram airport near Vijayawada, about 76 km away.
Media
The city receives television and radio transmissions from Hyderabad and the rest of country. All major print media are in circulation. The major Telugu dailies include the Eenadu, Surya, Vaartha, Andhra Jyoti, Andhra Bhoomi, Saakshi and Andhra Prabha. The major English dailies are The Deccan Chronicle,The Hans India, Business Standard, The Hindu, The Times of India, The Indian Express and The Economic Times.
Education
Machilipatnam is an ancient and famous educational center. The Noble College Machilipatnam is one of the first four colleges in India and the first college in Andhra Pradesh. There are two other colleges with histories related to India's fight for independence, namely The Hindu College and The National College (Andhra Jateeya Kalasala).
In the olden days many people used to come to Machilipatnam to get better education. Machilipatnam is an educational center, offering all academic courses except Medicine. It has public (state-run) and privately run schools. The local Hindu college and allied institutions offer courses ranging from kindergarten (KG) to postgraduate (PG). There are several Telugu language and English language schools. Daita Madhusudana Sastry, the former secretary and correspondent of the Hindu college and allied institutions, was instrumental in the establishment and expansion of most of the educational institutions in Machilipatnam.[citation needed]
Krishna University has been established in Machilipatnam as the Headquarters of Krishna District in 2008 for Higher education and University offers 9 postgraduate courses including M.A. (Tel,Eng,Journalism), MSc (Bio-Tech, Pharma Chemistry), MSc (Electronics and Instrumentation), M.Pharmacy, M.B.A and M.C.A.
References
- ↑ Election Commission of India
- ↑ The Great Stupa at Nagarjunakonda in Southern India
- ↑ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc – Machilipatnam
- ↑ Department of Science and Technology
- ↑ The Hindu – Modern cyclone warning system for Machilipatnam
- ↑ Indian Meteorological Department website
- ↑ India Meteorological Department
- ↑ "Musulipatnam Climate Normals 1971–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
- ↑ "Fifteenth Lok Sabha, Members Bioprofile: Rao, Shri Konakalla Narayana". Lok Sabha, House of the People. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
- ↑ "Sri Perni Nani M.L.A , Machilipatnam". Retrieved 12 February 2013.
- ↑ "Security for disqualified MLAs removed". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
- ↑ Bharat Electronics
- ↑ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
- ↑ Preparation of Bandar Laddu
- ↑ Heralding spring
- ↑ Catering for the Sweet tooth
- ↑ vishwakarmatemple.weebly.com
- ↑ Datta Peetham
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Machilipatnam. |
- Machilipatnam Information
- Andhra Pradesh State Government Fact File on Krishna District
- Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department
- Andhra Pradesh Tourism about Manginapudi Beach
- History of Krishna District
- Chennaionline.com – Kalamkari – exquisite ancient craft
- "Kalamkari" by R.L. Shep
- Kalamkari Art – Contemporary perspectives on hand-painted textiles
- Andhra Pradesh Beaches
- Weather in Machilipatnam – from MSN.com
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
