Krishna History

Krishna District (Telugu: కృష్ణా జిల్లా) is a district of India's Andhra Pradesh state. It is named after the Krishna River, the fourth longest river that flows within India, flows through the district and joins Bay of Bengal here in this district. It has a population of 4,529,009 of which 41.00% is urban as of 2011.

Machilipatnam is the administrative headquarters for the district. Vijayawada is the biggest city in the district and also the commercial center of the state. The district is bounded to the north-west by Khammam District, to the north-east by West Godavari District, to the south-east by the Bay of Bengal, to the southwest by Guntur District, and to the west by Nalgonda District.

Satavahana period (230 BC -227 AD): The Satavahanas ruled this region with headquarters at Srikaakulam. Prominent rulers during this period were Srimukha (founder), Gotamiputra Satakarni and Yajnasri Satakarni (last Satavahana king). The Satavahanas imparted more stability and security to the life of the people of the region for more than four centuries.

Pallavas (340 AD - 500 AD): The Pallava kingdom spread over from Krishna river to Tungabhadra, including Amaravati in the East, Bellary in the West and Kancheepuram in the South with capital cities at venginagar near Ellore and Pithapuram, both in Vengidesa.

Kakatiyas: They ruled this region up to early 14th century with Orugallu as their capital.

Reddy dynasty : On the downfall of Pratapa Rudra of Kakatiya, the eldest son of Pulaya Vema Reddi found himself independent and established himself in the hill fort of Kondavedu. He also possessed himself of the fortress of Bellamkonda, Vinukonda and Nagarjuna konda in the Palanad. The Kondavidu Reddi’s were great patrons of Telugu literature. The poet Srinadha and his brother-in –law Bammera Pothana flourished at his court. The ruins of fortresses at Kondavidu, Ballamkonda and Kondapalli are still to be seen.

Gajapathis of Odisha: Kapileswara Gajapathi is preserved by the village Kapileswarapuram now in Pamidimukkala mandal. He was succeeded by Vidyadhara Gajapathi who built Vidyadharapuram (now in Vijayawada) and constructed a reservoir at Kondapalli.

Vijayanagara empire: Krishna devaraya of Vijayanagar conquered this region in early 16th century.

Qutb Shahis: In 1512, the Kingdom of Golconda or Hyderabad was founded by one Sultan Quli Qutub Shah. The Kingdom of Golconda included this district within its limits. Abu-l-Hussain Shah was the last of Qutab Shahi dynasty known as Tanisha. He had two ministers, both Brahmins, named Madanna and Akkanna. Popular tradition attributed this preference of Vijayawada to the devotion of the two ministers to the goddess Kanaka Durga.

Nizams: The Emperor Aurangazeb included this district in the province of Golconda, which remained under Asaf jah who was appointed as Subedar or Viceroy of the Deccan in 1713 with the title of Nizam-ul-Mulk. The province of Golconda comprised five Nawabs’ charges viz. Arcot, Cuddapah, Kurnool, Rajahmundry and Chicacole (Srikakulam). The Nawab of Rajahmundry ruled the country induced in the Krishna District.

The English: In the year 1611 the English founded their settlement at Masulipatnam which was their headquarters until they finally moved to Madras in 1641. The Dutch and French also had settlements at Masulipatnam. Upon the death of the old Nizam-ul-Mulk in June 1748 his heirs strove for the succession with the support of the English and the French. When Nizam Ali Khan was proclaimed ruler of Golconda in 1761 the British secured at first the divisions of Masulipatnam, Nizampatnam and part of Kondaveedu and later the entire Circars. At first the district was administered by a chief and council at Masulipatnam but in 1794 Collectors, directly responsible to the Board of Revenue, were appointed at Masulipatnam.

Krishna District with its District Headquarters at Machilipatnam was formerly called as Machlipatnam District. Later it was renamed as Krishna District after the holy river Krishna, by adding certain Taluks of the abolished Guntur District in 1859 with Machilipatnam with its head. Guntur district was separated from Krishna in 1904. Again in 1925 Krishna District was further divided into Krishna and West Godavari Districts. There were no significant further changes in its jurisdiction except some minor changes (in Divi Taluk and Munagala paragana).

Historic places in the district include:

Chintalapadu (Chandarlapadu)

Bandar Port

Kondapalli Qila

Gudivada

Ghantasala

Gandhi Hill

Religiously significant places include:

Kanaka Durga Temple

Lakshmi Tirupatamma Temple, Penuganchiprolu

jaganadha swami temple, VADALI(chinnapuri),mudinepallimandal.

Ramalingeswara swamy Temple,Yanamalakuduru

Brahmam Gari Jenda in Edupugallu

Penuganchiprolu Temple

Mopidevi Temple

Movva Gopala Swami Temple

Subrahmanyeswara Swamy Temple, Singarayapalem

Gollapudi Ayyappaswami Temple

Hanuman Temple in Hanuman Junction

Gunadala Matha Shrine

Maremma Temple, Putrela

Sarswathi Devi Temple in Nuzvid

Ramalayam in Gadevarigudem

Venu Gopala Swami Temple, Nemali

Jaggayyapet (Buddhist Stupa)

Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple, Bhalive

Sobhanachalam Temple, Agiripally

Sri Lakshmi Gayatri Devi Temple (105 years old), Telaprolu

Panduranga Swamy Temple (machilipatnam)

The Krishna district occupies an area of 8,727 square kilometres (3,370 sq mi),[3] comparatively equivalent to Corsica.[4] The district is divided into upland and coastal area. Kolleru Lake, one of India's most ecologically significant wetlands, lies partly within the district.

The main hill range of the district known as Kondapalli runs between Nandigama and Vijayawada with a length of about 24 km. The other impart hills are Jammalavoidurgam, Mogalrajapuram and Indrakiladri hills. On the Indrakiladri hills at Vijayawada stands the famous temple of Kanakadurga. Sri Durganageswara Swami Temple, Pedakallepalli

The chief rivers of the district are the Krishna (length 1,280 km), Muniyeru (Muneru), the Tammileru and Budameru. Krishna river debouches in to the Bay of Bengal at Hamsala Divi and Nachugunta in this district. The district contains small hillstreams viz., Jayanthi, Kattaleru, Ippalavagu, Upputeru, Telleru, Ballaleru, Nadimeyeru.

Kolleru (Telugu: కొల్లేరు సరస్సు) is a large freshwater lake in India. Kolleru spans into two districts - Krishna and West Godavari. The lake serves as a natural flood-balancing reservoir for these two rivers. The lake is fed directly by water from the seasonal Budameru and Tammileru streams, and is connected to the Krishna and Godavari systems by over 68 inflowing drains and channels. The lake was an important habitat for an estimated 20 million resident and migratory birds, including the Grey or Spot-billed Pelican (Pelecanus philippensis). The lake was notified as a wildlife sanctuary in November 1999 under India's Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, and designated a wetland of international importance in November 2002 under the international Ramsar Convention. The wildlife sanctuary covers an area of 308 km².

ClimateEdit

The climatic conditions of the district consist of extremely hot summers and mild winters and may be classified as tropical. The period starting from April to June is the hottest. The annual rainfall in the region is about 1028 mm and is contributed to by the Southwest monsoon.

Natural Gas and Crude Oil is found extensively offshore and on the coastal belt of the district Small deposits of Diamonds are available. Limestone is a major mineral extracted in the district. Sand quarrying for construction is extracted from krishna and munneru rivers.

Chromite: Kondapalli hills and adjoining areas

Diamonds: Paritala, Ustepalls, Kondavatikallu, Ramannapet, Suryavaram, Kothapet, Nemalipuram, Mugaluru, Putrela(Famous in rajasthan)etc.

Iron Ore: Jaggayyapet area

Lime Stone: Jaggayyapet area

Mica: Tiruvuru area

The Majority of the people in Urban areas of Krishna district are engaged in trade and commerce. Agriculture is the most important occupation of the people of the district.

The District hosts many industries. KCP Sugar Factory at Vuyyur is one of the largest sugar plants in India. Vijayawada Thermal Power Station (VTPS) near Ibrahimpatnam is ranked as the No.1 Power generation unit in India for its high performance. Apart from this, many medium Scale Cement factories are there throughout the district. There are many small scale industries like musical instruments at Jaggayyapeta, gold-plated ornaments at Machilipatnam and Kondapalli toys. SIRIS Pharmaceutical Company at Vijayawada is another giant company manufacturing Allopathic medicines. The oldest port in Andhra Pradesh is at Machilipatnam. Bharat Electrical Limited (BEL) located at Machilipatnam and it is owned by the Indian Government & primarily manufactures advanced electronic products for the Indian Armed Forces. BEL is one of the eight PSUs under Ministry of Defence, Government Of India. It has even earned the government's Navratna status.

The District is divided into four revenue divisions namely Vijayawada, Nuzvid, Machilipatnam, and Gudivada revenue divisions each headed by a sub collector. There are fifty mandals in the district and six municipalities. The municipalities are: Gudivada (CT), Jaggaiahpeta (NP), Machilipatnam (M), Nuzivid (M), Pedana (NP), and Vijayawada (MC).[9]

MandalsEdit

There are a total of 50 mandals in Krishna District.

A.Konduru

Agiripalli

Avanigadda

Bantumilli

Bapulapadu

Challapalli

Chandarlapadu

Chatrai

G.Konduru

Gampalagudem

Gannavaram

Ghantasala

Gudivada

Gudlavalleru

Guduru

Ibrahimpatnam

Jaggaiahpet

Kaikaluru

Kalidindi

Kanchikacherla

Kankipadu

Koduru

Kruthivennu

Machilipatnam

Mandavalli

Mopidevi

Movva

Mudinepalli

Musunuru

Mylavaram

Nagayalanka

Nandigama

Nandivada

Nuzvid

Pamarru

Pamidimukkala

Pedana

Pedaparupudi

Penamaluru

Penuganchiprolu

Reddigudem

Thotlavalluru

Tiruvuru

Unguturu

Vatsavai

Veerullapadu

Vijayawada(Rural)

Vijayawada(Urban)

Vissannapeta

Vuyyuru

Parliamentary divisionsEdit

Krishna district has two parliamentary constituencies Vijayawada and Machilipatnam. In Andhra pradesh assembly Krishna district has 16 constituencies namely Tiruvuru (SC), Nandigama (SC), Mylavaram, Jaggayyapeta, Vijayawada (West), Vijayawada (Central), Vijayawada (East), Penamaluru, Nuzvid, Gannavaram, Pedana, Gudivada, Kaikaluru, Machilipatnam, Avanigadda, Pamarru (SC).

Loksatta, Telugu Desam, Indian National Congress and YSR Congress Party are the main political parties in the district.

The railway station at Vijayawada is the 2nd Busiest Junction in Asia. More than 190 trains pass by/originate/terminate at this railway station in a day on an average.

Airport is located at Gannavaram which is 16 km north east of Vijayawada connecting the city to Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Rajahmundry,New Delhi.

The culture of Krishna district is mostly traditional in rural places and moderatly modern in Vijayawada. The Telugu Dialect of Krishna district is considered to be standard dialect of Telugu. The Kuchipudi dance form originated from this district.