Srikalahasti

Srikalahasti ((SKHT)dakshin kailash ) is a holy town in Chittoor district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a municipality and the mandal headquarters of Srikalahasti mandal in Tirupati revenue division.[3][4] The town is a part of Tirupati Urban Development Authority, which is located on the banks of the River Swarnamukhi.[5]

This article is about Srikalahasti town. For the temple, see Srikalahasteeswara temple.

Srikalahasti Srikalahasti
Town
Srikalahasti aerial view
Srikalahasti Location in Andhra Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 13.76°N 79.70°E / 13.76; 79.70
Country	India
State	Andhra Pradesh
District	Chittoor
Mandal	Srikalahasti
Government
• Type	Municipality
• Body	Srikalahasti Municipality
• MLAs	Biyyapu Madhusudhan Reddy
Area [1]
• Total	24.50 km^2 (9.46 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[2]
• Total	80,056
• Density	3,300/km^2 (8,500/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Telugu
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Website	srikalahasthitemple.com

History

Srikalahasti Gopuram

This Srikalahasti town is named after Sri (spider), Kala (snake) and Hasti (elephant) that once worshiped Shiva Lingam here and attained Moksham.[6]

As per another legend, Vayu and Adishesha had a dispute to find out who is superior, to prove their superiority, Adishesha encircled the Kailasam, Vayu tried to remove this encircle by creating Twister. Because of the twister, 8 parts from kailasam fell into 8 different places which are Trincomalee, Srikalahasti, Tiruchirappalli, Thiruenkoimalai, Rajathagiri, Neerthagiri, Ratnagiri, and Swethagiri Thirupangeeli.[7]

Geography

Swarnamukhi river and the bridge at Srikalahasti

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.

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.[2][8] 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%.[2][9]

Education

The primary and secondary school education is imparted by government-aided and private schools, under the School Education Department of the state.[10][11] The medium of instruction followed by different schools are English and Telugu.

Sri Kalahasteeswara Institute of Technology entrance

Srikalahasthi has educational institutions ranging from elementary schools to engineering and degree colleges. Srikalahasteeswara Institute of Technology is an engineered by Srikalahasteeswara Trust board.

Transport

Srikalahasti railway station is located on the Gudur-Katpadi Branch line section of Guntakal (GTL) Division of the South Central Railway (SCR). Andhra Pradesh State owned Bus services APSRTC operates buses from Tirupati, Chittoor and Nellore.

Tirupati Airport is located within 25 km.

See also

• Srikalahasti Kalamkari

References

1. "Srikalahasthi Municipality". Commissioner & Director of Municipal Administration. Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh. Retrieved 19 August 2014.
2. "Census 2011". The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
3. "Chittoor District Mandals" (PDF). Census of India. pp. 454, 510–11. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
4. "District Census Handbook - Chittoor" (PDF). Census of India. pp. 22–23. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
5. "Right to Information Act – 2005". Tirupati Urban Development Authority. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
6. "Srikalahasti place history". The Hindu. 4 June 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
7. http://www.gneelivaneshwarartemple.tnhrce.in/History.html
8. "Sex Ratio". The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
9. "Chapter–3 (Literates and Literacy rate)" (PDF). Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
10. "School Education Department" (PDF). School Education Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
11. "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.