Vinukonda

Vinukonda Vishnukundinapuram
Town
Vinukonda-Nandyal Railway Section along Nallamala Hills
Dynamic map
Vinukonda Location in Andhra Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 16°03′N79°45′E / 16.05°N 79.75°E / 16.05; 79.75
Country	India
State	Andhra Pradesh
District	Palnadu district
Incorporated (town)	29 May 2015
Government
• Type	Municipal council
Area [1]
• Total	37.53 km2 (14.49 sq mi)
Elevation [2]	95 m (312 ft)
Population  (2024) [3] [4]
• Total	87,000
• Density	2,300/km2 (6,000/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Telugu
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	522 647
Vehicle registration	AP-39
Website	vinukonda.cdma.ap.gov.in

Vinukonda is a town in Palnadu district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a municipality and the headquarters of Vinukonda mandal and administered under Narasaraopet revenue division. ^[5]

Etymology

The town was formerly known as Vishnukundinapuram. ^[6] The hill is in the shape of tortoise. Many temples are also found on the top of hill. Srigangasametha Ramalingeswara Swamy temple (according to available sources the deity present in temple was sanctified by Lord Rama). Down the hill Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple was found which was constructed in Gupta's rule.^{[ citation needed ]}

History

Dolmens and other megalithic structures have been found in the town's neighbourhood.^{[ citation needed ]} Inscriptions from about 1000–1400 CE are also to be found in many old temples. The Vishnukundinas, a local dynasty, ruled the adjoining areas from here during the turn of the millennium.^{[ citation needed ]} During the medieval era, the hill nearby was the site of a fortress. A four-hundred-year-old Jamia Masjid, built in 1640, is the only major relic of Muslim rule in the town. ^[7]

Geography

Vinukonda is located at 16°03′N79°45′E / 16.05°N 79.75°E / 16.05; 79.75 . ^[8] It has an average elevation of 75  metres (246  feet). Much like the rest of Palnadu district, it has very hot summers and mild winters. Rainfall is mostly in July to September. High concentrations of fluorides are found in the underground water reserves and potable water is therefore rare.^{[ citation needed ]} Summer storage tank is the source of drinking water for the village. ^[9]

Demographics

The town had a population of 60,420 and an urban agglomeration population of 63,450. ^{[3] [5]}

Governance

Vinukonda municipality is the civic administrative body of the city. It is a second grade municipality, constituted on 29 May 2005 and spread over an area of 22.82 km² (8.81 sq mi). ^[10] The urban agglomeration constituents of the town are Vinukonda municipality and a partial out growth of Brahmanapalle village. ^[5] The current Member of Legislative Assembly representing Vinukonda town area is Bolla Brahma Naidu from the YSRCP.

Transport

The town has a total road length of 106.70 km (66.30 mi). ^[11] It is located on Guntur–Kurnool–Bellary highway. Vinukonda railway station is located on the Guntur–Guntakal railway line and falls under the Guntur railway division of South Central Railway. A road through Nagarjuna Sagar located at Macherla is a way to reach its neighbouring state Telangana and a shorter route to reach the capital city of Telangana, Hyderabad.^{[ citation needed ]}

Education

The primary and secondary school education is imparted by government, aided and private schools, under the School Education Department of the state. ^{[12] [13]} The medium of instruction followed by different schools are English and Telugu.^{[ citation needed ]}

References

1. "Municipalities, Municipal Corporations & UDAs" (PDF). Directorate of Town and Country Planning. Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
2. "Elevation for Vinukonda". Veloroutes. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
3. "Census 2011". The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
4. "Statistical Abstract of Andhra Pradesh, 2015" (PDF). Directorate of Economics & Statistics. Government of Andhra Pradesh. p. 43. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
5. "District Census Handbook – Guntur" (PDF). Census of India. pp. 14–15, 46. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
6. Vasumati, E. (1969). Telugu Literature in the Qutub Shahi Period. Abul Kalam Azad Oriental Research Institute.
7. W. Francis (1989). Gazetteer of South India. Mittal Publications. pp. 328–. GGKEY:4Y158YFPNGZ. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
8. Falling Rain Genomics, Inc – Vinukonda
9. "With summer setting in, water crisis hits Guntur mandals hard". The New Indian Express. Guntur. 15 April 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
10. "Statistical Information of ULBs and UDAs" (PDF). Directorate of Town and Country Planning. Government of Andhra Pradesh. 27 February 2019. p. 3. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
11. "Details of Roads in Each ULB of Andhra Pradesh". Commissioner and Directorate of Municipal Administration. Municipal Administration and Urban Developmemt Department – Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original on 1 August 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
12. "School Education Department" (PDF). School Education Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
13. "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.