Srikakulam

This article is about a city in India. For its namesake district, see Srikakulam district.

For a village in Ghantasala mandal of Krishna district, see Srikakulam, Krishna district.

Srikakulam శ్రీకాకుళం
District Headquarter Municipal city
Buddha statue in Nagavali River
Nickname(s):  Chicacole, Sikkole
Srikakulam శ్రీకాకుళం Location in Andhra Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 18°18′N83°54′E / 18.3°N 83.9°E / 18.3; 83.9
Country	India
State	Andhra Pradesh
Incorporated (Municipality)	1856
Incorporated (Corporation)	2015
Founded by	Balarama
Wards	36
Government
• Type	Mayor–Council
• Body	Srikakulam Municipal Corporation
•  MLAs	Dharamana Prasad Rao
•  MP	Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu
Area [1]
•  District Headquarter Municipal city	20.89 km2 (8.07 sq mi)
Population  (2011) [2]
•  District Headquarter Municipal city	228,025
• Rank	22nd (in AP)
•  Metro [3]	165,735
Literacy
Languages
• Official	Telugu
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	532001, Complete Post Office List [4]
Telephone Code	+91–8942
Vehicle registration	AP-30 (former) AP–39 (from 30 January 2019) [5]
Website	srikakulam.cdma.ap.gov.in

Srikakulam is a city and the headquarters of Srikakulam district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. ^[6] As of 2011 ^[update] census, it has a population of 165,735. There are many other places of Buddhist Tourism such as Salihundam, Kalinga Patnam, Dabbaka Vaani Peta, Nagari Peta, Jagati Metta, Singupuram etc. in Srikakulam District. The Buddhist heritage site of Salihundam has some unique features. It has a beautiful star atop a stupa, rock cut massive stupas inside chaitya grihas, brick stupas with wheel pattern plan, votive stupas, inscriptions on the steps leading to the stupas and museum housing over two dozen sculpted statue and figurines of Buddha, Jain Teerthankars and other deities ^[7]

Etymology

The city was known as Chicacole before Indian Independence. ^[8]

History

Srikakulam or Chicacole is of great historical significance in the medieval and later history of Kalinga. The earliest history of Srikakulam dates back to the ages of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. It falls under the direct rule of the Suryavanshis of Nandapur until its annexation by the Golconda Qutb Shahis. Under the Sultans of Golconda, Srikakulam became the headquarters of the North Andhra region and one officer called 'Fouzdar' was appointed to look after the administration. The rule of Golconda in the region ended in 1673 with a battle between the king of Jeypore, Viswambhar Dev-I and the Nawab of Chicacole.

Due to the weakening state of Golconda, the fouzdar of Chicacole adopted the title of Nawab and endeavored to establish an independent regime. However, he was defeated by Viswambhar Dev-I, who re-established the rule of Jeypore in the North Andhra regions.

Demographics

As of 2011 ^[update] Census of India, the city had a population of 146,988. The total population constitute, 73,077 males and 73,911 females —a sex ratio of 1011 females per 1000 males. 11,607 children are in the age group of 1–6 years. The average literacy rate stands at 84.62%, with male literacy at 90.76% and female literacy at 78.61%, and a total of 96,744 literates, significantly higher than the national average of 73.00%. ^{[9] [10]}

The Urban agglomeration had a population of 147,015, of which males constitute 73,077, females constitute 73,911 —a sex ratio of 931 females per 1000 males and 12,741 children are in the age group of 0–6 years. There are a total of 115,061 literates with an average literacy rate of 85.71%. ^[3]

Climate

Srikakulam has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw).

Climate data for Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	28.8 (83.8)	31.0 (87.8)	33.3 (91.9)	35.5 (95.9)	37.9 (100.2)	36.9 (98.4)	32.9 (91.2)	32.4 (90.3)	32.4 (90.3)	31.3 (88.3)	29.7 (85.5)	28.6 (83.5)	32.6 (90.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	15.3 (59.5)	20.5 (68.9)	22.8 (73.0)	25.8 (78.4)	27.9 (82.2)	27.4 (81.3)	25.7 (78.3)	25.5 (77.9)	25.6 (78.1)	24.7 (76.5)	21.7 (71.1)	16.6 (61.9)	23.3 (73.9)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	0 (0)	5 (0.2)	4 (0.2)	10 (0.4)	53 (2.1)	126 (5.0)	204 (8.0)	204 (8.0)	162 (6.4)	228 (9.0)	66 (2.6)	13 (0.5)	1,075 (42.4)
Source: en.climate-data.org

Governance

Main articles: Srikakulam (Assembly Constituency) and Srikakulam (Lok Sabha constituency)

Civic administration

Srikakulam Municipal Corporation is the civic body of the city, constituted as a municipality in the year 1856. ^[11] It was upgraded to corporation on 9 December 2015. ^{[12] [1]} The jurisdictional area of the corporation is spread over 20.89 km² (8.07 sq mi) with 36 election wards. ^[1]

The Srikakulam urban agglomeration constituents of the city include, Srikakulam municipality, census town of Balaga, fully out growths of Arasavalli, partly outgrowths of Kusulapuram, Thotapalem, Patrunivalasa and Patha Srikakulam (rural). While, Ponugutivalasa of Santhakavati mandal is now a part of Rajam Nagar Panchayat. ^[13]

Politics

Srikakulam is a part of Srikakulam (Assembly constituency) for Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Dharmana Pradsada Rao is the present MLA of the constituency from YSR Congress Party. ^[14] It is also a part of Srikakulam (Lok Sabha constituency) which was won by Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu of Telugu Desam Party. ^{[15] [16]}

Culture and tourism

Sri Suryanarayana Swamy Temple, Arasavalli

The Arasavalli Sun temple is the abode of Sun god, the idol of the temple was installed by sage Kasyapa's and is one of the two sun temples in the country. ^[17]

Education

The primary and secondary school education is imparted by government, aided and private schools of the School Education Department of the state. ^{[18] [19]} The medium of instruction followed by different schools are English, Telugu. Notably, Gedela Srinubabu, CEO of Pulses Group has been orchestrating meetings with the objective of encouraging farmers to revert to jute cultivation. ^[20]

Transport

Srikakulam Railway Station, Amadalavalasa

The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation operates bus services from Srikakulam bus station. ^[21] National Highway 16 (India), a part of Golden Quadrilateral highway network, bypasses the city. ^[22]

Srikakulam Road railway station(station code:CHE) ^[23] is an Indian railway station in Amudalavalasa near to Srikakulam town of Andhra Pradesh. It lies on the Khurda Road-Visakhapatnam section of Howrah-Chennai main line and is administered under Waltair railway division of South Coast Railway zone. ^[24]

Sports

International athletes like Karnam Malleswari (weightlifting) and Korada Mrudula (running, 400 m) are from Srikakulam. Kodi Ram Murthy Stadium near Govt. Degree College is a multi-purpose sporting facility in the town. In 1991, an unofficial cricket match was played between Sunil Gavaskar XI and Kapil Dev XI with both the legends being a part of the game as well. The only swimming pool (maintained by SAAP) is located in Santhinagar.

See also

• List of cities in Andhra Pradesh by population
• List of municipalities in Andhra Pradesh

References

1. "Municipalities, Municipal Corporations & UDAs" (PDF). Directorate of Town and Country Planning. Government of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
2. "Statistical Abstract of Andhra Pradesh, 2015" (PDF). Directorate of Economics & Statistics. Government of Andhra Pradesh. p. 44. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
3. "Andhra Pradesh (India): State, Major Agglomerations & Cities – Population Statistics in Maps and Charts". citypopulation.de.
4. Complete Post Office List
5. "New 'AP 39' code to register vehicles in Andhra Pradesh launched". The New Indian Express. Vijayawada. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
6. "District Census Handbook – Srikakulam" (PDF). Census of India. p. 27. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
7. Salihundam Buddhist heritage site, museum need attention, Times of India, Sulogna Mehta, Oct 17, 2016
8. "Srikakulam Municipality". Commissioner & Director of Municipal Administration. Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
9. "Srikakulam City Population Census 2011 – Andhra Pradesh".
10. "Chapter–3 (Literates and Literacy rate)" (PDF). Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
11. Rao, K. Srinivasa (14 February 2019). "An enthralling voyage back in time". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
12. "Masula, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram upgraded into corporations". The Hindu. Vijayawada. 10 December 2015. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
13. "District Census Handbook – Srikakulam" (PDF). Census of India. p. 27. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
14. "MLA". AP State Portal. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
15. "MP (Lok Sabha)". Government of AP. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
16. "Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 2008" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 22,31. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
17. "::srikakulam::". www.srikakulam.ap.gov.in. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
18. "School Education Department" (PDF). School Education Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
19. "The Department of School Education – Official AP State Government Portal | AP State Portal". www.ap.gov.in. Archived from the original on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
20. Rao, K. Srinivasa (11 December 2018). "NRI's passion to encourage jute cultivation". The Hindu. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 30 December 2023.
21. "Bus Stations in Districts". Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
22. "National Highways Development Project Map". National Highways Authority of India. Archived from the original on 22 April 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2017.
23. "Station Code Index" (PDF). Portal of Indian Railways. p. 2. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
24. "Repalle railway station info". India Rail Info. Retrieved 23 May 2016.

External links

• Srikakulam District Collectorate