Markapur

This article is about a municipality town in Prakasam district. For the Assembly constituency, see Markapuram Assembly constituency. For the train station, see Markapur Road railway station.

Markapuram is a town in Prakasam district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a municipality and is the headquarters of Markapuram Municipality in Markapuram revenue division.^[1][5] Markapuram is notable for the Chennakesava Swamy Temple, built by King Sri Krishnadevaraya. During Ratha Yatra (Tirunalla in Telugu) there occurs a popular carnival; the town is also famous for Chenna Kesavaswamy (Saptavahana Seva) on the day of Rathsapthami, which is attended by thousands of people coming from different parts of the state. It is the second-largest town in Prakasam district after Ongole and it is the main place within West Prakasam district to avail all facilities.

Markapuram
Town
Chennakesava Temple, Markapur
Markapuram Location in Andhra Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 15.73°N 79.26°E / 15.73; 79.26
Country	India
State	Andhra Pradesh
District	Prakasam
Government
• Body	Markapuram
Area [1]
• Total	22.85 km2 (8.82 sq mi)
Elevation	145 m (476 ft)
Population  (2011)[2][3]
• Total	71,092
• Rank	11th (Towns in AP)
• Density	3,100/km2 (8,100/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Telugu
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	523316 [4]
telephone code	+91–8596
Vehicle registration	AP
Website	Markapuram Municipality

Markapur was formerly a part of Kurnool District, serving as the east gate of Rayalaseema. The town is close to the Nallamala Hills and currently has a population of approximately 75,000. Markapuram is known for slate manufacturing industries.

On 3 September 2020, Markapuram received a historically heavy rainfall measuring 227mm. Due to this weather event, the partially-depleted ground water level increased significantly, leading to a marked decrease in local drought conditions.

History

The town's name comes from a story of a milk maid by the name of Marika who was graced with a son by Swamy Chennakesava. The milk maid, in commemoration of this event, constructed a small temple. Soon afterwards a village grew round and about this temple and was known as Marikapuram. By afflux of time this name evolved into Markapuram. The temple, originally constructed by Marika, underwent numerous additions and renovations, the later large and prominent temple being dedicated to Sri Chennakesava.

This town was a part of Kurnool District until 1971. Yerragondapalem, Markapuram, and Giddalur mandals were in Kurnool district until 1971, when a carve-out made a new district (along with Kanigiri, Podili, Darsi, Kandukur from Nellore District and Ongole and Chirala from Guntur district).

Geography

Markapuram is situated about 100 km (62 mi) east of Kurnool and about three miles north-east of the Vijayawada-Guntakal railway line. Markapuram is located at 15.73°N 79.28°E / 15.73; 79.28 at an average elevation of 145 metres (476 ft) and is surrounded by Nallamala Forest.^[6][7] An important industry in Markapuram is slate manufacturing. It exported slate to other countries in the late 1980s. It is one of the revenue divisions in Prakasam district.

Transport

Markapuram is located on the Ananthapur-Amaravati Express Highway, a section of the Expressway Project. It is 95 km (59 mi) away from Ongole, 43 km (27 mi) away from Podili, and Nandyal is 120 km (75 mi) away on the other side of Nallamala hills.^[8]

It is a part of the Guntur division of South Central Railway division. The railway line from Vijayawada to Guntakal passes through this station. Markapuram is near Srisailam. People visiting Srisailam take the train route through Markapuram railway station.

Donakonda Airport was used by the British during World War 2 and is also close to Markapuram.

Education

The primary and secondary school education is imparted by government in conjunction with private schools, under the School Education Department of the state.^[9][10] Instruction is given in both English and Telugu.

N.S. Agricultural College is located in Markapur, along with other degree colleges, including engineering. Various coaching institutes are there which help for competitive exams.

References

1. "District Census Handbook – Prakasam" (PDF). Census of India. Directorate of Census Operations, Andhra Pradesh. p. 48. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
2. "Population statistics". Census of India. The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
3. "Statistical Abstract of Andhra Pradesh, 2015" (PDF). Directorate of Economics & Statistics. Government of Andhra Pradesh. p. 44. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
4. "Markapuram Pin code". pin-code.net. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
5. "Part III, District and Sub-District (Mandals)" (PDF). Census of India. The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. pp. 133, 174. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
6. "Maps, Weather, and Airports for Markapuram, India". www.fallingrain.com. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
7. India, The Hans (21 April 2017). "Wild animals losing lives while searching for water, food". www.thehansindia.com. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
8. "Markapuram Road Markapuram and Markapuram Railway Station by Road, Distance Between Markapuram Road Markapuram and Markapuram Railway Station , Distance by Road from Markapuram Road Markapuram and Markapuram Railway Station with Travel Time, Markapuram Railway Station Distance from Markapuram Road Markapuram, Driving Direction Calculator from Markapuram road Markapuram and Markapuram railway station".
9. "School Education Department" (PDF). School Education Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
10. "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.