History:

Cuddapah is located at 14°28′N 78°49′E / 14.47°N 78.82°E / 14.47; 78.82.[3] It has an average elevation of 138 metres (452 feet). The District Of Cuddapah has an area of 8723 sq. m. It is in shape an irregular parallelogram, divided into two nearly equal parts by the range of the Eastern Ghats, which intersects it throughout its entire length. The two tracts thus formed possess totally different features. The first, which constitutes the north, east and south-east of the district, is a low-lying plain; while the other, which comprises the southern and southwestern portion, forms a high table-land from 1500 to 2,500 ft (760 m). above sea-level. The chief river is the Pennar, which enters the district from Bellary on the west, and flows eastwards into Nellore. Though a large and broad river, and in the rains containing a great volume of water, in the hot weather months it dwindles down to an inconsiderable stream. Its principal tributaries are the Kundaur, Saglair, Cheyair and Papagni rivers.
Kadapa is in the shape of an irregular parallelogram, divided in half by the range of the Eastern ghats. The city lies in the "Bugga" or "Ralla Vanka" in a hollow bordered on the south by the main Palakondas, part of the eastern ghats, and on the east by a strip of the same hills projecting north towards the Lankamalas on the other side of the Penneru. The two tracts thus formed possess different features. The first, a low-lying plain about 400 ft (120 m) to 450 ft (137 m) above sea level constitutes the north, east and south-east of the city, while the other, which comprises the southern and south-western portion, forms a high table-land from 1500 to 2,500 ft (760 m) above sea-level.

Kadapa (Telugu: కడప) formerly Cuddapah, is a city in the south-central part of Andhra Pradesh, India and is the headquarters of Kadapa District. The city's name originated from the Telugu word "Gadapa" meaning threshold or gate. It was spelled "Cuddapah" but was changed to "Kadapa" on 19 August 2005 to reflect the local pronunciation of the name.[1]
Kadapa is one of the important cities in Rayalaseema, Andhra Pradesh, and is situated in the south-central part of the Andhra Pradesh State. Located 8 km south of the Penna River, the city is surrounded on three sides by the Nallamala and Palakonda hills. The city is named "Threshold" because it is the gateway from the north to the sacred hill-'Pagoda' of Shri Venkateshvara (also spelt as Venkateswara) of Tirupati.
Kishkindakanda, one of the 7 kandas of the Ramayanam, is believed to have happened in Vontimitta, Kadapa. Vontimitta is 20 kilometers from the city. The Ajaneya Swamy Gandi may also be part of the Ramayanam; it is believed that the Anjaneya Swamy Vigraham in Gandi is made by Sri Rama on a hill stone with his arrow's point to thank Anjaneya for helping him in finding Sri Sita Devi.

This district is the repository of mineral wealth. As per the 1983 survey of geological survey of India 30lakh tons of lead, 740lakh tons of barrettes, 27000tons asbestos deposits are there. It is estimated that 700lakh tons of barites deposits might be there in Mangampet. There are clay deposits in Rajampet. This is used to make stone implements. Limestone is available in Yerraguntla, M/s. Coramandal Fertilizers established a cement factory in Chilamkur with an annual yield of 10lakh tons. Bharat cement corporation increases its capacity to 10lakh tons. National mineral development corporation is extracting asbestos in Brahman palli and barieties in Mangampet. Kadapa is also famous for its stone called as "cuddapah stone" used in building construction and for slabs especially in the south India. Brahmani Steels will establish a steel factory in Jammalamadugu constituency with an investment of Rs. 25,000 crores and an installed capacity of 10 million tonnes by 2017[7].

Interesting Notes:

• Bramham Gaari Matham - This is the birthplace of the writer who predicted many future events. He foresaw these during the 14th century and had been a victim of the Nawab's wrath. Srimadhvirat Pothuloori Veerabramhendra Swamy is famous all over Andhra Pradesh and could be considered as a contemporary of Nostradamus.[5]




• Gangamma Jatra - an annual Jatra of the Shrine of Gangamma is an important event in Anantapuram and Kadapa districts. This is one of the religious Jatara in Kadapa. There are different kinds of friendly monkeys near the temple.




• Gandikota or The Gorge Fort - This is situated about 6 miles (10 km) to the west of Jammalamadugu in Kadapa district. The width within the fort is at its broadest, about five and a half furlongs from west to east, and almost a mile from northwest to southeast.




• Pushpagiri - A place very close to Kadapa, where there are few temples that attract tourists. The largest and the best known of them is the Chennakesava Temple, which has a lofty gopuram, sculptures depicting scenes from the epics, floral motifs and elaborately engraved pillars.




• Sri Venkateswar Swamy Temple Lakshmi Palem - 3 km from Badvel town on Porumamilla route. This is an ancient temple more than 400 years old built by Matli Anantha Raju, a local feudator of Vijya Nagara Kings.The presiding deity is Venkateswara Swamy and the Utsav idols bear a close resemblance to Tirupati Malayappa idols. The temple celebrates the Brahmotsavams every year in the month of Phalgunam.




• St. Mary's Cathedral, Mariapuram - St. Mary's Cathedral (built in 1934 and set in Gothic style) in Kadapa is the seat of the Bishop of Cuddapah. The present Bishop of Kadapa is the Most Reverend Dr. G. Prasad.




• Tallapaka - Tallapaka is a village in Rajampet mandal of Kadapa district. The village has the distinction of being the birthplace of Vaaggeyakara (Means: Lyricist cum Composer) Annamacharya the famous lyricist/composer of devotional songs on Lord Venkateswara who made invaluable contribution to music and literature during the 15th century. Several temples are there in Tallapaka. Dhyana Mandiram was constructed in memory great Saint Tallapaka Annamacharya, at Tallapaka.[6]




• Vempalli Gandi - This is the place where God Sri Rama on his way to Ayodya from Lanka stayed for one night to take rest. For conveying thanks to Sri Hanuman for his help in getting Sri Sita devi, God Sri Rama made Hanuman statue on a hill stone with the point of his arrow. which you can still see here. And also in Vempalli there is a hill temple where in you need to cross the river and climb the hill to worship Yeddulakonda Rayudu. It is said that Yeddulakonda Rayudu has more property than Lord Sri Venteswara. It is said that there are diamonds in around the hill, as a result of which many diggings have been left open by diamond hunters. On the bank of the river which you cross to climb the hill temple there is a place called GAVI; Gavi is the place where Lord Shiva lived.




• Yellala Sanjeevaraya Swamy Temple - Currently known as Vellala. This is the place near to proddatur around 20 km from there and other way is from Chagalamarri, Karnool District one can reach same distance. Sanjeevaraya Swamy called Anjaneya or Hanuman. Its is one of the well developed and famous temple in Kadapa District.




• Karunagiri (Christian pilgrim place, very near to Mydukur), was developed by Rev.Fr.Tom chitta, which has most beautiful scenic beauties, located not far from Mydukur and under 60 km from district head quarters Kadapa