Guntur district is in the Coastal Andhra region of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The administrative seat of the district is located at Guntur, one of the major urban centres of the state. Historically significant, the region was part of ancient Buddhist and Satavahana-era settlements and later came under various South Indian dynasties before British rule. The district is known for its agricultural prominence—particularly chilli and cotton cultivation—as well as education and trade. It forms part of the larger Coastal Andhra region and contributes significantly to the state’s economy and cultural heritage.
The district is named after city Guntur.[3] In Sanskrit documents, Guntur was referred to as Garthapuri; in Telugu, "Guntlapuri" means "a place surrounded by water ponds".[4] The settlement might have been near a pond (Telugu: "gunta"); hence "gunta uru" means "pond village". Another source refers to "kunta", a land-measuring unit, which may have transformed to "kunta uru" and later to "Guntur".[5]
Guntur district is home to the second oldest evidence of human habitation in India, in the form of Palaeolithic (old Stone Age) implements. The place of Sitanagaram part of Guntur and the Guthikonda Caves can be traced (through Vedic Puranas) back to the traditional timescale Treta Yuga and Dvapara Yuga.[7]
Since the beginning of Buddhist time, Guntur stood in the forefront in matters of culture, education and civilisation. Gautama Buddha preached at Dharanikota/Dhanyakatakam near Guntur and conducted Kalachakra ceremony, which takes its antiquity to 500 BCE.[8] Taranatha, a Buddhist monk writes: "On the full moon of the month Chaitra in the year following his enlightenment, at the great stupa of Dhanyakataka, the Buddha emanated the mandala of "The Glorious Lunar Mansions" (Kalachakra).[9] Buddhists established universities in ancient times at Dhanyakataka and Amaravathi. Scores of Buddhist stupas were excavated in the villages of Guntur district. Acharya Nagarjuna, an influential Buddhistphilosopher taught at Nagarjunakonda and is said to have discovered Mica in 200 BCE. Chinese traveller and Buddhist monk Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) visited Amaravati in 640 C.E., stayed for sometime and studied 'Abhidhammapitakam'. He observed that there were many Viharas and some of them were deserted, which points out that Hinduism was gaining ground at that time. Xuanzang wrote a glorious account of the place, Viharas and monasteries that existed.[10]
The 'Agasthyeswara Sivalayam' is in the old city of Guntur. It has inscriptions on two stones in 'Naga Lipi' (ancient script). It is said that Agastya built the temple in the last Treta Yuga around the Swayambhu Linga and hence the name. The 'Nagas' were said to have ruled the region.[11]
Ancient history can be traced from the time of Sala kings who ruled during the 5th century BCE. The earliest reference to Guntur, a variant of Guntur, comes from the Idern plates of Ammaraja I (922–929 CE), the VengiChalukyan King.[4]
The Guntur region played a significant role in the struggle for independence and the formation of Andhra Pradesh. The northern, Telugu- speaking districts of Madras State, including Guntur, advocated to become a separate state after independence. The new state of Andhra region named Andhra State, was created in 1953 from the eleven northern districts of Madras State.
In 1970, part of Guntur district was split off to become part of the Prakasam district.[16] Guntur District had 8 Talukas in 1971, later in 1978 they were increased to 21 Talukas. In 1985, Mandal system was created and 57 mandals were formed in the district. In 2018, Guntur mandal is split into Guntur East and Guntur West mandals making a total of 58 mandals.[17]
The district was often referred to as the Land of Chillies.[18] It was also a major centre for agriculture, education and learning. It exported large quantities of chillies and tobacco.[19] It suffered from Naxaliteinsurgency and is a part of the Red corridor.[20]
Based on census of India, the district before reorganisation in 2022 had a population of 4,887,813 with a density of 193 inhabitants per square kilometre (500/sqmi). The total population constitute, 2,440,521 males and 2,447,292 females – a sex ratio of 1003 females per 1000 males. The total urban population is 16,52,738 (33.81%). There are 29,60,441 literates with a literacy rate of 67.40%.[21]:19 On 4 April 2022, the district is divided again to form Palnadu and Bapatla districts.[22][23][24]
Geography
Guntur district occupies an area of approximately 2,443 square kilometres (943sqmi),[25][26] The Krishna River forms the northeastern and eastern boundary of the district, separating it from Krishna district.It is bounded on the south by Bapatla district and on the west by Palnadu district.[27] It has an area of 2,443km2 (943mi2).[28]
Demographics
Religions in Guntur district as of 4 April 2022 and based on 2011 census data[a][29]
After bifurcation the district on 4th April 2022, based on the 2011 census data, the district had a population of 20,91,075, of which 1,072,544 (51.29%) lived in urban areas. Guntur district had a sex ratio of 1007 females to 1000 males. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 4,21,861 (20.17%) and 69,017 (3.30%) of the population respectively.[24]} 86.14% of the population spoke Telugu and 12.32% Urdu as their first language.[30]
Languages of Guntur district as of 4 April 2022 based on 2011 census[30]
Tobacco Drying at Grandhasiri village in Guntur district
For the FY 2013–14, the Gross District Domestic Product (GDDP) of the district is ₹49,722 crore (US$5.9billion) and it contributes 9.5% to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). The per capita income at current prices was ₹82,026 (US$970). The primary, secondary and tertiary sectors of the district contribute ₹16,111 crore (US$1.9billion), ₹8,770 crore (US$1.0billion) and ₹24,841 crore (US$2.9billion) respectively to the GDDP.[37]
The total road length of state highways in the district is 1,258km (782mi).[38] There exists 406km (252mi) of rail network in the district.[37]
Education and research
Nagarjuna university campus
The primary and secondary school education is imparted by government, aided and private schools, under the School Education Department of the state.[39][40] As per the school information report for the academic year 2015–16, there are a total of 4,739 schools. They include, 32 government, 2,839 mandal and zilla parishads, 2 residential, 1329 private, 14 model, 24 Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV), 296 municipal and 203 other types of schools.[41] The total number of students enrolled in primary, upper primary and high schools of the district are 637,031.[42] The district being home to the capital city, it is experiencing a growth in private international schools as well.[43] The Central Board of Secondary Education, Secondary School Certificate or the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education are the different types of syllabus followed by different schools. The medium of instruction followed by different schools are English, Telugu and Urdu.[44][45]
There are several junior colleges which are under government, residential, social welfare, disabled welfare, private aided and unaided for the purpose of imparting (10+2) education and the students sit for the certificate of Board of Intermediate Education.[46]AC college is the oldest private aided college of the district, established in 1885.[46] The higher education colleges have various fields of study like medical, nursing, degree, post graduate, polytechnic, law, teaching, pharmacy, engineering, veterinary etc.[47] The Acharya Nagarjuna University is a state university which has fourteen autonomous colleges as per Universities Grant Commission.[48][49] The KMC, GMC, AIIMS are some of the premier medical institutes in Guntur. There are also many private universities like Vignan University, KL University in the district. The Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University at Lam is a public agricultural university, equipped with a Regional Agricultural Research Station.[50][51]
↑Buddha's Preaching of the Kalachakra Tantra at the Stupa of Dhanyakataka, H. Hoffman, in: German Scholars on India, Vol. I, 1973, pp. 136–140, Varanasi
↑"Urban Local Bodies". Commissioner & Director of Municipal Administration – Government of Andhra Pradesh. National Informatics Centre. Archived from the original on 11 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
↑"Existing State Highways"(PDF). Andhra Pradesh Road Development Corporation. Government of Andhra Pradesh. p.1. Archived from the original(PDF) on 20 September 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
↑"School Education Department"(PDF). School Education Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original(PDF) on 27 December 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
↑"School Information Report". Commissionerate of School Education. Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original on 8 November 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
↑"Student Information Report". Commissionerate of School Education. Child info 2015–16, District School Education – Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original on 22 May 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
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