Nellore
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Image:Nellore map.jpg Nellore city is the headquarters of Nellore District, the southernmost coastal district in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. The population of the city is 378,947 (agglomeration 404,922) (2001 census). It is situated in the south east corner of Andhra Pradesh, on the south bank of the River Pennar (also spelled Penna or Penneru).
The area of the district is 13,076 km². The district is bounded by the Bay of Bengal to the east, the district of Cuddapah to the west, the district of Prakasam to the north and the state of Tamil Nadu to the south.
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History
Nellore district formed part of the composite Madras State until 1 October, 1953. On 1 November, 1956, when the states were reorganised on a linguistic basis, this district came under Andhra Pradesh. The city of Nellore attained the status of a Municipal Corporation in 2004.
Nellore was also known as Vikramasimhapuri. The city derives its name from the Tamil word for rice paddy, "Nelli" and since the areas surrounding Nellore are fertile and dominated by rice paddies, the city got the name Nellore. Historically, the place is very important. Culturally, Nellore city stands unique among the other towns of Andhra Pradesh as it is supposed to be the place where the greatest of the Telugu poets, Tikkana Somayaji, who translated the major part of Mahabharata into Telugu, lived here. He is believed to be one of the minsters at Simhapuri then ruled by Manumasiddhi and used his skills to get political help from Kakatiya dynasty.
It also has major role in recent state history. Potti Sriramulu, Telugu patriot and activist, who fasted to death for the formation of Andhra state within the Indian Union was from Nellore. Nellore also has strategic commercial importance as it lies between the cities of Vijayawada and Chennai.
It produced lot of dignataries in politics and arts. The indian prolific singer SP Balasubramanyam, yesteryears comedian Ramana Reddy, Ex Chief Minister of Andhrapradesh N.Janrdhan Reddy and Famous Highcourt lawyer Venkataram Vt is one of the most notable ones.
Trivia
Nellore is most famous for its paddy cultivation. It is also famous for aquaculture along the Bay of Bengal. It is called the cradle of aquaculture in India.
Nellore is also famous for its temples, most magnificent among them being the Ranganatha Swami Temple, Shiva(or Sivaalayam) temple in Mulapet, Venugopala swamy temple, Dharmaraja temple and Chengalamma temple at Sulurpet
The famous rocket launching station, Satish Dhawan Space Research Station, SHAR (Sri Harikota Aeronautic Range), is located in Sriharikota of this district.
Three major cities in the district are Nellore, Kavali, and Gudur.
Image:Leela mahal in nel.jpg Nellore also has got dubious distinction of poverty in plenty.In summers people have to run pillar to post to get 1 bucket of potable water.The problem is perennial in most parts of the district.Mindless aqua culture lead to hard water usage even within the town. The nellore town planning is haphazard and never ending growth is adding further difficuties.The real estate thrives along national high way,though actually its not desirable to built a home near express high ways,where entry is restricted.
Cyclones and Floods
Though the district experiences the typical climate of the region, it is frequently affected by Cyclones and floods which damage the crops and cause a lot of damage to both agriculture and aquaculture. The town has not witnessed laying of drainage system for past 25 years and the population outstripped it. This has caused some what dubious distinction of arthropoda outsmarting homo sapiens within the town! Yearlong, people suffer from countless mosquito bites and house flies infest day and night. People has to vade through waterlogged roads in rains and drainage water clogged roads in summer. Leptospirosis is endemic. Malaria, filaria and enteric fevers are quite common. Hospitals are choked to full throughout the year.With poor maintenance of town roads, one can expect traffic jams and has to resort to almost circus feats to get away. Air is full of dust leading to respiratory problems. People lack sanitation awareness and often throw house garbage on roads. One survey found that children and old people are the most silent sufferers with malnutrition confounded by communicable diseases.
Education
Nellore has been famous in the state for its coaching institutions, important among them being Narayana and Ratnam. Narayana also runs a Medical College, Dental College and an Engineering College along with its coaching institutes particularly famous for the regional Engineeting and Medical entrance test EAMCET and for the national level entrance test IIT-JEE.
Educational institutions
There are a number of colleges and educational institues in Nellore. It became famous for coaching students to various entrance examinations. The term 'Education' has acquired a different meaning here. The student is stuffed with 'study material' and long hours of 'study hours' leaving very little scope for the student to think and assimilate the subject. Most of them have become 'echo boards' and are not able to justify the ranks they secure thus.
A few colleges which have contributed to providing educational facilities to Nellore people are -
- Veda and Sanskrit college - The theosophist refers to visit of Dr.Annie besant and establishment of vedic school which later became a college
- Venkatagiri Raja's College (VRC)
- Sarvodaya College
- Dodala Kousalyamma Women's College (DKW)
- KAC Govt. Junior College
- Srinivasa Degree College
Veda and Sanskrit college and V.R. College are the oldest educational instituion in Nellore town. The next to be founded was DKW College for women. They were originally affiliated to Madras University or Andhra University, now the colleges have become part of S.V. University. Providing educational facilities to rural areas is largely confined to files in the shelves of the Andhra Government. As of 2006 Srinivasa Degree College is the only degree level college to be set up in Kovur mandal since India's Independence in 1947. The college is providing good educational facilities to the local population and made a mark for itself in computer training.
Hospitals
Nellore has distinction of highest density of health providers in india at one place.Pogathota and surrounding areas have almost 1000 hospitals.Most of them are busy, thanks to poor sanitation of the district especially within the town.
- DSR Govt. General Hospital (originally situated at Santhapet, the hospital moved to present location at dargamitta )
- Peoples Poly Clinic(Previous name:Ramachandrareddy hospital)
- Jayabharath Hospital
- St.John's hospital
- Bollineni Hospital
- Vijaya Hospital
- Indian redcross society
Dignitaries
- Kavi Tikkana - kavitrayam
- Molla - allegedly first telugu poetess/writer
- Acharya Atreya - Story/Song writer
- Bejavada Gopalareddy - first governor of Uttar Pradesh
- S P Balasubrahmanyam - Singer and actor
- Potti Sriramulu - Martyr
- Vennelaganti ( Lyrics writer)
- Puchalapalli Sundaraiah
- VT Venkataram -( Famous High court)
Nellore mandals
Nellore district is divided into the following Mandals
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Note: The above lists are not comprehensive.
Major industries
- Kovur Thermal Power Plant ( defunct)
- Nellore Nippo Battery factory
- Acqua and fisheries throughout the district
- Mica Mines in Gudur and Sydapuram mandals
Mines and minerals
Nellore district has vast mineral deposits. Gudur taluq has extensive mica deposits. The district has also various minor mineral deposits like granite red sand stone .Mckenzie mentions copper deposits which were never investigated (ref google book search)
- Pulicat lake
- Sriharikota, SHAR - famous rocket launching centre
- Trunk Road,chinna bazar and Gandhi Bomma.You can get real experience of nellore traffic
- Cinema halls-(The Best)
- Ranganayakula Swamy Temple
- Krishnapatnam port
- Millennium Clock (infront of RTC..it works only once in a millennium!!!!!!It is a bottle neck of town traffic.)
- Udayagiri fort
- Narasimha Konda
- Penchala kona
- Venkatagiri fort
- Mypadu beach
- Kotha kodur beach
- Krishnapatnam port
- Jonna wada
- Golagamudi