Punganur

Punganur
City
Nickname(s):  Pungapuri, Pulinaadu
Punganur Location in Andhra Pradesh, India
Coordinates: 13.3667°N 78.5833°E / 13.3667; 78.5833
Country	India
State	Andhra Pradesh
District	Chittoor
Mandal	Punganur
Government
• Type	Municipality
• Body	Punganur Municipality
Area
• Total	32.28 km2 (12.46 sq mi)
Elevation	764 m (2,507 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	54,746
• Density	1,700/km2 (4,400/sq mi)
Languages
• Official	Telugu
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	517 247
Telephone code	+91–8581
Vehicle registration	AP 03 AP 39
Assembly Constituency	Punganur
Lok Sabha Constituency	Rajampeta
Website	Punganur Municipality

Punganur is a city in Chittoor district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is the headquarters of Punganur Mandel of Palamaner Revenue Division.

History

Punganur has very ancient history. It was established as “VALANARAYANA CHATURVEDI MANGALAM”  DURING 1610 A.C and later on it was know as PULINAADU. It was ruled by no of kingdoms like Chola Dynasty, Vidhambulu, Rashtrakutas and Pandyas up to 1308. From 1308 to 1510 it was under the Rule of zamindari (Generation of Pandyas). During 1781 the constitution went into the hands of Tippu sultan and afterwards British Kingdom rules from 1830 to 1948. The last zamindari Rule was under Veera Basava Chikka Rayalu (who was expired during 1965). The Zamindari Ruling was abolished during 1948.

Punganur Zamindari Palace

Another stories say that the name of the town is derived from the name of a lady PUNGAMMA who has scarified her life in the trial of saving the people. Once she protected the Tank Bund from breech out and saved the lives of the people. She struggled her self lonely through out the night at last she lost her life. The tank also named on her name PUNGAMMA CHERUVU.

Geography

Punganur is located at 13.3667°N 78.5833°E / 13.3667; 78.5833. It has an average elevation of 764 meters (2509 feet).

Demographics

As of 2011 India census, Punganur had a population of 54,746. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Punganur has an average literacy rate of 69%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 71%, and female literacy is 56%. In Punganur, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Governance

Civic administration

Punganur panchayat was upgraded to 3rd Grade Municipality on 19 January 1985, Punganur Municipality was upgraded from a 3rd Grade to a 2nd Grade municipality with 31 election wards on August 11, 2023. This change was made official through a government order (G.O. 95), recognizing the growth and development of the area, particularly in terms of population and infrastructure improvements. Now in the entire district after Chittoor municipal corporation, Punganur municipality is the biggest municipality in the district.

Politics

Punganur Assembly constituency is a constituency of Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly and the constituency number is 165 in Rajampet Lok Sabha constituency. It is one of 14 constituencies and the largest constituency in Chittoor district.

The Punganur cow

The Punganur cow is a distinct breed, named after the town of its origin. White and light grey in colour with a broad forehead and short horns, its average height is 70–90 cm and its weight is 115–200 kg. The cow has an average milk yield of 3 to 5 litres per day (with a fat content of 8%, whereas the normal milk has a fat content of 3.5%). Its daily feed intake of 5 kg. It is highly drought resistant, and able to survive exclusively on dry fodder. It is now on the verge of extinction.

Temples

Sri Someswara Temple (situated within the precincts of the Zamindar Palace, once the centre of the Punganur Estate), also called Kukkudechuram or Kukkutasuram, is one of the Thevara Vaipputh Thalangal of the Shaivite holy places mentioned in his literature by Tamil Nayanar Appar, the saint-poet of the 7th century A.D. Together with Sambandhar and Sundara, Appar is one of the three most prominent of the 63 Nayanars. This temple was constructed by the Cholas.

Another notable temple is the Pundeswara Temple in Mugavadi near Punganur.

Movie theatres

• SVM Cinemas 2K A/C Dolby Atmos
• Balaji Movie Land 2K A/C Dolby Atmos
• MSR Movie Land
• Taj Mahal Theatre
• Gokul Theatre(Temporarily Closed)

Transport

Roadways

Punganur is well connected to major cities through National and State Highways. The National Highway through Punganur is, National Highway 42 (India) connecting Punganur with Madanapalle and Anantapur on North and connecting Krishnagiri on South. State Highway 65 (Andhra Pradesh) connecting Punganur with Chowdepalle, Somala, Sadum, Kallur, Pulicherla, and Rompicherla Mandals on East and the major junctions in this State Highway are National Highway 40 (India) at Kallur, and National Highway 71 (India) near Rompicherla.

NH 42 - Joladarashi (Karnataka) to Krishnagiri (Tamilnadu)

SH 65 - Punganur to Rompicharla

Public transport

APS RTC Bus Depot Punganur

There are two bus terminals in Punganur. State owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation operates bus services from Punganur bus station to different parts of the district, state and interstate. Bus services are operated to Gaanugachinta, Challampalli, Pedda upparapalli, Baireddipalli, Vengamvaripalli, Chokkandlapalli, Kummaragunta, Naakerepalli, Gosuvaripalli, Naaganapalli, Metimandha, A.Kothakota, Dhoddipalli, Ramasamudram, Chowdepalle, Naayana Pakala, Pakala, Tirupati, Tirumala, Madanapalle, Kadiri, Palamaner, Chittoor, Kalikiri, Rayachoti, Piler, Kadapa, Nellore, Anantapur, Vijayawada, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, and also to the other major towns and cities in the Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Karnataka, and Telangana states.

Railways

Under the Kadapa-Bangalore railway project a railway line passes through Kudavuru, which is a village in Punganur mandal at an distance of 8 km (5.0 mi) from Punganur. After completion of this railway line Punganur will get railway station at Kudavuru. At present the nearest railway station is Madanapalle Road railway station which is located 36 km (22 mi) from Punganur.

Airports

The nearest airports are:

1) Kempegowda International Airport. IATA:BLR at Bangalore is about 123 Kms West.

2) Tirupati Airport at Renigunta in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, is about 132 kms East. IATA:TIR is at par with other major cities, but flights are operated in a limited fashion.

3) Chennai International Airport. IATA:MAA at Chennai is about 213 kms South-East.

Education

The primary and secondary school education is delivered by government, aided and private schools, under the School Education Department of the state. The languages of instruction followed by different schools are Telugu, Urdu, Hindi and English.

Degree colleges:

• Subharam Government Degree College
• MCV Degree College
• RR Degree College
• Srinivasa Degree College
• SV Degree College
• HM Degree College

Polytechnic colleges:

• A.N.G.R.A.U:(Acharya N.G Ranga Agricultural University) Agricultural Polytechnic College

ITI Colleges:

• Government Minorities ITI College
• Mokshagundam Visweswaraiah Private ITI College

Notable people

• Sapthagiri - Actor
• Vakkantham Vamsi - Screenwriter and Director