122-645: Guntur ( pronunciation ) is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and the administrative headquarters of Guntur district . The city is part of the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region and is located on the Eastern Coastal Plains approximately 14 miles (23 km) south-west of the state capital Amaravati . According to data from the 2011 Census of India , Guntur had a population of 743,354 in that year, making it
244-614: A Buddhist site contemporary to Nagarjunakonda . The earliest reference to Guntur is found in inscriptions by Ammaraja I (922–929 CE), the Vengi Chalukyan king. According to an inscription in Sri Narasimha Swami temple at Ramachandra Agraharam, Tirumala Dasa Mahapatra—the local ruler of the Gajapathi king Kapileswara Gajapathi —gave donations to the temple of Mulastha Mallikarjuna Deva in 1485 CE. Prior to
366-400: A desire to build social networks for the purposes of domestic and foreign trade, as well as for obtaining grazing rights in the face of competition; in the uplands, the endowment of the buildings was often associated with the construction and continued maintenance of reservoirs and enabled a different type of networking based on political hierarchies. The strengthening of those hierarchies, which
488-458: A feeling of cultural affinity between those who spoke the Telugu language where nothing of that nature had previously existed. The unification of the distinct upland and lowland cultures was their most significant political achievement, achieved through a process of binding many locally powerful figures in allegiance to the empire. The area of land under Kakatiya control reached its zenith around
610-585: A few of the English-language daily newspapers that are circulated in Guntur. Sporting infrastructure in Guntur includes Brahmananda Reddy Stadium for tennis , badminton , volleyball , athletics, and gymnastics ; and NTR Municipal Indoor Stadium for table tennis and volleyball. A swimming pool is proposed to be added to Brahmananda Reddy Stadium and a boxing ring is being planned for NTR municipal stadium. Guntur has hosted sporting events such as
732-436: A first-grade municipality in 1917, a special-grade municipality in 1952, and a selection-grade municipality in 1960. In 1994, Guntur was upgraded as a municipal corporation and its first local election was held in 1995. The city is divided into 57 revenue wards. During the financial year 2018–19, the corporation had a budget of ₹ 1,004 crore (equivalent to ₹ 13 billion or US$ 160 million in 2023). Guntur
854-460: A force that bristled with technology previously unknown in the area, including trebuchet -like machines. Prataparudra had to submit once more , with his obeisance on this occasion being arranged by the sultanate to include a very public display whereby he bowed towards Delhi from the ramparts of Orugallu. The amount of his annual tribute was changed, becoming 100 elephants and 12,000 horses. The new arrangements did not last long. Taking advantage of
976-425: A government mandate. According to the school information report for the academic year 2015–2016, more than one lakh (100,000) students were enrolled in over 400 schools. The medium of instruction in municipal corporation schools was switched to English from the year 2016-2017. The public library system in Guntur is supported by the government and the district central library is located at Arundalpet. Annamayya library
1098-465: A moderate level when compared with other major cities. There have been many efforts to increase awareness and keep the city clean, including a 100-day cleanup drive in 2021. A plastic-waste-to-fuel conversion plant was set up in the city; fuel from the plant was used for vehicles run by the GMC. The GMC started using electric vehicles for domestic garbage collection in 2021. E-auto rickshaws were introduced in
1220-531: A pond (Telugu: "gunta"); hence "gunta uru" means "pond village". Another source refers to "kunta", a land-measuring unit, which may have transformed to "kunta uru" and later to "Guntur". The ancient Vedic puranas , going back to the Treta Yuga and Dvapara Yuga , mention Sitanagaram and the Guttikonda caves near Guntur. The region was historically known for Buddhism ; the first Kalachakra ceremony
1342-668: A revolution in Delhi that saw the Khalji dynasty removed and the Punjab-born Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq installed as sultan, Prataparudra again asserted his independence in 1320. Tughlaq sent his son, Jauna Khan , to defeat the defiant Kakatiya king in 1321. Khan's army was riven with internal dissension due to rumours of the king's death, which caused many officers to leave the army. This caused the siege on this occasion to last much longer — six months, rather than
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#17327722916491464-399: A sharing basis are the cheapest form of transport for students and workers. NTR bus station and an adjacent minibus station accommodate more than 2,000 buses every day, about half of them from depots in the erstwhile united district. Plans for e-Bus Bay centres in the city were proposed in 2021. The city has a total of 893.00 km (554.88 mi) of roads. Mahatma Gandhi Inner Ring Road
1586-412: A sovereign democratic republic. The new republic was also declared to be a "Union of States". The constitution of 1950 distinguished between three main types of states: Andhra State was created on 1 October 1953 from the Telugu -speaking northern districts of Madras State . The French enclave of Chandernagore was transferred to West Bengal in 1954. In the same year Pondicherry , comprising
1708-514: A subordinate but, as was Alauddin's plan, he was not removed as ruler of the area but rather forced thereafter to pay annual tribute to Delhi. It was probably at this time that the Koh-i-Noor diamond passed from Kakatiya ownership to that of Alauddin, along with 20,000 horses and 100 elephants. In 1311, Prataparudra formed a part of the sultanate forces that attacked the Pandyan empire in
1830-424: Is a federal union comprising 28 states and 8 union territories , for a total of 36 entities. The states and union territories are further subdivided into 806 districts and smaller administrative divisions . The states of India are self-governing administrative divisions, each having a state government . The governing powers of the states are shared between the state government and the union government . On
1952-726: Is a 6.34-kilometre (3.94 mi) arterial road that starts on National Highway 16 . The inner ring road, along with Guntur Bypass, and sections of national and state highways, encircles the city. The arterial city roads include Grand Trunk Road, JKC College Road, Lakshmipuram Road, Pattabhipuram Road and Palakaluru Road. The GMC identified Amaravati Road, Lalapuram Road, Medical Club Road, Chuttugunta Road and Palakaluru Road for double-laning, and many other roads for widening to accommodate traffic. National highways (NH), state highways (SH) and major district roads pass through Guntur. NH16, part of Asian Highway 45 and Golden Quadrilateral with Guntur Bypass connects to Chennai and Kolkata on
2074-548: Is a corruption of Vrishni , the name of a clan from which some Rashtrakutas claimed descent. He notes that some chiefs of Rashtrakuta origin adopted the title "Viṭṭi-narayana", which means "as great as Narayana ( Krishna ) of the Vitti (Vrishni) family. Sastry further proposes that the term "Voddi", which appears in the phrase Voddi-kula ("Voddi family") in the Mangallu inscription may be same as "Viṣṭi". Sastry also believes that
2196-526: Is a major part of Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority . It is represented in the federal government by Guntur Lok Sabha constituency , and at state level by Guntur East and Guntur West assembly constituencies. As part of the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region , Guntur houses many state offices and agencies such as Andhra Pradesh Forest Department and the Agricultural Marketing Department, and regional office of
2318-604: Is about 1100 miles south of the national capital New Delhi . It is classified as a Y-grade city as per the Seventh Central Pay Commission . It is the 24th most densely populated city in the world and 11th in India. Guntur is estimated to have current population of around 0.9 million. Guntur serves as a major hub for the export of chilli, cotton and tobacco, and has the largest chilli-market yard in Asia. It
2440-443: Is also a major hub for transport, education, medicine and commercial activities in the state. Ancient temples and sites near the city include Kondaveedu Fort , Amareswaraswamy temple , and Undavalli Caves , and Sri Bramarambha Malleswara Swamy Temple at Pedakakani . In Sanskrit documents, Guntur was referred to as Garthapuri ; in Telugu , "Guntlapuri" means "a place surrounded by water ponds". The settlement might have been near
2562-478: Is also little evidence that Kakatiya society paid much regard to caste identities, in the sense of jāti . Although occupation does appear to have been an important designator of social position, the inscriptions suggest that people were not bound to an occupation by birth. The population became more settled in geographic terms. The growth of an agricultural peasant class subsumed many tribal people who previously had been nomadic. The nexus of politics and military
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#17327722916492684-715: Is known about this chief. Most of the Kakatiya records do not mention the Varna (social class) of the family, but the majority of the ones that do, proudly describe them as Shudra . Examples include the Bothpur and Vaddamanu inscriptions of Ganapati's general Malyala Gunda senani . The Kakatiyas also maintained marital relations with other Shudra families, such as the Kotas and the Natavadi chiefs. All this evidence indicates that
2806-411: Is one of the oldest medical colleges in the state. Several higher education institutes such as Vignan's Foundation for Science, Technology & Research , Katuri Medical College , All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Mangalagiri , Acharya Nagarjuna University and Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University have campuses near the city. A regional Agmark laboratory, and a regional station of
2928-539: Is one of thirty-one cities in the state to be a part of water-supply-and-sewerage-services mission known as Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). The city was certified as open defecation free as part of Swachh Bharat Mission . In the 2023 Swachh Survekshan rankings, Guntur was ranked fourth in India, rising from its ranking of 129th in 2018. Guntur is the headquarters of Guntur East and Guntur West mandals in Guntur revenue division . The city
3050-551: Is provided by Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (APSPDCL). Guntur police uses surveillance and central monitoring control systems with high-resolution cameras at important traffic junctions. The GDP per capita of Guntur City is $ $ 8,786. Guntur forms a part of the East Coast Economic Corridor . Due to its status as the district capital and part of the state capital region, Guntur houses many state offices and agencies, including
3172-627: Is set up in the capital region of the residual state near Guntur. Guntur is the place of discovery of helium they discoverd this in 1869 from observations of the solar eclipse of 18 August 1868 by the French astronomer Pierre Janssen . Allen Olliver Becker's family from Guntur was among the survivors of the Titanic ship disaster. Guntur is located at 16°17′N 80°26′E / 16.29°N 80.43°E / 16.29; 80.43 . It has an average elevation of 33 metres (108 ft) and
3294-464: Is situated on the plains. There are few hills in the surrounding suburban areas and Perecherla Reserve Forest is located in the city's north-west. Guntur lies approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi) south of Amaravati , the capital of Andhra Pradesh. According to the Köppen-Geiger climate classification system , the climate in Guntur is tropical with dry winters (Aw). The average temperature
3416-542: Is the city's main tertiary healthcare provider. The city's main source of drinking water is Guntur Channel, which draws water from the Krishna River . An extension of this channel is being planned to increase coverage of the city and the capital region. Summer storage tanks are located in Sangam Jagarlamudi , and Vengalayapalem reservoir is the other source of water to the city. The city's electricity
3538-409: Is the headquarters of Guntur railway division . Guntur railway station is well connected with Vijayawada and Tenali railway stations . Vijayawada international airport , the nearest airport to Guntur, is 54 km (34 mi) away. Primary and secondary education is provided by government and private schools. Aided schools were either transferred to government or became private in 2020 as per
3660-450: Is warm-to-hot year round. The summer season, especially May and June, has the highest temperatures, which are usually followed by monsoon rains . During the winter season, running from November to February, the weather is usually dry with little-to-no rainfall. The wettest month is July. The average annual temperature is 28.5 °C (83.3 °F) and annual rainfall is about 905 millimetres (36 in). Rain storms and cyclones are common in
3782-712: The nayaka title that denoted the warrior status. They recruited peasants into the military which resulted in a new warrior class and provided social mobility. Kakatiya era also saw the development of a distinct style of architecture that improved and innovated upon the existing modes. Most notable examples are the Thousand Pillar Temple in Hanamkonda , Ramappa Temple in Palampet, Warangal Fort , Golconda Fort and Kota Gullu in Ghanpur . Studies of
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3904-544: The Amareswaraswamy temple , Undavalli Caves , Sri Bramarambha Malleswara Swamy Temple at Pedakakani , and Kondaveedu Fort . The Uppalapadu Bird Sanctuary is located 10 km (6.2 mi) from the city, while Suryalanka Beach is approximately 60 km (37 mi) away. Agastheswara Sivalayam, situated in Guntur’s old city, is a temple devoted to Lord Shiva. It holds historical significance with inscriptions in
4026-687: The British Raj , Guntur has been ruled by the Satavahanas , Andhra Ikshvakus , Vishnukundinas , Pallavas , Vengi Chalukyas , Kakatiya kings , Reddy kings , Gajapathi kings , and Vijayanagar kings , Nizams of Hyderabad , French India , and the British East India Company . The British East India Company took over the Kondaveedu Fort in 1788 and abandoned it in the early 19th century in favour of Guntur, which
4148-716: The Central Tobacco Research Institute of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research are located in Guntur. The city hosts many national, and state-level conferences and expos on the economy, agriculture and technology. Eenadu , Sakshi and Andhra Jyothi are the most-popular Telugu daily newspapers in terms of circulation in the united Andhra Pradesh and the top-three Telugu news sites. The newspapers Surya and Vaartha are published from Guntur. The Hindu , The New Indian Express , The Hans India and Deccan Chronicle are
4270-601: The Crime Investigation Department . The AP State Judicial Preview offices are located at Nagarampalem. Guntur group of the National Cadet Corps is located at Syamalanagar. The city also hosts an Indian Army recruitment and training centre. The city's passport office was opened in 2018. Guntur has several urban healthcare centres and about 200 private hospitals, including several specialty centres. The Government General Hospital (GGH)
4392-803: The Crown Colony of Burma . In 1947, the last Act of the Crown was passed. The act dissolved the Indian Empire, the Imperial Legislative Council and the Chamber of Princes and the Union of India was consequently established from 9 former Indian provinces ( East Punjab , United Provinces , Central Provinces , Madras , Bombay , Bihar , Orissa , West Bengal and Assam ) and 562 former Indian states. Between 1947 and 1950,
4514-711: The Kalyani Chalukyas , who had usurped the power from the Rashtrakutas. The Kalyani Chalukya forces probably defeated and killed Gunda IV. His son Beta I (r. c. 1000-1052 CE) accepted the Kalyani Chalukya suzerainty and received from them the fief of Anumakonda (modern Hanamakonda), which later became the Kakatiya capital. He distinguished himself in the Chalukya campaigns against the Cholas, during
4636-656: The Kannada language that had prevailed until that point. Mahadeva succeeded Prataparudra I as king, reigning probably from 1195 to 1199. Just as the Yadava and Hoysala dynasties took control of linguistically related areas during the 13th century, so too did the Kakatiyas under the rule of Ganapati. He is also known as Ganapathi Deva and, according to Sastry, reigned between 1199 and 1262; Sircar gives regnal dates of 1199–1260. He significantly expanded Kakatiya lands during
4758-604: The delta between the Godavari and Krishna rivers that feed into the Bay of Bengal . According to Rao and Shulman, the latter contained a high proportion of Brahmins while the former was the haunt of "peasants, artisans and warriors". Under the Kakatiyas, cultural innovation often began in the uplands, was refined in the lowlands and then recycled back into the Deccan. This bi-directional flow of cultural influences brought into being
4880-408: The third-most-populous city in the state, and occupies 159.46 square kilometres (61.57 square miles) of land.The city is the heartland of the state, located in the center of Andhra Pradesh and making it a central part connecting different regions. The city hosts many state offices and agencies, being part of the district capital and being in close proximity to the state capital Amaravati . The city
5002-567: The 1230s when he launched a series of attacks outside the dynasty's traditional Telangana region and thus brought under Kakatiya control the Telugu-speaking lowland delta areas around the Godavari and Krishna rivers. The outcome in the case of all three dynasties, says historian Richard Eaton, was that they "catalysed processes of supralocal identity formation and community building". The Kakatiya capital at Orugallu, established in 1195,
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5124-468: The 13th century CE during the rule of Ganapati Deva. By this time, South India and the Deccan were essentially under the aegis of four Hindu monarchies , of which the Kakatiyas were one. The four dynasties were in a constant state of warfare with each other, with the Kakatiyas eventually exercising control from close to Anagondi in the west to Kalyani in the north-east, and down to Kanei and Ganjam district in southern Orissa . A notable trend during
5246-1137: The All India Senior Tennis Association, the All India Sub Junior Ranking Badminton Tournament, the All India Invitation Volleyball Tournament, the Ganta Sanjeeva Reddy Memorial Trophy and the Inter-district Master Aquatic Championship. The city was also a host for the Khelo India programme for junior-level national sports in 2016. The city hosts mini-marathons and 10 km (6.2 mi) walks. International sports personalities from Guntur include cricketer Ambati Rayudu and badminton player Srikanth Kidambi . States and union territories of India India
5368-684: The Chalukyas. Based on Ganapati-deva's Garavapadu inscription, which names Karikala Chola among the family's ancestors, epigraphist C.R.K. Charlu theorised that the Kakatiyas were a branch of the Telugu Chodas . However, no other Kakatiya record mentions Karikala, and unlike the Telugu Chodas, the Kakatiyas did not claim to belong to the Kashyapa - gotra . Therefore, Sastry dismisses Charlu's theory as untenable. The regnal years of
5490-696: The Deccan change from being regional kingdoms to transregional sultanates that survived until the arrival of the British East India Company in the 18th century. The Kakatiya kingdom attracted the attention of the Delhi Sultanate ruler Alauddin Khalji because of the possibility of plunder. The first foray into the Kakatiya kingdom was made in 1303 by Malik Chajju, the nephew of the Indian Muslim Wazir Nusrat Khan Jalesari of Delhi, and Fakhruddin Jauna , which
5612-471: The Emperor's representative to the constituent states of the province. The first three of the lieutenant-governorships were territories annexed to India from other powers and temporarily governed by the erstwhile Bengal Presidency, before being made into their own separate provinces. Agra and Bengal were still considered de jure parts of the defunct Bengal Presidency for judicial and legal purposes. Agra
5734-474: The Government of India introduced legislation to merge the union territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli into a single union territory to be known as Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu , effective from 26 January 2020. Ladakh UT The Constitution of India distributes the sovereign executive and legislative powers exercisable with respect to the territory of any state between
5856-491: The Indian Union and the state's monarchy was abolished. In 1987, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram became states on 20 February, followed by Goa on 30 May, while erstwhile union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu 's northern exclaves Damão and Diu became a separate union territory as Daman and Diu . In November 2000, three new states were created, namely: Pondicherry was renamed Puducherry in 2007 and Orissa
5978-461: The Kakatiya chief Beta I (son of Gunda IV) Garudamka -Beta, and "Garuda" here appears to refer to the family's emblem. In Hindu mythology, Garuda is the vahana of god Vishnu . The Rashtrakutas and some other dynasties of Deccan claimed descent from the Vrishni clan (associated with Vishnu's avatar Krishna ) and had adopted Garuda as their royal insignia. According to Sastry, this corroborates
6100-417: The Kakatiya emblem varaha with the Yadava symbols; this varaha may have been stuck on Mahadeva's coins to mark the Kakatiya victory. Rudrama was married to Virabhadra, an Eastern Chalukyan prince of Nidadavolu who had been selected for that purpose by her father. Having no son as an heir, Rudrama abdicated in favour of her grandson when it became apparent that the expansionist sultan Alauddin Khalji
6222-478: The Kakatiyas as vassals. The 1163 Anumakonda inscription of Rudradeva alias Prataparudra I is the earliest known record that describes the Kakatiyas as a sovereign power. According to Sastry, Prataparudra I reigned between around 1158 – 1195, while Sircar gives the dates 1163–1195. He was also known as Rudra Deva, Kakatiya Rudradeva, Venkata, and Venkataraya He was the son of Prola II, who had made efforts to assert greater Kakatiya influence on territories in
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#17327722916496344-578: The Kakatiyas were of Shudra origin. A few copper-plate inscriptions of the Kakatiya family describe them as belonging to the Kshatriya (warrior) varna. These inscriptions primarily document grants to Brahmans , and appear to be inspired by the genealogies of the Imperial Cholas . For example, the Motupalli inscription of Ganapati counts legendary solar dynasty kings such as Rama among
6466-598: The Mangallu and the Bayyaram inscriptions, the Kakatiyas were not just Rashtrakuta vassals, but also a branch of the Rashtrakuta family. The 956 CE Mangallu inscription was issued by the Vengi Chalukya prince Dānārnava, at the request of the Kakatiya chief Gunda IV . The inscription names Gundyana's ancestors as Gundiya-Rashtrakuta ( Gunda III ) and Eriya-Rashtrakuta ( Erra ). This suggests that Gunda IV
6588-629: The Muslim armies. The Kannada text Kumara-Ramana-charita also provides information about Prataparudra's relations with the Kampili kingdom . Besides epigraphs and literature, the forts, temples and tanks constructed during the Kakatiya period are an important source of information about contemporary society, art and architecture. The Kakatiya rulers traced their ancestry to a legendary chief or ruler named Durjaya . Many other ruling dynasties of Andhra also claimed descent from Durjaya. Nothing further
6710-549: The Telugu-speaking lowland delta areas around the Godavari and Krishna rivers. Ganapati Deva was succeeded by Rudrama Devi (r. 1262–1289) who is one of the few queens in Indian history. Marco Polo , who visited India around 1289–1293, made note of Rudrama Devi's rule and nature in flattering terms. She successfully repelled the attacks of Yadavas (Seuna) of Devagiri into the Kakatiyan territory. In 1303, Alauddin Khalji ,
6832-453: The Union and that state. Kakatiya dynasty The Kakatiya dynasty ( IAST : Kākatīya) was a Telugu dynasty that ruled most of eastern Deccan region in present-day India between 12th and 14th centuries. Their territory comprised much of the present day Telangana and Andhra Pradesh , and parts of eastern Karnataka , northern Tamil Nadu , and southern Odisha . Their capital
6954-645: The Vengi Chalukyas, and probably appointed Gunda III's son Erra as a governor there. Not much is known about Erra's son Betiya. As a Rashtrakuta vassal, Betiya's son Gunda IV (r. c. 955-995) helped the Vengi Chalukya prince Danarnava ascend the throne after a succession dispute. In 973 CE, after the collapse of the Rashtrakuta empire and the murder of Danarnava, he attempted to carve out an independent principality at Kuravi . The Mudugonda Chalukyas, whom he had displaced from Kuravi, sought help from
7076-419: The ancestors of Durjaya, the progenitor of the Kakatiya family. The Malkapuram inscription of Visvesvara Sivacharya, the preceptor of Kakatiya rulers Ganapati-deva and Rudrama-devi, also connects the Kakatiyas to the solar dynasty (Sūryavaṃsa). The term "Kshatriya" in these panegyric records appears to signify the family's warrior-like qualities rather than their actual varna. According to an interpretation of
7198-673: The ancestors of the Kakatiya family lived at Kandarapura (identified with modern Kandhar in Maharashtra ). However, no other evidence supports this tradition. Later, the Kakatiya capital Orugallu (present-day Warangal) was also called "Kakati-pura" ("Kakati town"), as attested by some inscriptions of the dynasty. Much of the information about the Kakatiya period comes from inscriptions, including around 1,000 stone inscriptions, and 12 copper-plate inscriptions. Most of these inscriptions document matters relating to religion, such as donations to Hindu temples. They are particularly abundant for
7320-420: The ancient "Naga Lipi" script, dating back to 1100 AD. The temple is among the most well-known in the region. According to local legends, the sage Rishi Agastya constructed the temple during the Treta Yuga , centered around a naturally occurring Swayambhu Linga, which led to the temple's name. Constructed in the early 20th century, Jinnah Tower is a notable monument in Guntur dedicated to Muhammad Ali Jinnah ,
7442-426: The city include Arundelpet, Lakshmipuram and Brodipet. Other major areas of the city are Koretapadu, Navabharath Nagar, Pattabhipuram, Syamalanagar and Vidyanagar, Autonagar, Gorantla , Pedapalakaluru , Nallapadu , Budampadu and Chowdavaram . Jinnah Tower on Mahatma Gandhi Road is a rare monument related to Muhammad Ali Jinnah , founder of Pakistan, in India. Guntur has 17 parks, some of which are maintained by
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#17327722916497564-411: The city limits were expanded with the merger of surrounding ten villages, namely Nallapadu , Pedapalakaluru, Ankireddipalem, Adavitakkellapadu, Gorantla , Pothuru, Chowdavaram, Etukuru, Budampadu and Reddypalem . The High Court was setup in Guntur when Andhra State was formed. It was moved to Hyderabad after the formation of Andhra Pradesh . After the bifurcation of the state a new High Court
7686-550: The city population is 9,81,000. It is classified as a Y-grade city under the Seventh Central Pay Commission . Based on the 2011 census data prior to the city's expansion in 2012, Telugu is the most-widely spoken language with 545,928 native speakers, followed by 109,574 Urdu speakers. A significant minority speak Hindi , Odia and Tamil . The religious demographic consists of 522,030 Hindus (77.91%), 120,974 Muslims (18.05%), 21,787 Christians (3.25%), 2,312 Jains (0.35%) and 2,605 (0.82%) did not state any religion. One of
7808-624: The city to reduce air and noise pollution; many electric charging stations have been set up across the city for this purpose. Efforts to reduce plastic use in the city and replace it with environment-friendly materials like jute, paper and cloth have been made. In 2021, United Nations Human Settlement Program planners recommended implementation of larger parks, mass transit with metro trains and electric bus systems, and improvements to city expansion plans. Local transport in Guntur includes privately operated auto rickshaws , taxi cabs, minibuses and government-run APSRTC buses. Auto rickshaws operating on
7930-647: The direct rule of the Emperor of India (who was also the King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions ) and a few minor states, ruled by Indian princes under the suzerainty of the Emperor. A Governor or Lieutenant-Governor acted as the representative of the Emperor to that province and head of government of the directly ruled territories in the province. The governor or lieutenant-governor also served as
8052-428: The dynastic period was the construction of reservoirs for irrigation in the uplands, around 5000 of which were built by warrior families subordinate to the Kakatiyas. This dramatically altered the possibilities for development in the sparsely populated dry areas. Many of these edifices, often called "tanks", including the large examples at Pakala and Ramappa, are still used today. Another notable architectural feature of
8174-523: The dynasty found its power to be on the wane; the royal gifting of lands formerly in the possession of nobles to people of lesser status did much to effect this dilution. Historian P.V.P. Sastry theorizes that the early Kakatiya chiefs were followers of Jainism . A story in the Siddhesvara-charita states that Madhavavarman, an ancestor of the Kakatiyas, obtained military strength by the grace of goddess Padmakshi . The 1123 Govindapuram Jain inscription of Polavasa, another family of feudatory chiefs, contains
8296-412: The dynasty relates to temples. Even before the arrival of the dynasty, there were large, well-established and well-endowed Hindu places of worship in the relatively populous delta areas; however, the temples of the uplands, which were smaller and less cosmopolitan in origin and funding, did not exist until the Kakatiya period. In the lowlands, where Brahmins were numerous, the temples had long benefited from
8418-491: The early Kakatiya chiefs followed Jainism , which was also patronized by the Rashtrakutas, thus strengthening the view that the two dynasties were connected (see Religion section below). The Kakatiyas seemed to have adopted the mythical bird Garuda as their royal insignia, as attested by the Ekamranatha temple inscription of Ganapati-deva, the Palampet inscription of the Kakatiya general Recharla Rudra , and Vidyanatha's Prataparudriya . The Bayyaram tank inscription calls
8540-443: The early Kakatiya chiefs resided at a place called Kakati, which had a shrine of their tutelary goddess. Although the Hindu mythological texts do not mention any such form of Durga, the worship of a goddess named Kakati is attested by several other sources. For example, Vallabharaya's Krida-bhiramamu mentions an image of Kakatamma ("Mother Kakati") in the Kakatiya capital Orugallu. The 16th century Shitap Khan inscription mentions
8662-535: The early members of the Kakatiya family are not certain. The earliest known Kakatiya chief is Venna or Vanna (r. c. 800-815), who claimed descent from Durjaya , legendary chieftain of ancient Andhra. According to Kakatiya inscriptions, he ruled from a town called Kakati, because of which his family was called Kakatishas ("lords of Kakati"). Not much is known about his successors Gunda I and Gunda II, who ruled during c. 815-865 CE. The Bayyaram tank inscription compares his successors - Gunda I, Gunda II, and Gunda III - to
8784-676: The east coast of India. NH167A and SH2 connect Guntur with Macherla and Hyderabad . NH544D connects Guntur with Anantapur and towards Bengaluru on NH44 . SH48 connects Guntur with the coast through Bapatla and Chirala . Major district roads link Guntur with Amaravati , Nandivelugu , Tenali , Mangalagiri , and Parchur . Guntur's main railway stations are Guntur Junction , Nallapadu and New Guntur . Stations at Namburu , Perecherla and Pedakakani Halt serve as satellite stations. MEMU and local train services between Guntur and Vijayawada are used by thousands of university students and public. The Rail Vikas Bhavan at Pattabhipuram
8906-485: The eastern parts of the declining Western Chalukyan empire and who died in a battle fought against the Velanati Choda ruler Gonka II around 1157/1158 while doing so. It was during Prataparudra's reign, in 1163, that the Kakatiyas declared an end to their status as feudatory chiefs of the Chalukyas. It is notable that inscriptions were henceforth written using the Kakatiya chiefs' vernacular Telugu rather than
9028-545: The emperor of the Delhi Sultanate invaded the Kakatiya territory which ended up as a disaster for the Turks. But after the successful siege of Warangal in 1310, Prataparudra II was forced to pay annual tribute to Delhi. Another attack by Ulugh Khan (i.e. Tughluq) in 1323 saw stiff resistance by the Kakatiyan army, but they were finally defeated. The demise of the Kakatiya dynasty resulted in confusion and anarchy under alien rulers for some time, before Musunuri Nayakas united
9150-522: The family's ancestry to Durjaya , a legendary chieftain of ancient Andhra, arrived at a town called Kakati during a hunting expedition, and set up his camp there. The modern identity of Kakati is uncertain: different historians have variously attempted to identify it with modern Kakati village in Karnataka and Kanker in Chhattisgarh . Siddheshvara-Charitra , a later literary work, states that
9272-500: The few weeks that had previously been the case. The attackers were initially repulsed and Khan's forces retreated to regroup in Devagiri. Prataparudra celebrated the apparent victory by opening up his grain stores for public feasting. Khan returned in 1323 with his revitalised and reinforced army and, with few supplies left, Prataparudra was forced into submission after a five-month siege. The unprepared and battle-weary army of Orugallu
9394-587: The former French enclaves of Pondichéry , Karikal , Yanaon and Mahé , was transferred to India. This became a union territory in 1962. Also in 1954, pro-India forces liberated the Portuguese-held enclaves of Dadrá and Nagar Aveli , declaring the short-lived de facto state of Free Dadra and Nagar Haveli . In 1961, India annexed it as the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli . The States Reorganisation Act, 1956 reorganised
9516-408: The former appearing on a coin in the form Venkata-Kakatiya . According to Kakatiya inscriptions, the family's name derives from the name of a place called Kakati. However, Kumarasvami Somapithin, in his 15th-century commentary on Vidynatha's Prataparudra-Yashobhushanam or Prataparudriya states that the family was named after their tutelary goddess Kakati, a form of Durga . It is possible that
9638-419: The founder of Pakistan. This impressive heritage structure features six pillars and an open dome, showcasing typical architectural styles of Muslim design from that era. Strategically located on Mahatma Gandhi Road, one of the city's main arterial road, the tower serves as a symbol of peace and harmony, reflecting the secular values embraced by the local community. In 2019, pollution levels in Guntur city were at
9760-565: The headquarters of the Agricultural Marketing Department, the Tobacco Board and the Spices Board . India is the world's biggest exporter of chillies and much of this is grown around Guntur. The city's Agriculture Market Committee Market Yard in Guntur is the largest chilli yard in Asia; in 2023, its sales exceeded sales ₹ 10,000 crore (US$ 1.2 billion) during that year's trading season. There are also several spinning mills on
9882-879: The history of the Kakatiyas, published by the Government of Andhra Pradesh also constitutes one of the sources. Tamil stone inscription from Kakatiya king Prataparudra was found in Motupalli , Prakasam district in Andhra Pradesh. Information about the Kakatiya period also comes from Sanskrit and Telugu literary works written during Kakatiya and post-Kakatiya period. The most notable among these works include Prataparudriyam , Krida-bhiramamu , Panditaradhya-charitamu , Sivayogasaramu , Nitisara , Niti-sastra-muktavali , Nrutya-ratnavali , Pratapa-charita , Siddhesvara-charitra , Somadeva-rajiyamu , Palnativira-charitra , Velugotivari-vamsavali , and Velugotivari-vamsacharitra . Chronicles by Muslim authors such as Isami and Firishta describe Prataparudra's defeats against
10004-475: The inscriptions and coinage by the historian Dineshchandra Sircar reveal that there was no contemporary standard spelling of the family name. Variants include Kakatiya , Kakatiyya , Kakita , Kakati and Kakatya . The family name was often prefixed to the name of the monarch, giving constructs such as Kakatiya-Prataparudra . Some of the monarchs also had alternate names; for example, Venkata and Venkataraya may have been alternate names of Prataparuda I, with
10126-420: The man-made Pakhal Lake . Rudrama Devi , also known as Rudramadevi, reigned around 1262–1289 CE (alternative dates: 1261–1295 CE) and is one of the few queens in Indian history. Sources disagree regarding whether she was the widow of Ganapati or his daughter. Marco Polo , who visited India probably sometime around 1289–1293, made note of Rudrama Devi's rule and nature in flattering terms. She continued
10248-566: The municipal corporation. Nagaravanam, a part of Perecherla Reserve Forest, was developed on the outskirts of the city as a park. Tourist attractions in Guntur include the Sri Ganga Parvathi Sametha Agastheswara Temple. In the old city, notable sites include Gandhi Park, the Baudhasree architectural museum, Nagaravanam, and NTR Manasa Sarovaram. Nearby ancient temples and heritage sites include
10370-472: The other hand, the union territories are directly governed by the union government. The Indian Empire was a very complex political entity consisting of various imperial divisions and states and territories of varying autonomy. At the time of its establishment in 1876, it was made up of 584 constituent states and the directly ruled territories of the Crown . The entire empire was divided into provinces and agencies. A province consisted of territory under
10492-601: The outskirts of the city. Residents of Guntur are referred as Gunturians . Cultural events with focus on literature and poetry are regularly organised. Venkateswara Vignana Mandiram and Annamaiah Kalavedika are popular venues for cultural programs. In 2021, a new venue called Gurram Jashua Kala Pranganam was being constructed. The city observes many festivals such as Rama Navami , Hanuman Jayanthi , Maha Shivaratri , Vinayaka Chavithi , Vijaya Dasami , Deepawali , Holi , Ugadi , Eid , Krishnastami , Christmas , Karthika Pournami . The major commercial and residential areas in
10614-656: The period 1175–1324 CE, which is the period when the dynasty most flourished and are a reflection of that. The probability is that many inscriptions have been lost due to buildings falling into disuse and also the ravages of subsequent rulers, most notably the Muslim Mughal Empire in the Telangana region. Inscriptions are still being discovered today but governmental agencies tend to concentrate on recording those that are already known rather than searching for new examples. A 1978 book written by P.V.P. Sastry on
10736-463: The planned fortification of the capital, raising the height of Ganapati's wall as well as adding a second earthen curtain wall 1.5 miles (2.4 km) in diameter and with an additional 150 feet (46 m)-wide moat. A fragmentary Kannada language inscription also states that the Kakatiya general Bhairava defeated the Yadava army probably in or after 1263 CE, which may be a reference to his repulsion of Mahadeva 's invasion. A coin of Mahadeva bears
10858-466: The provinces with only territories under direct Crown rule. The latter years of the Indian Empire saw the enactment of the last Government of India Act by the Crown. This act granted full autonomy to Indian provinces. Provincial laws no longer needed the assent of the governor-general. This act created the office of a Premier in each province, who functioned as the new head of government and
10980-639: The provinces. However a good number of states were organised into imperial structures called agencies, or residencies. An Agent to the Governor-General (AGG) functioned as the Emperor's representative to all the states in the agency. In 1919, the fourth Government of India was enacted by the Crown. This saw many major changes. The legislatures of the provinces were made elected ones rather than nominated ones. Some provinces were given bicameral legislatures . All provinces were elevated to governorships and all lieutenant governors were made governors. Burma
11102-424: The region during the rainy season, which starts with the monsoons in early June. Cyclones may occur any time of the year but occur most commonly between May and November. Guntur has been ranked 10th best “National Clean Air City” under (Category 2 3-10L Population cities) in India. Based on the 2011 Census of India , after a merger of nearby villages in 2012, Guntur had a population of 743,354. The 2023 estimate of
11224-499: The reign of Someshvara I . Prola I (r. c. 1052-1076), the son of Beta I, participated in various Chalukya military campaigns, consolidated the Kakatiya control around Anumakonda by defeating local chiefs, and obtained Anumakonda as a hereditary fief. The Chalukya king granted his son Beta II (r. c. 996-1051) the Sabbi-1000 province (the historical Sabbi-nadu region with 1000 villages, centred around Vemulavada ). He
11346-702: The reinstallation of the image of goddess Jaganmatruka (mother of the universe) and the lotus seat of the Kakatirajya, which had been destroyed by the Turushkas (Turkic people). According to one theory, Kakati was originally a Jain goddess (possibly Padmavati ) and later came to be regarded as a form of Durga. The Bayyaram tank inscription from the reign of Ganapati-deva states that the Kakatiya chief Venna (c. 9th century) resided at Kakati, because of which his descendants came to be known as Kakatishas ("lords of Kakati"). Ganapati-deva's Garavapadu charter traces
11468-473: The representative of the Emperor . In addition to these, there were certain territories ruled directly by the Government of India through nominated chief commissioners. These were former independent states annexed to India and since ruled directly by the Supreme Government. A vast majority of the Indian states in the late nineteenth century were, in terms of imperial divisions, organised within
11590-454: The same family: The significance of the suffix "Rashtrakuta" in the names of the early Kakatiya chiefs is debated. According to one theory, the suffix only implies that these chiefs were Rashtrakuta's subordinates. This theory is based on the fact that the phrase Rashtrakuta-kutumbinah appears in several Rashtrakuta-era copper-plate inscriptions, and refers to the officers and subjects of the Rashtrakuta kingdom. According to another theory,
11712-494: The south, and he took advantage of that situation to quell some of his vassals in Nellore who had seen his reduced status as an opportunity for independence. Later, though, in 1318, he failed to provide the annual tribute to Delhi, claiming that the potential for being attacked on the journey made it impossible. The succeeding Sultan Mubarak Shah responded by sending another of his Gujarati generals, Khusrau Khan , to Orugallu with
11834-495: The states based on linguistic lines resulting in the creation of the new states. As a result of this act: Bombay State was split into the linguistic states of Gujarat and Maharashtra on 1 May 1960 by the Bombay Reorganisation Act. The former Union Territory of Nagaland achieved statehood on 1 December 1963. The Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 resulted in the creation of Haryana on 1 November and
11956-470: The suffix implies that the Kakatiyas were a branch of the Rashtrakuta family because the term Rashtrakuta-kutumbinah was used for officers employed by the Rashtrakuta administration, not feudatory chiefs: the early records of the Kakatiya chiefs describe them as samantas (feudatory chiefs). The Kazipet Darga inscription of Durgaraja states that his father Beta II was born in the family of Samanta Viṣṭi. Historian P.V.P. Sastry theorises that "Viṣṭi"
12078-425: The supposedly lost tribes of Israel called Bene Ephraim has a presence in Guntur; there is a Jewish synagogue at Kothareddypalem near Chebrolu . The city's local authority is Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC), which at over 150 years old, is one of India's oldest municipalities. It was constituted in 1886, when the city had a population of 25,000; the city was upgraded to a third-grade municipality in 1891,
12200-552: The territories of the princely states were politically integrated into the new Indian Union . Most were merged into existing provinces. Others were organised into new provinces and states , such as Rajasthan , Himachal Pradesh , Malwa Union , Baghelkhand and Bundelkhand States Union , and Patiala and East Punjab States Union , made up of multiple princely states. A few, including Mysore , Hyderabad , Bhopal , and Bilaspur , became separate states. The new Constitution of India , which came into force on 26 January 1950, made India
12322-564: The theory that the Kakatiyas were associated with the Rashtrakuta family. Sastry further speculates that the Kakatiyas may have adopted the Garuda symbol because of Jain influence: the yaksha of the Jain tirthankara Shantinatha is represented by the Garuda symbol. However, when the Kakatiyas switched their allegiance to the Chalukyas of Kalyani , they also adopted the varaha symbol used by
12444-485: The three Ramas ( Parashurama , Dasharatha-Rama , and Balarama ). The c. 956 CE Mangallu inscription suggests that the Kakatiyas came to the Telugu -speaking region as commanders of the Rashtrakuta armies. The earliest of these was Venna's son Gunda III , who died during Krishna II 's invasion of the Vengi Chalukya kingdom around 895 CE. Krishna II captured the Kurravadi (possibly present-day Kuravi ) region from
12566-415: The transfer of the northern districts of Punjab to Himachal Pradesh . The act designated Chandigarh as a union territory and the shared capital of Punjab and Haryana. Madras State was renamed Tamil Nadu in 1969. The north-eastern states of Manipur , Meghalaya and Tripura were formed on 21 January 1972. Mysore State was renamed Karnataka in 1973. On 16 May 1975, Sikkim became the 22nd state of
12688-475: The various Telugu clans and recovered Warangal from the Delhi Sultanate . Kakatiyas unified the distinct upland and lowland cultures of Telugu lands, which brought into being a feeling of cultural affinity between those who spoke the Telugu language . Kakatiya period also saw the construction of reservoirs for irrigation in the uplands called "tanks" many of which are still used today. They were egalitarian in nature and anyone, regardless of birth, could acquire
12810-459: Was Orugallu, now known as Warangal . Early Kakatiya rulers served as feudatories to Rashtrakutas and Western Chalukyas for more than two centuries. They assumed sovereignty under Prataparudra I in 1163 CE by suppressing other Chalukya subordinates in the Telangana region. Ganapati Deva (r. 1199–1262) significantly expanded Kakatiya lands during the 1230s and brought under Kakatiya control
12932-477: Was a Rashtrakuta general, and not a Vengi Chalukya subordinate, as assumed by some earlier historians. The Bayyaram tank inscription, which records the construction of the Dharma-kirti-samudra tank by Ganapati's sister Mailama (or Mailamba), provides another genealogical list. The similarities of names mentioned in the Mangallu and Bayyaram inscriptions lists suggest that both of these refer to
13054-609: Was a disaster due to the resistance of the Kakatiya army in the Battle of Upparapalli . In 1309 the Gujarati general, Malik Kafur , in an attempt to force Prataparudra into acceptance of a position subordinate to the sultanate at Delhi. Kafur organised a month-long siege of Orugallu that ended with success in February 1310. Prataparudra was forced to make various symbolic acts of obeisance designed to demonstrate his new position as
13176-425: Was a lack of consistency regarding the varna rank of Kakatiyas. In most of their inscriptions, no varna affiliation was specified. In the case of a few where it was specified, they were mostly recorded to have been Kshatriyas. A handful of the inscriptions however tried to portray them as Kshatriyas. Anyone, regardless of birth, could acquire the nayaka title to denote warrior statusKshatriy and this they did. There
13298-413: Was a significant feature of the era, and the Kakatiya recruitment of peasants into the military did much to create a new warrior class, develop social mobility and to extend the influence of the dynasty into areas of its kingdom that previously would have been untouched. The Kakatiya kings, and in particular the last two, encouraged an egalitarian ethos. The entrenched landed nobility that had existed before
13420-413: Was achieved in part by donating land for the temples and then attending worship, was necessary as the inland agrarian society grew rapidly in number and location. There is a disparity between the analysis of inscriptions, of which the work of Cynthia Talbot has been in the vanguard and the traditional works of Vedic Hinduism that described pre-colonial India in terms of a reverent and static society that
13542-486: Was encroaching on the Deccan and might in due course attack the Kakatiyas. The earliest biography of Rudrama Devi's successor, Prataparudra II , is the Prataparudra Caritramu , dating from the 16th century. His reign began in 1289 (alternative date: 1295) and ended with the demise of the dynasty in 1323. It is described by Eaton as the "first chapter in a larger story" that saw the style of polity in
13664-550: Was finally defeated, and Orugallu was renamed Sultanpur. It seems probable, from combining various contemporary and near-contemporary accounts, that Prataparudra committed suicide near the Narmada River while being taken as a prisoner to Delhi. The Kakatiya base was the city of Orugallu in the dry uplands of northern Telangana on the Deccan Plateau . From there they expanded their influence into Coastal Andhra ,
13786-506: Was given a special status and made an autonomous province. The Chamber of Princes was established by Emperor George V in 1920. One of the major consequences of this was the creation of many more agencies from the states of the provinces, thus granting them direct relations with the Emperor instead of with the Governors. This saw the separation of all the states from the provinces and addition to before-mentioned agencies. This left all
13908-531: Was made the headquarters of a district named after it. The district was abolished in 1859 and reconstituted in 1904. The city rapidly became a major market for agricultural produce from the surrounding countryside due to the opening of the railway link in 1890. The expansion continued post independence as well and was concentrated in what is now called New Guntur, with many urban areas such as Brodipet , Arundelpet and suburban areas like Pattabhipuram, Chandramoulinagar, Sitaramanagar, and Brindavan Gardens. In 2012,
14030-473: Was not forgotten while Ganapati expanded his territory. He organised the building of a massive granite wall around the city, complete with ramps designed for ease of access to its ramparts from within. A moat and numerous bastions were also constructed. Ganapati was keen to bolster the dynasty's economy. He encouraged merchants to trade abroad, abolishing all taxes except for a fixed duty and supporting those who risked their lives to travel afar. He created
14152-538: Was performed by Gautama Buddha . Agastyeshwara temple is one of the oldest temples in the city; according to a local legend, Agastya built it in the Treta Yuga around a swayambhu linga . Inscriptions on the side of Naga Muchalinda, a sculpture unearthed in 2018 in the compound of the temple, are in Naga Lipi, an ancient script from the third century CE . Based on this discovery, Emani Sivanagi Reddy, archaeologist and Buddhist scholar believes this region served as
14274-593: Was renamed Odisha in 2011. Telangana was created on 2 June 2014 from ten former districts of north-western Andhra Pradesh . In August 2019, the Parliament of India passed the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 , which contains provisions to reorganise the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two union territories; Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh , effective from 31 October 2019. Later that year in November,
14396-399: Was responsible to the provincial legislature. Bengal, Madras and Bombay which had been till now styled Presidencies, were now officially styled as provinces. The provinces of Orissa and Sind were created from Bihar and Bombay respectively. The Province of Burma which had previously functioned as an autonomous province of India was now separated from the Indian Empire, and established as
14518-501: Was separated in 1878 and merged with Oudh . The Bengal Presidency was re-established in 1912 as a governorship. All these provinces had their own legislatures established by the Indian Councils Acts, and high courts established by Indian High Courts Acts. Laws passed by these legislatures needed the dual assent of the governor or lieutenant-governor of the province and the governor-general of India , who functioned as
14640-472: Was set up with 1 lakh books that were donated by bibliophile Lanka Suryanarayana . Hindu College and Andhra Christian College were established during the British Raj for higher education. Jagarlamudi Kuppuswamy Chowdary College , RVR & JC College of Engineering , Tellakula Jalayya Polisetty Somasundaram College (TJPS College), Government College for Women and St. Joseph's College of Education for Women are autonomous colleges. Guntur Medical College
14762-413: Was subject to the strictures of the caste system . Colonial British administrators found much that appealed to them in the latter works but the Kakatiya inscriptions of Andhra Pradesh, which depict a far wider range of society and events, suggest that the reality was far more fluid and very different from the idealised image. Caste itself seems to have been of low importance as a social identifier. There
14884-416: Was succeeded by his sons, first Durga-raja and then Prola II (r. c. 1116–1157). After the decline of the Rashtrakuta power, the Kakatiyas served as vassals of the Kalyani Chalukyas . After the decline of the Chalukya power in the 12th century, they assumed sovereignty by suppressing other Chalukya subordinates in the Telangana region. The 1149 Sanigaram inscription of Prola II is the last known record of
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