Samalkota

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Samalkota | type = city | latd = 17.0500| longd = 82.1833
state_name = Andhra Pradesh
district = East Godavari
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude = 9
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 53,402| population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone = 91 884
postal_code = 533 440
vehicle_code_range =
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website =
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Samal-kota also known as Samarla-kota is a city, a municipality and Mandal in East Godavari district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

Geography

Samalkota is located at coord|17.0500|N|82.1833|E|. [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/2/Samalkot.html Falling Rain Genomics.Samalkot] ] It has an average elevation of 9 meters (32 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census [GR|India] , Samalkota had a population of 53,402. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Samalkota has an average literacy rate of 60%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 65%, and female literacy is 56%. In Samalkota, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Transport

Samalkota is an important Railway junction on the Chennai-Howrah Railway line. The railway line to Kakinada branches at this railway junction.

Temple

Sri Chalukya Kumararama Sri Bhimeswaraswamy vari temple (Kumararama, one of the Pancharama Kshetras) is located at about 1 k.m from the Railway station. The presiding deity at this temple is Lord Shiva known as Kumara Bhimeswara. Maha Sivarathri is the most important festival which is celebrated in this temple.

The temple is historically prominent, as it was built by Chalukyas who reigned over this location. Construction of the temple started in 892 A.D. and completed around 922 A.D. It is similar to the temple in Draksharamam, but is also very unique in its own right, such as the linga being white. The temple still stands strong and it was made National Heritage Site .and its resemblance of twin of Draksharam ,with two staired mandapa ,really amazes more as its so well without any cracks, though the temple is not in a populated place, people do come here.

The Linga is a limestone ,9 feet high .The temple was built in Dravidian style ,by the King Chalukya Bhima,Hence the god name is Bhimeswara (between 892-922 A.D) .The Kakatiya rulers (in the period 1340-1466 A.D)have added and renovated the temple pillars with a very fine sharp finishes .The work of CHalukyas and Kakatiya's is very easily distinguished ,by the well decorated and polished pillars in the temple to the rest of the temple.both new and old.the construction of this temple is so well that it has not changed much thru all years, when compared to Draksharaam temple .Kala Bhairava is also of importance and Balatripura sundari is the Goddess.Shaasanas between 1147-1494 A.D were scripted into pillars of the temple,which also have list of gifts given ,thru the ages, for the temple. In Puranas its been written that its a Yogakshetram,which means ,the person who has the "yogam"(kind of "fated to have" "opportunity given by god" ""boon") to visit ,will visit the temple.The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), Kakinada Depot runs circular tours covering all the 5 Pancharamas (Amaravathi, Bhimavaram, palakollu, Draksharama & Samalkota) in a span of 24 hours. The journey starts at 8.00PM evey Sunday and ends at 8.00P.M next day covering 700 km approximaely. Currently charges are Rs.350/- and are inclusive of darhan charges at the respective places.

Industries

* 220-MW Power Project owned by Reliance Energy Limited.
* Deccan Sugars owned by Navabharath Ventures Ltd.
* Sri Venkatarama Oil Industries Ltd manufacturers of Refined Rice Bran Oil
* The oldest Telugu sexology magazine 'Abhisarika' (estd. 1949) is published from here

Prominent personalities

* Prativadi Bhayankarachary (Freedom Fighter)
* Chaganti Sanyasi Raju (Theatre Arts)
* Darbha Venkata Rama Sastry alias Ramsha (Poet, literary critic and sexologist)
* Appala Seshagiri Rao (Physician)
* Kaligotla Surya Prakasa Rao (Freedom Fighter and Social Activist)
* Samayam Veerraju (Orator)
* Dr. Bethina Venkata Raju (first surgeon)
* Dr. Chaganti Srirama Ratna Raju (Physician)
* Dr. Appala Venkata Seshagiri Rao (Physician)
* Chandrabhatla Chintamani Ganapathi Sastry (Spiritual leader)
* Dr. Chandalada Ananta Padmanabham (Pediatrician)
* Dr. Darbha V R Poosha (Editor, Abhisarika sex science monthly)
* Bhushayya Nemani (Sri Venkatarama Oil industries founder)
* Yarlagadda Bapanna (Scholar, Freedom Fighter and Social Activist)
* Marellapudi Veerabhadra Rao (Orator, Theatre Artist, National Award Winner for Best Teacher)
* Akella S P Kameswara Rao ( Owner of Cyber Wolf Studios, ASE)
* Balusu Rama Rao (First MLA in Telugu Desam Party when established by NT Rama Rao)

Panchayats

There are 18 village panchayats in Samalkota mandal. [ [http://panchayat.gov.in/adminreps/viewpansumR.asp?selstate=0204025000&ptype=V&button1=Submit Details of Andhra Pradesh till Village Panchayat Tier] ]
*Atchampeta (village and panchayat)
*Boyanapudi (village and panchayat)
*Chandrampalem (village and panchayat)
*G.Kothuru (village and panchayat)
*G.Medapadu (village and panchayat)
*Gonchala (village and panchayat)
*Hussainpuram (village and panchayat)
*Kapavaram (village and panchayat)
*Madhavapatnam (village and panchayat)
*Navara (village and panchayat)
*P.Vemavaram (village and panchayat)
*Panasapadu (village and panchayat)
*Pandravada (village and panchayat)
*Pavara (village and panchayat)
*Pedabrahmadevam (village and panchayat)
*Unduru (village and panchayat)
*Venkatakrishnarayapuram (village and panchayat)
*Vetlapalem (village and panchayat)

External links

* [http://www.greattemples.com Get more information about the Samalkota temple]

References