Rayalaseema

History

During the British era, the Nizam of Hyderabad ceded this area to the British, and hence was called Ceded Districts. Independence, it was renamed as Rayalaseema as 'seema' was an administrative unit of the Vijayanagara Empire similar to today's districts.

Post independence

The four districts of the region were part of the Madras Presidency until 1953. From 1953–1956, the region was a part of Andhra State and in 1956, the Telangana region was merged with Andhra State to form Andhra Pradesh State. On 2 February 1970, three taluks from Kurnool i.e, Markapur, Cumbum and Giddalur were merged along with some other taluks of Nellore district and Guntur district to form Prakasam district.

In February 2014, the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 bill was passed by the Parliament of India for the formation of Telangana state comprising ten districts. Hyderabad will remain as a joint capital for 10 years for both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The new state of Telangana came into existence on 2 June 2014 after approval from the President of India. The formation of a new state named Telangana from Andhra Pradesh is not considered an amendment to the Constitution of India per article 3 and 4 of that document. Major cities and towns are Kurnool, Kadapa, Anantapur, Tirupathi and Chittoor are the major cities of the region.

Geography

Rayalaseema region is located in the southern region of the state of Andhra Pradesh.

Etymology

Nizam of Hyderabad ceded the districts of this region to Britishers and hence, they were referred as Ceded districts. In 1928, a strong dislike was expressed from the leaders in the Andhra Mahasabha, held at Nandyal. The region got its name as Rayalaseema with a proposal from Chilukuri Narayana Rao and was accepted.

Economy

Rayalaseema is rich in minerals - Asbestos, Barytes, China clay, Calcite, Dolomite, Diamonds, Green Quartz, Iron ore, Lime stone and Silica sand. It also has rich forest wealth like the rare Red sandalwood which is highly economical, and main revenue source for the state, and other forest sources include non timber resources, medicinal plants etc. The region has the TTD board, the richest religious board in the Country.

The Rayalaseema area is prone to drought. In 2015, locals complained about a neglect of several projects to alleviate this, particularly in the areas of irrigation.

Literature

Telugu culture reached its zenith during the Vijayanagara rule under Sri Krishnadevaraya. Amongst Ashta Diggajas, Allasani Peddana, Dhoorjati, Nandi Timmana, Maadayyagari Mallana and Ayyalaraju RamaBhadrudu are from this region. Poets like Vemana, Sri Potuluri Virabrahmendra Swami from Kadapa district played a great role in educating the common people through their literary works. It is also written by most experts (per Kandukuri Viresalingam etc) until 1930s that Pothana, who penned Andhra Mahabhagavatham, actually belonged to Ontimitta village of Kadapa District. Indian philosopher and spiritual teacher Jiddu Krishnamurti and Cattamanchi Ramalinga Reddy - an essayist, poet and educationist are from this region. Yogi Vemana is also a notable poet.

Music and actors

There are many notable actors in film industry such as, Chitturu Nagayya, Kadiri Venkata Reddy, Pasupuleti Kannamba, Basavaraju Venkata Padmanabha Rao, Chadalavada Kutumba Rao etc. Musicians and poets include, Annamayya, Rallapalli Anantha Krishna Sharma, Vellaala Subbamma etc.

Annamayya is a spiritual guru, who wrote songs on Lord Venkateswara, Sri Potuluri Virabrahmendra Swami, Ganapathi Sachchidananda, Satya Sai baba is a spiritual and religious savant, Jiddu Krishnamurtie.

Landmarks

Gandikota is one of the oldest fort dating back to 1123. Belum Caves are the second largest cave in Indian sub-continent and the longest caves in plains of Indian Subcontinent. It is located at Belum Village of Kurnool District. Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary is the only Sanctuary in the world which provides home for a bird called Jerdon's courser. Gurramkonda, Chandragiri, Horsley Hills, Kuppam and Talakona of Chittoor district.

Thimmama Marrimanu, world's largest banyan tree, covering 5.2 acres (21,000 m²) and 550 years old. It holds a Guinness record. It is situated Near Kadiri, 120 kilometres from Anantapur.

Religious destinations

Rayalaseema has many important places of pilgrimage. Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, abode of Lord Venkateswara is the richest and the most visited place of worship in the world. The other being Tiruchanuru, Srisailam, Ahobilam, Srikalahasti, Kanipakam, Kadiri, Rayadurgam, Penna Ahobilam, Karvetinagaram, Mahanandi, Mantralayam, Puttaparthi, Yaganti, Lepakshi, Ontimitta, Bramhamgarimatham etc. Shahi jamia masjid in Adoni is one of the oldest construction in South India, built around 1662 AD by Siddi Masood Khan, Ameen Peer Dargah, a famous Sufi Shrine in India.

Education

Rayalaseema Region has good number of universities, medical colleges, central premiere institutions and deemed universities.

Universities

Medical colleges

Central institutions

Deemed universities

Polytechnic Colleges

Infrastructure

Rayalaseema Region is well connected by roads, railways, and airports. Being located away from sea this region doesn't contain sea port.

Roadways

Rayalaseema Region has good number of national highways passing through it.The following are the national highways passing this region

Railways

Most of the Rayalaseema Region falls under the jurisdiction of Guntakal railway division of South Central Railway zone.Guntakal-Chennai Egmore section, Guntakal-Bangalore section, Dharmavarm - Pakala Branch line, Nandyal-Yerraguntla section, Gudur-Katpadi Branch line, Guntakal-Dhone section are the passing railway routes.Kadapa-Banglore section is under construction.

Airports

Rayalaseema region has poor air connectivity with only two airports functioning. Tirupati Airport and Kadapa Airport

Seaport

Being located away from sea this region doesn't contain sea port. However this region fulfills its requirements using Krishnapatnam Port located in Coastal Andhra.

Power

The Rayalaseema Region is home to both thermal and solar power plants. The Rayalaseema Thermal Power Station is situated in the Kadapa district, and the Andhra Pradesh government has recently approved the establishment of solar power parks across the Rayalaseema districts, with a total capacity of 4000 megawatts.

Politics

Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, Damodaram Sanjivayya, Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy, N. Chandrababu Naidu, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and N.Kiran Kumar Reddy are the people who served as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, hail from the Rayalaseema region of the state, with N. Chandrababu Naidu being the incumbent. The region saw as many as 6 chief ministers for the state.

Sri Baghpact

Based on Sri Bagh Pact signed on 15 November 1937, Kurnool was made as the capital of the new state after the division of Andhra state from the Madras state. As per the second State Resolution Commission, capital was shifted to Hyderabad upon the formation of Andhra Pradesh.

Notable Cities and Towns