Macherla

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Macherla | type = city | latd = 16.48 | longd = 79.43
locator_position = right | state_name = Andhra Pradesh
district = Guntur
leader_title = MLAleader_name = Pinnelli Lakshma Reddyaltitude = 136
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 49,113| population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone =
postal_code =
vehicle_code_range =
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website =
footnotes =

Macherla is a city, mandal and a municipality in Guntur District in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

Geography

Macherla is located at coord|16.48|N|79.43|E|. [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/2/Macherla.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Macherla] ] It has an average elevation of 136 metres (446 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, [GR|India] Macherla had a population of 49,113. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Macherla has an average literacy rate of 59%, lower than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 68%, and female literacy is 49%. In Macherla, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

History

The name Macherla originated from "Mahadeva Cherla". This town is in the heart of Palnadu, and has a history of over a thousand years. The famous battle Palnati Yudhdham (War of Palnadu) took place between Macherla and Gurajala between 1176 AD - 1182 AD.

The town is renowned for the Chennakesava Swamy temple built here during the reign of the Haihaya Kings. The annual festival, celebrated on a grand scale, attracts pilgrims and tourists from far and wide.

Temple

The main temple is the Sri Laxmi Chennakesava Swamy Temple. It was built around the 13th century A.D. The main gate has one tall Dwajastambam Swamy statue which is covered with wood and bronze. Close by are four stone figures. They are Sri Madbhagavathamu, Srimannarayana Avataram, Sriman Mahabharatam, and Srimad Ramayanam. [cite web
url=http://www.bezawada.com/bez/tourism/guntur_district/Macherla.asp
title=Macherla
publisher=Bezawada.com
accessdate=2006-08-16 ]

Assembly Constituency

Macherla is an assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh.

List of Elected Members:
*1955 - Mandapati Nagi Reddy (CPI))
*1962 - Mudavathu Kesavanayakudu (Congress)
*1967 - Venna Linga Reddy (Congress)
*1972 - Julakanti Nagi Reddy (Independent)
*1978 - Challa Narapa Reddy (Congress)
*1983 - Korrapati Subba Rao (TDP)
*1985 - Nattuva Krishna Murthy (Congress)
*1989 - Nimmagadda Shiva Ramakrishna Prasad (TDP)
*1994 - Kurri Punna Reddy (TDP)
*1999 - Julakanti Durgamba (TDP)
*2004 - Pinnelli Lakshma Reddy (Congress)

KCP Limited Cement Unit, Macherla

The KCP Limited, incorporated on 3rd July,1941 and belonging to the V. Ramakrishna group started commercial production in the Cement Unit located at Macherla, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh in 1958 with the commissioning a dry process kiln line of 400 TPD capacity, the first of its kind in India. The capacity was augmented by a 600 TPD line in 1962.

This plant was conceived with the Chief objective of suppling all the Cement requirements for the multi purpose Nagarjuna Sagar Dam Project 25 KM away, and after completing all the contracted supply requirements for the Dam, it continued to produce and supply Premium Quality Cement, chiefly to other projects such as Srisailam Project and retail outlets in South India under a comprehensive funding agreement with the World Bank and consortium of Indian Financial Institutions, a new and state-of-art, energy efficient kiln line of 1200 TPD capacity with recirculating feed Calciner and five stage Pre-heater and vertical roller mills for Raw Meal and Coal grinding, centrally controlled and monitored through a comprehensive scheme of Instrumentation and Computers, went on stream in December, 1989 at the same location and the capacity of plant re-evaluated to 5,00,000 TPA for the year 2001-2002, and the old lines were scrapped. The production level of the unit for the year 2004 - 2005 are 4,21,515 MTs of Clinker; 4,84,551T of Cement Produced and 4,86,844 T of Cement Packing, which denotes 97% in cement, of capacity utilisation.

Transportation

The town is located between Guntur City and Hyderabad, accessible by trains and road and there are frequent buses from Hyderabad and Guntur.

Macherla Railway Station is a railhead of the South Central Railway. It is located about 25 km from Nagarjunakonda. Guntur-Macherla passenger pass through this station. Tourist information center on the premises is at your service. The station is the terminus of the line from Guntur. Traveling east, Guntur Junction Railway Station (110 km) is the nearest major railhead and going south-west, Dachepalli is the next station. The nearest airport is Hyderabad Airport.

Macherla was earlier a Meter Gauge Station. There used to be trains from Guntur to Macherla via Nadikudi (Station Code: NDKD). Later, Guntur-Nadikudi-Macherla line was converted from Meter Gauge to Broad Gauge.

Macherla is located on the Nallapadu-Macherla section of Guntur division of South Central Railway(SCR).

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadikudi"

Station Code: MCLA

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadikudi"

Places Of Interest

1. Ethipothala is a mountain stream cascading down the hills from a height of 21.3 meters into a lagoon. This waterfall is a combination of three streams namely Chandravanka Vagu, Nakkala Vagu and Tummala Vagu. The lagoon has a crocodile-breeding centre. After flowing for 3 km, this stream joins with the river Krishna.

2. Ranganadha and Dattatreya temples are located near the waterfalls.

3. Nagarjuna Sagar dam is 24 km away from Macherla. The reservoir is the third largest man-made lake in the world. It is also one of the most prominent Buddhist sites in Andhra Pradesh.

4. Anupu is located 18 km from Macherla towards Nagarjuna Sagar. It is said that the Buddhist phiolosopher Nagarjuna taught in Anupu.

People

This place is also known as the palnadu. Any famous revolts raised from the palnadu itself. The most significant pullary revolt is from Palnadu. The famous revolutionary Kanneganti Hanumanthu was the leader for the Pullari revolt. Based on his history, a recent movie Hanumanthu was made. There are several film producers from Macherla one of the pioneer is Vadde Sobhanadri. There are many social organizations working for the improvement of the social status of the people. Palnadu Rural Development & Welfare Society, Rotary club, Lions club, Palanadu Youth Association and Recreation [PYAR] and Ramakrishna Seva Samithi are some of them.

Famous Personalities

The historic Brahma Nayudu was a minister of the Macherla kings. He promoted harmony among the people of Palanadu and encouraged entry of lower caste people in to Sri Chennakesava temple.He orgainesd community feasts where people of all caste sat together and enjoyed their meals.

His son Balachandrudu is the hero of Palanati Yuddham, the battle of Palanadu.

Late Dr.Singam Sivaiah was a popular doctor in Macherla town between 1950's to 1980's. People admire this doctor and call him as Doctor for Poor People even till now in old town of Macherla town. In remembarance of this doctor, town people laid a statue at Lakshmi Devamma Middelu in old town.

Late Tirunagari Sri Ramanjeneyulu, also known as Telangana Gorki lived in Macherla.

Lodging and boarding

There are many lodges and hotels in macherla. Of these famous were Vishnupriya and annapurna lodges and in hotels sai krishna hotel, sri lakshmi vilas, sri venkateswara vilas etc.

Hospitals

Lots of hospitals are located in RamaTalkies Lane in which the best medical care is given.A 30 bedded 'community health centre' serves people round the clock with anaesthesiology,gynaecology,genl.surgery,genl.medicine & ophthalmology specialists.A cemonc wing works allday serving pregnants and neonates.

References