Andhra Pradesh is one of the important states among 29 States in India. Andhra Pradesh is divided into three regions as Costal, Rayalaseema , Andhra and six zones. It is divided into 13 districts. Kadapa district is one of the historical districts in Rayalaseema region.
There are four districts in Rayalaseems Kadapa, Kumool, Chittoor and Anantapur. Rayalaseema region extended over an area of 67,400 sq. kms. The density of population is very sparse in this region because it is well known for drought and famines since ancient times. Economically this region is very backward when compared to other two regions of the state. This region comprises of rocky area and infertile soils with very little and unstable rainfall. Industrially also this region is very backward. On 19th August 2005, the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Dr.Y.S Rajasekhar Reddy officially changed the spelling of cuddapah to Kadapa. After the sudden demise of YsR the name of the district has been officially changed as "YSR District'. The old records of the district reveal that Kadapa is called "Gadapa'', which means "Threshold' in native language.
KADAPA HISTORY
Kadapa is also considered to be one of the districts, endowed with rich history, minerals, Flora & Fauna. Hyder Ali, Tippusulthan, Sivaji, Krishnadevaraya and Pratapa Rudra are some of the names associated with the history of the district. The district is blessed with a series of beautiful valleys through which Papagni, Chitravathi, Manda vya, Penna, Cheyyeru Rivers flow The river Penna is the most important river flowing right through the District, a legend is incorporated in s saasanam (inscription) at Gandikota The Seshachalam range of bills pass through this district and is crowned ultimately with the holy shrine of Tinumela in chittoor District. Thus Kadapa tract, which is associated with such holy rivers and hills, has been considered a holy land. This tract has also been identified as the forest of Dandaka through which the god king sreerama and his consort Seetha wandered during their 14 years of exile.
The Pallava kings penetrated into the North of Kadapa district and ruled for a certain period during the 5th century, Later on the Cholas defeated the Pallavas and their rule appears to have lasted till the later part of the 8 century. Subsequently, Banas established their authority for a considerable period.
With the retreat of the Banas, Kadapa came under the sway of a dynasty of kings called the Rastrakutas, King Indra III (915 AD) and king Krishna Ill were the popular rulers. With the death of king Krishna Ill, the power and influence of this dynasty declined. The Telugu cholas who were feudatories of chola dynasty ruled entire apa District and their power seems to have suffered a temporary eclipse due to the aggression of Pandas but soon the Cholas kingdom firmly established once again in the district during the first half of the 13th century. In the latter half of 13th century, the district has fallen into the hands of Ambadeva who had temporarily usurped the Kakatiya crown and ruled from Vallur, 15 Kms. from Kadapa and during his time the land survey carried out and a river channel was constructed at Lebaka Subsequently a Kakatiya King Prataparudra succeeded the throne after death of Ambsdeva and ruled the district with Warrangal as the Capital during the beginning of 14th century.
The invasion of the Deccan by Muslims took place during the reign of Khilji emperor Allauddin in which Pratapa Rudra was defeated and he was carried as prisoner to Delhi. Hence, Warrangal, the capital came into the hands of Alla-ud-din. The Vijayanagar Kingdom was founded by Hari Hara and Bukka in 1336 A.D. During 1344 A.D. a Hindu confederation of Warrangal, Krishna Vijaya Nagaram Raja and the Hoysala King of Mysore, with an immense force, drove the Muslims out of Warrangal and rolled back the tide of their advance. This is the outcome of establishment of vijayanagar empire and during the two centuries of its ascendancy, it included the whole of present Kadapa District. During this rule the natural resources in Kadapa District had been greatly developed. During the reign of Bukka I, his son Bhaskara, then viceroy of Udayagiri province constructed the great irrigation tank of Porumamilla in 1369 A.D. In the battle of Talikota, the Hindus and Muslims with forces of almost fabulous strength, contested for the supremacy over Deccan and with the result the Hindus were totally defeated and the Deccan fallen into the hands of King of Golkonda.
In the year 1714 A.D., Abdul Nabi Khan was the first Governor of the district and in 1740 the Marathas invaded and defeated the Nawab of Kurnool and Kadapa. Hyder Ali obtained the possession of G and Kadapa from the hands of Marathas and appointed his brother-in-law Mir Saheb in Kadapa district. Hence, Mir Saheb and his son Kamaluddin were the first rulers of the district. The district later fell in to the hands of Nizam by the treaties of Mysore and Srirangapatnam
ADMINISTRATION UNDER MUNRO
Munro's chief concern was to subjugate the Palegars, who infested the tract and establish a well organized Government. He was equally interested in institutinga system of Revenue by which he could secure his government the maximum financial resources from the districts. He enumerated 80 different Palegars of whom a large number such as those of vemula, Chitvel, Porumamilla, Narsapur, Thippireddipalle, Uppalur, Kamalapurarn, Bonamala, Yerraguntua, settivaripalem, Lopatmuthala, Kommanuthala, Chinthakuntabanda, Sanipai, Motakatla and Gopagudipalle were in Kadapa District. His measures to keep the Palegars under the control included the issue of Public Notification declaring that any Palegar, Jagindar, Jamindar, Patel or Ryot who shall garrison any four or maintain armedmen or who shall extort money from inhabitants as Kavali Rusum or under any other pretence or who shall resist the orders of the Amildars or who shall act either openly or privately against the establishment of the Company's Govermment shall be treated as Rebels.
The people of Kadapa district responded to the call of the Nation and participated in the Freedom movement. Sri Kadapa Koti Reddy, an ex-minister of composite Madras and Andhra State, his wife Rama subbamma and D.Rama subba Reddy are the popular political leaders of the district who played a prominent role in the freedom struggle Cuddapah or more precisely 'Kadapa' towards the close of twentieth century A.D. was the principal station of a territorial division. It is a popular belief that "Kadapa' means Gadapa (Threshold) in Telugu, convenient camping place for the pilgrims visiting the Tirupati temple. Kadapa lies between 13 Degrees 43Degrees , 15 Degrees and 14 Degrees of the Northern latitude and 77 Degrees 55 Degrees and 79Degrees 29' of the Eastern longitude. It is bounded on the North by Kurmool district and on the East by Nellore. On the South by Chittoor and on the West by Anantapur. Total area of the district is 15379 sq. Km. District headquarters is located at Kadapa .
