# Dhone

Dhone or Dronachalam is a town in Nandyal district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a municipality located in Dhone mandal, and it is the headquarters of Dhone revenue division.

## History

Dhone was formerly known as Dronachalam. Dhone is the second biggest municipality in Nandyal district after Nandyal Municipality. According to local tradition, the name of the village is derived from the name of the tutor Dronacharya, a character in Mahabharata, who meditated on the hill in village. There is now a Hanuman temple, Dargah and church on the hill. Dhone has large deposits of high quality limestone, and it was previously the site of an active quarry. The quarry is no longer in operation. The oldest temple in Dhone is Sri Vasavi Temple, which was constructed in 1916. The Vasavi Temple celebrated 100 at the year 2017.

## Geography

Dhone is surrounded by hills on its south. Geographically it is located on Erramala hills.

## Demographics

According to 2011 census, Dhone had population of 59,272 of which 29,470 were male and 29,802 were female.
Population of children aged of 0-6 was 7,118, which is 12.01% of the total population of Dhone. The female sex ratio is of 1011 against state average of 993. Moreover, the child sex ratio in Dhone is around 954 compared to Andhra Pradesh state average of 939. Literacy rate of Dhone city is 72.33% higher than state average of 67.02%. In Dhone, male literacy is around 81.88% while female literacy rate is 62.96%.

## Economy

Dhone has large deposits of high quality limestone. It also have good size of Granite and Polish slab Factories. Dhone is Industrially developing town.

## Governance
### Civic administration

Dhone is a Municipality in district of Nandyal, Andhra Pradesh. The Dhone city is divided into 32 wards for which elections are held every five years.
The municipality was established in the year 2005 and has an extent of 9.85 km$^2$ (3.80 sq mi). During 2010–2011 period, total expenditure per annum was ₹431 crore (US$50 million), while the total income generated per annum was ₹515 crore (US$60 million). The municipality provided 798 public taps, 186 bore-wells, length of 106.28 km (66.04 mi) roads, 1551 street lights, a park, public market, elementary and secondary schools etc.

### Revenue Division

Dhone Revenue Division have six mandals:
* Dhone
* Peapully
* Bethamcherla
* Banaganapalle
* Owk
* Koilakuntla.

### Politics

Dhone is represented by Dhone (Assembly constituency) for Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Kotla Jayasurya Prakasha Reddy is the present MLA of the constituency representing TDP. Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy elected as CM for Andhra Pradesh represented Dhone constituency.
Governance :
| Department | Incharge |
| Legislative | Dhone MLA, Dhone Municipality Chairman |
| Executive | Dhone RDO, Dhone MRO |
| Judiciary | Hon'ble Dhone Court Judge |
| Police Sub Division | Dhone DSP |
| Health | CHNC Dhone |
| APSPDCL Division | Dhone DE |
| APSRTC Bus Service | Dhone Depot |
| Transport | Dhone MVI |

## Transport
### Railways

Dhone Junction railway station is located in Guntakal railway division of the South Central Railway zone. This junction is one of the oldest railway junctions in India.Guntur - Hubli line and Secunderabad - Bengaluru line meet in the Dhone Junction Railway station. Dhone railway station is the biggest railway station in Nandyal district.

### Roadways

The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation operates bus services from Dhone bus station. Dhone has bus station situated near National Highway 44, which is called North - South corridor.

### Distance to major towns and cities

* Kurnool = 52 km (32 mi)
* Nandyal = 82 km (51 mi)
* Adoni = 100 km (62 mi)
* Bethamcherla = 36 km (22 mi)
* Banaganapalle = 47 km (29 mi)
* Gooty = 43 km (27 mi)
* Anantapuram = 95 km (59 mi)
* Kadapa = 180 km (110 mi)
* Tirupati = 316 km (196 mi)
* Bellary = 130 km (81 mi)
* Hyderabad = 263 km (163 mi)
* Bengaluru = 310 km (190 mi)
* Vijayawada = 395 km (245 mi)
* Visakhapatnam = 745 km (463 mi)
* Guntur = 357 km (222 mi)

## Villages

* Chanugondla
* Ungaranigundla
* Venkatapuram