Chittoor
Chittoor also known as Chittur, is a city and district of India's Andhra Pradesh state. The district has a population of 3,735,000 (2001 census). Chittoor district is famous for the Tirupati, Kanipakam and Sri Kalahasti temples. It lies in the Poini River valley of southernmost Andhra Pradesh, on the Bangalore-Chennai highway. It is a market center for mangos, grain, sugarcane, and peanuts. Its industries include oilseed and rice milling. It is also home to Nutrine Confectionaries, a major chocolate,Granite industriesand mango pulp manufacturer in India.
Geography
The district is bounded by Anantapur District to the northwest, Cuddapah District to the north, Nellore District to the northeast, Krishnagiri District, Vellore District and Tiruvallur District of Tamil Nadu state to the south, and Kolar District of Karnataka state to the west. Chittoor district lies extreme south of the Andhra Pradesh state approximately between 12°37' - 14°8' north latitudes and 78°3' - 79°55' east longitudes.30% of the total land area is covered by forests in the district. The district has an area of 15,359 km² and population of 3,745,875 of which 21.65% were urban as of 2001. Mango and tamarind groves surround the city of Chittoor, and cattle are raised in the district. The soils in the district constitute redloamy 57%, red sandy 34% and the remaining 9% is covered by black clay black loamy, black sandy and red clay The important rivers in the district are Ponnai and Swarnamukhi rivers which originate in eastern ghats. Other rivers include Kusasthali, Beema, Bahuda, Pincha, Kalyani, Araniyar and Pedderu. None of the rivers are perennial. The population of Chittoor district according to 1991 census is 32.5 lacks with density of 214 Per km².
Economy
Though Chittoor is the district capital and houses many of district level government institutions, Tirupati holds the major economical activities of the district. Chittoor is predominantly an agro-market place for its district. It is a market center for mango, grain, sugarcane, and peanut. Industries include oilseed and rice milling. As the entry point for huge cluster of industries located in adjoining Vellore district esp. around Ranipet for Northern India, and strategically located in between Chennai and Bangalore, Chittoor boasts a busy logistics industry. It is quite common to see thousands of men and women from Chittoor travel to Tirupathi, Ranipet and Vellore for work and education, and this forms one of the major income to the city's population. State government's initiatives to develop the district making use of its proximity to two major business centers of the country - Chennai and Bangalore, is expected to improve the economy of the district as well as Chittoor to a great extent. Recent proposals of setting up of industrial parks around Tirupati by the state government has given a significant boost to the region's economic activities. Chittoor's leading industry and largest employer is Amararaja Group employing over 3,600 people. It is home to NutrineConfectionaries, a major chocolate manufacturer in India, which was acquired by Godrej group in 2007. The ISRO Radar Center is located at Gadanki, on the Chittoor-Tirupati Highway. Poulty industry has a significant industry here, which is second only to Namakkal. Mango and tamarind groves surround the town of Chittoor, and cattle are raised in the district. It's also famous for mangos ( called as collector/totapari/chittoor variety) and jaggery. It exports nearly 500 Million Tonnes of Raw / Processed Pulp / Fruit to other countries. Around 200 small & medium scale granite industries function in and around Chittoor. Vijaya Diary was one of the federations to process milk on a large scale in the district. Incidentally, it is largest unit in the country after AMUL (Gujarat). Madanapalle is the center of an agricultural region noted for its fruits and vegetables, especially tomatoes. The district is also famous for hospitals like T.B.Sanitorium which is located in Arogyavaram, 5km from Madanapalle, Apollo Hospital at Arragonda. Rishi Valley, near Horsely Hills is noted for its residential education Gurukula. One of India's greatest philosopher, Jiddu Krishnamurti chose this site to set up his Jiddu krishnamurti foundation as well as Rishi valley school, one of India's elite boarding schools.
Tourism
Chittoor district boasts few of the finest ancient/modern temples of the country such as Tirumala, Kanipakkam and Sri Kalahasti. Along with the adjoining Vellore district (esp. after the unveiling of Sripuram Golden Temple), Chittoor district forms one of the biggest tourism cluster in the country. Also, enormous Archeological finding in the region marks the region on the maps of Historians. Huge collection of antiques mostly with modern Tamil and old Telugu scripts which date back to early as 10th century have been unearthed from the region, can be found in various museums in Tirupati, Chittoor and Vellore. Tirupati temple is the most visited and richest temple in India, often receiving 200,000 visitors a day. Horsley Hills, formerly called Enugu Mallamma Konda, is a summer resort located near the town of Madanapalle. It is known to some as the "Andhra Ooty". Gurramkonda, in the western part of the district, is an historic center, with an old fort and a sultan's palace called the Rangini Mahal. Other notable places in the district are Ardhagiri, Chandragiri .
Educational Institutions
Chittoor is home of many reputed educational institutions. The notable ones are:
High Schools and Junior Colleges:
* Sri Vivekanada Educational Academy, Chittoor (Junior college)
* B.Z. High School, Chittoor.
* S.V.Z.P High School, Kanipakam, Chittoor.
* PCR Govt junior college, Chittoor.
* Varadappa Naidu Municipal School, Chittoor.
* B.S. Kannan Govt High School and Junior College.
* Kings English School,Chittoor
* B.V.Reddy School,Chittoor.
* Little Flower High School, Chittoor.
* PCR Govt High School, Chittoor
* Sri Harsha E M School, Chittoor
Higher Education Institutions:
* P.V.K.N Govt Degree College, Chittoor, 517001 (NAAC Certified)
* Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering and Technology(SVCET), Chittoor.
* Sreenivasa Institute of Technology and Management Studies (SITAMS), Chittoor
BANKS and ATMS in Chittoor
Banks:
* State Bank of India-1 Highroad.
* State Bank of India-2 Greamspet.
* State Bank of Hyderabad.
* Andhra Bank-1 Highroad.
* Andhra Bank-2 Kongareddypalli,
* Andhra Bank -3 Darga Chowk,
* Canara Bank.
* Vijaya bank.
* Central Bank of India.
* Indian bank-1 Shesparain street.
* Indian bank-2 Kongareddypalli.
* Indian bank-3 Greamspet.
* Bank of India.
* Corporation bank.
* Punjab National Bank.
* Union Bank of India.
* Axis Bank.
* ING Vysya Bank.
* Karur Vysya Bank.
* Indian overseas Bank.
* Lakshami Vilas Bank.
* IndusInd Bank.
* Saptagiri Grameena Bank.
* Allahabad Bank.
* Syndicate Bank.
ATMs:
* Andhra Bank-1 Alankar Hotel.
* Andhra Bank-2 Darga circle.
* Andhra Bank-3 Kongareddypalli.
* Axis Bank-1 Highroad.
* Axis Bank-2 Greamspet.
* Axis Bank-3 Kongareddypalli.
* Centurion Bank Kongareddypalli.
* Corporation Bank Near Gandhi Statue.
* ICICI Bank Highroad.
* Indian overseas Bank Naidu buildings.
* IndusInd Bank-1 Naidubuildings.
* IndusInd Bank-2 B.V Reddy Petrolbunk.
* Indian Bank-1 Kongareddypalli.
* Indian Bank-2 Near Gandhi Statue.
* Karur Vysya Bank Shesparain street.
* Punjab National Bank Shesparain street.
* SBI-1 Highroad.
* SBI-2 Greamspet(two tellers).
* SBI-3 Railway station.
* SBI-4 Shesparain street.
* Syndicate Bank DI Raod.
* Union Bank of India-1 Church street.
* Union Bank of India-2 Near old bustand.
* Vijaya Bank Highroad.
Formation
Chittoor District was formed on 1st April 1911, dividing the then Cuddapah, Nellore and North Arcot districts as a result of recommendations of Pataskar Commission.
Mandals in Chittoor District
There are 66 mandals in Chittoor district.[6]
* 1. Peddamandyam 23. K V B Puram 45. Nagari
* 2. Thamballapalle 24. Narayanavanam 46. Karvetinagar
* 3. Mulakalacheruvu 25. Vadamalapeta 47. Srirangarajapuram
* 4. Peddathippasamudram 26. Tirupati Rural 48. Palasamudram
* 5. B.Kothakota 27. Ramachandrapuram 49. Gangadhara nellore
* 6. Kurabalakota 28. Chandragiri 50. Penumuru
* 7. Gurramkonda 29. Chinnagottigallu 51. Puthalapattu
* 8. Kalakada 30. Rompicherla 52. Irala
* 9. Kambhamvaripalle 31. Pileru 53. Thavanampalle
* 10. Yerravaripalem 32. Kalikiri 54. Chittoor
* 11. Tirupati Urban 33. Vayalpadu 55. Gudipala
* 12. Renigunta 34. Nimmanapalle 56. Yadamari
* 13. Yerpedu 35. Madanapalle 57. Bangarupalem
* 14. Srikalahasti 36. Ramasamudram 58. Palamaner
* 15. Thottambedu 37. Punganur 59. Gangavaram
* 16. Buchinaidu khandriga 38. Chowdepalle 60. Peddapanjani
* 17. Varadaiahpalem 39. Somala 61. Baireddipalle
* 18. Satyavedu 40. Sodam 62. Venkatagirikota
* 19. Nagalapuram 41. Pulicherla 63. Ramakuppam
* 20. Pitchatur 42. Pakala 64. Santhipuram
* 21. Vijayapuram 43. Vedurukuppam 65. Gudupalle
* 22. Nindra 44. Puttur 66. Kuppam
Rivers
* Suvarnamukhi
* Kalangi
* Papaghni
* Koundinya
* Paleru
* Arani
* Pinchcha
* Cheyyeru
* Neeva
Tourist Places
* Tirupati
* Chandragiri
* Srikalahasti
* Horsley Hills
* Talakona Forest & Waterfalls.
* Kailasanatha Kona Forest & Waterfalls.
* Gurramkonda
* Pulicat lake.
* Appalayagunta Prasanna Venkateswaraswami Temple
* Sri Prasanna Ganapathi Temple, Kannikapuram Viilage of Ramachandrapuram Mandalam.
* Koundinya Elephant Sanctuary Forest and Elephant Sanctuary, Palamner
Important personalities
* Jiddu Krishnamurti Philosopher.
* Kattamanchi Ramalinga Reddy Educationist, Poet.
* Chittor V. Nagaiah Film actor, Director.
* D. K. Audikesavulu Naidu — Politician, Industrialist and Founder of Educational Institutions.
* Nara Chandrababu Naidu Politician.
* Krishna A Maddipatla (MK Anil), President & CEO, Maddipatlas Inc.,
* Mumtaz Ali Philosopher.
* Jayanti
* Ahmadnisar Urdu poet.
* Devika
* Ramaprabha
* BVR Reddy
* Reddivari Chenga Reddy Senior Politician and Hon. minister of Law
* Mohan Babu
* Sankarambadi Sundara Charyulu, Author of the famous song, Maa Telugu Talliki Malle Poo danda
