SALIENT FEATURES OF

Ongole District was constituted on 2.2.1970 comprising of Division from , Kandukur Division from Nellore District and Division from District. It was subsequently renamed as Prakasam District in 1972 to cherish the fond memory of late Andhra Kesari Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu born in the District. With regard to the origin of the Name “ONGOLE” for the town the saying in that this area in and around Ongole was a hunting place for Rajas of “YENDLURU” a village situated to the North West of Ongole town at a distance of 8 Kilometers; and there was a Fort owned by the Kshakthriya rulers of Yendluru. They used to go for hunting on their way to Sea-shore at Kothapatnam; and one day while they were on their hunting spree for hares in the area, the hares resisted the hunting hounds of the Raja and chased them away without falling a prey to them; this bravery of the hares attracted the attention of the Raja and they decided to establish a Fort and town in this area and constructed a town as their head quarter and they named it as “VANGANI PROLU” taking into consideration the unbending bravery of the hares. They constructed a Fort also there, in or about 1620. The name gradually changed into “VANGAVOLU” now calling as “ONGOLE” . There is also other saying that the area is with good number of cows and Oxen and as the cow and Oxe are the symbols of “PRANAVAM” or OMKAR the gift of Lord Krishna and Shiva, it is known as “ Govulu”, as a pious and sacred place. The area to the East of the road leading from Bandlamitta to gate is even now called as “ Kota area”.

The District is bounded on east by the Bay of Bengal, on the South by Nellore and Cuddapah Districts, the west by Kurnool District and on the North by Guntur and Mahaboobnagar Districts.

The District is situated in tropical region between 14-57-00 to 16-17-00 Northern latitude and 78-43-00 to 80-25-00 Eastern longitude. Area wise this district covers 6.41% of the total area of the State and is ranked 4th in size. The District has 102 KM of Coast line spread over 10 Mandals. The District has 26% of the forest area.

The sea breeze of the coastal Mandals renders the climate moderate both in winter and summer in the Coastal area of the District. In the rest of District the heat in the summer is severe, especially in the tracks adjoining the hills. The maximum and minimum normal temperature recorded in the District are 38.2 C and 19.7C respectively. Generally, the maximum temperature is recorded during May and June.

The famous hills of Velugonda and Nallamala area spread over erstwhile and Giddalur taluks. These hills separate this District from Cuddapah and Kurnool Districts.

The physical characteristics and resourceful potentialities of the Mandals are not homogeneous. As per 2011 census, the total population of the District is 33,92,764.

The District has mineral potentiality like colour and black granite, iron ore, manganese, silicon sand, barytes and slate etc., However the District did not make significant progress Industrially. The main occupation of the people is agriculture and 33% of the Geographical area is cropped. The main crops grown in the District are Paddy, Jowar, Bajra, Red gram, Groundnut, Sesamum, Cotton and Tobacco.

ADMINISTRATION:

District is divided into three Revenue Divisions namely Ongole, Kandukur and Markapur.

When the District was formed in 1970, it had only 3 Police Sub-Divisions i.e. Ongole, Markapur and Kandukur transferred from Guntur, Kurnool and Nellore Districts respectively. It had 7 Circles, 35 Police Stations and 6 Out- posts. After the formation of the District, one more Addanki Circle as Headquarter and two more Police Stations were opened i.e. Ongole II Town and Epurupalem [ Rural].

A new Sub-Division with Headquarters at Chirala was formed comprising Chirala and Addanki Circles since 1.9.79. Two Circles i.e. Ongole Rural and were created on 8.12.90 and 4 Circles viz. , Darsi, and Yerragondapalem and one Sub-Division with Headquarters at Darsi were created subsequently.

Presently the District has 5 Sub-Divisions, 13 Circles, Central Crime Station [C.C.S.] and 66 Police Stations including Traffic PS, CCS Ongole, Women PS. Among them Ongole I Town, Ongole II Town, Ongole Taluk, Chirala I Town, Chirala II Town PSs are SHO Police Stations. One Police Control Room [PCR] is also functioning at District headquarters. The District A.R. has 17 Platoons including one Headquarter Platoon.

Consequent to the formation of Prakasam District with reference to G.O.Ms.No.903 Home [Pol.E] Department, dt.16.6.70, an extent of Ac.64.66 cents of land was acquired for the construction of Police Complex including Administrative Building for this department. This includes an extent of Ac.2.20 cents of Government poramboke and an extent of Ac.43.46 cents of private land purchased.

All Administrative Office Buildings viz. District Police Office, DAR Headquarters, Parade Ground with Police Guest House, Radio Station, Motor sheds, Welfare centre with Lecture Hall and the magazine rooms were constructed and handed over to this Department. Construction of the Bells of Arms, Pavilion [Police Guest House], etc., were taken over on 23.3.73 and the district Police Office building was occupied on 28.6.73.

Police Training college [P.T.C.] started functioning at Ongole since 25.8.90 in the Police Complex premises vide G.O.Ms.No.512 Home [Pol.C] Department, dt.22.8.90.

Government in G.O.Ms.No.199/Home [Police.D], Department, dt.14.8.97 sanctioned Central Crime Station at Ongole and it is functioning since 3.10.97.

The District Training Centre is functioning at Ongole since 2003.

MPORTANT PLACES IN THE DISTRICT:

Temples Kondameeda Devaalayaalu:- There are two famous hill temples i.e., (KONDAMEEDA DEVAALAYAALU) Out of which the Northern one is for “Vishnu” and the Southern one is for “Siva. The Northern Vishnu Temple was constructed by the King of Ongole and the southern Siva Temple was constructed by his Minister Vankayalapati Chakrappa Panthulu.

Thripuranthakam:- Another place Tripuranthakam is famous for Goddess Bala Tripurasundari and there are preaches of Buddha in that area. Singarakonda:- This District is also known for the location of famous temples in Singarakonda of Addanki Mandal where Lord Anjaneyaswamy incarnated as “Swayambhu”. Vallur:- Goddess “Valluramma” is incarnated as “Swayambhu” at Vallur village of which is a distance of 7 Kms. from Ongole. Bhairavakona-: Lord Bhairaveswara Swamy is incarnated at Bhairavakona in the forest area of C.S. Puram mandal. Malakonda:- Lord Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy along with Goddes Srilakshmi Devi is incarnated in Malakonda Hills of Voletivaripalem Mandal which is at a distance of 45 Kms. from Kandukur Town. Only on Saturdays pilgrims are allowed for Darshan of God and Goddes. Srisailam:- One of the “Jyothirlingams” i.e. Srisailam is very nearer to Prakasam District and the eastern way of the said temple is towards Nallamala forest which is located in Prakasam District. A great priest Acharya Bharadwaja who also hailed from Ongole renouned as the preacher of Saitatvam.

There is “Baptist Church” in the heart of Ongole Town and the area itself is known a Church Centre and it is one of the oldest churches in the State of with more than 100 years of History.

Sea-Coast

The district has a fairly long coastline of 102 Kms. The Mandals having Seacoast are Chirala, , Chinaganjam, Naguluppalapadu, Ongole, Kothapatnam, , Singarayakonda, Ulavapadu and Gudluru. There are some beaches in the Seacoast. Important among them are Vodarevu at Chirala, Motupalli, Kothapatnam and Ramayapatnam.

Kothapatnam:- Kothapatnam Seashore is located at Pallepalem of Kothapatnam on the shore of Bay of Bengal at a distance of 18 Kms. from Ongole town.

Vodarevu atChirala:- Another Seashore is situated at Vadarevu at a distance of 3 Kms. from Chirala Town on the shore of Bay of Bengal. ITC Co. Ltd. Constructed Guest House at Vadarevu. Before the Independence, ships were in use for transportation between Chirala and Madras.

Ramayapatnam:- Another Seashore is situated at Ramayapatnam near Karedu village of Ulavapadu Mandal.

Reservoirs Gundlakamma Reservoir is constructed at Mallavaram village of Maddipadu Mandal.

Ramateerdham Reservoir is constructed near Ramateerdham village of Mandal.

Industries Chimakurthy:- The latest innovations of Super Quality Granites called as Granite Galaxy are in and around Chimakurthy Hills is part of this Ongole District, 23 Kms. away from Ongole twon.

Martur:- Martur area is also famous for Granite Industry. Markapur:- Markapur area of this district is famous for “Slate “ Industry. Chirala:- Chirala is famous for Handloom Industries and also called as “Mini Bombay”. Weaving is the main profession in Chirala area.

World Famous Ongole breed Bulls

Cows and Bulls:- Ongole as referred already finds a place on the Map of the Cattle Wealth of . It is said breed of Cows and Bulls known as Ongole breed is world famous.

Hills The important hill ranges in the district are the picturesque Nallamalas and the Veligondas.

Nallamala Forest:- The Nallamalas consist of a range of unbroken rugged and fairly steep hills with an average elevation about 620 Mtrs. running in a North-South direction over a length of about 113 Kms. east and the Kurnool District forest division on the West. The Nallamala traverse the Mandals of Giddalur, Ardhaveedu, Cumbum, Markapur and Yerragondapalem. There are two passes in the Nallamalas namely the Nandi kanuma and Manbala kanuma. The Nandi kanuma forms the main artery of communication between Kurnool and Bellary Districts of Karnataka on the west and coastal districts on the East, whereas the later links Atmakur and Kurnool on the West and Dornala, Yerragondapalem and Markapur on the East.

VeligondaHills:- The portions of the Veligondas falling within Prakasam District, stand out prominently as two continuous parallel ranges of fairly steep hills, running in a North-South direction with vide valley in between. The water shed of the Eastern range of hills forms the boundary between Giddalur and Kanigiri Mandals. The water from these hills drain in a Northernly direction in to Gundlakamma River.

Rivers GundlakammaRiver:- The Gundlakamma River rises at an altitude of about 2,700 ft near Gundla Brahmeswaram of Nallamala forest. It runs in a North-Eastly direction touches Mundlamur, Addanki, Maddipadu and Ongole Mandals and falls into Bay of Bengal near Devarampadu of Ongole Mandal.

ManneruRiver:- The river Manneru rises in the Veligondas at Balupalli of C.S. Puram Mandal flows through Nellore District and takes a turn at Pentrala of Lingasamudram Mandal in the District. It flows a distance of 112 Kms. and falls into Bay of Bengal near Karedu village of Ulavapadu Mandal. MusiRiver:- The river Musi rises near Dokkalasala in the Veligondas. It flows first easternly and then southernly through Markapur, Darsi northern border of , Kondepi, Tangutur and Kothapatnam mandals falls into the Bay of Bengal near Madanur of Kothapatnam Mandal. PaleruRiver:- The river Paleru rises in the Veligondas and flows through Veligandla, Kanigiri, Kandukur, Zarugumalli, Singarayakonda and Tangutur Mandals for a distance of 112 Kms. and falls into the Bay of Bengal at Pakala of Singarayakonda Mandal.

Tanks

A huge tank at Cumbum was constructed by Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Emperor of Vijayanagaram and from that Tank the Gundlakamma River starts its journey uptoBayofBengal. Bhavanasi Tank is located at Singarakonda of Addanki Mandal.

Freedom Fighters

The Great Freedom Fighter ANDHRA KESARI Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu garu is native of Vinodarayunipalem village near Ammanabrolu of Prakasam District.

Another Great Freedom Fighter of this area Duggirala Gopalakrishnaiah is well known for his Rama Dandu agitation against British Rules.

POETS

Ongole is famous for poets like, Yerrapragada, Kandukuri Rudrakavi, Nayani Subbarao. Sri B.Hanuma Reddy, One of the Senior Advocate herein is also a well known poet. Prakasam district is fortunate to be the birth place of famous musician like Thyagayya who hails from Kakarla of Cumbum area and also Syamasastry another musician.

Dr. Dhara Ramanatha Sastry is a poet of Natyavadhanam of Ongole town and another poet Sri Nagabhairava Koteswara Rao belongs to Gundlapalli village of Ongole District.

PERSONS

Andhra Kesari Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu garu belongs to the District.

Bharata Ratna award winner Sri Mokshagundam Visweswaraiah (Engineer) belongs to the District.

Artists

Great artists Bhanumathi, Giri Babu, Dharmavarapu Subrahmanyam, A.V.S. and great writer Sri M.V.S.Haranatha Rao and Marudhuri Raja; and Great Director Sri T.Krishna and Music Director Sri Vandematharam Srinivas hail from this Ongole town.

Advocates

Sri P.P.Rao, Advocate, Supreme Court of India who was rewarded “Padmabhushan” award in Constitutional Law belongs to this District.

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