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Guntur Travel Guide

Guntur is one of the districts of Andhra Pradesh bounded by Krishna district and Bay of Bengal in the East, while on its south lies Prakasam district, in the west Mahabubnagar district and Krishna and Nalgonda districts in the North. The rivers Krishna, Chandravanka, Naagileru, and Gundla Kamma flow through the district. The major places of the district are Guntur, Bapatla, Tenali, Narasaraopeta and Ponnur. It is spread over an area of 11391 Sq.kms. According to 2001 Census the population of the district is 4405.52 comprising of 2220.30 males and 2185.21 females.Agriculture is one of the main occupation of the people of Guntur. Paddy is among the major crops which is cultivated twice a year. Other crops that are grown are Jowar, Cotton, Turmeric, Maize, Arhar, Chillies, Sugarcane, and Sesame. The district is also involved in the mining of Limestone. The industries that contribute to the revenue of the state are Tobacco, Handloom, Silk, Sangam Dairy, Cement Factories at Thadepalli and Macherla, Andhra Fertilizers and Jute mill at Guntur. Durgistone craft is a popular handicraft of the region. Water is supplied to the farming lands of Guntur from the Nagarjuna Sagar Right bank, Buckingham Canal of the Krishna Barrage, dam constructed across Naguleru river at Dachepalli. The district receives electricity through Nagarjuna Sagar Project and Machkand Project. Guntur is well connected by road and rail.It is an important railway junction of the Southern India Guntur is a centre of learning and the administrative capital of Guntur district, which is home of historically significant Amaravati, Bhattiprolu and Sitanagaram monuments. The city is also a centre for business, industry, and agriculture. The region is identified as a major transportation and textile hub in India. Additionally, the Guntur area economy has an agricultural component that is internationally known for its exports of chillies, cotton, and tobacco.The Kingdom of Pratipalapura of 500 BCE (Bhattiprolu in Guntur district), appears to be the earliest known kingdom in south India. The earliest recorded reference of Guntur comes from the Idern plates of Ammaraja I (922-929 CE), the Vengi Chalukyan king. Guntur also appears in two other inscriptions dated 1147 CE and 1158 CE. The original Sanskrit (ancient Vedic culture/tradition) name for Guntur was Garthapuri (a place surrounded by water ponds('garta'/'gunta')).The 'Agasthyeswara Sivalayam' in the old city is an ancient temple for Lord Siva . It has inscriptions on two stones in 'Naga Lipi' (an ancient script) dating back to about 1100 CE. The backyard of the temple hosts a very historic tree . It is said that Agastya built the temple in the last Treta-Yuga around the Swayambhu Linga and hence it has this name. The 'Nagals' were said to have ruled the region at that time. More recently, the region was under the Nizam's rule (known as jagir of Nawab Salabat Jung till 1788) prior to the colonial period. During colonial rule, Guntur was under the control of the French and then the British, until India's independence. The region has been historically known for Buddhism and the first Kalachakra ceremony performed by Buddha himself

The place of Sitanagaram and the Guthikonda Caves [3] can be traced (through Vedic Puranas) back to the last Treta-Yuga and Dwapara-Yuga (Traditional Time scale: 1.7 to 0.5 million years ago, Ref).Guntur is one of the premier districts of Andhra Pradesh covering an area of 11,391 Sq.Kms. Guntur region shares with the rest of Deccan, the honour of being the home of the first man in India. Paleolithic man roamed about the region as evidenced by the discovery of Paleolithic (old stone) implements. The Kingdom of Prati palaputra (5th century BC), identified with Bhattiprolu, appears to be the earliest known kingdom in Guntur District. We also have an inscriptional evidence to show that king Kubera was ruling over Bhattiprolu around 230 BC followed by Sala Kings. Guntur region was successively ruled over by famous dynasties like Satavahanas, Ikshavakus, Pallavas, Anandagothrins, Vishnu Kundins, Chalukyas, Cholas, Kakatiyas, Reddies, Vijayanagara and Kutub Shahis during ancient and medieval times. Later several subordinate kingdoms ruled the region. These subordinate dynasties also in indulged in mutual warfares one of which culminated into a famous battle of Palnadu which is enshrined in legend and literate as "Andhra Kurukshetra" in 1180 AD.During the period of Nizam rule, French occupied Guntur in 1750. Guntur was brought under control of English East India Company by 1788 AD.The Region played a very remarkable role in the freedom struggle and also in the formation of Andhra Pradesh.There are several opinions with regard to the meaning and origin of the word Guntur. The word Guntur owes it's origin to words like Gundu( a rock), Gunta (a pond) and Kunta (1/3 of an acre). We are well aware that in Sanskrit Guntur is being called as Garthapuri (Guntlapuri).The earliest reference to Guntur, a variant of Guntur comes from the Idern plates of Ammaraja - I (922-929 AD), the Vengichalakyan King. Guntur also makes it's appearance in another two inscriptions dated 1147 AD and 1158 AD.Since the beginning of Buddhist epoch, Guntur was standing foremost in matters of education. Buddhists established universities in ancient times at Dhanyakataka(Amaravathi) and Nagarjunakonda. At present with many educational institutions Guntur leads other Andhra Districts in matters of education.Some places of historical importance in Guntur District are Amaravathi, Nagarjunakonda, Bhattiprolu, Undavalli caves and Archeological museum in Guntur.Agricultural products like Paddy, Tobacco, Cotton and Chillies are the main agricultural products cultivated in the district.