Vizianagaram

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Vizia-nagaram (Telugu: విజయనగరo), sometimes spelt as Vijaya-nagaram is the main city of the Vizianagaram District of North Eastern Andhra Pradesh in Southern India. Vizianagaram district was formed on 1 June 1979, with some parts carved from the neighbouring districts of Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam. It is located about 18 km inland from the Bay of Bengal, and 40 km northwest of Visakha-patnam. While the literal meaning of Vizianagaram is the City of Victory, it is also sometimes referred to as the city of education in these parts as there are many colleges and schools here. It is an important business and educational center for north coastal Andhra and the adjoining state of Orissa.

  ?Vizianagaram
Andhra Pradesh • India
Coordinates: 18°07′N 83°25′E / 18.12, 83.42
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Area
• Elevation
• 74 m (243 ft)
District(s) Vizianagaram
Population 174,324 (2001)
Codes
• Pincode
• Telephone
• Vehicle
• 535001/535002/535003
• +91 08922
• AP-35

Coordinates: 18°07′N 83°25′E / 18.12, 83.42

Contents

[edit] History

This area was ruled by different Hindu Emperors of Kalinga (Ancient Orissa) up to the mediaeval period. After the fall of centralised Gajapati empire of Orissa this region was governed by the Golkonda rulers. The ancestors of zamindars of Vizianagaram belongs to Orissa.

Rulers of this Zamindari belong to the Pusapati family. The village Pooshpadu in Nandigama Taluq was built by Amala Raju. The village later came to be known as Pusapadu. Therefore, the Kshatriyas living there came to be known as Pusapati.

In 1754, Pusapati Vijaya Rama Gajapathi Raju, of the ruling family of Vizianagaram, made an alliance with the French, but a few years later the territory was ceded to the British. It remained under their control until independence in 1947.

Vizianagaram Fort was constructed in the year 1712-1714 A.D. Traditionally five Vijayas or signs of victory were present at the inception of this fortress. It was named Vizia-nagaram (place of victory) after its founder Vijaya Rama Raju and the foundations were laid on Tuesday (Jayavaram in Telugu), the tenth day (Vijayadasami) of the Dasara Festival in the year Vijaya of the Hindu calendar.

[edit] Pusapati timeline

Originally of the Pericchedi line that moved from Bezawada (Modern Vijayawada) to Vizianagaram.

  • Pusapati Amala Raju (Founder)
  • Pusapati Rachi Raju
  • Pusapati Tama Bhupaludu (b.1620-d.1670)
  • Pusapati Peda Vijayarama Raju (b.1670-d.1757)
  • Pasupati Ananda Raju (d.1760)
  • Pusapati Chinna Vijayarama Raju (1760-1794)
  • Pusapati Narayana Babu Raju (1794 - 1845)
  • Pusapati Vijayarama Gajapati Raju (1845-1879)
  • Pusapati Ananda Gajapati Raju (1879-1897)
The official residence of the District Collector
The official residence of the District Collector
  • Pusapati Vijayarama Gajapati Raju (1897-1922)
  • Pusapati Alaka Narayana Gajapati Raju (1922-1937)
  • Pusapati Vijayarama Gajapati Raju (1945-1995)
  • Pusapati Ananda Gajapati Raju (1950- )

Gajapati literally means Lord of elephants

[edit] Geography

Vizianagaram is located at 18.12° N 83.42° E.[1] It has an average elevation of 74 metres (242 feet).

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census,[2]

  • Vizianagaram had a population of 174,324.
  • Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%.
  • Vizianagaram has an average literacy rate of 68%, higher than the national average of 59.5%:
    • male literacy is 75%
    • female literacy is 62%.
  • In Vizianagaram, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Vizianagaram mandal had a population of 242,348 in 2001.

  • Males constitute 1,20,560
  • females 1,21,788 of the population.
  • The average literacy rate of Vizianagaram mandal is 71% above the national average of 59.5%.
    • Male literacy rate is 80%
    • females 63%.
  • There are 23 revenue villages and 21 panchayats in Vizianagaram mandal.

[edit] Assembly constituency-Places of Interest

List of Members of Legislative Assembly:[3]

  • 1952 - Gantlana Suryanarayana
  • 1952 and 1955 - Pusapati Vijaya Rama Gajapati Raju
  • 1962 - Bhattam Sri Ramamurthy
  • 1967 - V. Rama Rao
  • 1972 - Appasani Appanna Dora
  • 1978, 1983, 1985, 1989, 1994, and 1999 - Pusapati Ashok Gajapati Raju
  • 2004 - Kolagatla Veera Bhadra Swamy

Places of Interest

  • Ghanta Stambham (Clock Tower).
  • The Venkateswara Temple.
  • Khan Baba Dargah: This is a tomb of famous saint Hazrath Khan Baba Rahmatullah Alai who was an eminent Sufi Saint. It is told that the Saint had spent much of his life in Ajmer at the tomb of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishty popularly called Gharib Nawaz. The Annual Urs celebration is held every year on the 1st of Safar the second Islamic month in Hijri Calendar. Also in the premesis of the Dargah the tombs of Saints Hazrath Munnawar Ali Shah Qadri Rahmatullah alai and Hazrath Malang Baba Rahmatullah Alai. Visitors experience peace and attain spiritual blessings.
  • The Hare Krishna Ashram, located about 7 km from Vizianagaram town, near Jonnavalasa village.
  • The 5th Andhra Pradesh Special Police Battalion about 8 km from Vizianagaram town,at Chintalavalasa village.
  • Pedda Cheruvu, a man-made lake of about 170 acres (0.69 km²) located adjacent to the Maharaja's Fort.
  • The Maharaja's Fort.
  • The Rani's Fort.
  • Pydithalli Ammavari Temple: According to the legend, one of the daughters of the Pasupati royal family was the reincarnation of the presing deity, Pydithallamma. The locals believe that with the blessings of the Goddess one can lead a happy and prosperous life. The idol of the Goddess was discovered on Vijayadasimi day way back in the year 1752. To mark the occasion, an annual jatra is held on this day which attracts large crowds.

[edit] Sri Pydithalli Ammavaru Temple

The origin of the Sri Pydithalli Ammavaru temple is associated with the events of the royal family. Local folklore states that the goddess (Grama Devata) of the temple is a sister of the Maharaja of Vizianagaram. The story starts in 1750 when French leader Bussy was staying with his entire battalion near Hyderabad. In addition to financial problems, many of his soldiers were dying due to some sort of disease (Masuchi). Vijya Rama Raju of Vizianagaram helped him to overcome the financial crisis and rebuild his battalion. In 1756 Bussy visited Rajamundry where Vijaya Rama Raju gave a warm welcome. The Bobbili Maharajas and Vizianagaram Rajas were in constant conflicts regarding control over the region. Using his good relations with the French, Vijaya Rama Raju set out to gain supremacy over the Northern Circars, leading to the Bobbili battle in January 23rd 1757. During the battle the entire Bobbili fort got destroyed and many Bobbili soldiers died in the battle.

According to folklore, the wife of Vijaya Rama Raju as well as his sister, Sri Pydimamba unsuccessfully tried to stop the battle when hearing the news. At the time Sri Pydimamba was suffering from Masuchi also. While she was doing a puja, she came to know that Vijaya Rama Raju was in trouble. She wanted to inquire about her brother and tried to convey a message through their soldiers, but every one was in the battle. She was able to find one soldier named Pati-wada Appala Naidu, but by then she got news that Vijaya Rama Raju died in the hands of Tandra Papa Rayudu. She fell unconscious with grief. Patiwada Appla Naidu sprinkled water over her face and when she regained consciousness, she told Appala Naidu that she could not live anymore. She is thought to have become one with the Goddess after she died, as after completion of the Bobbili battle and after Vijaya-dasimi, on the next Tuesday an idol was found in the west side of Pedda Charuvu of Vizianagaram. It is known as "Pyidimamaba", village goddess of Vizianagaram. It is thought that the incident took place in the place in the present day Railway station opposite where the temple is constructed. Her statue will be found on the west side of Pedda Charuvu.

[edit] Revenue villages and village panchayats

There are 23 revenue villages and 22 village panchayats in Vizianagaram Mandal.[4]

  1. Ayyanna-peta (panchayat)
  2. Biyyala-peta (panchayat)
  3. Chelluru (village and panchayat)
  4. Dharma-puri (village and panchayat)
  5. Duppada (village and panchayat)
  6. Dwara-pudi (village and panchayat)
  7. Gajularega (village and panchayat)
  8. Gollala-peta (panchayat)
  9. Gunkalam (village and panchayat)
  10. Haji-saheb-peta (revenue village)
  11. J.N.Puram (revenue village)
  12. Jagannadha-puram (revenue village)
  13. Jammu (panchayat)
  14. Jonna-valasa (panchayat)
  1. K.L. Puram (village and panchayat)
  2. Kanapaka (village and panchayat)
  3. Konda Karakam (village and panchayat)
  4. Korukonda (village and panchayat)
  5. Koru-konda-palem (panchayat)
  6. Mali-cherla (village and panchayat)
  7. Narayana-puram (panchayat)
  8. Pinvemali (village and panchayat)
  9. Rakodu (village and panchayat)
  10. Sarika (village and panchayat)
  11. Siri-yala-peta (revenue village)
  12. Vantithadi Agraharam (revenue village)
  13. Venu-gopala-puram (revenue village)
  14. Vizianagaram (municipality and mandal headquarters)

[edit] Educational institutions

  • Maharaja's High School (1857).
  • Maharaja's College (1879).
  • Maharaja's Music College.
  • Maharaja's Sanskrit College
  • Maharaja's College of Education (1950).
  • Maharaja's College for Women and Home Sciences (1962)
  • Maharaja's Girls High School (1974)
  • Maharaja's Model High School (1974)
  • MANSAS Industrial Training Centre (1977)
  • MANSAS English Medium School (1979)
  • Maharaja's Vijayaram Gajapathi Raju Law College (1986)
  • Maharaja's Post-graduate Centre (1987)
  • Maharaja Vijayaram Gajapathi Raju College of Engineering (1996).[5]
  • Maharaja's Institute of Medical Sciences, Nellimarla.
  • Maharajah's college of Pharmacy
  • M.S.N Junior College.
  • Laxmi School of Nursing.
  • Venkata Padma School of Nursing.
  • Municipal High Schools
    • Boddu Paidanna Memorial Municipal High School (BPM School)
    • Kaspa High School
    • Municipal High School, Cantonment
  • Dr Besant English Medium High School, Butchanna Koneru
  • St.Josephs English medium high school, Cantonment
  • Gurajada Public School, VUDA Colony
  • Gurjada Residential School, Poolbagh Road
  • St. Mary's High school, Cantonment
  • R K Juniour and Degree College
  • Srinivasa Juniour College,
  • Chitanya Degree College

Gayatri Juniour College, Srinivasa Juniour College, Boddu Krishna Juniour and Degree College, Bharateya Vidya Kendram (BVK) School, Maharanipet Sainik school korukonda

[edit] Famous people

[edit] References

  1. ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Vizianagaram
  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. ^ Election Commission of India.1978-2004 results.Vizianagaram
  4. ^ Details of Andhra Pradesh till Village Panchayat Tier
  5. ^ M.V.G.Raju College of Engineering
  • Francis W, Madras District Gazetteera, Vizagapatnam, 1915.

[edit] External links

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