Samalkota

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  ?Samalkota
Andhra Pradesh • India
Map indicating the location of Samalkota
Thumbnail map of India with Andhra Pradesh highlighted
Location of Samalkota
Coordinates: 17°03′00″N 82°10′60″E / 17.05, 82.1833
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Area
• Elevation
• 9 m (30 ft)
District(s) East Godavari
Population 53,402 (2001)
Codes
• Pincode
• Telephone
• 533 440
• +91 884

Coordinates: 17°03′00″N 82°10′60″E / 17.05, 82.1833 Samal-kota also known as Samarla-kota is a city, a municipality and Mandal in East Godavari district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Samalkot is located at 17.0500° N 82.1833° E.[1] It has an average elevation of 9 meters (32 feet).

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census[2], Samalkota had a population of 53,402. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Samalkota has an average literacy rate of 60%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 65%, and female literacy is 56%. In Samalkota, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

[edit] Transport

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

[edit] Temple

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

The temple has prominence in History,as it was built by Chalukyas who reigned over this location,the temple was started in 892A.D and completed around 922A.D.It is same and very brilliantly done as temple in Draksharamam, but it is unique but yet different from draksharamam,which amazes.The linga is white.and the architecture isvery profound and brilliant that Temple still holds itself strong and it was made National heritage site.and its resemblance of twin of Draksharam ,with two staired mandapa,really amazes more as its so well witout any cracks,though the temple is not in a populated place ,people do come here.

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

[edit] Industries

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

[edit] Prominent personalities

  • Prativadi Bhayankarachary (Freedom Fighter)
  • Chaganti Sanyasi Raju (Theatre Arts)
  • Darbha Venkata Rama Sastry alias Ramsha (Poet, literary critic and sexologist)
  • Kaligotla Surya Prakasa Rao (Freedom Fighter and Social Activist)
  • Samayam Veerraju (Orator)

[edit] Panchayats

There are 18 village panchayats in Samalkota mandal.[3]

  • Atchampeta (village and panchayat)
  • Boyanapudi (village and panchayat)
  • Chandrampalem (village and panchayat)
  • G.Kothuru (village and panchayat)
  • G.Medapadu (village and panchayat)
  • Gonchala (village and panchayat)
  • Hussainpuram (village and panchayat)
  • Kapavaram (village and panchayat)
  • Madhavapatnam (village and panchayat)
  • Navara (village and panchayat)
  • P.Vemavaram (village and panchayat)
  • Panasapadu (village and panchayat)
  • Pandravada (village and panchayat)
  • Pavara (village and panchayat)
  • Pedabrahmadevam (village and panchayat)
  • Unduru (village and panchayat)
  • Venkatakrishnarayapuram (village and panchayat)
  • Vetlapalem (village and panchayat)

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Falling Rain Genomics.Samalkot
  2. ^ Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns. (Provisional). Census Commission of India. Retrieved on 2007-09-03.
  3. ^ Details of Andhra Pradesh till Village Panchayat Tier