Peddapuram

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Peddapuram | type = city | latd = 17.08 | longd = 82.13
locator_position = right | state_name = Andhra Pradesh
district = East Godavari
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altitude = 35
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 45,174| population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone =
postal_code =
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sex_ratio =
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Peddapuram is an important Municipal town in the East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh in South India.

Geography

Peddapuram is located at coord|17.08|N|82.13|E| [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/2/Peddapuram.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Peddapuram] ] . It has an average elevation of 35 metres (114 feet).

[http://wikimapia.org/466706/ An aerial view of the Peddapuram]

Demographics

As of 2001 India census [GR|India] the population is 45,174. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. There is an average literacy rate of 63%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 66%, and female literacy is 59%. 11% of the population is under the age of 6.

Features

Peddapuram is prominent for its historical and cultural heritage. Peddapuram municipality was established in 1915 and became the second oldest municipality after Bheemunipatnam in Andhra Pradesh. Initially the British appointed Sri V. K. Ananthakrishna Aiyar followed by Sri Abhinava Patnayak and Sri Pingali Krishnarao. Sri Goli Kondayya was the first one direct elected as Chairman of the municipality.

Peddapuram has a popular temple for the deity called Maridamma.There is a JATARA (carnival) held annually for the goddess Maridamma, which lasts for a month in Ashada Masam of Telugu calendar.Many piligrims visit this place on this occasion and vows of many kinds are made to the goddess, generally,it is said, to secure alleviation from diseases. The town is very famous for its weekly Market, locally called Peddapuram Santha, held every Sunday. There is an Agricultural Research Station which does Research on Ragi and Tapioca and is affiliated to Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University.

Lutheran High School is one of the oldest high school established by the British East India Company in the 19th century.

S.R.V.B.S.J.B. M.R. College, considered a very prestigious college, was established in 1967 by Shri S.B.P.B.K.Satyanarayana Rao,the then Zilla Parishad chairman as the founder president in memory of Maharani of Peddapuram Samsthanam Shrimathi Raja Vatsavayi Butchi Sithayamma Jagapathi Bahadhur.

In order to provide good quality modern education to the talented children predominantly from the rural areas, without regard to their family socio-economic conditions, the Government of India established Navodaya Vidyalayas, on an average, one in each district of the country during the 7th Five Year Plan period and Peddapuram was selected to establish Navodaya Vidyalaya. Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya of Peddapuram is one of the top 10 Navodayas in the country.

The nearest Railway station is Samalkot.

History

The town Peddapuram is founded by "Maharaja Vatsavai Pedda Pathrudu". For 300 years the estate of Peddapuram was ruled by Vatsavai Jagapathi Maharaja’s . The dynasty was started by "Sri Raja Vatsavai Chathurbhuja Thimma Jagapathi Bahadhur" . The fort of Peddapuram was built by him. He ruled the estate from 1555 to 1607. After his demise, his son "Raya Jagapathi" followed by his children "Timma Jagapathi" and "Balabhadra Jagapathi" ruled the Peddapuram Estate. From 1791 to 1804 the estate was ruled by "Sri Vatsavai Raya Jagapathi".

By the time of 1785 the Peddapuram Estate extended from Thotapalli to Nagaram encompassing 585 villages and towns. During British rule Sri Raya Jagapathi was chosen to take over the estate in 1802. After Sri Raya Jagapathi’s death, the three Wives "Lakshmi Narasayyamma", "Buchi Seethayyamma" and "Buchi Bangarayyamma", ruled the estate in succession. "Raya Jaggapathi"'s widow "Buchi Seethayyamma", ruled from 1828-1835. She founded two trusts for the poor, one in Peddapuram and another in Kathipudi. Even today the poor are fed for free twice a day. With no heir, the estate was briefly ruled by "Sri Suryanarayan Jagapathi Bahadhur" until 1847, when it was taken over completely by the British East India Company and made the town a revenue division and built the "Munsif court" and a "Lutheran High School".

The "Vatsavai Maharaja"’s patronized poets such as "Enugula Lakshmana Kavi" and " Vedula Satyanarayana Sastry ".

"Pandavula Metta" is located in Peddapuram and has a mythical history. You can find some ancient caves with the supposed footprints of Bheema (Pandavas). For more details on the history of Pandavula Metta visit the link: [http://eastgodavari.nic.in/Peddapuram.html]

Assembly constituency

Peddapuram is an assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh with 1,51,642 registered voters in the 1999 elections.

List of Elected Members: [ [http://www.eci.gov.in/ElectionAnalysis/AE/S01/partycomp43.htm Election Commission of India.A.P.Assembly results.1978-2004] ]
* 1955 - Shri Durvasula Venkata Subba Rao (C.P.I)
* 1962 - Shri Pantham Padmanabham (I.N.C)
* 1967 - Shri Vundavalli Narayana Murthy (C.P.I)
* 1972 - Shri Kondapalli Krishna Murthy (I.N.C)
* 1978 - Shri Vundavalli Narayana Murthy (I.N.C(I))
* 1983 - Shri Balusu Rama Rao (T.D.P)
* 1985 - Shri Balusu Rama Rao (T.D.P)
* 1989 - Shri Pantham Padmanabham (I.N.C)
* 1994 - Shri Boddu Bhaskara Rama Rao(T.D.P)
* 1999 - Shri Boddu Bhaskara Rama Rao(T.D.P)
* 2004 - Shri Thota Gopala Krishna(I.N.C)

Places of interest

* The Hindu Temple of Maridamma Talli.

* Pandava Caves at Pandavula Metta.

* Surya Narayana Swami Temple (Sun Temple) at Pandavula Metta.

* Lord Shiva, Lord Venkateswara and Ayyappa Swamy Temples.

* Peddapuram Silk Sarees are very famous.

* Muppana's Bangla also called Gali Bangla is very good spot for celebrating Karthika Vana Bhojanams.

* Janab Madina Pascha Owlia Darga Very famous piligrimage for Muslims as well as Hindus.

* The very famous Pancharama Shri Kumararama Bheemeshwara Swamy temple is situated in Samalkot which is about 4 km from Peddapuram.The temple was built by Chalukya Kumara rama (son of Vikramaditya) during the end of 9th century. He got this temple constructed to register his victories in more than 300 wars.

* Gorinta -A famous village in this region located near Peddapuram.

* Vadlamuru - A famous village in this region located near Peddapuram.

* Kattamuru - A Major Panchayath village is about 4 km from Peddapuram. Please visit the links [http://wikimapia.org/1263284/] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kattamuru]

* Town Hall- A more than hundred years old organisation which has an excellent tennis facility.

* St John's Lutheran Church.

References

=External links=
* [http://eastgodavari.nic.in/Peddapuram.html Temples at Peddapuram]