Telugu Historyతెలుగు చరిత్ర

Guntur (old district)

The old Guntur district in undivided Andhra Pradesh stretched along the south bank of the Krishna, from the Palnad hills to the sea. It included Amaravati, Kondavidu and Bhattiprolu. An earlier Guntur district existed until 1859. The new district was formed in 1904 from seven Kistna taluks and Ongole. Tobacco, chillies, cotton and the Krishna delta supported its prosperity. In 2022 its territory was divided between Guntur, Palnadu and Bapatla districts.

The old Guntur district lay on the south bank of the Krishna, from the Palnad hills in the west to the Bay of Bengal.12 The new district was formed in 1904.345 In 2022 Andhra Pradesh divided its territory between three districts.345 The town of Guntur takes its name from the Telugu gunta, “a tank”.6

Early history and kingdoms

Amaravati lies on the south bank of the Krishna.7 Just north of it stood Dharanikota, which the 1908 gazetteer calls the capital of the Buddhist dynasty of the Andhras.7 Colin Mackenzie described the stupa’s sculptures after a visit in 1797.7 James Fergusson thought its carved railing was perhaps the most remarkable monument in India.8

Another Buddhist stupa stood at Bhattiprolu in Tenali taluk.9 Its relic caskets, found in 1892, bear inscriptions in letters like those of Ashoka.9 The 1961 handbook says the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang described two large monasteries at Dhanakataka (Dharanikota) about 640 AD.10

The Eastern Chalukyas ruled the area for four centuries.10 The 1961 handbook credits them with carving the cave temple at Undavalli.10 About 999 the Cholas replaced them, and after about two centuries the Kakatiyas took their place.10

The same handbook says Marco Polo seems to have landed at Motupalli about 1290, in the time of Queen Rudrama.11 Prataparudra made many grants in the Palnad.11 In 1323 he was taken captive to Delhi.11

The Reddis, Vijayanagara and Golconda

After 1323 the king of Odisha ruled the north of the district, and the Reddi kings ruled the south.11 Vema Reddi set himself up in the hill fort of Kondavidu.11 He also held the forts of Bellamkonda, Vinukonda and Nagarjunakonda.11 The Reddis of Kondavidu were great patrons of Telugu writing, and the poet Srinatha lived at their court.11

After the Reddis fell, the Gajapati kings of Odisha spread their power here.11 Krishnadeva Raya of Vijayanagara took Kondavidu and Vinukonda.1213 Golconda took Kondavidu in 1531, 1536 and 1579, and the Muslims named it Murtazanagar.12 Hindu rule in the district ended in 1579.11

The Qutb Shahis held the area until 1687, when it passed to the empire of Aurangzeb.11 Nizampatnam was the first port on the east coast where they began to trade, in 1611.14

The French, the English and the old district

The French gained the Kondavidu province in 1752.12 The 1908 gazetteer says they founded the town of Guntur, which they preferred to Kondavidu for its cooler air and better water.6 When the Northern Circars went to the English in 1765, Guntur was left out because it was the jagir (land grant) of Basalat Jang.6

The Madras Government rented Guntur from Basalat Jang in 1778, but gave it back in 1780.6 It came finally into British hands in 1788, and the cession was confirmed in 1823.6 The 1961 handbook says the Palnad came in 1801, when the Nawab of Arcot ceded it.15 In 1794 Collectors were appointed at Guntur and Masulipatam.15

The famine of 1832–34 was known as the Guntur famine.16 In 1859 the old Guntur district was abolished and divided between Rajahmundry and Masulipatam districts, which were renamed Godavari and Kistna.4

The new district, 1904–1956

The new Godavari and Krishna canals made these districts too large for one Collector each.4 So on 1 October 1904 a new Guntur district was formed.1 It took seven taluks of Krishna district: Tenali, Guntur, Sattanapalle, Palnad, Bapatla, Narasaraopet and Vinukonda.34 It also took the Ongole taluk of Nellore district.34

On 1 July 1909 Tenali taluk was split into Tenali and Repalle.1 The 1961 handbook names Tanguturi Prakasam and Konda Venkatappaiah among the district’s patriots.15 Twice the district hosted a session of the All India Congress Committee.15

In 1953 Guntur was one of the eleven districts of the new Andhra State.17 From 1 October 1953 until 1 November 1956, Guntur city was the seat of the Andhra High Court.15

1956–2014

In 1970 part of the district went to the new Prakasam district.18 The census of 1981 counted Guntur among the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh.19 In 1985 the district’s 21 taluks were reorganised into 57 mandals.20 After the division of 2014 it stayed in Andhra Pradesh.21

Division, 2022

On 4 April 2022 its territory was divided between three districts:5

Administration

In 1904 the district had four revenue subdivisions: Guntur, Tenali, Narasaraopet and Ongole.4 In 1961 it had nine taluks in four revenue divisions.1 In 2001 it had 57 mandals.20

Land, farming and water

The 1961 handbook divides the district into three parts: the delta, the stony uplands and hills, and the black cotton plains.1 Black soil covered over 85 per cent of it.2 In 1904 the Tenali taluk was almost all watered by channels from the Krishna, and the 1908 gazetteer calls it the richest taluk in the Presidency.22

By 2001 two major irrigation projects on the Krishna supplied water to the district.23 The old Krishna delta system, now fed by the Prakasam Barrage, had an ayacut (command area) of 2,02,032 hectares.23 The Nagarjuna Sagar project had 2,54,583 hectares.23 The 2001 handbook says the district led the State in growing paddy, cotton and chillies.24

Crafts and industries

In 1904 Guntur town was a great centre of the cotton trade, with presses and ginning factories.12 Chirala had a busy weaving industry.9 The 1961 handbook calls the district well advanced in industry.25 India Leaf Tobacco had its main office in Guntur and was the largest buyer of Virginia tobacco.25

Mangalagiri, Chirala, Vetapalem and Bapatla were known for handloom weaving in 1961.25 There were cement factories at Tadepalle, Mangalagiri and Macherla.25 By 2001 the district had 44 large and medium industries.26

People

The 2001 census handbook lists the district’s population within its 2001 boundaries, from 1901 onward.27 The 2011 figure is from the 2011 handbook.28

Census yearPopulation
190111,33,968
195119,75,395
196123,27,246
198134,34,724
200144,65,144
201148,87,813

In 1961 the district, then including Ongole, had 30,09,900 people, the most of any district in the State.1

Where the sources disagree

The sources differ on two dates:1211

  • The 1908 gazetteer says Kondavidu was a Reddi seat until 1482.12 The 1961 handbook says the last Reddi king of Kondavidu was killed in 1428.11
  • The 1908 gazetteer says Krishnadeva Raya took Kondavidu about 1516.12 The 1961 handbook puts his conquest of the country in 1515.11

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

Footnotes

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

  2. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Guntur District (1965), p. ii (PDF p. 17) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

  3. Hemingway, Godavari (1907), p. 178 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  4. Imperial Gazetteer: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 328, s.v. Guntur District (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  5. Government of Andhra Pradesh, Revenue (Lands-IV) Department, G.O.Ms. No. 186 (Guntur; Gazette No. 485), No. 187 (Bapatla; Gazette No. 486) and No. 188 (Palnadu; Gazette No. 487), 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: 186 (opens in a new tab), 187 (opens in a new tab), 188 (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  6. Imperial Gazetteer: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 335 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  7. Imperial Gazetteer: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 332 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  8. Imperial Gazetteer: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 333 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  9. Imperial Gazetteer: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 334 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  10. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Guntur District (1965), p. v (PDF p. 20) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  11. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Guntur District (1965), p. vi (PDF p. 21) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13

  12. Imperial Gazetteer: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 336 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  13. Imperial Gazetteer: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 339 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  14. Imperial Gazetteer: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 337 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

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

  16. Imperial Gazetteer: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 80 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  17. “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)). ↩

  18. Purnachandra Rao, Portrait of Population (1981), p. 16 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

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

  20. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Guntur District (2006), p. 11 (PDF p. 62) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

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

  22. Imperial Gazetteer: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 329 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  23. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Guntur District (2006), p. 17 (PDF p. 68) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  24. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Guntur District (2006), p. 16 (PDF p. 67) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  25. A. Chandra Sekhar, Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Guntur District (1965), p. iv (PDF p. 19) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  26. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Guntur District (2006), p. 18 (PDF p. 69) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  27. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Guntur District (2006), p. xxxi (PDF p. 23) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  28. Directorate of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2011, Andhra Pradesh (Series 29): District Census Handbook, Guntur District, Part XII-A (Village and Town Directory) (2014), p. 7 (PDF p. 25) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

Places in this district (25)

Monuments in this district (8)

Inscriptions found in this district (25)

References

Sources (10)
  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; 16. 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. F. R. Hemingway, Madras District Gazetteers: Godavari, Vol. I (opens in a new tab), Government Press, Madras, 1907, pp. 178. [Public domain]
  4. Government of India, Imperial Gazetteer of India, Provincial Series: Madras, Vol. I (opens in a new tab), Superintendent of Government Printing, Calcutta, 1908, pp. 80; 328–338. [Public domain]
  5. A. Chandra Sekhar (Census of India), Census of India 1961, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Guntur District (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 1965, i–vii. [Public domain in India]
  6. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, Guntur District (Parts A and B) (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 2006, xix, xxxi, 11, 16–18. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  7. Directorate of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2011, Andhra Pradesh (Series 29): District Census Handbook, Guntur District, Part XII-A (Village and Town Directory) (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 2014, pp. 7. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  8. 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]
  9. 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]
  10. 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))]

Spotted an error on this page? Tell us

Last updated: