Introduction
Anantpur district is one of the 23 districts in the state of Andhra Pradesh, which forms a part of the Indian subcontinent. The district headquarters of the Anantpur district is the city of Anantpur. According to the census of 2001 the population of Anantpur District 3,640,478. It is in fact the largest district of Andhra Pradesh and bounded by the district Cuddapah on the east, Chhittoor District in the southeast, Kurnool District in the north. Anantpur district forms part of the Rayalaseema region of the state. Six rivers flow within the district of Anantpur namely, River Penna, River Papagni, River Chitravathi, River Thakaleru, River Swarnamukhi. The district of Anantpur receives an average rainfall of 381 millimeters.
Tourism in Anantpur District
The major cities within the Anantpur district are Anantpur, Guntakal, Hindupur, Kadiri, Tadipatri, Rayadurg, Urayakonda, Kalyandurg and Dharmavaram. The other places of interest in this district are Gooty, Alur, Lepakshi and Puttaparthi. All these places of interest attract thousands of tourists throughout the year. The small town of Dharmavaram is famous all over for the production of silk saris. The water tank is also famous here for its immense storage capacity. The temple of Lepakshi is one of the popular historical cites in the Anantpur District. A wonderful example of the Vijaynagar architectural style can be witnessed in the Veerabhadra Temple here. The region of Tadipatri in the Anantpur district is famous for being the site of several Hindu temples like Bugga Rama Lingeswara Swami Temple, Aluru Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Chinatala Venkata Ramana Swamy Temple.
The region of Kadiri within the district of Anantpur is famous for several reasons, the first being the site of the world`s largest banyan tree, the second, third and fourth being the site of the famous Hanuman temple, the 400 years old Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Swami temple constructed by the famous monarch Krishna Deva Raya and also the famous praja kavi yogi vemana samadhi located at Katarapulli at a distance of about 10 kilometers from Kadiri. The region of Puttaparthi is famous for being the hometown of Bhagwan Sri Satya Sai Baba, which is sited at a distance of only 40 kilometers from Dharmavaram and 80 kilometers from the Anantpur District. It is in fact considered as a divine destination for the devotees who consider it as an important pilgrimage to achieve the accomplishments of Sri Satya Sai Baba. There are many famous educational institutions in the Anantpur District.
Economy of Anantpur District
The principal economy of the Anantpur District is based on agriculture. The main crops cultivated here are rice, groundnut, maize, cotton, chilies, sugarcane and sesame. As the district receives very less rainfall it is considered to be one of the most backward province of the state. The Government of the state of Andhra Pradesh has taken various measures to revive the economy of the state.
Historical Monuments in Anantpur District
Historical Monuments in Anantpur district figure many in number. They date back many centuries, almost five hundred or more, and are found scattered along the entire district. The historical monuments of Anantpur district are among the top tourist attractions of the place. Some of the most prominent monuments are discussed below.
One of the tourist attractions of the Anantapur district is the Dharmavaram. There is historical evidence to prove that it was ruled by Vijayanagar Vidya kings for nearly 500 years. Dharmavaram is located at a distance of 46 km from Anantapur and 200 km from Bengaluru. This place is well connected by rail and road. Private transport facility is available from Anantapur.
Found at Dharmavaram is the Dharmavaram tank. It is one of the large tanks in Anantapur district. Sri Kriyasakhti Wadiyar, who constructed the tank, built a village in memory of his late mother Dharmamba and named it Dharmavaram.
Dharmavaram is famous for the temple of Sri Lakshmi Chennakesava Swamy. The temple is renowned for its architectural brilliance and for the perennial waterspout and pillars. The temple has a multi-storied tower, extensive enclosures and an entrance carved in the Vijayanagar style. The architecturally exquisite Ramalingeswara Temple has a perennial water spout and seven independent pillars which produce seven different musical notes when struck.
Dharmavaram is also known for its cotton and silk weaving industry. Dharmavaram silk sarees are well known all over the country. Leather puppets are also made in the vicinity. It is famous for silk sarees and has a great past. Thousands of families depend on the silk industry, for which Dharmavaram attained fame. There are more than a thousand shops in the town, which sell silk sarees. Nearly 30 silk cooperative societies help those engaged in the trade. This silk-ware is exported to Germany, France and other countries abroad. Only in Dharmavaram exists a Silk Exchange. Many freedom-fighters belong to this place.
Hemavanthi is a popular tourist spot due to its rich historical legacy. Hemavathi in Ananthapur district is situated at a distance of 37 km from Madakasiri and 148 km from Ananthapur. Hemavathi is well connected by road with frequent bus and private transport facilities from Madakasiri. The nearest railhead is at Hindupur.
Hemavathi was once capital of the Pallava dynasty during the 9th -10th centuries. It is a repository of a striking collection of Pallava and Chola art and architecture. Hemavathi assumed considerable importance between the 9th and 10th century AD, under the Nolamba Pallavas when it was known as Henjeri. Nolambas or Nodambas trace their descent from a mythical demon of that name. Trinayana Pallava or Mukkanti was regarded as the founder of this royal line. Nolamba rulers were known for their patronage for arts and religion. Hemavathi is famous for the temple of Doddeswara Swamy. A Nandi made of black basalt granite 8 feet in length and 4 feet in height, sits at the entrance. There is a 6 feet tall Lingam installed inside the sanctum sanctorum. Jain devotees from all over India converge annually on the Jain temple located in hemavati.
Gooty is one of the oldest hill forts of Andhra Pradesh. Gooty is located at a distance of 52 km from Ananthapur on the Kurnool-Bengaluru trunk road. This place is well connected by rail and road from Anantapur. Gooty fort is situated at a height of 300 metres above the plains in Gooty. It is one of the oldest hill forts in Andhra Pradesh. The fort was built by the emperors of the Vijayanagara Kingdom. The Marathas under Murari Rao conquered it. Then it was taken over by Hyder Ali in 1773 and eventually fell into the British hands after the defeat of Tipu Sultan in 1799.The fort was built in the shape of a shell and has 15 forts with 15 main doors (mukahdwarulu) inside the structure. There is a small pavilion made of polished lime stone called Murari Rao`s seat. This pavilion is on the edge of a cliff from where one can have a panoramic view of the surroundings. The unique feature of the fort is the availability of water resources at such a height.
The fort at Penukonda is a splendid structure and is a much visited tourist spot. Penukonda is 50 km from Anantapur and is located on the way to Bengaluru (on National Highway No. 7). It is well connected by road with frequent buses and private transportation from Anantapur.
Penukonda is mentioned as Ghangari in the local inscriptions. The structure of the fort shows the remarkable plan and strategic view of the medieval period. There are a good number of temples in the Fort. The Penukonda Fort, constructed with stone by mixing lime and clay, served as the capital of the Vijayanagar Empire for a short period and remained inaccessible to the enemies. Now, there are two important sights here. One is the "Gagan Mahal" which was used as a summer resort by the Vijayanagar Kings. The Gagan Mahal witnessed the majesty and aristocracy of the Royal times and was built in 1575 AD. The other is "Babayya Darga" which is the symbol of communal harmony between Hindus and Muslims.
Located about 35 kms from Kadiri and 100 kms from Anantapur is a famous banyan tree, called the "Thimmamma Marrimanu``. It is regarded as the biggest of its kind in South India. Its branches spread over nearly 5 acres. It is named after `Thimmamma` who was considered to be the representative of the Almighty. A small temple dedicated to Thimmamma lies under the tree. She is said to have married a Bala Veerayya who died in 1434, and Thimmamma committed `Sati`. The banyan tree is believed to have sprouted at the place where she ascended the funeral pyre. The people of this area strongly believe that if a childless couple worship "Thimmamma" they will have a child the very next year. A big `Jatra` is conducted here on the day of `Shivaratri` when thousands of people flock here to worship `Thimmamma` on this occasion.
Thus mentioned above are the various historical monuments of Anantpur district which form the major tourist attraction of the place.
Religious Monuments in Anantpur District
Religious monuments in Anantpur district offers a pleasant ride as the district has a lot to offer. A number of historical and religious monuments are found dotting the landscape of the place. The major monuments of religious interest are discussed below.
Lepakshi is the most important place in the Anantpur District from the religious as well as historical perspective. Lepakshi is situated at a distance of km from Bangalore and 110 km from Anantapur. Lepakshi is well connected by road with frequent bus and private transport facilities from Hindupur at the distance of 15 KM. The nearest railhead is at Hindupur.
The Skandhapuranam refers to Lepakshi as one of the 108 Saiva temples in India. Sri Virupanna, who worked as a Treasury Officer of Penukonda Fort of Vijayanagara Empire, took up the construction of the Lord Veerabhadhra Temple at Lepakshi in the 16th-century (1538 A.D.). One can find the late Vijayanagara style of architecture in the vestiges of Lepakshi. The natyamandapa or dance hall is supported by 100 pillars finely sculpted with figurines of a dancing Siva, Nandi, Tumbura, Rambha and other celestial beings playing the drum, veena and other instruments in accompaniment. The unfinished Kalyanamandapa on the other side contains sculptures of dikapalakas on the pillar.
From the centre of the mandapa emerges a dome, twenty-one feet high, like a great lotus of heaven. In this huge mandapa, the ceiling is divided into different panels by beams that are painted with some of the most exquisite murals of the Deccan.
A number of monuments of religious interest are found in and around the town of Tadipatri. Tadipatri is Located at a distance of 90kms, from Anantapur. In the heart of the town is the Chintala Venkataramana Temple with its lofty gopura. At a distance of 1km, from the town, overlooking the Pennar River is the Bugga Ramalingeshwara Temple, remarkable for a lingam on a pedestal, constantly filled with water from a small spring. Located a little distance away from the tadipatri is the Aluru Kona village. Found here is the Ranganathaswami temple, built atop a hill. It was constructed by a representative of King Bukkaraya in 1334 AD. Small waterfalls are found in the area where water is ever present.
Another religious monument, the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple is found located at Penne Ahobilam. Located at a distance of 12kms, from Uravakonda and 36kms, from Anantapur, it is well-linked by road with frequent bus service. This Temple is located amidst lush greenery, on the banks of a rivulet of Pennar. Myth has it that this temple was built on the footprint of Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy measuring 5 feet 3 inches. And it is said that another footprint of the Lord is at the Ahobilam temple in Kurnool district. According to the sources available, Most of the people visit this place to perform marriage ceremonies of their children and relatives. A grand car festival is conducted in the month of April.
A popular place of pilgrimage is the Sri Lakshmi Narashimha Swami Temple. The epics say that `Narashimha Swami` is one of the ten avataras of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that Narasimha Swami chose to settle down here after killing Hiranyakasipu. This Vishnu temple appears to have been constructed by one `Ranganayudu`, a Palegar of Patharlapattanam. Several scenes from the Ramayana are depicted on the ceiling of the Rangamandapa and several frescos on that of the Lakshmi mandapa depicting scenes from the `Bhagavata`. Many inscriptions on the temple mostly mention the gifts given by kings to the temple.
Puttaparthi, now popularly known as Prasanthi Nilayam, the abode of Supreme Peace, is the home town of Bhagawan Sri Satya Sai Baba and it is about 40 km away from Dharmavaram, 80 km from Anantapur and 200 km from Bengaluru. He is considered the incarnation of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba and thousands of devotees and tourists from the four corners of the world visit Puttaparti just to have his `darshan`. Places of importance here are Prashanti Nilayam, Purnachandra auditorium, Planetarium, Super speciality hospital, museum and Sri Satya Sai University.
In order to quench the thirst of the villages in the district, Bhagawan Satya Sai Baba conceived a scheme for supply of drinking water at a cost of crores of rupees. Under this, schemes have been established for community protected water supply plans and independent protected water supply plans. The Board of Satya Sai Water Supply Plan, established by the State Government, is vested with authority to oversee everything. Apart from the above mentioned monuments of religious interest, a number of other monuments are also found at Anantpur district, such as the Yogi Vemana samidhi and the Yadiki caves.
Famous for the Yogi Vemana Samadhi, Kattarupally attracts a lot of pilgrims. Situated 25 kms from Kadiri enroute Thimmamamarimanu, the journey offers spectacular views of rock formations of various shapes. Yogi Vemana is widely known as peoples' poet.
Yadiki is midway between Gooty and Tadipatri. The cave system is in the picturesque village of Konapulappadu which is 18 kms from Yadiki. The magnificent view of the hillocks, gorges, spring, paddy fields, lake and winding roads enthrals every visitor. One of the caves, Geemanugavi, is 5 kms in length. The intricate designs of the stalactite and stalagmite formations take the shape of chandeliers, bridges, globes, snakes etc. The sight of some, which glitter like diamonds, is amazing. Kona Ramalingeswara temple adjacent to the spring adds to the beauty. There is also scope for trekking and rock climbing for those who are interested.
Transport in Anantpur District
Nowadays reaching the beautiful Anantpur District has become very convenient. Anantpur District is now linked by frequent trains to and from the major metros as well as the other destinations of India. The national and state highway network links this town to many important cities in India. All sorts of hired transports are available and all comes with the most experienced drivers. There are regular bus services available to the district of Anantpur from Hyderabad. The Nearest airport to the Anantpur District is Hyderabad, which is connected to domestic destinations as well as international destinations.
