RAYACHOTY

Geography


Rayachoti is located at 14°03′N 78°45′E / 14.05°N 78.75°E / 14.05; 78.75. It has an average elevation of 380 metres (1246 feet).



Now its almost 4 km radius city. Rayachoti is well connected to Bangalore by road and is at a distance of 180 km. To reach Rayachoti from any place one can go to Kadapa by Train and then go to Rayachoti by bus services provided by APSRTC (Andhrapradesh Road Transport Corporation). It takes about 5 hours to reach this place from Bangalore.



Rayachoty has famous 12th Century Temple, Veerabhadra Swamy Temple.



Rayachoty is a Municipality. This is the 4 th biggest town in the Kadapa district. To reach the place, By train: nearest station is Kadapa-50 km , Tirupathi-110 km, Chennai-260 km. By Air: nearest Airport is Kadapa-50 km, Tirupathi - 120 km, Bangalore - 180 km, Chennai - 265km.



 Demographics

As of 2001[update] India census,[1] Rayachoti had a population of 72,196. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Rayachoti has an average literacy rate of 61%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 71%, and female literacy is 51%. In Rayachoti, 14% of the population is under six years of age.



You will find plenty of Mosques and few of them are 800 years old. You will find a community with Hindus and Muslims actively participating in all festivals.



 Temples

Most fomous tample located at yandapalli Bayarava swammy templed. Rayachoti's Sri Veerabhadreshwara Swamy temple was constructed during the reign of the Vijayanagar kings. This temple has recently been renovated. Every year Sivarathri and Karthika Pournami celebrations are held on a grand scale; Devotees from far off places too, visit the shrines regularly.



Kanyaka Parameshwari and Saibaba temples are popular in Rayachoty. Venkateswara Swamy temple and Gundanjaneya temple are neary by to Rayachoty.



City has a beautiful Kanyaka Parameshwari Temple Located at Gandhi Bazzar and Sai Baba Temple Located at Sanjeeva Nagar colony.



Rayachoti has a long history dating back 1000-years. The Veerabhadra temple itself is 1000-years old. It is said that the great King Krishnadevaraya used to camp at Rayachoti whenever he visited Srivari temple at Tirupati. Rayachoti draws thousands of devotees as the Lord Veerabhadreshwar is a very popular GOD among the Lingayat community in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and to some extent in Tamilnadu too as it considers the Deity as their 'ILAVELPU'. Swamy Veerabhadra's temple is accompanied by temple for GODDESS Kalikadevi, and Shiva in the temple precincts.



A lot of renovation work and improvements have taken place in the surrounding areas of Temple. There are sufficient chhatras available now for devotees coming from out stations. Recently in early 2008 , Annadaana seva (Free Food service) has also been initiated.Every day there will be Annadaana seva between 12-30 to 2PM. One can donate monetarily to this service to keep this service running.



Apart from the Temple, the river Mandavya flows across the town. Legend has it that when the flowing river took away the 'Kamandalam' and other belongings of a great rishi who was in deep meditation, it had to face the wrath of the rishi who cursed it, and [despite heavy rains once in a decade], the river remains mostly dry.



Assembly Constituency

Rayachoti is an assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh.



1952 - Y. Adinarayana Reddy (KMPP)

1955 - Y. Adinarayana Reddy (Indian National Congress)

1962 - R.N. Reddy (Independent)

1962 - A. Balarami Reddy (Indian National Congress)

1967 - M. Krishna Reddy (Indian National Congress)

1972 - M. Habibulla (Indian National Congress)

1978 - S. Palakondraidu (Janata)

1983 - S. Palakondraidu (Independent)

1985 - M. Nagireddy (Indian National Congress I)

1990 - M. Nagireddy (Indian National Congress)

1992 - M. Narayana Reddy (Indian National Congress)

1994 - M. Narayana Reddy (Indian National Congress)

1999 - S. Palakondraidu (Telugu Desam Party)

2004 - S. Palakondraidu (Telugu Desam Party)

2009 - G. Srikanth Reddy (Indian National Congress)