# Vizagapatam/Gazetteer/Gajapatinagaram Taluk

GAJAPATINAGARAM TALUK.
This lies next north of Vizianagram, and on the west runs up to the Jeypore hills. Except in this western corner, where the scenery is picturesque and even wild, the taluk resembles in appearance the rest of the plain country of the district, consisting of a wide expanse of red soil dotted with low, red hills.
The places of interest in it include the following:- -
Ándra: Lies ten miles north-west of Gajapatinagaram near the mouth of a valley at the foot of the hills; population 2,724. The hills behind it are sometimes called 'the Ándra hills.' On Tuesdays a big market is held, whereat quantities of hill produce are exchanged for the commodities of the plains.
The village is the chief place in the impartible ancient zamindari of the same name. This is said to have been granted, along with the title of Pratápa Rao, by Visvambara Deo, Rája of Jeypore from 1713 to 1752, to Pedda Ráman Dora of the Konda Dora caste. The permanent settlement was made in 1803 with this man's grandson, Gárayya Dora. These Doras had allied themselves to the Vizianagram family and paid them tribute. Mr. Alexander reported that the inaccessibility of their estate and their active and enterprising spirit rendered them much more desirable as allies than enemies, and so the tribute had always been light. On the death of Viziaráma Rázu at the battle of Padmanábham in 1794, the Ándra property was left in their possession at the same peshkash (Rs. 1,500); and this sum (less the value of land-customs resumed) was again continued at the permanent settlement. The present holder is Sanyási Dora alias Gárayya Dora, who is the adopted son of the son of the Gárayya Dora above mentioned.
He also owns the small impartible estate of Sarapalli-Bhímavaram. In the days when the Púsapátis were in power this, says Mr. Carmichael, was a separate zamindari with a tribute of Rs. 600. The owner, Jógi Rázu, in 1796 joined the notorious outlaw Mukki Rájabhúpála Rázu (see p. 54), and was turned out by Mr. Webb, who gave the property to the then holder of Ándra.
Gajapatinagaram is the head-quarters of the taluk and a union of 2,724 inhabitants, but is otherwise uninteresting. It ​stands on the north bank of the Champavati, and, being a place of halt between Vizianagram and Sálúr, contains an excellent chattram and (south of the river) an indifferent travellers' bungalow. Before Sálúr grew so prominent, the place was a great mart for hill produce, but its importance has now departed.
Jayati: A small village eight miles north-west of Gajapatinagaram in which there are two odd little deserted shrines, each consisting of a single cell about 12 feet square surmounted by a pyramidal roof running up about 16 feet from the ground. They are built without mortar and contain a number of unusual little sculptures. The villagers say they are Jain shrines, but a description of the carvings in them which has been furnished shows that this is doubtful. Another tradition says that Jains once lived in the village and that they were great astrologers. A Hindu overheard one of them calculating in deeply learned fashion the exact hour and minute at which it would be propitious to sow his corn and slipped out and sowed his own at the moment in question. The field produced a crop of solid golden grain. The local king was so impressed with the miracle that he forbore to take an ounce more than his usual share of the crop, and the lucky husbandman spent some of his windfall in building these two shrines.
Márupilli : Three miles north of Gajapatinagaram; population 1,809. Is widely known for its hook-swinging festival in March, which is conducted by certain Mettu Jangálu, in whose families the privilege is hereditary, in honour of the local Ellamma. The feast is a favourite occasion for the fulfilment of vows and many of the upper castes participate in it.
Régulavalasa : Eleven miles north-north-east of Gajapatinagaram. East of it is a jungle the game in which was preserved by the late Mahárája of Vizianagram. The place is sometimes called Shikárganj in consequence. South of the village are the ruins of the Mahárája's shooting-box.