Madanapalle

Madanapalle is a town and district headquarters of Annamayya district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Madanapalle is headquarters of Madanapalle Mandal, Madanapalle revenue division and PKM Urban Development Authority.^[1][2]

History

Madanapalle was founded by Sri Yalagiri Ahobila Naidu in 1618 AD. Kammas were said to be the first inhabitants of the town.^[3]

During the early British administration, Sir Thomas Munro, the first Collector of Cuddapah, played a significant role in the development of the town. He constructed a small thatched house at the present-day location of the Collector's bungalow and visited Madanapalle every summer. Munro's connection with the town is well documented, as he facilitated British control in the region during the early 19th century. Madanapalle and its surrounding areas were formally integrated into the British administration when the region came under their rule in 1800.^[4]

In 1850, Madanapalle was developed as a subdivision under British India, with F.B. Manoly appointed as its first Sub-Collector. Over the years, the town faced several natural calamities, including floods, famines, and epidemics, which shaped its social and economic development.^[5]

Madanapalle is also linked to a significant moment in India's national history. In 1919, Rabindranath Tagore visited the town and stayed at the Besant Theosophical College, where he translated the Indian national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, from Bengali to English. Tagore also set it to western musical notations while in Madanapalle. Jana Gana Mana was originally written in 1911 and first sung at the Indian National Congress session in Calcutta on 27 December 1911.

Geography

It is located at an average elevation of 695 m (2,280 ft) above mean sea level.^[6]

Madanapalle is located at 13.55°N 78.50°E.^[7]

Source : Climate^[8]

Madanapalle has mild to warm summers with average high temperatures of 30 to 35 C. Temperatures do not exceed 40 °C (104 °F) and winters are cold with temperatures between 7 and 15 C. Usually summer lasts from March to June, with the advent of rainy season in June, followed by winter which lasts till the end of February.^{[citation needed]}

Demographics

As of 2011 Census of India, the town had a population of 180,180. The total population constitute, 90,700 males, 89,480 females and 13,448 children, in the age group of 0–6 years. The average literacy rate stands at 81.40% with 99,486 literates, significantly higher than the national average of 73.00%.^[9]

Governance

Civic administration

The municipality was formed on 1 April 1961 and is spread over an area of 14.20 km² (5.48 sq mi).^[10] There are 35 election wards each represented by an elected member of the municipal council.^[2] Madanapalle urban agglomeration is spread over an area of 23.44 km² (9.05 sq mi).^[1] Its constituents include the municipality of Madanapalle, the out growths of Angallu, Eedigapalle, Ankisettipalle, Chippili, Pamaiahgaripalle, Papireddipalle, Venkappakota, Basinikonda, Kollabylu, Ponnetipalem and Madanapalle (rural).^[11]

Politics

Madanapalle is an Assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh and the constituency number is 164 in Rajampet Lok Sabha constituency.

Economy

The economy is based on agriculture and main products include tomato, mango, groundnut, tamarind. Madanapalle is the biggest tomato market in Asia.^[12] The tomatoes from here are supplied to most of the southern states & some of the northern states of India.^[13]

It is also famous for silk and silk products like saris and other casuals.^{[citation needed]}

Transport

Madanapalle is very well connected by road and rail. There are three Bus terminals in Madanapalle. State owned APSRTC buses run to different parts of the district, state and interstate – Bengaluru (KA), Kolar (KA), Chintamani (KA) and Chennai (TN), Vellore(TN).

Madanapalle Road Railway Station (MPL) is situated on Dharmavarm - Pakala Branch line and all trains stop here. Trains are available here to travel to Guntakal, Tirupati, Vijayawada. Daily trains are available from and to Guntakal & Tirupati. Other nearest Railway Station is Kurabalakota Railway Station where only Passenger trains stop. New Kadapa to Kolar via Madanapalle Railway line is under construction it Kadapa–Bangalore section.In this project planned to Upgrade Madanapalle Road Railway station as Junction and one New Railway station to Madanapalle Town.

Three National Highways and One Major State Highway passes through Madanapalle.

NH 71 - Madanapalle to Naidupeta Via Pileru

NH 42 - Uravakonda to Krishnagiri Via Kuppam

NH 340 - Kadapa to Bangalore.

Airways

The nearest airports are Kempegowda International Airport , Bengaluru, which is 114 kilometres (71 mi), Tirupati International Airport, which is 128 kilometres (80 mi) & Kadapa Airport which is 131 kilometres (81 mi) .

Education

Primary and secondary education is provided by government schools, aided schools and private schools, under the School Education Department of the state.^[14][15] The languages of instruction are English and Telugu.^{[citation needed]}

• Rishi Valley School is a boarding school, founded by the philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti and operated by the Krishnamurti Foundation India.^{[citation needed]}
• Zilla Parishad High School, Madanapalle, was a district high school (ZPHS) founded in 1924.^[16]

It also has several post-secondary institutions:

• Madanapalle Institute of Technology and Science (Deemed-To-Be-University)^[17][18]
• Viswam Engineering College^[19]
• Aditya College of Engineering
• Golden Valley Integrated Campus
• Viswam Group of Institutions
• Besant Theosophical College.
• Sri Srinivasa degree college
• Gnanambhika degree college
• Viswahita degree college
• Govt degree college
• Siddartha degree college
• Vivekanandha degree college
• Krishna Reddy Siddhartha Junior College
• Venkata Reddy Siddhartha Junior College
• Government Girls College, Madanapalle

The government of Andhra Pradesh is planning to establish the Government Medical College near Madanapalle and land acquisition has started.^[20]

Entertainment

There were many cinema theatres. At this moment, theatres Sai Chitra, Ravi, Sunil, A.S.R, Sree Krishna, Siddartha, Mini Siddartha only operating. Madhusudhana, Pancharatna, Avanthi, Usha, Jyothi, Mallikarjuna, Mini Mallikarjuna, Sesh Mahal, Bhavani, M.S.R.(Tarakarama) theatres closed or converted for other business purpose now.

Notable people

• Jiddu Krishnamurti - philosopher^[21]
• Bindu Madhavi - Tamil film actress^[22]
• Sri Madhukarnath - Yogi and spiritual teacher^[23]

See also

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

References

1. ^ "District Census Handbook – Chittoor". Census of India. pp. 19, 21, 58. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
2. ^ ":: MADANAPALLE Municipality". cdma.ap.gov.in. Archived from the original on 12 October 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
3. ^ Coleridge, Francis Arthur (1911). A Brief History of Madanapalli. Wednesday Review Press.
4. ^ Hunter, William Wilson (1908). The Imperial Gazetteer Of India Vol 16. 2 ed. Oxford: The Clarendon Press. p. 227.
5. ^ "Indian cyclone abates after killing more than 120 - India | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 1996-06-17. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
6. ^ "About Us | Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration". cdma.ap.gov.in. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
7. ^ "Maps, Weather, and Airports for Madanapalle, India". fallingrain.com
8. ^ "Madanapalle climate". en.climate-data.org. Archived from the original on 4 November 2014. Retrieved 2021-12-25.
9. ^ "Chapter–3 (Literates and literacy rate)". Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
10. ^ "Basic Information of Municipality". Commissioner & Director of Municipal Administration. Municipal Administration & Urban Development Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
11. ^ "Name of Urban Agglomeration and its State constituent Units-2011". Census of India. p. 11,22–23. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
12. ^ "Madanapalle tomato market losing its sheen?". The Hindu. 4 February 2022.
13. ^ Kumar, V. Pradeep (2018-07-02). "Tomato glut hits farmers hard". www.thehansindia.com. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
14. ^ "School Education Department". School Education Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
15. ^ "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.
16. ^ "Zilla Parishad High School (ZPHS) Madanapalli". veethi.com
17. ^ India, The Hindu (2025-07-16). "MITS granted 'deemed to be university' status - The Hindu". www.thehindu.com. Retrieved 2025-07-16.
18. ^ "Home". mits.ac.in. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
19. ^
20. ^ India, The Hans (2020-10-01). "Madanapalli to get government medical college". www.thehansindia.com. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
21. ^ "Get acquainted with J Krishnamurti". Hindustan Times. 2022-01-29. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
22. ^ "Bindu Madhavi interview - Telugu Cinema interview - Telugu film actress". www.idlebrain.com. Archived 2012-06-24 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2023-07-12.
23. ^ "'Spiritual evolution is individual'" (in en-IN). The Hindu. 2017-12-28. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2023-07-12.