Andhra
Pradesh, located 40 miles (64 km) to the north and west
of the Bay of Bengal. It is approximately 1,000 miles (1,600
km) to the south of the capital, New Delhi. The city has
an estimated population of 818,330 (514,707 as per 2001
census) with an Urban Agglomeration of approximately 1,028,667.
Guntur is one of the larger (tier-2) cities in the country.
Guntur is a centre of learning and the administrative capital
of Guntur district, which is home of historically significant
Amaravati, Bhattiprolu and Sitanagaram monuments. The city
is also a centre for business, industry, and agriculture.
The region is identified as a major transportation and textile
hub in India. Additionally, the Guntur area economy has
an agricultural component that is internationally known
for its exports of chillies, cotton, and tobacco.
The Kingdom of Pratipalapura of 500 BCE (Bhattiprolu in
Guntur district), appears to be the earliest known kingdom
in south India. The earliest recorded reference of Guntur
comes from the Idern plates of Ammaraja I (922-929 CE),
the Vengi Chalukyan king. Guntur also appears in two other
inscriptions dated 1147 CE and 1158 CE. The original Sanskrit
(ancient Vedic culture/tradition) name for Guntur was Garthapuri
(a place surrounded by water ponds
An old temple at Garthapuri
The 'Agasthyeswara Sivalayam' in the old city is an ancient
temple for Lord Siva . It has inscriptions on two stones
in 'Naga Lipi' (an ancient script) dating back to about
1100 CE. The backyard of the temple hosts a very historic
tree . It is said that Agastya built the temple in the last
Treta-Yuga around the Swayambhu Linga and hence it has this
name. The 'Nagals' were said to have ruled the region at
that time. More recently, the region was under the Nizam's
rule (known as jagir of Nawab Salabat Jung till 1788) prior
to the colonial period. During colonial rule, Guntur was
under the control of the French and then the British, until
India's independence. The region has been historically known
for Buddhism and the first Kalachakra ceremony performed
by Buddha himself
LumbiniVanam
The place of Sitanagaram and the Guthikonda Caves can be
traced (through Vedic Puranas) back to the last Treta-Yuga
and Dwapara-Yuga (Traditional Time scale: 1.7 to 0.5 million
years ago,
Andhra
Pradesh, located 40 miles (64 km) to the north and west
of the Bay of Bengal. It is approximately 1,000 miles (1,600
km) to the south of the capital, New Delhi. The city has
an estimated population of 818,330 (514,707 as per 2001
census) with an Urban Agglomeration of approximately 1,028,667.
Guntur is one of the larger (tier-2) cities in the country.