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West Godavari (old district)

The old West Godavari district lay between the Godavari and Kolleru lake in undivided Andhra Pradesh, with Eluru as its headquarters. Vengi, near Eluru, was the capital of the Salankayanas and the Eastern Chalukyas. The district was formed from Kistna on 15 April 1925. Cotton's Godavari dam made its western delta a rice bowl. The district is also known for lace, fish and prawns. In 2022 its boundaries were redrawn and it was renamed Eluru. The rest of its territory became part of a new West Godavari district and the new East Godavari district.

The old West Godavari district lay on the west bank of the Godavari, between the river, the Kolleru lake and the Bay of Bengal.12 Its headquarters was Eluru.1 It was formed in 1925.34 In 2022 Andhra Pradesh divided its territory between three districts.34

Early history and kingdoms

The 2001 census handbook says the area was part of the Mauryan empire, and then of the Satavahana kingdom.5 It says the rock-cut Buddhist retreats at Guntupalli, near Kamavarapukota, date from the second century BC.5

In the fourth century the Salankayanas ruled from Vengi.5 The 1979 district gazetteer says Ptolemy’s “Benagouron” has been identified with Vengi, the modern Pedavegi near Eluru.6 Samudragupta defeated the Salankayana king Hastivarman in the middle of that century.5

The Vishnukundins followed and ruled for about two centuries.5 The 2001 handbook says Vikramendravarma II moved their capital to Denduluru.5 Then the Chalukya king Pulakesin II took the coast and gave it to his brother Kubja Vishnuvardhana.5 His line became the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi.5

The later kingdoms

The 1979 gazetteer calls the Velanati Chodas the most powerful local line of the twelfth century.7 The Kakatiya king Ganapati killed the Velanati chief Prithvisvara in battle and took his kingdom.8 The same gazetteer says Ganapati gave his daughter Rudramadevi in marriage to Virabhadra of the Nidadavole family.9

After the fall of Warangal the area passed to the Musunuri chiefs and then to the Reddis.91011 The Gajapati king Kapilesvara of Odisha then took it.11 An inscription of 1448 at Penugonda in Tanuku taluk names him as ruler.11

The 1908 gazetteer says the Muslims overran the country in 1470 and took stone from the ruins of Vengi for their fort at Eluru.12 In 1515 Krishnadeva Raya took Eluru from the Gajapatis, but the Qutb Shahi Sultan of Golconda won it back.12 After Rajahmundry fell in 1572, Eluru became the capital of a sarkar (province) of the same name.1213

Golconda, the Company and the British

The Qutb Shahi Sultan Quli took Eluru and made the Gajapatis give up the land between the mouths of the Godavari and the Krishna.14 Ibrahim Qutb Shah had a fort built at Nidadavole to guard this frontier.14 The English set up a trading post at Madapollam, near Narsapur.15

In the war with the French, Colonel Forde occupied Eluru on 6 February 1759.16 In August 1765 Clive obtained a firman (royal order) from the Mughal emperor that granted the Northern Circars to the British.17 It was proclaimed at Machilipatnam in March 1766.17 In 1794 Collectors replaced the Chiefs-in-Council.18

Sir Arthur Cotton took up the plan to dam the Godavari at Dowlaishweram in 1845.19 Work began under him in 1847 and was mostly finished in two years.19 In 1859 the coastal districts were reorganised as Godavari and Krishna.120 In 1904 five Godavari taluks were transferred to Krishna.120 They included Eluru, Tanuku, Bhimavaram and Narsapur.120

The new district, 1925–1956

The census of 1931 says that in 1925 two districts, Krishna and West Godavari, were formed from the old Kistna district.321 Seven taluks were separated to form West Godavari.321 The 1979 gazetteer gives the date as 15 April 1925, with Machilipatnam as the first headquarters.20 In 1926 the headquarters moved to Eluru.22

On 18 October 1942 the district gained Polavaram taluk from East Godavari.22 Polavaram and Chintalapudi became full taluks in 1956.22 In 1961 the district had eight taluks in three revenue divisions: Eluru, Kovvur and Narsapur.22

The 1979 gazetteer says Gandhi visited Eluru after an All India Congress Committee meeting and opened a national college there.23 In 1930 the village of Mettapalem in Narsapur taluk was chosen as a centre for breaking the salt law.24 The district also took part in the Quit India movement of 1942.25

1953–2014

In 1953 it was one of the eleven districts of the new Andhra State.26 The census of 1981 counted West Godavari among the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh.27 Its taluks were reorganised into mandals in 1985, and in 2001 it had 46 mandals.2829 After the division of 2014 it stayed in Andhra Pradesh.30

Division, 2022

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

Administration

The 1979 gazetteer divides the district into three natural parts: the delta, the uplands and the Agency (hill) tract of Polavaram.2 In the 1970s it had eight taluks: Eluru, Chintalapudi, Polavaram, Kovvur, Tadepalligudem, Tanuku, Narsapur and Bhimavaram.1

Land, farming and water

In 2001 canals of the Godavari western delta and the Krishna eastern delta watered about 85 per cent of the irrigated land.29 Bore wells and filter points watered the rest.29 The 2001 handbook calls the district one of the rice granaries of Andhra Pradesh, also famous for fish and prawns.31

Kolleru lake is a wide, shallow basin and a home for grey pelicans.32 The 1979 gazetteer says their nesting ground there was made a sanctuary.32 The 2001 handbook says birds come to Kolleru from many distant countries.31

Crafts and industries

The 1908 gazetteer says the famous Ellore carpets were made in the suburb of Tangellamudi.12 Muslim weavers continued this old craft.12 By 2001 the district was famous for its lace industry.33 It had 39 large and medium industries, making sugar, paper, bran oil, alcohol, crockery and other goods.34

People

The 2001 census handbook lists the district’s population within its 2001 boundaries, from 1901 onward.35 The 2011 figure is from the 2011 handbook.36

Census yearPopulation
19019,19,234
195116,97,727
196119,78,257
198128,73,958
200138,03,517
201139,36,966

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

Footnotes

  1. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: West Godavari (1979), p. 1 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

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

  3. Census of India, 1931, Vol. XIV: Madras, Part I, Report (1932), p. 3 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  4. Government of Andhra Pradesh, Revenue (Lands-IV) Department, G.O.Ms. No. 181 (East Godavari; Gazette No. 480), No. 182 (West Godavari; Gazette No. 481) and No. 183 (Eluru; Gazette No. 482), 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: 181 (opens in a new tab), 182 (opens in a new tab), 183 (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  5. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, West Godavari District (2006), p. 5 (PDF p. 48) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8

  6. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: West Godavari (1979), p. 20 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  7. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: West Godavari (1979), p. 28 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  8. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: West Godavari (1979), p. 30 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  9. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: West Godavari (1979), p. 31 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

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

  11. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: West Godavari (1979), p. 35 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  12. Imperial Gazetteer: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 321 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  13. Imperial Gazetteer: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 322 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩

  14. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: West Godavari (1979), p. 38 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

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

  16. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: West Godavari (1979), p. 41 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  17. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: West Godavari (1979), p. 42 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  18. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: West Godavari (1979), p. 44 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  19. Imperial Gazetteer: Madras, Vol. I (1908), p. 165 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

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

  21. Census of India, 1931: Madras, Part I (1932), p. 12 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). ↩ ↩2

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

  23. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: West Godavari (1979), p. 46 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  24. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: West Godavari (1979), p. 47 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  25. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: West Godavari (1979), p. 48 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  26. “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)). ↩

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

  28. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, West Godavari District (2006), p. 6 (PDF p. 49) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  29. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, West Godavari District (2006), p. 12 (PDF p. 55) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

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

  31. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, West Godavari District (2006), p. 22 (PDF p. 65) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

  32. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: West Godavari (1979), p. 16 (archive.org (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩ ↩2

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

  34. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, West Godavari District (2006), p. 15 (PDF p. 58) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  35. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, West Godavari District (2006), p. xxix (PDF p. 21) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

  36. Directorate of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2011, Andhra Pradesh (Series 29): District Census Handbook, West Godavari District, Part XII-A (Village and Town Directory) (2014), p. 12 (PDF p. 30) (censusindia.gov.in (opens in a new tab)). Cite-only; paraphrased. ↩

Places in this district (5)

Monuments in this district (2)

Inscriptions found in this district (3)

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. 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. M. W. M. Yeatts, Census of India, 1931, Vol. XIV: Madras, Part I, Report (opens in a new tab), Government Press, Madras, 1932, pp. 3; 12. [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. 165; 321–322; 328. [Public domain]
  5. N. Ramesan, Andhra Pradesh District Gazetteers: West Godavari (opens in a new tab), Government of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad, 1979, pp. 1–3, 20, 26, 35–36, 38–39, 41–42, 44, 46–47. Cite-only; paraphrased. [All rights reserved (cited, not reproduced)]
  6. Director of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh, Census of India 2001, Andhra Pradesh: District Census Handbook, West Godavari District (Parts A and B) (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 2006, xix, xxix, 5–6, 12, 15, 22. 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, West Godavari District, Part XII-A (Village and Town Directory) (opens in a new tab), Census of India, 2014, pp. 12. 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))]

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