Srikalahasti
| Srikalahasti శ్రీకాళహస్తి | |
|---|---|
 
Srikalahasti
| |
| Coordinates: 13.76°N 79.70°ECoordinates: 13.76°N 79.70°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | Andhra Pradesh |
| District | Chittoor |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Total | 80,056 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Telugu |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
Srikalahasti is a holy town and a municipality in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located on the banks of the river Swarnamukhi. It is covered under the Tirupati Urban Development Authority region.[2] The Srikalahasti Temple is one of the important ancient Shiva Temples of Southern India and it is one of the panchabootha lingas which is vayu linga remaining four lingas of nilam, neer, neruppu in Tamil Nadu,This temple is opened during the times of Solar and Lunar Eclipses also unlike other temples. It occupies the area between the river bank and the foot of the hills and is popularly known as Dakshina Kailasam. It is also the origin of the popular textile painting art called kalamkari. Srikalahasti is popularly known as "Dakshina Kaashi".
History
The temple was originally built during Tamil Pallava period and current structures are built by Tamil Chola king Kulothunga Cholan I, II and III during the 11th century.
It is one of the ancient temples included in the Saiva pilgrimages and is fairly close to the famous hill temple of Lord Venkateshwara at Tirupati. A huge hundred pillared mantapamwas built by Sri Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara dynasty during the 16th century, an important feature of this shrine. The historical reference to this temple occur in the works of Nakkeerar, a Tamil poet in the 3rd century BC during the Tamil Sangam Dynasty. He called it as Southern Kailash. Nakkeera composed hundreds of Tamil stanzas to praise Srikalahasteeswara. Dhoorjati a Telugu poet native of this place and one among the ashtadiggajas of Sri Krishnadevaraya’s court composed hundred stanzas on Sri Kalahasteeswara.
Geography
Srikalahasti is located at 13°45′N 79°42′E on the bank of river Swarnamukhi. It is located 38 km north of Tirupati central. It is one of the assembly constituencies in Chittor District.
Demographics
As of 2011 Census of India, the town had a population of 80,056. The total population constitute, 38,995 males and 41,061 females—a sex ratio of 1053 females per 1000 males, higher than the national average of 940 per 1000.[1][3] 8,224 children are in the age group of 0–6 years, of which 4,227 are boys and 3,997 are girls—a ratio of 946 per 1000. The average literacy rate stands at 78.66% (male 85.15%; female 72.57%) with 56,501 literates, significantly higher than the national average of 73.00%.[1][4]
Education
Srikalahasthi has educational institutions ranging from Elementary schools to Engineering & Degree Colleges. Srikalahasteeswara Institute of Technology is an engineering college organized by Srikalahasteeswara Trust board. It is affiliated to J.N.T.U, Anantapur.It offers various Bachelor of Technology courses (B.Tech) & various Master of Technology courses (M.Tech) Srikalahasteeswara Institute of Technology Polytechnicis also organized by Srikalahasteeswara Trust board. It is affiliated State Board of Technical Education, Govt of Andhrapradesh.It offers various Polytechnic courses. Sri Vidya Prakasananda Degree college offers various bachelor courses like Bachelor of Science (B.Sc), Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com), Bachelor of Arts (B.A) etc. This college is affiliated to Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati. In recent years, the Srikalahasteeswara temple trust board started a nursing college also in Kasa Gardens.
For Intermediate education, there are separate Government junior colleges for Boys and Girls. Government boys junior college is near to Panagal, and the girls junior college is located at Ayyala Nayudu Lake, near to the Government Hospital and the APSRTC Bus station.
- Government High Schools
- R.P.B.S Z.P. Boys High School, B.P. Agraharam
- Z.P. High School for Girls, Near Government Hospital
- Government High School, Panagal
- Municipal High School, Bhaskarpet,
- A.P. Welfare Residential High School for Girls, Kasa Gardens
Economy
The town depends mainly on agriculture and tourism. The main crops are paddy, sugar cane and ground nuts. Hundreds of Kalamkari artists also bring some revenue. Pilgrims visiting the Tirumala temple also visit the SriKalaHasti temple, rendering it many footsteps each day and thereby making it the second famous temple in the state of Andhra Pradesh.[citation needed]
Industries
In the last few years some large scale plants and factories have started in & around the town like Srikalahasti Pipes Ltd. (Formerly called as Lanco Industries), Hindustan coca-cola pvt ltd, Vishnu solvay Barium ( Chemical Plant). In 2012 Prakash Group started their long products rolling mill adjacent to Urandoor Village in Srikalahasti by the name of Prakash Ferrous Industries Pvt. Ltd.
Government
It is located under the administration of Chittoor district. The Srikalahasti mandal headquarters are located here.
Transport
The nearest airport is about 20 km from here at Renigunta, the Tirupati Airport. It is reachable by road from Tirupati, Chennai or Gudur. It is on the Renigunta-Gudur section of Guntakal (GTL) Division of the South Central Railway (SCR). All trains from Vijayawada to Tirupati halt at Kalahasti. The local transport is by taxis or autorickshaws and city buses. Andhra Pradesh State owned Bus services (APSRTC) operators buses in Srikalahasti from the Tirupati.
