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The name is a vernacular transformation of Kanakagiri (Kanaka meaning gold and Giri meaning Hill).[5] In olden times it was said that the town adjoining the hill was called Kanakapatnam.
Geography
Kanigiri Mandal is located on the south side of the Prakasam District having a geographical area of around 490km2. Kanigiri Municipality is the 6th largest municipality in Prakasam with an area of 55.36km2. Physio-graphically, most of the part of the district is a level plain with an average height of 300 meters showing a gradient towards the East (coast). The remaining Western part is however rugged and higher in elevation (up to 1,200 meters) where the Nallamala and Velikonda hill ranges are the characteristic features of the Landscape. Kanigiri Municipality has a maximum elevation of 380 meters which is on Kanigiri Hill located on the Northern edge of the municipality. Excluding the hill, the Kanigiri Municipality's average elevation is 95 meters. The minimum elevation is 70 meters and the maximum elevation is 120 meters. The hill base starts at 120 meters and goes up to 380 meters.
Climate
Kanigiri has a tropical climate, specifically a tropical wet and dry climate (Aw) under the Köppen climate classification, Kanigiri is located near the coast of the Bay of Bengal. The town is surrounded by the range of Eastern Ghats. It has an average elevation of 101 metres (334 feet), and enjoys a hot climate for most of the year.
Regional Connectivity
Road
Kanigiri is a town in Kanigiri Mandal in Prakasam District of Andhra Pradesh State, India. It is located on the North-West side of the Eastern Ghats. NH 565 passes through the Municipality which connects Kanigiri to Hyderabad on the Northern side and Nellore on the Southern side and further connects to Chennai via NH 16. Other than that, the Ollapalem-Vemulapadu road (Kandukur-Kanigiri Road) which is a State Highway, connects Kanigiri to Kandukur towards the East and further connects it to NH 16. On the Western side, the State Highway connects Kanigiri to Kurnool.
Vijayawada, which has the nearest airport to Kanigiri is at a distance of 200km. Other nearby international airports are in Hyderabad, Tirupati and Chennai. All of these airports have good connectivity with other major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and other international Cities. There is a proposal for a Green Field Domestic Airport at Ongole.
Moreover Newly constructing Amaravati - Banglore Expressway From Vijaywada to Bangalore is passing through the kanigiri town.
Indian Railways: Newly Constructing Railway Line from Nadikudi to SriKalahasthi Nadikudi-Srikalahasti section will pass through Kanigiri Town and Kanigiri Railway Station is under construction.
Demographics
According to official Census of India figures (2025) for Kanigiri Mandal in Prakasam district, the total population was 99,853, of which 51,355 were males and 48,329 were females, with a sex ratio of 953 females per 1,000 males. The child population (age 0–6 years) was 11,007 (11.9% of the total), and the average literacy rate was approximately 77.64% (male: 86.57%; female: 54.2%). Scheduled Castes made up about 20.48% of the population and Scheduled Tribes 2.92%.
Religion
As per available Demographic data, The Majority of the population in Kanigiri Mandal follows Hinduism, Accounting for about (85.20%), of the total population and followed by Islam at approximately (10.02%). Minor religious groups including Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and others together constitute (4.78%), of the population.
Urban vs Rural Population and Literacy
Kanigiri consists of both rural and urban areas, Including one census town Kanigiri (U), and with an urban population of 55,041, Approximately 66.47% of the total population lives in urban areas, While 44.53% resides in rural areas, with an Total population 99,853. Literacy rate is higher in Urban Area (77.55%) compared to Rural areas (57.38%). whereas Male literacy rate is around 86.32% while female literacy rate is 68.62%.
Caste and Scheduled Groups
Scheduled Castes formed approximately 20.48% of the total population in 2011, while Scheduled Tribes accounted for about 2.92%. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
Population Density and Area
The total area of Kanigiri is approximately 513.81 square kilometres, giving it a population density of about 180 people per square kilometre based on 2011 census figures.
The municipality is divided into 20 administrativewards, each represented by elected councilors, ensuring effective local governance and active citizen participation. The municipal administration oversees essential services, including water supply, sanitation, road maintenance, public health, education, and urban development projects, making Kanigiri a well-managed and progressive town.
Residents depended on monsoon rains for drinking water; currently, water from the reservoir Nagarjuna Sagar Dam via pumplines reaches the town through a plant near Doruvu.
The first cases of endemic skeletal fluorosis (and its neurological signs) in the world were recorded in the Podili, Darsi and Kanigiri areas of Andhra Pradesh in 1937.[7]
Planning
To achieve the Goal of Electronic Governance for all the Services of the ULBs, large Scale and detailed GIS Base Maps have been required. To achieve this purpose, the Government have already prepare GIS Base Maps for all 110 Urban Local Bodies of Andhra Pradesh under AMRUT Scheme. Kanigiri is one of the selected ULBs under GIS based Master Plan. DT&CP has taken the initiative to prepare a Revised Master Plan for the year 2041, and selected Design and Planning Counsel, Ahmedabad through tender. The overall objective of the Kanigiri Master Plan is to create enabling spatial and land use planning framework to achieve the Vision of Kanigiri Master Plan in order to promote, guide and rationalize planned development, to encourage existing economic activities to grow by providing adequate infrastructure in terms of the road network and preservation of other natural features. Also, to formulate infrastructure projects addressing the needs of water, solid waste collection, drainage etc.
Kanigiri Fort (Durgam Fort) – A historic hilltop fortification located on Kanigiri Hill, also historically known as Kanakagiri Vijaya Marthanda Durga. The fort dates back to medieval times under regional rulers like the Vijayanagara Empire and offers panoramic views of the surrounding plains along with remnants of ancient defensive walls, temples, wells, and bastions that reflect the region’s strategic importance.
Education
The Primary and Secondary School Education is imparted by the Government, Aided and Private School, under the State School Education Department.As per the school information report for the academic year 2015–16, the town has 4,837 students enrolled both in 25 private schools and 24 state Government Schools in total.[170] The state and CBSE syllabus are followed by schools for the Secondary School Certificate.[171][172] The languages of instruction are English,and Telugu, urdu .[8][9]
↑"School Education Department"(PDF). School Education Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original(PDF) on 27 December 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
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