Pithapuram or Pitapuram is a city and a municipality in the Kakinada district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Kakinada Urban Development Authority. Pitapuram is an ancient town and a significant pilgrimage centre with a history spanning over 1500 years.
Pitapuram | |
|---|---|
city | |
| Pithapuram | |
 Clockwise from top left: Kukkuteswara and Padagaya Temple Complex, Pithapuram Railway Station, Ratnachal Express speeding through Pithapuram Railway Station, fields near Pithapuram, landscape view at Pithapuram, Kunti Madhavaswami Temple | |
  Pitapuram Location in Andhra Pradesh, India | |
| Coordinates: 17°07′00″N 82°16′00″E / 17.1167°N 82.2667°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | Andhra Pradesh |
| District | Kakinada district |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal |
| • Body | Municipality |
| Area | |
| • Total | 44.5 km2 (17.2 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 10 |
| Elevation | 10 m (30 ft) |
| Population (2011)[2] | |
| • Total | 54,859 |
| • Density | 1,200/km2 (3,200/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Telugu |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Vehicle Registration | AP05 (Former) AP39 (from 30 January 2019)[3] |
The town is renowned for the Puruhutika Devi Temple, one of the eighteen Maha Shakti pithas in Shaktism, located within the Kukkuteswara Temple complex.[4] Pitapuram is also the birthplace of Sripada Sri Vallabha, a prominent 14th-century Hindu saint.[5] The town holds historical and religious significance, being mentioned in ancient texts such as the Skanda Purana and Srinatha's Bheemeswara Puranam (c. 15th century).[6]
Historically, Pitapuram has roots dating back to ancient times as a sovereign city.[7] It is referenced in Samudragupta's Prayaga inscription (c. 350 CE)[8] under the name Pishtapura, during the reign of King Mahendra.[9] In the 7th century CE, Pitapuram served as the initial capital of the Eastern Chalukyas before they relocated their capital to Vengi.[10][11] The city later became one of the Rāṣṭras, or administrative divisions, of the Eastern Chalukyas.[12] During the 12th and 13th centuries, a collateral branch of the Chalukyas, known as the Pitapuram Chalukyas, ruled the region surrounding Rajamahendravaram, Pitapuram and Draksharama. In the 18th century, Pithapuram became the centre of the Pitapuram Estate, which covered an area of 393 square miles (1,020 km2) by 1903.[13]
History
editPitapuram was originally called Pishtapura. The earliest extant inscription to mention the city is the c. 350 CE[8] Gupta emperor Samudragupta's Prayaga Pillar inscription, which states that he defeated the king Mahendra of Pishtapura.[9][7] The inscriptions of the fourth and fifth century Vasishtha and Mathara dynasties also mention Pishtapura, describing it as a part of Kalinga.[9][14]
In the seventh century, the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II annexed Pishtapura to his kingdom.[9] Pitapuram served as the initial capital of Eastern Chalukyas in 7th century CE before they moved their capital to Vengi.[10][15][11][16] Later, Pitapuram was one of the Rastras, an administrative division, of the Chalukyas.[12] One of the collateral branches of Chalukyas called Pithapuram Chalukyas, ruled the area around Rajamahendravaram, Pithapuram and Draksharama in the 12th and 13th centuries.[17] Inscriptions ranging from 1186 to 1391 and belonging to the Velanandu chiefs, the Konas, and Reddi kings were also found in Pitapuram.[7]
The family of Pitapuram Zamindar came to Godavari District in 1571 and was given the Jagir of Anaparthi. They were made the Sardars of Rajamahendravaram who led 4000 troops. They got the Zamindari sanad in 1749 from Rustum Khan, a general of Nizam.[18] Later they made a permanent settlement with the British in 1802. The total area of the estate in 1903 was 393 square miles (1,020 km2) with a revenue of ₹9,14,000 paying a peskash of ₹2,44,000.[13] Pitapuram Raja sponsored the monumental classical Telugu dictionary Sri Suryarayandhra Nighantuvu and commissioned the first typewriter in Telugu.[19]
The city hosts temple of Puruhitika Devi. It is one among eighteen Sakthi Peethas.
Geography
editPithapuram is located at 17°07′00″N 82°16′00″E / 17.1167°N 82.2667°E.[20] It has an average elevation of 10 meters (33 feet). It is located near several beaches though not one in particular. Pithapuram is landlocked and most of its economic activity takes place in Kakinada. Some of the neighbourhoods in Pithapuram include C.B.M. Christian Medical Centre, Jaggayya Cheruvu, Drivers Colony, PadaGaya Junction, Agraharam and Satellite City.
Demographics
editAs per the 2011 Indian Census, the city had a population of 54,859. The average literacy rate stands at 75.00% with 35,434 literates, higher than the national average of 73.00%.[2][21]
Transport
editPithapuram city is situated on NH 216. Pithapuram railway station is located on Duvvada-Vijayawada section of Howrah-Chennai main line. Rajahmundry Airport is located 55 km (34 mi) from Pithapuram.[22]
Notable residents
edit- Devulapalli Krishnasastry
- Dronamraju Krishna Rao (1937–2020), geneticist, was born in Pithapuram
References
edit- ^ "Municipalities, Municipal Corporations & UDAs" (PDF). Directorate of city and Country Planning. Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ^ a b "Census 2011". The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
- ^ "New 'AP 39' code to register vehicles in Andhra Pradesh launched". The New Indian Express. Vijayawada. 31 January 2019. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
- ^ "Constitution of Godavari Urban Development Authority with headquarters at Godavari" (PDF). Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department. Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ^ "Sree Pada Sree Vallabha | Sree Datta Vaibhavam".
- ^ Rao, P. R. Ramachandra (2005). The Splendour of Andhra Art. Akshara. p. 82.
- ^ a b c Hemingway F. R. (1915). Madras District Gazetteers Godavari (1915).
- ^ a b Full inscription, Fleet, John Faithfull (1888). Corpus Inscriptionum Indicarum Vol. 3. pp. 1-17.
- ^ a b c d Ashvini Agrawal (1989). Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 109. ISBN 978-81-208-0592-7.
- ^ a b Sen, Sailendra Nath (1999). Ancient Indian History and Civilization. New Age International. p. 362. ISBN 978-81-224-1198-0.
- ^ a b Epigraphia Indica. Vol. 29. Manager of Publications. 1987 [1888]. p. 46.
- ^ a b "Role of Chalukyas of Vengi and its Polity During Post-Gupta Period". History Discussion. 31 July 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Glory of the Pithapuram Estate". 1915.
- ^ S. Sankaranarayanan (1977). The Vishṇukuṇḍis and Their Times: An Epigraphical Study. Agam Prakashan. p. 51.
- ^ Desikachari, T. (1991) [1933]. South Indian Coins. Asian Educational Services. p. 39. ISBN 978-81-206-0155-0.
- ^ Nigam, M. L. (1975). Sculptural Heritage of Andhradesa. Booklinks Corporation. p. 16.
- ^ "Historical Background" (PDF).
- ^ "Possession of Pithapuram Estate". 1915.
- ^ Blackburn, Stuart H.; Dalmia, Vasudha (2004). India's Literary History: Essays on the Nineteenth Century. Orient Blackswan. p. 157. ISBN 978-81-7824-056-5.
- ^ "Maps, Weather, and Airports for Pithapuram, India". www.fallingrain.com.
- ^ "Chapter–3 (Literates and Literacy rate)" (PDF). Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
- ^ "Vijayawada Division – A Profile" (PDF). South Central Railway. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2016.