# Palnadu district

Palnadu district is a district in coastal Andhra Region in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. With Narasaraopet as its administrative headquarters, it was formed on 4 April 2022 to become one of the resultant twenty-six districts The district was formed from Gurazala, Sattenapalli and Narasaraopet revenue divisions from Palnadu district. The district covers most of the Palnadu region.

## Etymology

This district has derived its name from the Palnadu or Pallava Nadu region .

## Geography

Palnadu district is bordered by NTR district at North, Bapatla district at South East, Prakasam district at South West and Guntur district at East. It is also surrounded by Suryapet district and Nalgonda district in Telangana state at west.

## Land utilisation

The total geographical area of the district is 730,123 hectares (7,301.23 km$^2$) and 150,759 ha (1,507.59 km$^2$) is covered by forest. The net area sown is 315,650 ha (3,156.5 km$^2$). The total cropped area in the district is 347,114 ha (3,471.14 km$^2$). The area sown more than once during the year is 31,464 ha (314.64 km$^2$).

## Natural and Mineral Resources

The district is rich in mineral resources. The principal minerals available are limestone, lime Lime Stonekankar at Piduguralla. Napa slabs, Copper and Lead. Lime stone is being utilised by the cement factories of Macherla. There are copper mines at Agnigundala of Ipur Mandal.

## Climate

The normal rainfall of the district is 775.3 mm (30.5 in) The climate is generally warm in summer and the heat is very severe in Rentachintala Mandal, where the maximum temperature in the state is recorded.
Summer (March to June): the summer months are hot and dry, with temperatures often reaching high levels. This period is characterized by high temperatures and low rainfall.
Monsoon (July to September): the monsoon season brings rainfall to the region. During this period, the district receives the majority of its annual precipitation. The monsoon rains are essential for agriculture and overall water supply.
Post-monsoon/winter (October to February): after the monsoon season, the region experiences a post-monsoon period, followed by relatively cooler months during winter. The temperatures are milder during this time.

## Demographics

Religions in Palnadu district (2011) :
| Religion | Religion | Percent | Percent |
| Hinduism | Hinduism | 86.73% | 86.73% |
| Islam | Islam | 11.30% | 11.30% |
| Christianity | Christianity | 1.59% | 1.59% |
| Other or not stated | Other or not stated | 0.38% | 0.38% |
| Distribution of religions |||||
At the time of the 2011 census, the district had a population of 20,41,723, of which 458,551 (22.46%) lived in urban areas. Palnadu district has a sex ratio of 994 females per 1000 males. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes made up 3,75,554 (18.39%) and 1,42,944 (7.00%) of the population respectively.$^{:77–82}$
* Telugu (87.12%)
* Urdu (9.9%)
* Lambadi (2.41%)
* Others (0.57%)
At the time of the 2011 census, 87.12% of the population spoke Telugu, 9.90% Urdu and 2.41% Lambadi as their first language.

## Politics

There are one parliamentary and seven assembly constituencies in Palnadu district. The parliamentary constituencies are
* Narasaraopet (Lok Sabha constituency)
The assembly constituencies are
| # | Name | District | Members | Party |
| 85 | Pedakurapadu | Palnadu | Bhashyam Praveen | Telugu Desam Party |
| 96 | Chilakaluripeta | Palnadu | Prathipati Pulla Rao | Telugu Desam Party |
| 97 | Narasaraopeta | Palnadu | Dr. Chadalavada Aravinda Babu | Telugu Desam Party |
| 98 | Sattenapalle | Palnadu | Kanna Lakshminarayana | Telugu Desam Party |
| 99 | Vinukonda | Palnadu | G. V. Anjaneyulu | Telugu Desam Party |
| 100 | Gurajala | Palnadu | Yarapathineni Srinivasa Rao | Telugu Desam Party |
| 101 | Macherla | Palnadu | Julakanti Brahmananda Reddy | Telugu Desam Party |

## Administrative divisions

* Mandals of Palnadu district (Overpass-turbo)
The district is divided into 3 revenue divisions: Gurazala, Narasaraopet and Sattenapalle, which are further subdivided into a total of 28 mandals.

### Mandals

The list of 28 mandals in Palnadu district, divided into 3 revenue divisions, is given below.
* Gurazala revenue division
** Dachepalle
** Durgi
** Gurazala
** Karempudi
** Machavaram
** Macherla
** Piduguralla
** Rentachintala
** Veldurthi
* Narasaraopet revenue division
** Bollapalle
** Chilakaluripeta
** Edlapadu
** Ipur
** Nadendla
** Narasaraopet
** Nuzendla
** Rompicherla
** Savalyapuram
** Vinukonda
* Sattenapalli revenue division
** Amaravathi
** Atchampet
** Bellamkonda
** Krosuru
** Muppalla
** Nekarikallu
** Pedakurapadu
** Rajupalem
** Sattenapalli

## Cities and towns

List of towns in Palnadu District :
| City | Civic status of town | revenue division | population |
| Narasaraopet | Municipality Grade - 1 | Narasaraopet | 117,489 |
| Chilakaluripet | Municipality Grade - 1 | Narasaraopet | 101,398 |
| Piduguralla | Municipality Grade - 2 | Gurazala | 63,103 |
| Vinukonda | Municipality Grade - 2 | Narasaraopet | 62,550 |
| Macherla | Municipality Grade - 2 | Gurazala | 57,290 |
| Sattenapalle | Municipality Grade - 2 | Sattenapalle | 56,721 |
| Dachepalle | Municipality Grade - 2 | Gurazala | 36,280 |
| Gurazala | Municipality Grade - 2 | Gurazala | 30,464 |

### Erstwhile Talukas

* Before Formation of mandals, Administration was done through Taluka system.
* Guntur District had 8 Talukas in 1971, later in 1978 they were increased to 21 Talukas.
* In 1985, Mandal system was created and 57 mandals were formed in the district.
* In 2022, with 28 mandals new district was formed.
| S.No. | Erstwhile Talukas in 1971 | Newly formed Talukas in 1978 | Newly formed Mandals in 1985 |
| 1 | Narsaraopeta | Narsaraopeta | Narasaraopeta, Nakirekallu, Rompicherla, |
| 1 | Narsaraopeta | Chilakaluripeta | Chilakaluripeta, Edlapadu, Nadendla, Pedanandipadu [part], |
| 2 | Vinukonda | Vinukonda | Vinukonda, Nuzendla, Savalyapuram [part] |
| 2 | Vinukonda | Ipur | Ipur, Bollapalle, Savalyapuram [part] |
| 3 | Palnadu | Palnadu | Gurajala, Karempudi, Rentachintala [part], |
| 3 | Palnadu | Macherla | Macherla, Durgi, Veldurthy, Rentachintala [part], |
| 3 | Palnadu | Piduguralla | Piduguralla, Dachepalle, Machavaram, |
| 4 | Sattenapalle | Sattenapalle | Sattenapalle, Phirangipuram, Medikonduru, |
| 4 | Sattenapalle | Rajupalem | Rajupalem, Bellamkonda, Muppala, Krosuru [part] |
| 4 | Sattenapalle | Talluru | Atchampet, Pedakurapadu, Amaravathi [part], Krosuru [part] |

## Tourist attractions

* Nagarjuna Sagar Dam
* Kotappakonda
* Ethipothala Falls
* Kondaveedu Fort

## Notable people

* Palanati Brahmanaidu, Palnadu Kingdom
* Nayakuralu Nagamma, Palnadu Kingdom
* Kaneganti Hanumanthu, freedom fighter
* Gurram Jashuva, poet
* Kasu Brahmananda Reddy, 3rd Chief Minister of United Andhra Pradesh & 11th Union Minister of Home Affairs and served as Governor of Maharashtra and Other States
* Bhavanam Venkatarami Reddy, 8th Chief Minister of United Andhra Pradesh and Education minister in Anjaiah's Cabinet
* Kodela Siva Prasada Rao, 1st Speaker of Andhra pradesh Legislative Assembly and former home minister
* Vavilala Gopalakrishnayya, journalist and he was elected to the assembly
* Kasu Venkata Krishna Reddy, Former Cabinet Minister of United Andhra Pradesh
* Brahmanandam Kanneganti, Indian actor, popular telugu cinema comedian