Punganur

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Punganur
type = city
latd = 13.3667 | longd = 78.5833
state_name = Andhra Pradesh
district = Chittoor
leader_title =
leader_name =Dr.prabhakar
altitude = 730
population_as_of = 2001
population_total= 44,320
population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone = 08581
postal_code = 517247
vehicle_code_range =
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website =
footnotes =

Punganur is a town and a Municipality in Chittoor district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

Geography

Punganur is located at coord|13.3667|N|78.5833|E|. [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/2/Punganuru.html Falling Rain Genomics.Punganuru] ] It has an average elevation of 730 meters (2398 feet).Punganur is an important junction for the arterial roads to Madanapalle ( and onwards to Anantapur ), Malur ( and onwards to Kolar and Bangalore), Chittoor ( and onwards to Tirupati & Katpadi ), and also to Kuppam ( and onwards to Dharmapuri, Salem).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, [GR|India] Punganur had a population of 44,320. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Punganur has an average literacy rate of 64%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 71%, and female literacy is 56%. In Punganur, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. It has piligrim centers surrounded and is considered as the junction between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The famous Boyakonda Gangamma Temple is located near to this town.It is basically a market town, with a lot of motor ancillary mini-industries.

Punganur is my mother's birthplace and presently our home town. It has a very nice and cool climate when compared to other places of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. However, it is still not developed when compared to other places of Chittoor District.

Punganur is my birth place also and I lived there till 1960 and visit often. The place was famous for its breed of cows. This breed of cows were very small in size, very tame and domesticated. The breed is almost extinct now.

It was a Zamindari before independence. There is a fort with a palace inside. At present both are in ruins. There is a school "BASAVA RAJA BOARD HIGH SCHOOL" which was established more than 100 years ago.One of the oldest high schools in the Chittoor district. The place was ruled by a benovelent zamindari family. Most of the employees in the palace were from (Mala and Madiga castes) Daliths, in those days when Untouchabilty was very prevalent. Children from the zamindari family were also studying the same school along with commoners and were given no special treatment. Sri Basava Raja the then Zamindar was elected as an MLA in 1959 or so on an independent ticket with maximum majority. It was very famous for its tamarind business,its have lot of tamarind trees round the city.

Assembly Constituency

Punganur is an assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh.

* 1952 - B. Krishnamurthy rao (Indian National Congress)
* 1955 - Ratnam (Indian National Congress)
* 1955 - Y.B.V. Chikarayalu (Independent)
* 1962 - V. Ramaswami Reddy (Indian National Congress)
* 1967 - V. Ramaswami reddy (Indian National Congress)
* 1970 - R. Sundarmani (Indian National Congress)
* 1972 - B. Rani Sundarmani (Indian National Congress)
* 1978 - K.V. Pati (Indian National Congress I)
* 1983 - B. Gopal (Telugu Desam Party)
* 1985 - N. RamaKrishna Reddy (Telugu Desam Party)
* 1989 - N. RamaKrishna Reddy (Telugu Desam Party)
* 1994 - N. RamaKrishna Reddy (Telugu Desam Party)
* 1996 - N. Amarnadh Reddy (Telugu Desam Party)
* 1999 - N. Sreedhar Reddy (Indian National Congress)
* 2004 - N. Amarnadh Reddy (Telugu Desam Party)

References