Palnadu District | APPSC State Specific Preparation Course - APPSC (Andhra Pradesh) PDF Download

About Guntur District

• Guntur District was established on October 1, 1904, with its headquarters in Guntur. It was created by separating areas from the Krishna and Nellore districts.
• Before 1859, there was a district called Guntur District with headquarters in Guntur, but with different boundaries. In 1859, this district was dissolved and its territories were divided between Machilipatnam and Rajahmundry districts, which were later renamed Krishna and Godavari.
• In 1904, Guntur District was reconstituted as an independent district with territories from the Talukas of Tenali, Bapatla, Guntur, Sattenapalli, Narasaraopet, Vinukonda, Palnadu from the old Krishna district, and Ongole Taluk from Nellore district.
• Tenali Taluk was divided into two Taluks, Tenali and Repalle, on July 1, 1909. The district remained unchanged until February 1970.
• In February 1970, a new district was formed with Ongole as its headquarters. Parts of Bapatla and Narasaraopet Taluks, along with the entire Ongole Taluk, were transferred to Prakasam District, leaving Guntur District with eight Taluks.
• From November 1, 1977, these eight Taluks were reorganized into eleven Taluks by upgrading the sub-Taluks of Mangalagiri, Ponnuru, and Macherla into full-fledged Taluks, splitting the original Taluks of Guntur, Bapatla, and Palnadu.

Guntur District Administrative Changes

• In 1980, the Chilakaluripet taluk was established as the 12th taluk, created from parts of Narasaraopet and Guntur Taluks.
• Between 1981 and 1982, several changes occurred:
  • Repalle taluk was divided into Pallapatla and Repalle.
  • Tenali was split into Tenali and Emani.
  • Guntur taluk was separated into Guntur and Prathipadu.
  • Sattenapalli taluk was divided into Sattenapalli, Tyalluru, and Rajupalem.
  • Vinukonda Taluk was partitioned into Vinukonda, Ipuru, and Gurazala, with Gurazala and Piduguralla forming separate taluks.
• By the end of 1981-82, a total of 19 taluks were established, with plans for Amrathaluru and Tadikonda taluks which were not realized.
• In 1985, 57 Mandals were created, replacing the previous taluks and Firkhas, with the goal of bringing administration closer to the people.
• On January 26, 2022, as per Gazettee No. 939, Guntur District was reorganized into three districts:
  • Guntur (18 Mandals)
  • Narasaraopet/Palnadu (28 Mandals)
  • Bapatla (25 Mandals)
• Twelve Mandals from Tenali Division and 13 Mandals from Prakasam District were merged into Bapatla District.

Tourism

Culture Tourism

Amaravathi

• Amaravathi is located approximately 35 kilometers northwest of Guntur, situated along the banks of the river Krishna. It offers numerous tourist amenities and attracts a considerable number of pilgrims year-round, especially to worship Lord Siva (Amareswara), whose shrine stands at a height of 15 feet. One of the notable events is the gathering of pilgrims on Mahasivarathri Day. 
• Additionally, there is a renowned Buddhist stupa at Amaravathi, featuring depictions of scenes from the life of Buddha, along with various Buddhist symbols and anecdotes inscribed in Pali script. Furthermore, visitors can explore a well-organized museum showcasing artifacts related to the region's history and culture.

Religious Tourism

Kotappa Konda

• Kotappa Konda is a village located approximately 13 kilometers southwest of Narasaraopet town.
• The main deity at this location is Trikoteswara Swamy, positioned on a hillock, making it a prominent pilgrimage site that draws a large number of visitors, especially on Sivarathri day.
• The State Government is actively working towards transforming Kotappa Konda into a tourist and pilgrimage destination by enhancing existing facilities and constructing a new ghat-road.
• Kotappa Konda is renowned for its Trikoteswara Swamy temple, a significant religious site attracting devotees from far and wide.
• On Sivarathri day, the village sees a surge in visitors who come to pay their respects and seek blessings from the deity.
• The State Government's efforts to develop the area as a tourist spot indicate the growing importance of Kotappa Konda in the region.

Engineering Tourism

Nagarjuna Sagar Dam

• The Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is recognized as the tallest masonry gravity dam globally, boasting the largest discharge capacity of 20,000 cubic feet per second and reaching a maximum height of 409 feet. 
• It spans the river Krishna, located approximately 130 kilometers upstream of the Prakasam Barrage, with a reservoir capacity of 31.05 million acre-feet. 
• The State Government is actively working to develop Nagarjuna Sagar into a prominent tourist destination, similar to Brindavan and Botanical gardens. 
• This area holds significant historical significance due to its association with Sri Nagarjuna, a renowned scholar and philosopher of ancient times, with a museum showcasing relics that highlight the historical importance of the region.