1. BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DISTRICT
Chittoor district is a part of Rayalaseema and lies in the extreme south of the state approximately between 12?37' - 14?8' north latitudes and 78?3' - 79?55' east longitudes. It is bounded on the north by Anantapur and Cuddapah districts, on' the east by Nellore and Chengai-Anna districts of Tamilnadu, on the south by North Arcot Ambedkar & Dharmapuri district of Tamilnadu and on the west by Kolar District of Karnataka state. The district can be divided into two natural divisions.
The mountainous plateau comprising 31 mandals of Madanapalle division and on the east comprising the mandals of Puttur, Narayanavanam, Vadamalapeta, Kammapalle, Karvetinagar, Vedurukuppam, S.R.,puram, Palasamudram, Nagari, Nindra, Vijayapuram, Pichatur, Nagalapuram, Satyavedu, Varadaiahpalem, B.N.Kandriga, K.V.B.Puram, Thottambedu, Srikalahasti and Yerpedu. Eight mandals viz., Chittoor, G.D.Neliore, Puthalapattu, Penumuru, Gudipala, Yadamarri, Thavanampalle and Irala, stand almost as dividing line between the two natural divisions of the district. The eastern ghats are predominant in the western region and they gradually bend towards the sacred Sheshachalam hills of Tirupati, passing through Chandragiri erstwhile taluk and entering into Nellore district. The general elevation of the mountains of the district is 2,500 ft above the sea level.
1.2 Rivers:- The rivers flowing in the district are non-perennial in nature and for major part of the year remain dry. The important rivers in the district are Ponnai which is a tributary of river Palar and Swarnamukhi which rises in the Eastern Ghats of the district and finally enters into Nellore district. Other important rivers of the district are the Kusasthali, the Beema, the Bahuda, the Pincha, the Kalyani, the Araniyar and the Pedderu which flow in different mandals of the district. Besides the above rivers, there are a number of small hilly streams flowing in the district.
1.3 Climate and Rainfall:- The climate of the district is dry and healthy. The upland mandals consist of 31 mandals in Madanapalle division and these are comparatively cooler than the eastern mandals except Chittoor where the climate is moderate. The district annual normal Rainfall is 934mms. The district has the benefit of receiving rainfall during both the south-west and north-east monsoon periods and the normal rainfall received during these periods is 438.0 MMs. and 396.0 MMs. respectively. The rainfall received from the south-west monsoons is more copious compared to north-east monsoons in the western mandals and in the central part of the district, whereas the rainfall received from north-east monsoons is comparatively copious in the eastern mandals of the district.
1.4 Soils:- The major portion of the district is covered by red soils with portions of alluvial soil in Chittoor and Bangarupalem erstwhile taluks. The soils in the district constitute redloamy 57%, red sandy 34% and the remaining 9% is covered by black clay black loamy, black sandy and red clay.
1.5 Flora:- The climate, topography and geology have played an important role impressing the flora of the district. The district has hills and plateau and elevation ranges upto 1,318 metres. The floristic compositions in the forests vary from dry mixed deciduous to thorny scrub with occasional patches of dry, evergreen growth. The forests of this region can be broadly classified into the following three principal types.
1. Dry tropical South Indian dry mixed deciduous forests
2. Southern cutch thorn forest groups &
3. Tropical dry evergreen forests
Mesophytic type of flora like Syzygium cumini (Neredu), Pongamia ghaira (Kanuga) and large trees of Terminalia arjuna (Erramaddi and Tellamaddi) are found. Large trees of mango, Phoenix sylvestris(lta) and different types of grass along water courses are also found.
1.6 Fauna :- In the forests of this district at present wild animals like tiger and panther (Panthera pard us) are present in small numbers. Sloth-bear (Melursus-ursinus) is found still in good numbers in all class 1 reserves of the district. Wild dog (Cuonalpinus), wild pig (Suscristatus), porcupine (Hystri indica), hyaena (Hyaena striata), jungle cat (Felis chaus), jackal (Canis aureus), fox (Velpes bengaleusis), wolf (Canis lugus) etc., are the other carnivores present in the district. The commonly found herbivora . present in the district are sam bur (Rusa unicolor), black buck (Antelope cervicapse) , chital (Axis Axis), wild sheep - (Civis cycloceros) , mouse deer (Memina indica), hare (Lapium finidus), rabbit etc. A number of species among birds, exist in this district. Among the birds the birds of large grey babbler (Turdoides malcolmi), the large grey shrike (Lanius excubitor), the king crows, mynas and crows, bee-eaters, hoopoes, swifts, vultures, eagles, kites, owls, sand grouse, quails, partridges, green pigeons, pigeons, peacock etc., are found in this district.