Telugu Historyతెలుగు చరిత్ర

Chittoor (old district)

The old Chittoor district lay in the far south of Rayalaseema in undivided Andhra Pradesh. It was formed on 1 April 1911 from the Telugu taluks of North Arcot and two taluks of Cuddapah. It included Tirupati, Srikalahasti and Chandragiri, the last seat of the Vijayanagara kings. A border award transferred most of Tiruttani to Madras in 1960. In 2022 its territory was divided between Chittoor, Tirupati and Annamayya districts.

The old Chittoor district lay in the far south of Rayalaseema, on the edge of the Mysore plateau.12 It was formed on 1 April 1911.34 In 2022 Andhra Pradesh divided its territory between three districts.34 It included the temple towns of Tirupati and Srikalahasti, and the old royal town of Chandragiri.25

Early history and kingdoms

According to the 1979 district gazetteer, stone tools of the Old Stone Age have been found at Tirupati, Pileru and other places.6 Stone burials of a later age, known locally as Pandava gullu, are found at many sites.6

The Banas were closely linked with this country.7 About 32 of their inscriptions have been found in the district, 22 of them in Punganur taluk.7 The Vaidumbas had their capital, Vaidumbavrolu, in the district.8 They drove the Cholas of Renadu out of Chippili in Madanapalle taluk.8

Inscriptions show that the Chola emperors later ruled this area.9 Under them the Telugu Cholas rose to importance, and they made many gifts to the temple at Srikalahasti.9

Vijayanagara and Chandragiri

The earliest Vijayanagara inscriptions here belong to Bukka I and his son Kumara Kampana.10 Saluva Narasimha inherited Chandragiri in 1456 and slowly extended his power over the nearby districts.11 About the end of 1485 he was crowned emperor.11

About 85 inscriptions of Krishnadeva Raya are found in the district.11 He visited the Venkatesvara temple at Tirumala seven times, first on 10 February 1513.11 Several of these visits were made during his wars against the Gajapatis.11

After the defeat of 1565, Tirumala’s son Venkata governed the Tamil country from Chandragiri.5 Sewell wrote that in 1639 the king, Sriranga, was living at Chandragiri.12 That year Mr. Day of the English station at Madras got a grant of land from him, and Fort St. George was built on it.12

Venkata III died among the hills of Narayanavanam, and Sriranga III was proclaimed king on 29 October 1642.13 An army from Golconda under Mir Jumla captured Tirupati and Chandragiri.14 Chandragiri passed to the Qutb Shahi officers in 1658.14

Marathas, Nawabs and the British

In 1740 the Nawab of Arcot, Dost Ali, tried to stop a Maratha army at Damalcheruvu in Chandragiri taluk.15 The Maratha leader slipped behind his lines at night and attacked him.15 The Nawabs of Arcot took nearly Rs. 2 lakh a year from the Tirupati temple, and later gave this income to the English.15

The British took over the area step by step.16 During the war with Haidar Ali, Sir Eyre Coote took the small fort of Chittoor.16 After a treaty of 1792 the zamindars of Kalahasti and Karvetinagar came under British management.16 In 1799 the Company gained the Punganur zamindari and the taluk of Venkatagirikota, now Palmaner.16 On 31 July 1801 the ruler of Arcot handed over the Carnatic.16

The local poligars (hereditary chiefs who kept the peace in their areas) did not accept the new system of rule.1617 In 1804 they rose against higher tribute, and troops were sent to Chittoor.17 The poligar of Yedaragunta was captured and hanged.17 On 8 February 1805 the Collector reported that the area was quiet again.17

The new district, 1911–1960

Chittoor district was formed on 1 April 1911.31819 It took in the Chittoor, Palmaner and Chandragiri taluks of North Arcot and the Madanapalle and Vayalpad taluks of Cuddapah.20 It also took in the old zamindari lands of Punganur, Kalahasti, Puttur and Karvetinagar.20 In 1928 most of Kangundi taluk was added to Palmaner taluk.20

The 1961 census handbook names several leaders from the district.1721 Panappakam Ananthacharyulu presided over the Congress session at Nagpur in 1891, the first South Indian to do so.17 The Raja of Panagal and Bollini Muniswami Naidu both became Chief Ministers of Madras.21 Kattamanchi Ramalinga Reddy became the first Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University in 1926.21

In 1953 the district was one of the eleven districts of the new Andhra State.22 In 1959 Andhra Pradesh and Madras State settled a dispute over their border by an award.23 Under it, 319 villages of three taluks of Chittoor district went to Madras.23 The change took effect on 1 April 1960.23

Most of Tiruttani taluk, with 282 villages and two towns, went to Chingleput district.20 In return a new Satyavedu taluk was formed from villages of Chingleput and Chittoor.20 Kuppam and Bangarupalem sub-taluks were also formed that day.20

1985–2014

In 1985 the district’s 15 taluks were reorganised into 66 mandals.1 The mandals were grouped into three revenue divisions: Chittoor, Tirupati and Madanapalle.1 The census of 1981 counted Chittoor among the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh.24 After the division of 2014 it stayed in Andhra Pradesh.25

Division, 2022

On 4 April 2022 its territory was divided between three districts:4

Administration

In 1961 the district had nine taluks and two sub-taluks in three revenue divisions: Chittoor, Chandragiri and Madanapalle.20 It was the smallest of the four Rayalaseema districts in area but the most populous.20 Only 11.47 per cent of its people lived in its 13 towns.20

By 2011 the district had 66 mandals in three revenue divisions, and 22 towns.26 The 1979 gazetteer says the district takes its name from Chittoor, its headquarters town.27

Land, farming and water

The 1961 handbook describes two parts of the district: a hilly plateau in the west and plains in the east.202 Red soil covers most of it.28 Its rivers are dry for most of the year.2 Farmers used the water flowing under the sand by digging channels called kassam.2

About a quarter of the district was forest in 1961.29 Punganur cows were known for their high milk yields.29 Small black Kurumba sheep on the plateau gave wool for blankets.29

The 2001 handbook says the district was famous for tamarind and mango pulp.30 Mango orchards covered 45,380 hectares, and groundnut was the chief commercial crop.31 By 2009–10 tube wells watered 1,08,398 hectares, far more than tanks.32 The Telugu Ganga, Galeru-Nagari and Handri-Neeva projects were still being built.32

Crafts and industries

Gold was mined at Bisanatham until 1958, when the work stopped.33 Metal workers at Kalahasti made bronze vessels in moulds of sand from the Swarnamukhi river.33

In 1998 the district had only 20 large and medium industries, employing 29,318 people.34 They made granite polish, essential oils, shoe uppers, PVC pipes and similar goods.34 Silk farming grew fast, and by March 2000 mulberry covered 41,932 acres.35 Still, 66 of every 100 workers were in farming in 2001.30

People

The 1961 handbook lists the district’s population within its 1961 boundaries, from 1901 onward.36 The 2011 figure is from the 2011 handbook.37

Census yearPopulation
190111,24,261
193113,31,517
195116,66,266
196119,14,639
201141,74,064

The 1961 handbook says Annie Besant and J. Krishnamurti were linked with the Theosophical institution at Madanapalle.21

Where the sources disagree

Two points differ between the sources:3812

  • Shivaji’s march: the 1961 handbook says he entered the Carnatic by the Kallur pass in 1676.38 The 1979 gazetteer says he marched through the Tirupati pass in 1677–78.39
  • The grant for Madras: Sewell dates it to 1639.12 The 1961 handbook says the grant was made in 1640.38

For an overview of district changes, see How the map changed.

Footnotes

  1. Directorate of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2011, Andhra Pradesh (Series 29): District Census Handbook, Chittoor District, Part XII-A (Village and Town Directory) (2014), p. 10 (PDF p. 28) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  2. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Chittoor District (1965), p. ii (PDF p. 22) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  3. Madras District Gazetteers: Statistical Appendix for Chittoor District (1915), p. 25, Table XV, note (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  4. Government of Andhra Pradesh, Revenue (Lands-IV) Department, G.O.Ms. No. 196 (Annamayya; Gazette No. 495), No. 197 (Chittoor; Gazette No. 496) and No. 198 (Tirupati; Gazette No. 497), 2 April 2022, final notifications printed in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette, Part I Extraordinary, 3 April 2022: notification PDF p. 1, Schedule-I PDF p. 2 (archive.org copies: 196 (opens in a new tab), 197 (opens in a new tab), 198 (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  5. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Chittoor (1979), p. 35 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  6. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Chittoor (1979), p. 23 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  7. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Chittoor (1979), p. 26 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  8. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Chittoor (1979), p. 27 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  9. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Chittoor (1979), p. 29 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  10. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Chittoor (1979), p. 32 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  11. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Chittoor (1979), p. 33 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  12. Sewell, A Forgotten Empire (1900), p. 233 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  13. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Chittoor (1979), p. 36 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  14. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Chittoor (1979), p. 37 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  15. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Chittoor District (1965), p. vii (PDF p. 27) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  16. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Chittoor District (1965), p. ix (PDF p. 29) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  17. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Chittoor District (1965), p. x (PDF p. 30) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  18. Census of India, 1911: Madras, Part I (1912), p. 88 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  19. Census of India, 1911, Vol. XII: Madras, Part I, Report (1912), p. 80 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  20. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Chittoor District (1965), p. i (PDF p. 21) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10

  21. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Chittoor District (1965), p. xi (PDF p. 31) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  22. “Prime Minister’s Statement on Andhra”, 25 March 1953, printed in Madras Legislative Assembly Debates, 2 April 1953, appendix, pp. 823–825 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)); The History of the Andhra Pradesh Police (1861–1961) (1961), pp. 249–250 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  23. Election Commission, Report on the Third General Elections in India, 1962, Vol. I (1965), p. 5 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  24. Ch. Purnachandra Rao, Census of India 1981, Andhra Pradesh: Portrait of Population (1981), p. 13 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  25. The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 (Act No. 6 of 2014), ss. 2–4, pp. 1–2 (Gazette copy (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  26. Directorate of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2011, Andhra Pradesh (Series 29): District Census Handbook, Chittoor District, Part XII-A (Village and Town Directory) (2014), p. 11 (PDF p. 29) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  27. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Chittoor (1979), p. 1 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  28. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Chittoor District (1965), p. iii (PDF p. 23) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  29. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Chittoor District (1965), p. v (PDF p. 25) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  30. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Chittoor District (2007), p. xix (PDF p. 8) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  31. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Chittoor District (2007), p. 16 (PDF p. 26) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  32. Directorate of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2011, Andhra Pradesh (Series 29): District Census Handbook, Chittoor District, Part XII-A (Village and Town Directory) (2014), p. 22 (PDF p. 40) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  33. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Chittoor District (1965), p. iv (PDF p. 24) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  34. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Chittoor District (2007), p. 19 (PDF p. 29) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  35. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Chittoor District (2007), p. 20 (PDF p. 30) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  36. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Chittoor District (1965), p. xxvi (PDF p. 46) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  37. Directorate of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2011, Andhra Pradesh (Series 29): District Census Handbook, Chittoor District, Part XII-A (Village and Town Directory) (2014), p. 13 (PDF p. 31) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  38. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Chittoor District (1965), p. vi (PDF p. 26) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  39. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Chittoor (1979), p. 39 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

Places in this district (8)

Monuments in this district (3)

Inscriptions found in this district (3)

References

Sources (13)
  1. Ch. Purnachandra Rao (Census of India 1981), Census of India 1981, Andhra Pradesh: Portrait of Population (opens in a new tab), Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, 1981, pp. 13. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  2. Government of Andhra Pradesh, Revenue (Lands-IV) Department, Restructuring / formation of districts: final notifications, G.O.Ms. Nos. 173 to 198 (2 April 2022) (opens in a new tab), Andhra Pradesh Gazette, Part I Extraordinary, Nos. 472 to 497 (3 April 2022), 2022, PDF pp. 1–2 of each notification. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  3. Madras District Gazetteers: Statistical Appendix for Chittoor District (opens in a new tab), Government Press, Madras, 1915, pp. 25. [Public domain]
  4. J. Chartres Molony, Census of India, 1911, Vol. XII: Madras, Part I, Report (opens in a new tab), Government Press, Madras, 1912, pp. 88; 80. [Public domain]
  5. A. Chandra Sekhar (Census of India), Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Chittoor District (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 1965, i–ii, iv–vii, ix–xi, xxvi. [Public domain in India]
  6. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: Chittoor (opens in a new tab), Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, 1979, pp. 1, 23, 26–27, 29, 32–33, 35–37, 39. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  7. Robert Sewell, A Forgotten Empire (Vijayanagar): A Contribution to the History of India (opens in a new tab), Swan Sonnenschein & Co., London, 1900, pp. 233. [Public domain]
  8. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Chittoor District (Parts A and B) (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 2007, xix, 16, 19–20. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  9. Directorate of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2011, Andhra Pradesh (Series 29): District Census Handbook, Chittoor District, Part XII-A (Village and Town Directory) (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 2014, pp. 10–11, 13, 22. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  10. Madras Legislative Assembly, Prime Minister's Statement on the Establishment of Andhra State (Assembly debates, 2 April 1953) (opens in a new tab), Madras Legislative Assembly, 1953, pp. 823–825. [Public domain in India]
  11. Inspector-General of Police, Andhra Pradesh, The History of the Andhra Pradesh Police (1861-1961) (opens in a new tab), Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, 1961, pp. 249–250. [Public domain in India]
  12. Election Commission, India, Report on the Third General Elections in India, 1962, Vol. I (General) (opens in a new tab), Election Commission, India, 1965, pp. 5. [Public domain in India]
  13. Parliament of India, The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 (Act No. 6 of 2014) (opens in a new tab), Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 1 (1 March 2014), 2014, pp. 1–2 (ss. 2–4). [Public domain (Indian enactment; Copyright Act 1957, s. 52(1)(q))]

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