Ongole

Ongole is one of the larger towns of the district of Prakasam, in Andhra Pradesh. It is also Prakasam’s district headquarters. It is located some 450 kilometers southeast of the state’s capital city of Hyderabad, right on the Chennai-Howrah Grand Trunk Road, 109 kilometers away from the city of Guntur. As of the 2001 Indian census, the town had a population of 149,589 people although the recent 2007 statistics showed the population to have reached the 300,000 mark. The area has an average elevation of 10 meters (about 33 feet) above mean sea level.

The town was originally called by several names: Vangalaprolu, Vangavolu, and Vangolu. Regardless of which, all came from the astrologer bearing the last name of Vangolu who used to be in the court of the Addanki kings. Ongole’s long history goes back to the reign of the Mauryas and the Satavahanas; a few inscriptions dating to the latter period were found in a village near Ongole called Chinna Ganjam. The two kingdoms ruled most of the regions in present-day Andhra Pradesh. The earliest reference to present-day Ongole, though, is found in the inscriptions of the Pallava rulers, the Vijayaskandavarma and Simhavarman, who were recorded to have ruled during the last parts of the 3rd century right up to the early parts of the 4th. When the Satavahana rule was over, Ongole was again brought into attention when the Kakatiya dynasty occupied the place. During that time, the towns of Motupalli Voda Revu and Kottapatnam served as major seaports in that region of the country.

Ongole is quite famous for its special breed of oxen called the Ongolu Gitta; they are considered to be very virile and of superior stock. The Ongolu Gitta is one of the major Zebu cattle breeds in the world (cattle with the characteristic humps on their backs). Aside from this, Ongole is also one of the major tobacco trading centers in Andhra Pradesh.

The local economy has steadily developed over the years. During the 70’s and 80’s, many small-scale manufacturing enterprises were set up, such as those making shoes, PVCs, paints, and pharmaceuticals. Unfortunately, most of these ventures did not survive for long, due primarily to stiff competition coming from within Andhra Pradesh itself or those from out of state. Lack of availability of capital and/or human resources as well as leadership capabilities were mostly chief factors of the failure. The 80’s and 90’s saw the rise of hospitals and educational institutions and the later part of the decade brought the beginnings of the granite industry. The discovery of the Black galaxy granite has resulted in the rise of granite mining, stone polishing units and stone cutting companies around Ongole.

Over the years, several good schools and colleges have sprung up in the town. As a result, the quality of education has been good and is already comparable to most of the cities in the region. The advent of reforms in the educational sector have also caused the rise of private engineering and medical institutions to be set up in town.

Medak District

Medak District is one of the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh. It is located in the northwestern part of the state. To the north are the districts of Nizamabad and Karimnagar, to the east are the districts of Warangal and Nalgonda, to the south is Rangareddy district and the west is the state of Karnataka. Medak has a total area of 9,699 square kilometers with a population of about 2,670,097 (according to the 2001 Indian census), giving it a total population density of 274 persons per square kilometer. As of 2001, about 14.36% of the population, however, were urban. Literacy rate is also lower than the national average of 59.5%, with only 53.24% of the population literate. Medak’s district headquarters is the first grade municipality of Sangareddy. The capital city of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, is located 100 kilometers south of the district.

The district was originally called Siddapur and since the early times, has been a strategically important region. Not much is known of its ancient history but it is a fact that the region was ruled over by the Devagiri Yadavas and Hoysalas of Dwara Samudram before being taken over by the Kakatiyas. The other rulers of the Medak region were the Satavahana, Western Chalukya, the Qutub Shahi dynasty of the Golcondan empire and the Nizam kings. There is also evidence to suggest that the Romans settled and ruled in the area for some time.

The district is well-known for the multitudes of temples it has adorning the area. These temples, scattered all around the district, depict fine architectural magnificence, reflecting the various kingdoms and empires that have inhabited the region. They are usually regarded as an attraction by the tourists that visit the area, and as important religious symbols by the devout. The more popular temples include the Veerabhadra Swamy temple in the Bonthapally, the Sapta Prakarauta Bhavani Mata temple in Ismailkhanpet and the Koti Ligeshwara Swamy Temple in Siddipet. However, one of the more popular modern tourist attractions/religious buildings is not Hindu, but rooted in Christianity instead. The Medak Catholic Church was built in 1914 by Charles Walker Pasnet and is widely acknowledged to be the biggest church in Southern India. In fact, it is regarded as the single largest diocese in Asia and is the second largest in the world, dwarfed only by the Vatican. It took 10 years to build, and was finally sanctified on December 25, 1924.

The district is mainly agricultural, with about 78% of the population engaged in agriculture or something that is related to it. The major crops in the region are rice, jowar, maize and sugar cane. High-quality teak is also available in Medak, owing to the fact that one-tenth of the district is covered in forests, extending to 97,093 hectares.

The climate in Medak is very tropical, with the summer being particularly hot and dry. Summer extends from March to May, after which the monsoon season comes, which usually brings with it heavy rains until September. From October to November, the rains recede and December to February is marked by winter.

Mangalagiri

Both a town as well as an administrative subdivision, Mangalagiri can be found in the district of Guntur in Andhra Pradesh. It is a part of the urban agglomeration of the state’s third largest city, Vijayawada. The town has a total area of just 10.49 square kilometers and a total population of 61,981 according to the Indian census taken in 2001, distributed among 15,750 households. The total literacy rate is 67%, which is higher than the national average of 59.5%. On a geographical standpoint, Mangalagiri is situated on the Guntur-Vijayawada road, 13 kilometers southeast of Vijayawada and 21 kilometers northeast of the city of Guntur. The place has an average elevation of 9 meters (or roughly 29 feet) above mean sea level.

Mangalagiri’s history is ancient, dating back to the times before Christ. Since 225 B.C., the region was under the control of great kings. The first was Andhra Satavahanas, whose empire ruled from 225 B.C. to 225. It was followed by the Ikshwakus dynasty, which lasted until 300. Other dynasties that followed include Ananda Gotrajas, Vishnu Kundeenas and the Chanakyas. During those years, the capital moved from place to place, starting at Dhanya Katakam, and moving to Kanteru and Vijayawada.

Much of Mangalagiri’s known history started in the medieval period when Sri Krishnadeva Raya defeated the Gajapathi kings in 1515, who were the rulers of the region during that time. Mangalagiri was one of the 200 towns that were in the Vijayanagara kingdom then. The kingdom was destroyed in 1565, and Qutb Shahi of the Golconda empire came in. The sultan divided Kondaveedu into 14 parts, with Mangalagiri as one of them. 33 villages were under Mangalagiri at that time. From 1750 to 1758, the French came and ruled the area, and the Nizams succeeded them for thirty years, from 1758 to 1788.

In 1788, the Nawab of Hyderabad, Nizam Alikhan, gave Guntur to the British, who made Raja Vasireddi Venkatadri Naidu as the place’s Jamindar or tax collector. For the next six years, the Circuit Committee of the East India Company ruled Mangalagiri until 1794, when the committee was cancelled and the Guntur district was formed. In 1859, Guntur district was merged with Krishna district, but was again separated in 1904. Mangalagiri has been part of the Guntur district ever since.

Mangalagiri means “Auspicious Hill,” a name that is derived from the legend that the goddess Lakshmi meditated in the area a long time ago. Mangalagiri is one of the eight important sacred places of India, the places where Lord Vishnu manifested himself. They are Sri Rangam, Srimushnam, Naimisam, Pushkaram, Salagamadri, Thothadri and Narayanasramam; Thotadri is Mangalagiri in the present time. There are three Narasimha Swamy temples in Mangalagiri: Panakala Narasimha Swamy on the hill, Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy at the foot of the temple, and Gandala Narasimha Swamy located at the top of the hill.

Those who are thinking of going to Mangalagiri will find that it is not hard to get there. The town is located on National Highway 5, making it directly connected to major cities Kolkata and Chennai. There is also a railway station in Guntur-Vijayawada section of the Guntur division of the South Central Railway, making it easily accessible for those who travel by train.

Hindupur

Known sometimes as Hindupuram, Hindupur is a town in India’s Anantapur district, in Andhra Pradesh. Among the numerous towns and cities in the Indian subcontinent, several have made tremendous leaps and bounds in terms of progress and development and Hindupur is counted as one of them. It is known historically because of several famous goods, chief among them being silk, jaggery, and red, dry chillies. The town is also considered a municipality of the district.

The town is located at a distance of about 100 kilometers from the garden city of Bangalore and 130 kilometers south of Anantapur, the district administrative headquarters. It has an average elevation of 621 meters above mean sea level, or roughly 2,037 feet. The 2001 Indian census puts Hindupur’s population at 125,056, with the males edging the females slightly in the demographics. The town’s literacy rate is higher than the 59.5% national average, standing at 62%. Aside from Telugu, Kannada, one of India’s major Dravidian languages and one of the country’s official languages, is widely spoken. This doesn’t come as a surprise as Hindupur borders the state of Karnataka, of which Kannada is predominantly spoken.

Historically, Hindupur received its name from a Maratha Chieftain, Murari Rao. It is widely believed by scholars and historians that the name itself was taken from the chieftain’s father, Hindoji Rao. Murari Rao gave it to the town in remembrance.

Because the town is centrally located to all the administrative subdivisions in the district such as Gornatla, Penukonda, Pavagada and Madhugiri, Hindupur has evolved into a major health center in the region in the past two decades. Patients from all over the district congregate there in order to avail of the modern medical facilities. The major hospitals include the Government District Hospital, SAI Krishna Jinka Eye Hospital, and the Balaji Orthopaedic Hospital.

Education is also an important factor amongst the citizens of Hindupur, with the town known as among one of the better educational centers in Andhra Pradeh’s Rayalaseema region. Several universities and colleges have been erected to meet the educational demands of the populace. Sri Krishna Devaraya University, Balayesu Junior and Degree College, and the Birla Institue of Technology (BIT) are examples of the institutions of higher learning in town. Famous schools include the Renowned EM High School, Sri Balaji Vidya Vihar and the Alhilal English Medium School.

The majority of the people in Hindupur are engaged in trading and selling, with silk, jaggery and tamarind being the prime materials. Vehicular services such as huge trucks, iron works and automotive body construction also exist. Another reason why trade and commerce is thriving in Hindupur is that the town is well-connected with the other places in the region, owing to the good transportation infrastructure it has. Hindupur has one of the busiest bus stations in all of Andhra Pradesh, with the APSRTC having a division headquarters there. The town is also well-connected via railways and by air, with the nearest airport, the Bengaluru International Airport, located some 60 kilometers away.

Chirala

Chirala is one of the larger towns of Prakasam district, in Andhra Pradesh. It is also one of that district’s administrative sub-divisions or mandals, as well as a municipality. The town is situated at a distance of about 100 kilometers south of Vijayawada, the third largest city of Andhra Pradesh, and about 350 kilometers from Hyderabad, the capital city of the state. As of the 2001 Indian census, Chirala had a population of 85,455 (it becomes 166,877 if town extensions are included). The sex demographics are evenly split, with 50% male and 50% female. Literacy is also good, with an average of 65% which is markedly higher than the national average literacy rate of 59.5%. Chirala is a coastal town with an average elevation of just 4 meters above mean sea level.

Earlier known as “Small Bombay” because of the huge varieties of saris that are produced there, Chirala was originally named Kshirapuri, which is translated to “Here the sea looks as white as milk.” The foundation for the present-day town was laid in 1604 by Minchala Papaiah and Minchala Peraiah. The town came out of Sudhanagaram, whose original name was Patha Chirala, which itself was given by the Minister of the Kakatiya king Goparaju Ramanna to Chirala Anantharaju in 1145. It was Anantharaju’s descendant, Chirala Venkata Krishnudu, who leased the present Chirala to the Yadavas in order to establish a new township.

In time, the new town grew as people settled in. In the early 17th century, several temples were built such as the Venugopalaswamy and Malleswaraswamy. When the British colonized the Indian subcontinent in the 19th century, Chirala became a health resort, with a medical facility set up in 1906, with the opening of the Edward VII Coronation Memorial Hospital. In 1912, an American doctor, Dr. Baer, opened the Dr. Baer Missionary Hospital. These helped Chirala and its neighboring villages at a time when the nearest medical facility was located at Guntur.

In 1923, the British as well as the other Europeans who came to India opened a tobacco curing facility which gave jobs to the laborers in the town. With the construction of a railway station that connects the Madras-Calcutta-New Delhi main line, Chirala started to develop as a commercial town, increasing in population. It also became the hub of the handloom industry, providing employment to at least 30,000 craftsmen. The wide textile industry in the town caused it to be dubbed Mini-Bombay. In 1959, a cooperative spinning mill was also started. Today, Chirala is a major commercial center between Ongole and Tenali, and lies on the main railway between Kolkata and Chennai.

Chirala is also a very good educational haven, with numerous schools and colleges located in the town. The M. Sc Oil Technology in V.R.S. & Y.R.N. College is considered as among the top colleges in all of India. The Saraswatha Niketanam Library is also a popular library with a collection of about 75,000 books and manuscripts, some dating back to mid-19th century. It also houses a rare collection of 1,000-year-old palm leaf manuscripts of the Upanishads.

East Godavari District

East Godavari is one of the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh. The district headquarters is the city of Kakinada, which is also classified as a municipal corporation. East Godavari is located in the northeastern part of the state, with its boundaries being the Visakhapatnam district and the state of Orissa on the north, the Bay of Bengal on the east and the south, and the district of West Godavari on the west. The district of Khammam completes the boundary on the northwest.

According to Census of India, there were a total of 4,901,420 people living in the district as of 2001 making it the most populated district in Andhra Pradesh. Since the district has a total area of 10,807 square kilometers, its population density is pegged at 453.7 people per square kilometer. The largest city is Rajahmundry, which is one of the more well-known business centers in coastal Andhra.

The district’s modern history began when Sultan Quli Qutb Shah, the Qutb Shahi ruler of Golconda, came into the coastal region and subjugated it in the 15th century. However, when Mughal empire under the leadership of Aurangzeb started dominating the areas in southern India, he eventually conquered the sultanate of Golconda in 1687, including the East Godavari district (which at that time was part of Golconda), becoming one of the empire’s 22 provinces. The Mughal empire appointed viceroys to watch over its holdings, with Asaf Jah as the Nizam-ul-Mulk (viceory) for the Deccan. However, in 1724, Asaf Jah invaded the Deccan and established the rule of the Nizams of Hyderabad.

When the British came and started to colonize much of India, the Nizams sought to be on their friendly side and as a result, were allowed to still continue with their rule, under the supervision of the British empire. In 1823, the claims of the Nizam were bought outright by the British East India Company. They were incorporated into the Madras Presidency, a province of British India, and the Godavari district was constituted. When India gained its independence in 1947, the Madras presidency became Madras State, which eventually became the new state of Andhra Pradesh in 1953. The district of Godavari was eventually split into two: the East Godavari district and the West Godavari district.

East Godavari is a predominantly agricultural district, and it is famous for it, contributing about 10% of the total food production of Andhra Pradesh. It is the most prosperous district in the state, and is the second richest district in India. The major crop grown is paddy. Other crops grown include maize, oil seeds, sugar cane and pulses such as black gram and green gram. It is also a potentially good candidate for oil and natural gas reserves as many areas in the district’s Godavari basin are identified as being rich sources for oil and natural gas.

The district is well-connected via road and rail, with the National Highway connecting Chennai and Howrah passing through there, as well as the rail line connecting them. The railway junctions in East Godavari are Rajahmundry and Samarlakota. Air-wise, the district’s airport is found at Madhurapudi, in rural Rajahmundry. There are regular flights going to Hyderabad, Chennai and Vijayawada, among others. Kakinada also has a sea port which is primed to be an important port along the coast of India.

Kandukur

Kandukur is a town in the district of Prakasam, in Andhra Pradesh. It is also a municipality and a mandal, that is, it is an administrative sub-district or sub-division of a district (the term mandal is equivalent to the word tehsil in India’s Hindi-speaking states). The town has an average elevation of about 632 meters above mean sea level, which is about 2,073 feet. With respect to the other cities in the district, Kandukur is about 14 kilometers west of Singarayakonda, and some 87 kilometers north of Nellore.

As of the 2001 Indian census, the town had a total population of 150,084 people. Male and female demographics were almost even, with the former edging the latter by just 2% – males constitute 51% of the population while females make up 49%. Kandukur’s population is mostly literate, with a 63% literacy rate that is markedly higher than the national average of 59.5%.

The town’s original name was Skandapuri, and the area around it was ruled by Anavema Reddi (also spelled Reddy), widely considered to be the greatest king of the Reddi dynasty, who flourished sometime during the 14th century. They formed part of the ruling class of Telugu society that had ancient roots and even now, the Reddis still enjoy an impregnable social status and wield considerable political power. Their descendants have achieved prominence and recognition in the fields of academics, science, entertainment and politics, to name a few.

Currently, Kandukur is becoming one of Andhra Pradesh’s fastest developing towns. Sensing the importance of literacy and education, Kandukur has a big government-sponsored Arts & Science College named the Tikkavarapu Rami Reddy (TRR) Government College. There have also been two engineering colleges established in and near the town. Aside from these, the town also has three private degree colleges and three basic education colleges. There are also two Zilla Parishad high schools: one for boys and one for girls. With the educational foundation present in Kandukur, many of the graduates are working in big IT companies in and out of the country.

Other signs of progress in Kandukur include the construction of several important facilities such as hospitals, a business center and entertainment buildings like cinemas. Currently, the town has five cinemas to accommodate the viewing public. As for medical facilities, the Government Hospital is considered to be one of the best in town, with newly improved facilities. The Dr. Ajmal Hussain Nursing Home and the Dr. Kota Reddy Nursing Home give effective treatment and service to the people living in town.

Jagtial

One of the biggest towns of the Karimnagar district in Andhra Pradesh, Jagtial (also known as Jagityal) is a hub for the district’s commercial and entertainment activities. Being on the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, Jagtial has an elevation of 264 meters above mean sea level. It has a population of 89,438 according to the Indian census taken in 2001, with the females edging the number of males at 52% compared to 48%. Jagtial is 60 kilometers northwest of the district headquarters of Karimnagar, and an approximate 5-hour drive away from the state capital of Hyderabad.

Prior to India’s independence, Jagtial was among the places that were under the rule of the Nizams. As a result, the architecture of most of the historical ruins in the town still carries with it the grace and form of Nizam constructions. There are a couple of stories as to how the town got its name. One states that the name is taken from two Western engineers named Jack and Tale, who helped in the construction and probable renovation of certain historical monuments in the town. Another – and much more likely – is that the name was taken from the ruler Jaggadeva, who was one of the successors of Medaraja of Polasa. Today, the town is considered as one of cleanest cities in Andhra Pradesh. The most widely used languages are English, Telugu, Hindi and Urdu.

One of the most prominent landmarks of Jagtial is a big mosque located near another historical fort, the Jama Masjid. The mosque was created by the Nizams who ruled the region when the town was founded in the 18th century, and has since been renovated. As such, the architecture of the structure shows unmistakable influences of the Nizam. The fort nearby was built by the Mughal emperor Ibrahim and from the air, it is shaped like a star, with cannons that were reportedly made by Mohammed Khasim, who was also the clock repairer of the clock tower in another Hyderabad attraction, the Chowmahalla Palace.

Jagtial itself is surrounded by many important Hindu pilgrimage sites such as Vemulevada, notable for the Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Temple, Dharmapuri, which has one of the largest settlement of Vedic Brahmins in the state, and Kondagattu, a temple that is dedicated to Lord Anjaneya Swamy. Other historical sites include the village of Polasa, which was significant during the dynasties of Chalukya, Rashtrakuta and the Kakatiyas. Jagtial is now the center of education for the villages that surround it, especially since it has the SKNR Degree College, which created many politicians as well as being the only college in the town. Aside from this, most of the reputable schools in Karimnagar district are found in Jagtial, foremost of which is Gouthama, which received three consecutive ranks, on par with any institutions in Andhya Pradesh.

The town’s economy is engaged mainly in commercial and retail consumer business. As such, it has become the shopping center for the neighboring towns and villages. The majority of the goods being traded are related to groceries, iron, clothes and hardware. Starting in the 1980s, Jagtial has started to become a hub for health care, with several doctors and specialists setting their practices there.

Araku Valley

People who are thinking of unwinding or taking in history and culture together with unspoiled and back to basic nature usually fare well when choosing India as their destination. And in India, no one can go wrong when going to hill stations to relax. Hill stations are towns that are placed in higher elevations and in India, most hill stations have an altitude of at least 1,000 meters (roughly equivalent to 3,500 feet). For people who are living in temperate climates (of which includes India), such a place’s refreshing temperature and climate is a welcome change.

Araku Valley is one such hill station in India. Located in the district of Visakhapatnam, some 120 kilometers from the district headquarters, the station is elevated at a height of 911 meters above mean sea level. It is a part of Andhra Pradesh, and is currently the home of 19 tribes. It is usually visited by a lot of people, especially during the summer due to its pleasant weather and natural, scenic beauty that extends over an area of about 36 kilometers.

A rich landscape is what lures most people to this site. A visitor can experience lush green forests, verdant sloping hills and, beautiful valleys all set in the backdrop of the pleasing sounds of waterfalls. While the area may sound small at 36 kilometers, it slowly unfolds itself to the visitors in a grand and beautiful manner in such a way that one will forget the size and will instead be overwhelmed by the splendor that the place has been carrying for decades.

Aside from the scenic beauty, the valley also has other attractions for the more curious visitors. One of the more popular places the station offers is the Museum of Habitat, which shows the lifestyles of the tribal people that live in the area. The museum is housed in a beautiful, red-roofed bungalow style building. There are rooms that showcase realistic statues of the tribal people as they go on their daily lives: a tribal lady cooking an evening meal, for example, or a tribal man watching over his sleeping family, while a clutching a spear in his hand. There is also another display that shows the weapons of the tribes as well as the many ornate and elegant jewelry, which is shown in the main atrium of the museum.

Another attraction is the Borra Caves, located in the Ananthagiri Hills of the valley. The caves were discovered in 1807, by William King George, a member of the Geological Survery of India. A spelunker’s dream come true, they are among the largest in the country, at an elevation of about 705 meters. They also happen to be the deepest caves in India, extending to a depth of about 80 meters. At the entry, one is greeted by a cave that is 100 meters wide and 75 meters high. Going in displays interesting stalagmite and stalactite formations and a walk around the cave gives a tourist an impressive view of the area, which is rich in flora and fauna.

To those who are planning on going to Araku Valley, it is recommended to take the Shimliguda Railway Station as going there by train is something that must be experienced. The beauty of Araku Valley starts not as one steps in the place itself, but from the journey getting there.

Nellore

Nellore is one of the more prominent cities in Andhra Pradesh. It is also the district headquarters of the former Nellore district, now known as the district of Potti Sri Ramulu Nellore. It lies between the cities of Madras and Vijayawada, making it strategically important on the commercial level. This, combined with its proximity to the sea and its central location in the agricultural heartland of the district, makes it one of the faster growing cities of the Andhra Pradesh. As of the last census, Nellore has a population of about 404,158 people; the 2001 Indian census pegs the statistics at an even 50% each for males and females, as well as a 100% literacy rate.

The city has an approximate mean sea average elevation of about 17 meters. Geographically, Nellore has the coast of the Bay of Bengal along its eastern side, Ongole district to the north, Chittoor district to the south, and the district of Cuddappah to the west. The places near Nellore are also highly populated such as Sulurpeta and Gudur, which contributes much to the commerce in the area. Due to its geographic location, the city is frequently affected by cyclones, with water becoming scarce in some areas during the summer.

Historically, Nellore has been a significant Telugu city. Ever since its establishment, it has been under the rule of the Pallavas, Kakatitayas, Cholas and Vijayanagaras. Perhaps its most famous period was during the 13th century when it served as the hometown of Tikkana Somayaji, the second poet of Kavi Trayam, the trinity of poets that translated the Hindu epic Mahabharata into Telugu. During this time, Nellore was known as Vikramasimhapuri, and it was the capital of King Manuma Siddhi’s kingdom. Across the centuries, the name was changed to Nellore, from the Telugu word “nellu” which means paddy and “ur” which means town. It roughly translates to “rice paddy town,” which is a reference to the rice paddy fields that were found within and outside the city.

Nellore is a very important market center for cotton and oilseed products. This is boosted more by the fact that a major railway and a national highway goes through the city, so transfer of commerce and commercial products are never a problem. Recently, Nellore was changed from a town to a Corporation, with infrastructure projects being undertaken to accommodate the increasing population of immigrants as well as tourists.

There are several temples that are worth visiting when in Nellore. The Rangayanaka Temple is located on the banks of the Pennar River, and it is almost 500 years old. The temple is known for its architectural splendor, marked by a 29-meter tall Galigopuram with seven gold kalasams. Another temple worth visiting is the Sri Venugopala Swamy Devasthanam temple, built in 1883 and dedicated to Sri Rukmini Satyabhama Sametha Sri Venugopala Swamy. It is found in the Udaygiri Fort, some 96 kilometers from Nellore. The place is historical as it was the site of a mighty fortress built by the reigning Vijayanagar kings of the 14th century.

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