Anakapalle

Anakapalli అనకాపల్లి
Municipality
Anakapalle Montage Clockwise from Top Left: Rock-cut Buddha Statue at Bojjannakonda, View of Anakaplli Town, Anakapalli railway Station, Streets of Anakapalli, Rail Bridge on Sarada River, View of Satyanarayana Konda
Anakapalli Location in Andhra Pradesh, India
Coordinates:
Country	India
State	Andhra Pradesh
District	Visakhapatnam
Founded by	SAJID KHAN
Area
• Total	23.28 km2 (8.99 sq mi)
Elevation	25 m (82 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	86,519
• Density	3,700/km2 (9,600/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Telugu
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	531001, 531002(gavarapalem)
Telephone code	08924
Website	Anakapalle Municipality

A View of Anakapalle Railway station

Anakapalle View, from the balcony of an apartment complex

Anakapalli is a Municipal town in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The Anakapalli town is famous for its jaggery market. Its market is ranked second in India in terms of jaggery imports/exports. Anakapalli is also a very busy and famous business center in this region. Many people from the rural areas around the town cite Anakapalli as their destination for their shopping and medical needs. Anakapalli is ruled by the only member of 'Nawabs of Arcot' family "Nawab Mohammed Sajid Ali Khan"

History

The City was originally under the rule of the Kalinga Empire (ancient Orissa), different dynasties ruled this region i.e. Chedi Kingdom of Kalinga (Orissa), Eastern Ganga dynasty of Orissa, Gajapati Kingdom of Orissa, Kakatiya, and Qutub Shahi empires. Around 1450, Appala Raju took over the rule of region under the Nawab of Arcot, with Anakapalle as his fortified headquarters. The saga of Anakapalle starts with a historian named "Tallapragada" place and found that Anakapalle. This was proved from the historical evidences found on Bojjana Konda. Satavahanas, Vishnukundina, Gajapathi's, Vijayanagara Samrats, Golkonda Samanta Rajulu ruled the area.

Its alias names are Aniankapalli, Anekaphalle, Vijaypuri, Veniapalii, Kanakapuri, Bellampatnam, and Anakapalli. It is located by the side of a holy Sarada River. During the Independence struggle of India, many prominent leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar visited Anakapalle. It is around 34 km in distance from Visakhapatnam.

Buddhist era

One of the most significant Buddhist sites in Andhra Pradesh, Sankaram is located some 3.5 km away from Anakapalle and 41 km away from Visakhapatnam on the Sabbavaram by-pass road. The name Sankaram derives from the term Sangharama. Sankaram is famous for the whole lot of votive stupas, rock-cut caves, brick-built structural edifices, early historic pottery and Satavahana coins that date back to the 1st century AD. The main stupa here was initially carved out of rock and then covered with bricks. where you can see a number of images of the Buddha carved on the rock face of the caves. At Lingalametta, there are hundreds of rock cut monolithic stupas in rows, spread all over the hill. Among other Buddhist attractions here are relic casket, three chiatya halls, votive platforms, stupas and Vajrayana sculptures. The Vihara was functional for around a millennium and saw the development of the not only Theravada form of Buddhism but also Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism. Later Anakapalle went to estate of Vavilavalasa Inuganty kings and ruled a long time.

Geography

Anakapalle is located on the banks of River Sarada at . It has an average elevation of 26 metres (85 feet).

Demographics

According to Imperial Gazetteer of India, Anakapalle had an area of 297 square miles (770 km²) containing 143 villages.

As of the 2001 Indian census, Anakapalle had a population of 84,523. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Anakapalle has an average literacy rate of 67%, higher than the national average of 59.5%, with 54% of the males and 46% of females literate. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Governance

The municipal council was established in 1878.

Transport

Anakapalli has a railway station on Howrah-Chennai main line. It is under Vijayawada division of South Central railway zone. APSRTC run the buses to all over state. Vizag city run the buses from maddilapalem, Dwaraka bus station, Gajuwaka etc.

Economy

Agriculture mainly consists of production of Rice, Corn, Sugarcane, and all types of vegetables. The chief crop cultivated in this region is sugarcane and Anakapalle is well known for jaggery. It is the second biggest Jaggery market in India.

Velagapudi Steels own a steel mill near Anakapalle.

Religious worships

There are many Hindu, Christian, and Muslims worship centres. Sri Adibethala Seetha Rama Devesthanam, a temple of Adibethaludu. Sri Sri Nookambika Temple, a temple is located in Gavarapalem and houses the goddess Nookambika. Gowri Parameswara Temple, Sri sitarama devasthanam etc. are some of them and there are many more. There are some Mosques and Churches namely, Andhra Baptist Church. Anakapalle is also known for the nearby ruins of a Buddhist temple known as Bojjannakonda, or Sankaram. Thousands of old Buddhist monuments can be seen. These historic monuments are of great interest to tourists. Anakapalle is also a centre of retailing, where brands like H&A have a presence in the market.