SRIKAKULAM a story on stone . . .

INTACH
SRIKAKULAM DISTRICT CHAPTER
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted
in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise
circulated in any form of binding or cover other than mat in which it is published.

©: INTACH. Srikakulam Chapter.

Editor Dusi Dharma Rao, Convenor, INTACH.

Photography & Designing : Manda Srinivasa Rao

OO
Authors:
1.The Origin 2.The Culture
Prof: A.V.Dattatreya Sarma Ms.Jyoti C Singh Deo
M.R.College Journalist, Life Member - INTACH
Vizianagaram. Visakhapatnam.
3.The Folkart 4.The Epilogue
Dusi Dharma Rao Dr.N.Nageswara Rao., I.A.S
Convenor - INTACH Ex-Collector, Srikakulam.
Srikakulam. Joint Director, Ministry of Tourism.
Govt. of Andhra Pradesh

Acknowledgments:
This book would not have been possible without the active support of a number of people who contributed
in various measures. We are thankful to all of them. It is not possible to mention each one of them. A few
of them deserve special mention for their continuous support and guidance.
l. Dept. of Archeology & Museums, Hyderabad
2. Prof. Kolluru Suryanaraya, Andhra University
3. Prof. A. Prasanna Kumar, Visakhapatnam
4. All INTACH members of Srikakulam District Chapter.
5. Department of Tourism & Culture Govt. of Andhra Pradesh
6. Dist. Tourism Promotion Council, Srikakulam District

Printed at: GK Print House, Visakhapatnam.

Published by: INTACH, Srikakulam District Chapter. e-mail: convener.intachsklm@gmail.com
Books available at : INTACH, Srikakulam. Cell : 9908101809, 9440759812
E-mail : srinivasjagadamba@gmail.com
Price: Rs. 500.00
 O
CONTENTS
O
The Origin ...................................................................1-12

The Relics............................................................... 13-54

The Culture .........................................................55-82

The Folk ................................................................ 83-90

The Natural Heritage .............................91-98

The Epilogue....................................................99-112
A 2nd
nd Century Jain sculpture at Sangameswara
 Foreword
R A J B H AVA N
HYDERABAD-500 041

GOVENOR
ANDHRA PRADESH
E.S.L. Narasimhan

I am happy to note that INTACH is bringing out a book Srikakulam- A story on

Stone, depicting the rich heritage and culture of this beautiful and picturesque land.

I expect the book will serve as a source publication concerning the life and times of
Kalinga Empire, the glory and grandiose of the kingdom which has left an indelible mark on
the pristine land.

Srikakulam, known for its rich heritage, has several ancient and popular places of
historic importance. Prominent among those include Mukhalingam, the capital of Kalinga
Empire and Arasavali, which is one of the four Sun temples, Buddhist monuments, stupas and
edifices of historical importance.

The extensive stupas are indicative that Buddhism flourished in this land once and the
art and architecture showcases the aesthetic finesse and intricate and rich exposition of the
times.

I congratulate all those who are associated with this publication and I am confident it
will serve as an important and authoritative throw back on the ancient and rich heritage of
Srikakulam.

Governor
 Inscriptions witnessing the History at Arasavalli

Megalithic Dolmen Chamber of the Iron age period

at Dannanapeta.
 Foreword
Youth Advancement, Tourism &
Culture Department
D-Block, 1st Floor, Room No. 221-A,
A.P Secretariat, Hyderabad-500 022,
©:Off: +91 -40-2345 6717
Fax:+91-40-23454966
Res.:+91-40-2360 8883
Cell: 98480 45122
Smt. CHANDANAKHAN, I.A.S., e-mail: chandanakhan@reddiffmail.com
Special Chief Secretary to Government www.aptourism.in
(Tourism)

It gives me immense pleasure to present the coffee table book Srikakulam A Story on
Stone published by the INTACH Chapter of Srikakulam District.

I have had the opportunity of serving Srikakulam district as a Joint Collector for some
time in the past and it has given me satisfaction to contribute to the development of the
district.

The present compilation of the book on history and cultural heritage of the district in a
pictorial essay initiated by the Collector Sri Saurabh Gaur and District Tourism Development
Council certainly helps the Tourism Sector of the District. I hope that this book will go a long
way in creating awareness in the public and bring developmental changes in tourism sector
of the district.

I am happy to recollect that a National Rural Art Camp (Workshop) initiated by me in

the district in 2007 helped the artisans and painters in tribal population to eke out their
livelihood and won accolades at various levels.

I congratulate all the concerned who are instrumental in bringing out the prestigious
volume in the history of the district.
Shadbhuja Mareechi Idol at Salihundam
 Foreword
COLLECTOR &
DISTRICT MAGISTRATE
SRIKAKULAM

SAURABH GAUR, I.A.S.,

The enthusiasm I had at my arrival to Srikakulam as the Collector & District Magistrate
has been verily matched with the expectations and positiveness of the people here. The
passion and camaraderie displayed by the people of Srikakulam is very appealing, in that it
displays a character of acceptance, benevolence and their openhearted nature.

The book 'SRIKAKULAM - A STORY ON STONE' has provided a solid foundation for
identifying the culture and tradition of an ancient civilization that continues to exist; surviving
the vagaries of time. The present edition is an attempt to further understand and record the
missing elements of man's sojourn from being a nomad to a civilized being. I hope that it
would take us a step further in understanding and exploring the potential elements, traditions
and the vast knowledge that its trail has left behind.

I feel it is a matter of personal pride that, I have the opportunity to promote the culture
and conserve the identity of the glorious past of this region and to help lay a platform for
further generations to learn and build upon.

The Upanishad Mandiram, the statues of luminaries of this region that have been
installed, the promotion of ancient historical landmarks, the publication of various informative
booklets, the launching of Srikakulam website, documentation of heritage sites, intangible
cultural heritage of the District and many such activities undertaken by INTACH-Srikakulam,
have all been a part of a sustained effort to add life and colour to the historical and glorious
past of Srikakulam District.

I earnestly hope that these efforts will fructify and bring back to us a semblance of the
glorious and colorful past of this region.

I congratulate all the concerned those who contributed their creativity in presenting the
glory of the Srikakulam District in a unique way.

30th March, 2013 (SAURABH GAUR)

T H E O R I G I N

Deerghasi Telugu inscription of Banapathi of 1077 A.D. (Nannaya period)

1
 Map of the Srikakulam District

2
 History is the convergence of divergent division of ancient India.
influences that shape the past, but it is
The Mahabharata, the Ramayana, the
almost impossible to confirm the origin of
Puranas, and the Buddhist Jataka tales
a culture or its genesis. Civilizations rise
confirm the antiquity of the region. The epic
and decline, tribes divide and merge.
Mahabharata mentions that a tribe called
Different classes and societies gradually
Andhras / Kalingas fought for the Kauruva’s
combine over a period of time and a
against the Pandava’s.
transformed society is formed.
The history of the district can be traced
Ensconced between the great Eastern
to the period when the Nanda’s ruled over
Ghats, the Coromandel Coast and the
this region in 4th century B.C. After
North Coastal plains of Andhra Pradesh,
Mahapadma Nanda subjugated northern
Srikakulam is located at 18°21’ to 19°10’
India, he assimilated Kalinga into his vast
longitude and 83°5’ to 84°5’ latitude. The
empire. Pre-Mauryan black polished
northern most tip of the state bordering
potteries and punch marked coins
Orissa.
belonging to that era indicate that Kalinga
The history of Srikakulam is connected was a prosperous state under the Nanda
with the hoary past of Kalinga, a political rule.

Inscription on a pillar at Srikurmanadha Temple.

3
 Chandra Gupta Maurya overthrew the last
Nanda king in 322 B.C. During the time of
Chandra Gupta, Kalinga declared itself
independent.
His grandson Asoka invaded Kalinga in
261 B.C. and incorporated Kalinga into his
extensive empire. The Kalinga war is
recorded as the bloodiest war ever in the
history of India. Over a hundred thousand
were killed and half as many taken
prisoners.
The terrible bloodshed caused by the
war filled Asoka with guilt and remorse.
Subsequently he embraced Buddhism and
followed the principle of Dharma Vijaya.
In the early 1 st century B.C. Kalinga
became independent under a Chedi chief
‘Mahameghavahana’. The third ruler of the
Lotus Symbol Stupa depicting Astangamarga at Salihundam
4
Mahameghavahana dynasty ‘Kharavela’ who
reigned in the second half of the 1st
century B.C was the most illustratious king
to have ever ruled over Kalinga.
The Hathigumpha inscription found in
Udayagiri (now in Odisha) furnishes a
detailed account on the life and military
exploits of this great king.
It was only in 350 AD. that the Gupta
monarch Samudra Gupta subjugated
Kalinga. During this period, Buddhism was
predominant in this region. Excavations
conducted at Salihundam on the banks of
river Vamsadhara revealed important
Buddhist remains. Basements and
foundations of apsidal brick chaitya and
stupa’s were excavated. Buddhist stone
images of Marichi and a few gold coins
pertaining to the later Satavahanas found
here indicate that Salihundam was a A new dynasty known as the early Eastern
flourishing state. Gangas established themselves during this
period in Srikakulam district. Indravarma-I
Then came the Pitribhaktas who
the founder of this dynasty defeated the
reigned till the mid 5th century with their
Vishnukundin king Indrabhattaraka and
capital at Simhapura (Singupuram). The
established his rule over the region with
Vishnukundin king Madhavarma occupied
Kalinganagara as his capital. They also had
south Kalinga.
a secondary capital at Danthapura.
The Matharas of Pithapuram led by
The Ganga kings assumed various titles
Maharaja Saktivarma threw over the
viz., ‘Trikalingadhipathi’ or ‘Sakala
Pitribhaktas. These chiefs came into
Kalingadhipathi’ (Lord of tri-Kalinga or
conflict with another line of chiefs known
entire Kalinga). Mukhlingam near
as Vasisthas who ruled central Kalinga.
Srikakulam has been identified as
Each of these chief’s bore the title Kalinganagara, the capital of the early
‘Kalingadhipathi’ (Lord of Kalinga). The Eastern Gangas.
reality is that most of these
After the decline of the early Eastern
‘Kalingadhipathis’ actually ruled over only
Gangas reign, the Chalukyas of Vengi took
a part of the Kalinga region.

Two sides of a gold coin excavated at Salihundam

5
6
control of the region. The history of the
Chalukyas is largely a record of disputes
on succession.
Vajrahastha-I, a descendent of the early
Eastern Ganga dynasty took advantage
of the internal strife and revived the power
of the Ganga dynasty.
It was during their rule that Saivism or
the worship of Lord Shiva took precedence
over Buddhism and Jainism. The
magnificent Madhukeswara temple at
Mukhlingam was built during this period.
In the middle of the 11th century the
Chola general Karunakara brought Kalinga
under the rule of the Chola dynasty.
By the thirteenth century the Gajapathis
of Odisha gained control over this region
and finally the fortunes of the Ganga dynasty
came to an end. The Gajapathis too had to
bow to the might of Krishnadevaraya of
Vijayanagara. The conflict came to an end
after the Gajapathis ceded the territory south
of Krishna to the Vijayanagara King.
Then came the Qutb Shahis. The Qutb
Shahis appointed fauzdars to control
various regions within their kingdom, who
in turn employed a feudatory force to
collect revenues in the districts.
In 1641 A.D. Sher Muhammud Khan was
appointed by the Qutb Shahis as the fauzdar
of this province. The area extending up to
Ichapuram was known by the name
Chicacole Circars. Chicacole was the seat

Antiquities excavated at Dantapuram, 6th century B.C.

Left : Doorway of the Someswara Temple at Mukhalingam 7

of the fauzdar, while Ichapuram was the
headquarters of a Naib. Sher Mohammad
Khan was an agressive man, he soon
restored order and peace in the region.
He constructed the largest Mosque in
Srikakulam called the Jamia Masjid, laid
out a beautiful garden around it and
named it Firdaus. He also secured the
grant of a village from the Sultan for
maintenance of the Mosque.
An inscription on the gates of the
Mosque describes his achievements.
Another inscription inside the Mosque
states that it was built on the foundations
of a temple. Though the garden around it
does not exist today, the four minarets of
Jamia Masjid built by Sher Mohammad Khan (1641 A.D.) at Srikakulam
8
the mosque stands majestically against the
sky line.
By the end of the 15th century the Moghuls
had extended their kingdom up to the north
of Odisha and the whole of central India. In
1687, Aurangzeb the Mughal Emperor
annexed Golconda into his vast Empire thus
ending the sway of the Qutb Shahis in the
region. He appointed a viceroy known as
the fauzdar to administer the territory.
Tax and other revenue collected from the
entire region was collected here and
accounted for before being sent to
Hyderabad to the coffers of the kingdom. In
arabic Shika means ‘knot’ and khol means
‘to open’. Shika khol literally means to ‘open
the purse’. Over a period of time, this area It was during this time that the French,
came to be called ‘Shikakhole’ by virtue of it the English, the Portuguese and the Dutch
being the centre where tax was collected. were in the process of establishing
themselves as traders in the region. In
There exist ruins of an old structure
keeping with their political ambitions the
known as the Dutch bungalow. It was
French and the English took sides in the
constructed in 17th Centuary A.D. and was
war of succession of Golconda. Eventually
probably used as a guesthouse by the
a French protege, Salabat Jung ascended
Nawabs. It was later used by the Bobbili
the throne. In return for their favour, Salabat
Rajahs as their taluk office, where tax and
Jung ceded the Chicacole estate to the
other revenue were accounted for.
French.
When Aurangzeb died in 1707, the
The estate was then leased to Viziaram
Mughal Empire disintegrated. Taking
Raju of Vizianagaram. Taking advantage of
advantage of the situation, Nijam-ul MulkAsaf
his proximity to the French general Bussy,
Jah-I took control of the Deccan region.
Viziaram Raju convinced him to seize
At the advent of the modern period, this Bobbili, a neighbouring province.
region devolved on the Asaf Jahi’s who ruled
through their fauzdar.

Remnants of the Dutch bungalow

9
 The aftermath of the Bobbili war ended in
a terrible tragedy. The Bobbili king unable
to protect his fort, put to death the women
and children in his fort and himself died
fighting. Three days later, Tandra Pappaya
Raidu a loyal sirdar of the Bobbili king killed
Viziaram Raju.
This set the stage for the French to be
driven out of the region. Ananda Raju the
successor to the Vizianagaram throne,
joined hands with the British and expelled
the French. With the French driven out of
the region, the English firmly entrenched
themselves.
Known as ‘Kalinga’ or ‘Veera Kalinga’
during the early times, as Sher Mohammud
puram during the Muslim rule, the English
called it the northern circars. ‘Chicacole’ was
adopted as the official name for the region
and the British carried all transaction
regarding the area under this name.
Along with Odisha this region was of
strategic importance to the English as a link
between Bengal and the Madras provinces.
Many of the Zamindars who had leased
estates from the Moghuls and also from an
earlier period held sway over their small
provinces. Notable among there were
Chemudu, Sangamvalasa and Palakonda,
all of which were granted by the Raja of
Jeypore to his subordinates.

Bahmani Coins unearthed in the district

10
 With the active financial support of the
local zamindars, especially of Vizianagaram,
the British created basic infrastructure like
roads, bridges and buildings. Many of which
stand to this day.
India gained independence in 1947. The
earlier political divisions of ancient India were
merged into the Indian state.
The extent of the district as it stands today
was carved out of Ganjam and
Visakhapatnam districts and a separate
district was formed and christened as
‘Srikakulam’ on 15th August 1950.
A sea coast measuring 193 kilometres,
pleasant weather, green forests, deep
Built in 1854, the first bridge leading to Srikakulam - still in use
valleys, large coconut groves, cashew
orchards, fishing ports and industries,
Srikakulam today encompasses them all
denoting a paradigm shift from an
illustratious past towards a progressive
future.
With potential economic resources in
the form of unlimited minerals, extensive
forests, fertile lands, rivers and
hardworking people, the future of the
district rests solely on the shoulders of its
administration to bring back the sheen of
glory and grandeur that the region had
been bestowed with since times
immemorial.
11
 Coins of the British era, found in the District

12
THE RELICS

Buddhist Stupa at Salihundam Monument

13
 Magnificient Madhukeswara temple at Srimukhalingam

14
 T he east lashed by the Bay of
Bengal, the land lined by the great
eastern ghats, green fields, virgin
forests, magnificent waterfalls,
beautiful lakes and culturally the
monuments and the temples are an
illustration of the magnificent past of
the district.
Numerous copperplate inscriptions
of successive kings unearthed here
amply establish the fact that the
capital of Kalinga was situated at
the present day Mukhalingam on
the banks of the river Vamsadhara,
about 56 kilometers from
Srikakulam.
Today a non-decrepit village
Mukhlingam was once the capital of
the Kalinga Empire. The only
remains of the ‘Kalinganagara’, of
yore are three magnificent temples
that stand loftily in mute testimony
of the glory and grandeur that
permeated the region centuries ago.
The most beautiful temple of them
all is the Madhukeswara temple.
Kamarnava-ll of the imperial Ganga
dynasty began construction of the
temple in the 9th century and it was
his grandson Immadi Vajrahastha
who completed it. It took two
generations and several hundred
artisans to build the temple.

15
 Mithuna Sculpture in Madhukeswasra temple at Srimukhalingam

16
 A virtual lyric in stone it is the best-
preserved temple of the Indo-Aryan style
of architecture. Built entirely on stone, the
structure is adorned with beautiful carvings
of mythological scenes, images of gods and
goddesses in various incarnations.
The massive entrance of the temple is
flanked by huge rock cut lions on either
side leading through a splendid archway
into the temple precincts. A veritable feast
to the eyes, every wall and every doorway
is adorned with beautiful friezes and
exquisite sculptures.
Beautifully carved images on either side
of the doorway add beauty and grace to
the edifice.
Close to it stands the Aniyanka
Bhimeswara temple. Built in the 11 th
century during the reign of king Aniyanka Ganapathi idol at Madhukeswara temple

The Aniyanka Bheemeswara temple

17
18
Bhimeswara. It is rather plain in comparison
to the other two temples. The shikara of the
temple resembles the ear of a cow, with
pronounced horizontal layers parallel to
each other.
One unique feature here is the presence
of two sculptures of Nandi the divine bull
dated to two different periods. One in the
Ganga style of architecture and the other
belonging to the Chola genre of
architecture.
Close by stands another beautiful stone
edifice the Someswara temple. Built during
the same time as the Madhukeswara
temple, it is a stand-alone structure with
beautiful sculptures of various gods and
goddesses placed in niches on the outer
wall of the temple. These niches are further
beautified with exquisite carvings of flowers,
buds, vines and leaves.
The images of the river goddesses
Ganga and Yamuna on either side of the
doorway add romance grace to the edifice.
As per Hindu mythology, Vishnu is the
lord of the universe and he is believed to
have transcended the earth in various
incarnations. One of them is the Tortoise
incarnate or Lord Kurmanatha. The only

The Beautifully carved entrance to the temple

Left : Magnificient Gopuram at Someswara Temple in Srimukhalingam 19

20
 Mural Paintings on the inner walls - Kaliyamardhanam
temple dedicated to the Tortoise incarnate
of lord Vishnu is situated in a village named
Srikurmam about 12 kms from the town of
Srikakulam.
The temple belongs to the Dravidian style
with 3 storeyed vimana and a cloister
around it. The sculpture in the temple is a
happy blend of Indian and Orissan styles.
Traditions say that it is originally a Saivite
shrine of Pathala Siddheswara converted
by Acharya Sri Ramanuja as the temple of
Kurmanadha. Whatever the legends say,
this temple is one of the treasure houses
of Hindu iconography as well as sculpture.
The Icons of the temple are mostly
Vaishnavite and some saivite images like
Kalabhairava, Ganesha, Kumara are also
present. The figures of Hari-hara (a
combination of Vishnu and Siva), Ashta
Dikpalakas etc., are carved very beautifully
and attractively on hard black stone. Most
of the icons are well preserved which stood
the test of times, despite the attacks of
Mohammadans and Maharashtrians.
What is more, there are also mural
paintings some of which are badly
damaged. These paintings, which belong
to the late medieval period, are in the

Lord Krishna Killing Aghasura

Left : The Srikurmanatha temple at Srikurmam 21

22
Lepakshi style. They are executed on the
inner walls of the second enclosure
(Tiruchuttu Mandapam) on the Eastern and
Southern walls. The paintings are mainly
imposed by the stories connected with the
plays of lord Krishna, especially his birth
and child-hood, which are contained in the
Bhagavath puranam.
The sculpture in the temple is simple and
interesting. All the features are well defined
and forms are well proportioned. The male
figures are usually modelled with broad
chest, narrow waist and broadening at the
hips. The female figures are beautifully
modelled with the bulging breasts and hips,
narrow waist and soft and gracefull folds of A close-up view of a pillar at Srikurmanatha

The black granite pillars around the Cloister of the Srikurmanatha Temple

Left : Motif of Swan in the Srikurmam Temple 23

24
the belly. The floral designs animal and troubled him after Nandi the divine bull
human figures, conventional and symbolic kicked him, when he tried to force his way
sculptures are well-depicted. into the Koteswara temple at an untimely
These inscriptions give us a picture on hour.
the reign of the Eastern Ganga dynasty, Epigraphic evidence found here
which ruled the region from the 4th century establishes the fact that the temple was built
to the 14th century A.D. by King Devendra Verma, who ruled over
Architecturally the most striking feature Kalinga during the 7th century.
of the temple is the parikrama around the Carved out of a single block of black
temple, which is lined by exquisitely carved granite, the idol of the Sun God is an
pillars of black granite. Each pillar is unique elaborately carved masterpiece. The hood
and is a masterpiece in workmanship.
Numerous inscriptions dating back to the
4th century A. D and later are inscribed on
these pillars.
Initially built as a saivite temple, it was
later converted into a vaishnavite temple by
a saint who arrived here from Sri Lanka.
Worshipping the Sun has been in
practice down the ages in many cultures
around the world. Worship of the Sun god
is of special significance in the Hindu way
of life.
In all, four temples dedicated to the Sun
God are known to exist in ancient India,
the Marthand temple at Kashmir, the
Modesh temple at Gujarat, the renowned
temple of Konark and the Arsavalli temple
at Srikakulam.
On the outskirts of the town is situated
the temple of Lord Suryanarayana, the Sun
God. Local legend has it that the temple
was founded by Lord Indra to appease the
Sun god to relieve himself of the pain, which

Left : The Sky touching Sanctum of The beautiful idol of the Sun-God at Arasavalli
Arasavalli Temple in Kalinga Style carved out in ancient ‘Aruna Sila’ 25
26
of Adiseshsa - the mystical serpent is spread
over the figure of the deity, his three
consorts Usha, Padmini and Chaya stand
on one side, his gate keepers stand at the
base and the lord is represented as riding
a chariot drawn by seven horses. A lotus
held in each hand adds to the mesmerizing
beauty of the idol.
The main entrance of the temple has
three doors by which the first rays of the
sun enter the main temple and directly
touch the feet of the presiding deity. This
is witnessed on two occasions every year.
The most famous pilgrimage periphery
Gopika Vasthrapaharanam beautifully carved at Umarudra Koteswaralayam
Left : The Uma Rudra Koteswara Swamy temple
in the district is the ‘Pancha Linga Kshetra’.
An ensemble of five Shivalingas situated
along the banks of the river Nagavalli are
believed to have been founded by
Balarama, the elder brother of Lord
Krishna.
Three of these Lingas are situated within
the district, while two of these are located
in the neighboring districts.
Of the three temples, the Rudra
Koteswara Swamy temple is located within
the town of Srikakulam.
The Uma Rudhra Koteswara Swami
Temple on the banks of river Nagavali at
27
Srikakulam is another beatuful temple on
the vimana of which Krishna leelas of
Gopika Vasthrapaharanam, Siva murthies
and secular figures are carved. Though
belong to late medieval period this
sculptured styles and other motifs seem to
have continued.
Initially located downstream at the
Golkonda revu, it was housed in a
dilapidated structure till a devotee
Confluence of Nagavali into Bay of Bengal
Mulagapaka Tammaya relocated the temple
in 1702. The entrance arch of the temple The second Linga by name Sanga
was later built by a trader named meswara is situated at Sangam, a
Magatapalli Kamayya Setty in 1774. confluence of three rivers the Swarnamukhi,
the Vegavati and the Nagavali. This temple

Triveni sangamam of Sangam (Confluence of Nagavali, Vegavathi, Suvarnamukhi rivers)

28
is a very important pilgrimage centre and
tourist destination. Here the peculiarity is
that all the three rivers are visible to the
naked eye in three diffrent distinct colours.
The third Linga is located in a village
called Kallepalli, close to the sea. This is
the Mani Nageswara Swamy temple.
Siva linga of the temple is of two
parts depicting Ardhanareeswara half
Siva and half Parvathi. Mopusbandaru a
village where Nagavali river confluences
into Bay of Bengal is a holy
pilgrimage.
Shiva Lingam at Maninageswaralayam,
Kallepalli

The Sangameswara Swamy temple

29
30
 About 40 kms from Srikakulam is situated
a town called Razam. It was part of the
Bobbili estate and is famous for its inherent
association to the tragic Bobbili war. Tandra
Papa Rayudu who killed Viziaram Raju, the
king of Vizianagaram hailed from here.
About 9 kms from Razam in a village
named Gulla Sitaramapuram, is situated
a beautifully carved temple built by the
Bobbili kings about 350 years ago.
The king of Bobbili on a sojourn to
Razam found the idol of Lord Rama and
Carving inside the main temple
Left : The imposing Gopuram of the Sita Rama Swamy temple
Sita. The idol carved out of a single stone is
unique in respect to the fact that it depicts
Sita perched on the thigh of a seated Rama,
which is a rare portrayal of the lord.
The Gopuram of the temple is a 50 feet
tall imposing structure built in stone. The
main temple is an impressive array of
beautiful sculptures and carvings that
showcase the skill of craftsmanship at its
best.
Legends, myths and folklore are all
intricately woven into the history and
culture of Srikakulam.
The single stone idol of Rama and Sita
31
34
 Centuries ago when Lord Rama was on
his way back to Ayodhya after fourteen years
in exile, he along with his army is believed to
have made a halt at a village called
Raavivalasa near Tekkali. Vibhishana, the
younger brother of Ravana was part of the
retinue. It was here that he breathed his last.
At the spot a Shivlinga with white strips is
believed to have sprouted. This Shivlinga, it
is said grows by over an inch every year.
Today it is a massive Linga measuring over
50 feet tall with a girth of about 23 feet.
Popular as Yendala Mallikarjuna Swamy
temple, it is a highly revered and venerated
religious destination for the followers of
Hinduism.
During history Kalinga was divided and
subdivided into smaller states and fiefdoms
ruled by local chieftains and landlords. Some
of these states have lasted over a thousand
of years and have left behind the remnants
of their legacies, culture and unique traditions
in the temples and palaces that they built.

Sri Vasudeva Swamy tempe at Mandasa

Left : The massive Shivalinga at Sri Yendala Mallikarjuna Swamy temple 33

34
 Mandasa was one such state, which
was established, by Vaman Singh Deo
in 1206A.D.
One of the most beautiful structures
built by the rulers of Mandasa is the
Vasudeo Swamy temple. Built by
Harihara Raja Mani Deo and dedicated
to the family deity, it is a stone structure
adorned with numerous carvings of the
Hindu gods and goddesses. A unique
aspect of this region is that the temples
are decorated with erotic figures in
various moods carved on stone.
The residential quarters of the royal
family of the Mandasa rulers known as
the Mandasa Fort was built by
Lakshman Raja Mani Deo in 1779. It is
an imposing edifice that stands loftily
against the skyline as if reminding the
grandeur and magnificence of the Shiva Parvathi Idol Carved out of single stone
bygone era.

Glass Paintings of 17th Centuary inside the Mandasa fort

Left : The Mandasa Fort 35

 The most grandiose and extravagantly
designed Church in the region is situated
in Palakonda Town of the District. With
a primary and a secondary school
annex, it is a land mark in its own right.
This church was built 150 years back
by a french father to promote
Christianism.
Urlam, Devidi Samsthanams
patronized Arts and letters which Residential building of Bonthalakoduru Jamindars
promoted Sanskrit learning. Great
scholars and eminent luminaries served Bonthalakoduru Samsthanam also served the
and produced literature in Sanskrit and cultural and literary fields. It promoted fine
elevated the Samsthanam to the level of Khadi which brought identity to the district at
a university during 18th & 19th centuries. National Level.

Ancient Urlam Samsthanam Building

Left : Restored flamboyant facade of the Palakonda Church. 37

36
 One of the most beautiful temples in the district is the
Radha Govinda Swamy temple at Meliyaputti. Situated
on the Andhra-Odisha border, this temple was built by
the kings of the Parlakemundi Gajapathi dynasty. Veera
Virendra Pratap Rudra Gajapathi Narayana Deo built
it, exclusively for his queen to perform her prayers.
Built in the Oriya style of architecture with erotica
as the dominating theme, it is poetry on stone. The
beautiful carvings on the temple are believed to depict
the gist of the four Vedas. The corridor around the
temple is lined with 32 pillars. Carvings on the outer
wall of the temple depict stories and tales of various
incarnations of Lord Krishna.
About two hundred years old, this temple was the
pride of the Gajapathi kingdom. During its hey days,
there were twenty two priests appointed to perform the
daily rituals. Erotic carvings

Parikrama of Meliaputti temple

Left : The Radha Govinda Swamy temple at Meliyaputti 39

 Every year on the eve of Holi pournami
in the month of April, and on the occasion
of Rakhi pournami, the idols of the presiding
deity Lord Krishna and those of Radha and
Lalitha are taken out in a grand procession
with pomp and gaiety.
Jalantara was another such fiefdom,
which came into existence in the 16th
century. Though the main fort of this family
is in ruins, a beautiful temple dedicated to
Lord Krishna stands at the entrance of
what was the fort. It is a single structure
built in Oriya style.

The Radhakrishna temple at Jalantara

40
 There are a number of fiefdoms that have
left their cultural identity in the temples, forts
and palaces they built.
Tarla Kota is one place worth mentioning.
Scores of temples each grander than the
other cover the entire region. Under the
influence of the Gajapathiis of Odisha, this
region rose into prominence in the 11th century.
It is believed that the Gajapathi kings granted
the estate to a loyal follower in recognition of
his services.
The ruins of the palace portray a glimpse of
the opulence of the rulers. A three storied
structure built on a raised platform, with a
huge central hall, a mandapam, and an
The Tarla Kota
impressive archway at the main entrance,
showcases an era of self-sufficiency and
affluence.
Not much is known about the rulers of this
area, except that it was ruled by the Suro
dynasty since 1040 A.D to the time when the
Privy Purse was abolished after India attained
Independence.
Going by the number of temples in the
vicinity, they were probably highly religious and
god fearing. The entire region is sprinkled with
temples dedicated to various gods and
goddesses. A few square miles and about a
hundred temples signify the important role
played by religion in the agrarian society.
41
40
 Surrounded by hills on all sides, carpeted
with lush green fields, dotted with numerous
temples, the area is a beautiful sight.
The most beautiful temple here is the
Jagannadha Swamy temple. Situated at the
main entrance of the once opulent palace, it is
the remnant of a distant past when the kings
bowed their heads in reverence to the gods
before they entered the palace.
Built in the typical Oriya style of architecture,
it is a massive stone structure set against a
backdrop of lush green forests and hills. The
majestic structure is replete with numerous
carvings of religious deities that adorn the walls
of the temple with a touch of erotica.
An erotic carving adorning the Jaganadha Temple

The Jagannadha Swamy temple

Left : The Sculpted Corridor of the Venugopala Swamy Temple at Tarlakota 43

42

Mural Paintings at Tekkali Palace
Close by, the Balajee temple stands
majestically in isolated splendour. Built in
solid stone, it resembles the Radha
Govinda temple of Meliaputti. Ensconced
within the hills of the Eastern Ghats, in the
lap of nature, the temple is highly revered
by the local populace.
Close by stand the temples dedicated to
Lord Varadaraja Swamy, Lord Radhakantha
Swamy, Lord Venugopala Swamy and Lord
Hanuman.
Legends abound in this land of temples,
some believable and some not so
believable. Irrespective of the fact, faith
and belief in the minds of the people is
one of respect, veneration and reverence.

The Balajee temple

Left : Ancient someswaralayam at Tekkali of 17th Century A.D. 45

 The Janardhana Swamy temple at Baruva
is one such temple. Steeped in folklore it is
deeply revered by the fisher folks of the
town. Baruva has predominantly been a
fishing port since ancient times.
As per local folklore, the nets of a
fisherman got entangled to a heavy object
lying on the seabed. When they fished it
out, they found an idol. While they tried to
bring the idol to the shore, the little finger
on the left hand of the idol broke off and to
their surprise blood oozed out of it. They
feared that calamity would befall them and
prayed fervently. That night one of them
Sri Janardhana Swamy temple at Baruva
46
dreamt of Lord Janardhana Swamy. He
urged them to install the idol in a temple
and offer regular prayers and invoke his
blessings.
To this day the tradition of offering
prayers before embarking into the sea
continues. The local fisher folk offer
prayers to invoke the lord’s blessings for
their safe return and a good catch.
Every year in the month of November
on the eve of ekadasi (eleventh day of the
waxing moon) the entire fishing community
gathers here from all the surrounding
villages and celebrate.
 All night they revel in the festivities.
Firespitters dance with fire, the drummers
beat drums and they make merry till dawn.
An inscription on the temple reveals the
period of construction of the temple as per
the Hindu Jovian year. The idol of the Lord
is exquisitely carved with a mysterious aura
emanating from it.
Another beautiful temple in Baruva is the
Jagannadha Swamy temple. It is believed
to be around 700 years old. Built in the
traditional Oriya style of architecture, it is
adorned with numerous carvings of gods and
goddesses. Like most of the temples built in
the Oriya style of architecture, the sculptures Ancient Temple Bell presented by Krishna Devaraya

The Sri Jagannadha Swamy temple

47
on the outer walls of this temple too are also
based on erotica as the underlined theme.
So many holy places, so much history, it
is but natural that pilgrims flocked in large
numbers since ages. A number of ashrams
and dharamshalas were constructed to
relieve the weary pilgrims. A few of these
still function after hundreds of years of
service. One of them is the Jagannadha
Sri Jagannadha Swamy matham
48
Swamy matham. A sage who, on a
pilgrimage to Rameswaram reached this spot
and decided to halt. But to his dismay, he
found only a pond of fresh water and no
other amenities for the pilgrims. He decided
to stay back and serve the hungry and tired
pilgrims. Empty handed that he was, he
prayed to Lord Jagannadha Swamy and
placed the onus on the Lord’s shoulders to
provide food and shelter to the pilgrims. The
next morning a trader appeared and donated
rice, firewood and pulses. The then king of
Jalantara Kota donated land for construction
of the temple.
Kalingapatnam is the ancient port town
in Srikakulam district. It is at a distance of
25 km to District head quarters. For so many
years historians viewed Kalingapatnam as
one of the capital towns of Kalinga Desa.
Remains of “Kota Dibba” (Fort heap) on the
outskirts of the town and presence of a
Buddhist stupa near Nagaralapeta, which is
more than 2000 years age, decide the
anitiquity of the village to Before Christ.
Another evidence is that there is an ancient
Old Light House and New Light House of Kalingapatnam Port
Dargah where one inscription revealed that
it belongs to 16th Centuary. Buddhist Stupa
at Nagaralapeta had 2000 years ancient
history. This town became very prominent
from 17th Centuary A.D. as an important port
city for exports and imports on the East India
coast. Satavahanas conquered this port
Before Christ and Gouthamiputra Satakarni
(152 B.C - 96 B.C.) developed Buddhism
and also marine trade from Kalingapatnam.
During Muslim rule Arab Dhows had regular
trading with Persia and Mesapatomia (Iraq).
Early Europeans mainly Dutch occupied the
port in 17th Centuary. Syed Kalinga Madina
Oulia Baba Durgah which belongs to 16th
Centuary stands as a testimony of Hindu
Muslim Unity.
49
 Ichapuram, the northern most tip of the district and
also for the state of Andhra Pradesh was one of the most
important major transit point for traders between southern
and eastern India during the Muslim rule to the pre-
independence era.
Traders from either side would congregate here and
transact business with the traders of the other side and
return home. Today it is just a mere border town between
the states of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. There is ample
evidence here to establish that this was an ancient town
that existed hundreds of years ago. About 700 years ago
a Muslim saint ‘Baba Fariduman’ came here from
Afghanistan to spread the word of Allah. For forty days he
meditated on a nearby hill. He stayed on to spread the
The Peerla konda
message of universal love.
He was fond of sugar and it is believed that he planted they did witness the phenomenon
a tree that sprinkled a sugar like substance. The tree does of the sugar-sprinkling tree in
not exist anymore, but the elders of the town swear that their childhood days.

The Jamia Mosque at Ichapuram

50
 Many a miracle is attributed to this saint.
The most recent one being in 1978 when
the rising waters of the Chilka lake flooded
the town. The residents ran up the hill to
save themselves. There they prayed for
protection. They say that a loud rumbling
was heard for atop the hill after which the
waters receded and the town was safe. Since
then people of all religions visit this mosque
every year to pay their respects to the saint
‘Hazrat Shaik Farid Shakar Ganj’. Locally
referred to as Peerlu Konda, literally meaning
the ‘hill where saints dwell’.
Another mosque at the foot of the hill
stands as testimony to the influence wielded
by the Muslim rulers. The ‘Maslaq-Ala Hazrat
Aheley Sunnatul Jamat’ also known as the
The inscription in Persian script inside the Jamia Mosque at Ichapuram
Jamia Masjid was built 400 years ago by
Nawab Mustafa Khan, a representative of
the Asif Jahi rulers of the Deccan. An
inscription in Persian script inside the
mosque states that the mosque was built by
the grace of Allah and is dedicated to the
people. The nawab is believed to have built
365 mosques. He would visit one mosque
everyday and offer prayers only on one
occasion in a year. Not many of these
mosques exist today, but they do give a
glimpse of the extent to which the Muslim
rule permeated.
In the olden days, all religions existed in
harmony. Amply established by the fact that
a number of ancient temples dedicated to
various Hindu gods and goddesses still exist.
51
 One such temple is dedicated
to the village deity Sri Swechavathi
Ammavaru temple at Ichapuram.
The Surangi rajah’s ruled this
region till the Privy Purse was
abolished and the province was
merged with the state of Andhra
Pradesh. The residential palace
of the kings stands till today
magestically at Ichapuram
represents the architectural style
of Kalinga construction. The Kings
patronized arts, letters, education
and Oriya language.
The colourful arches of the palace

The Palace of the Surangi Raja’s - Ichapuram

52
 For the British, Ichapuram was a major
route connecting the Madras Presidency to
Bengal. They contributed towards building
infrastructure such as roads and buildings
that not only helped their troops and other
contingents move with ease, it did boost trade
and commerce considerably.
A few of the remnants of the British
contribution to the area still exist to this day.
One of them being the bridge over the river
‘Bahuda’ that cuts across the province.
Named the “Sri Ramachandra Mardaraja
Bridge” a plaque on the bridge indicates that
The Sri Ramachandra Mardaraja Bridge over the river Bahuda, Ichapuram
the bridge was built in 1929 at a cost of
3,11,000 Rupees. It still stands strong and
connects Ichapuram to the rest of the
region.
The glory of the district that was once
part of the great Kalinga Empire, ruled by
the mightiest of kings still remains scripted
on its ancient temples, in the ruins of its
forts and stone edifices.
More appropriately it would be apt in
terming it as the story of the hoary and
colourful past on stone.
53
52
 THE CULTURE

A dancer from the district Dr. Swathy Somnath in Kuchipudi Dance form

Left : A stone carved grill at the Gulla Sita Rama Swamy temple. 55
 One significant tribe that lived in eastern ghats
from Mahendra giri mountain to the river Godavari
is Savaras who figured as ‘Sabaras’ in ancient
literature. Probably due to territorial proxmity, their
way of life resembles that of the khonds, another
tribe. Premitive savaras and Kapu Savaras are two
important clans in this tribe. They used to live by
making bamboo articles (Kundalalu), metal objects
(Loharas), and some of them are weavers
(Arasees).
Painter Painting Savara Art

Tribal Savara Art of Srikakulam District

56
 The religious belief of the savaras
seems to have revolved around nature and
agriculture. They worship ‘Jokara’, ‘Loddalu’
(Jalia), the idols of goddesses. During the
harvest seasons they sacrifice animals.
They follow some distinct customs at death
rituals.

They celebrate ‘Vasantha Punnami’ the

fullmoon day of the spring season by
recollecting the memories of their elders.
The other festivals of the savaras include
‘Aagam Panduga’, ‘Mamidi Panduga’,
‘Chukkala Pandaga’ and ‘Puli Pandaga’. Women praying family Goddess

Savara art in style on pot Man made with Clay in Savara Style

57
56
 Situated on the east coast of the country
the demographic structure of the district
varies. There are the hills as well as the
plains, the climate too varies and so do
cultivation and occupation of the people.
While agriculture is main source in plains,
cashew, coconut and Jack fruit trade makes
the Uddanam area rich and affluent. Paddy,
pulses, sugarcane and other crops are
benificial to the people in the district. Podu
cultivation on ghats, cattle rearing and The Podu crop of Tribals
trading forest products are main sources of
few other means of survival that exist in the
the economy of the tribals.
area. The land is fertile and abundant water
While fishing and cashew farming are the also available. Paddy cultivation is high in
major occupations of the area, there are a this region and rice is grown in abundance.

A farmer ploughs his fields

Left : The large tract of rice fields in the district 59

 A weaver at his loom weaving Khadi - Ponduru
60
 Srikakulam is also known as the land
where the finest khadi is woven. Ponduru
is a small village where the world’s best
khadi is available. Khadi from Ponduru is
famous among khadi lovers of the entire
country. Mahatma Gandhi is also said to have
been surprised at the finesse of the khadi
produced here and he always preferred
khadi from this village.
He is said to have sent his son Devdas to
Ponduru to inquire about the authenticity of
the fabric. Mahatma Gandhi also wrote about
it in ‘Young India’, a National daily during
the pre independence era. Women spinning yarn

The beauty of Ponduru Khadhi - Border on Sarees

61
 Beauty in metal - Bronzeware from Budithi
62
 Budihiti bronze work has also made a
place for itself in the national and
international market. The intricate weaving
in bronze is a unique feature and the
products are much sought after by tourists
as well as locals. There are beautiful idols
of Gods and various other utility articles like
water pots, chariots, flower vases, cooking
utensils in solid bronze and gunmetal.
Tourists from India and foreign countries
place orders for articles of their choice.
It is a wonder how these craftsmen
survived all vagaries of time. History has it
that these craftsmen enjoyed royal patronage
of the kings. But as time passed and India
became Independent, the patronage An Idol of Lord Rama in Solid Bronze
diminished and these craftsmen who were
mostly jewellers diverted their skills into more affordable metals like bronze.

Crafts men at work

63
 Bejjipuram Eco-friendly Jute Products
64
 In the changing times of the modern
society, the use of natural eco-friendly Jute
products attract the attention of the lovers of
handicrafts. The products of Bejjipuram
stand as a testimony to the artistic creativity
and aesthetic taste of its makers. The youth
club of Bejjipuram is running a small scale
industry producing utility items like folders,
hand bags, photo frames, wall hangings etc.
from jute on the lines of export quality. It is
flourishing with good marketing avenues in-
ternationally. Handicrafts produced by
women in the district are making them self
sufficent.
The Sojourn of man from making pots
with clay to making vessels with various
metals is quite interesting in the evolution of Artistic beauty of house made with Ice Cream Sticks
civilization of mankind.

Women working with Jute

65
 Beauty of flowervase made of Terra Cotta

66
 Popularly known as Kummari in
our villages, the potter collects clay
and damps it. Putting this clay on a
wheel and turning it he makes pots of
various sizes.
They will be kept in a Avam
(furnace) for some days to become
harder. Still in our villages poor people
utilise these clay vessels for cooking
and other purposes. With the
competition of metal vessels, the clay
models are gradually disappearing
giving place to bronze, alluminum and
steel. Elephant made of Terra Cotta

Potter at his wheel

67
 Srikakulam has had the share of prominent
personalities who contributed immensely to
the development of Telugu art and culture.
Music, dance and drama have been an
integral part of the common mans way of
life in the region since ancient times.
Garimalla Satyanarayana one of the
pioneers of the freedom struggle hails from
Srikakulam. His patriotic rendering of words
encompassed in the form of verses ignited
a strong sense of patriotism within his
fellowmen and brought about a feeling of
angst against the British.
Though born into a poor Brahmin family,
Praja Kavi Garimella Satyanarayana
68
he scaled unsurpassable heights of
sustenance and was able to mould hundreds
of minds. “Unwept, unhonoured and unsung,
died the great poet” states Tekumalla, when
he speaks about a freedom fighter who
moulded a whole generation against the
British rule. Mahatma Gandhi is said to have
been surprised at his imprisonment on the
occasion of his writing the song ‘Maakoddee
Telladorra tanamu’.
After finishing his graduation, he worked
as a clerk at the District Collector’s office in
Ganjam district for a short while. He also
worked as a teacher at Vijayanagaram.
 The prison walls could not contain his thirst
for literary skills and he went on to learn
Tamil in the jail, after which he translated
‘Tirukkuaraal’ and ‘Naandiyar’ from Tamil. He
also translated a Kannada poem ‘Tallikota’.
He also translated ‘The economic conquest
of India’ by Pattabhi Seetaramaiah into
Telugu. Some of his original works are
Swaraajya Geetamulu (1921), Harijana
Paatalu (1923), Khandakavyalu and
Baalageetaalu (1926). He also wrote for
various daily and weekly journals such as
Grihalakshmi, Krishnapatrika, Anandavani,
Dhanka, Andhra Prabha, and Bhaarati etc.
Natacharya - Chatti Purnayya Panthulu
Chatti Purnayya Panthulu was a greatly
revered dramatist of his times. The British
Government bestowed him the title of ‘Rao
Bahadur’. He was appointed the Municipal
Chairman of Chicacole (Srikakulam) in 1921
and continued for a second term in 1927.
It was during his tenure that Mahatma
Gandhi visited Srikakulam, where he was
honoured with a citation on Ponduru Khadi,
which was auctioned for Rs. 250 and the
proceeds donated for the welfare of the
Harijans.
It was during his tenure that the Chicacole
municipality adopted a resolution boycotting
69
 Gidugu Rama Murthy Panthulu - The Thunderbolt

70
the Simon commission, the only municipality
in India to do that.
Chatti Purnayya Panthulu was a lawyer
by profession but was also a versatile stage
artist. He played the roles of Othello, Hamlet,
King Lear and also heroes from Indian
Mythology. His portrayal of the role of Shivaji
in the play ‘Roshnara’ was legendary. His
portrayal of Shivaji on stage was so realistic,
that he rode a real horse on stage while
acting the role.
Apart from numerous titles that were
conferred on him in India, he was honoured
with the title ‘Natacharya’ in France.
The man who was awarded the title of
‘Mahamahopadhyay’ was a visionary who
transformed the Telugu language and created
Kalaprapurna Gidugu Seethapathi
a place for it in the educational system. As
a pedagogue and an educationist, ‘Gidugu
Rama Murthy Pantulu’ was ahead of his
times.
He thought of emancipating the society
through simplification of language. He was
a creative writer of grammar and effective
prose.
Fondly called ‘Pidugu’ (the thunderbolt)
he was the first to realize the importance of
linguistics as a science. He led a movement
for making Telugu the vyavaharika bhasha,
or the medium of teaching in schools and
colleges. The Telugu language that was laden
with Sasanas (inscriptions) or kavyas
(language laden with Sanskrit) was almost
incomprehensible to the common telugu
speaking people till then. He realized the
71
importance and efficiency of the direct
method of teaching languages. His love for
the Savara people, of the munda tribe,
bordering Odisha and Andhra Pradesh,
inspired him to form a script for the
language. He prepared lexicons and taught
the tribals at his own expense. Undeterred
by the orthodox Sanskrit educated pundits,
he emphasized the use of spoken language
to be the medium of education and the credit
of the acceptance of the language goes to
Gidugu’s tenacity and commitment.
Tumarada Sangameswara Sastry was
acclaimed as a great musician of all times.
Veena Seshanna, the great Veena maestro
from Mysore praised him and said that it
was divine music that flowed his Veena.
Rabindranath Tagore too invited him to Shanti
Andhra Visaradha - Tapi Dharma Rao
72
Niketan, where he was awarded a Golden
Plaque with the title ‘Veenacharya’ signed
by Rabindranath Tagore himself.
He belonged to a small village called
Bittivada Agraharam and went on to be the
Royal musician at the house of Pithapuram
Zamindars. Well versed in western and
Hindustani music, he also mastered the art
of playing the saptaswaras on a single string
of Veena.
Gidugu Venkata Seethapati won his first
award for composing poems at a young age
of twelve years on the occasion of the
Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Queen
Victoria.
One of his major contributions has been
the translation of the Bible into Telugu. His
efforts to bring Savara Language into the
mainstream were upheld and he was
awarded D.Litt in America to pursue his
research work. Andhra University also
awarded him the ‘Kalaprapurna’ in 1965.
When the states of Andhra Pradesh and
Odisha were being demarcated, he
staunchly opposed the merger of 600
villages into Orissa and insisted that the
villages be made a part of Andhra Pradesh.
To this effect he kept the members of the
British Parliamentary Committee in London
spell bound by his arguments for 45 mins.
A legend of all times and a literary genius,
Taapi Dharma Rao, who is better known as
‘Andhra Visaaradha’ penned many Telugu
songs for Telugu cinema, all of which went
on to be great hits.
His light hearted and humorous stories
Kalaprapurna Tripurana Venkata Prasada Raya Kavi
on serious subjects were easily understood
by the common man and hence made them
immensely popular. He had many
publications to his credit. Among them an
elegy titled ‘Nalli pai Karunyam’ (Pity for the
bedbug), stand out. India adukku thine valla
sabha (All India Beggars Association) was
a popular humorous satire penned by him.
His research on the erotic sculpture on
temples has been an eye-opener. His
extensive findings on the subject were
published in a volume titled Devalayala pai
Boothu Bommalu (Erotica in the temples).
A well-known literary figure, Tripurana
Venkata Prasada Rayakavi had mastered
the Pancha Mahakavyas of Telugu
Literarture by the age of twenty. He rewrote
many ancient Sanskrit texts like the Uttara
Ramayana and Raghuvamsa Ramayanam.
73
 Kodi Rama Murthy - Indian Hercules

74
 He was the court poet of the Jeypore
palace. During a literary meet in Madras in
1922, he was awarded a ‘Simhatalatam’ (a
golden bracelet with lion head ends), which
signified his stature as a torchbearer in the
field of literature. He was awarded the title
‘Kalaprapurna’ in 1943 at Andhra University.
Kodi Rama Murthy was the greatest
wrestler of all times. Born in Veeraghattam,
his family moved to Vizianagaram after his
father’s demise. There he was employed as
a coach at a local gymnasium under the
aegis of the Raja of Vizianagaram.
In 1911, on the occasion of King George
V’s visit to India, he performed rare and
dangerous feats. He broke iron chains with
his bare hands, held a motor vehicle from
moving with his bare hands. He held King
George in awe as he balanced an elephant
on his chest for over five minutes. Impressed
by his strength, King George V conferred
upon him the title ‘Indian Hercules’. Kalaprapurna Raja Vikram Dev Varma

He was a yogi, with great control over his

mind. He is said to have undergone the entire
painful procedure of getting his knee
operated while chatting to the medical team
without any anesthesia. Later he revealed
that it was with the help of yogic discipline
that he was able to block the sensation of
pain in his body.
Raja Vikram Dev Varma, the heir to the
Parlakhemundi royal house was born in 1869
June 28 in a village called Nagari Katakum,
near Srimukhalingam. He was the heir to the
Kingdom of Jeypore. He was a poet of great
stature himself and a great patron of art.
A great literary personality he contributed
greatly towards the development of Telugu
and Oriya literature. As the pro-chancellor
to the Andhra University for over two
decades, he contributed both financially and
otherwise to the growth of the university. As
an acknowledgement of his commitment and
association the ‘College of Science and
Technology’ at Andhra University bears his
name to this day. He was also awarded the
titles of Kalaprapurna and Honorary
Doctorate for his contribution to Telugu
literature.

75
 Manikonda Chalapathi Rao

76
 Manikonda Chalapathi Rao Popularly
called ‘M.C.’ was one of the most eminent
journalists to be born in Srikakulam. Born in
a village called ‘Amba Khandi’, he started
his career as a barrister at law. His foray
into journalism began as a free lancer, who
penned editorials for ‘Triveni’ and ‘The
People’s Voice’ Newspapers.
He was an authority on the Nehruvian
thought. For over thirty years M.C. was the
editor of “The National Herald’ a daily
founded by Jawahar Lal Nehru. He also
authored several books on Indian journalism,
politics and personalities. During the
independence struggle he was part of the
underground press movement.
Purana Vachaspathi Sri Bankupalli Mallayya Sastry
He accompanied Nehru as the leader of
the Indian press delegation on his historic
1955 tour of the USSR, Poland and
Yugoslavia. He was also a member of the
Indian Government’s goodwill mission to
China in 1952.
He was a member of the UNESCO Press
Experts Committee. He represented India in
the Uninted nations General Assembly
(1958). He was also a member of the
Initiating Committee of the International
Press Institute.
Purana vachaspathi, Kavya Thirdha
Bankupalli Mallayya Sastry a Vedic Scholar
born in Singupuram translated vedas into
Telugu. Kondaveeti Vijayam a historical poem
77
 Padmabhushan Dr. Sripada Pinakapani Doyen of Carnatic Music
Priyagraharam
78
is his magnum opus prescribed by before he tookup lecturers post in
Universities as text book for graduation mathematics at Presidency college, Madras.
classes. As a social reformer he arranged The English - Telugu dictionary worked out
entry to thousands of scheduled caste by him passed through five editions during
people into Hindu temples. His widow his life time. His father Mr. Ramanujaswamy
daughter Krishnavenamma was given in came to Srikakulam as a dubasi to
marriage to Gouthami Kokila Vedula Mr. Russel a colonial ruler who identified the
Satyanarayana Sastry a renouned poet. The merits in Sankara Narayana and
‘Vivaha vyavastha’ and ‘Asprusyatha’ written encouraged him to follow lexicography of
by him encouraged widow marriages and Sir C.P. Brown. “The lexicons of Sankara
eradicated untouchbility in the society. Narayana are so well known to the Telugu
public and have become so indespensable
One of the greatest personalities of the
in the Telugu Country, that any
district who won the hearts of the people
recommendation looks superfluous”.
and awards of the Government, a renouned
surgeon, a well known writer and a doyen in
South Indian Classical music is Dr.Sripada
Pinakapani. Born in Priagraharam, he
studied medicine in Visakhapatnam, served
as medical professor at Kunrool. A number
of titles like ‘Ganavidya varadhi’, Sangeetha
Kala Sikhamani’ ‘Kalaprapurna’ and
Padmabhushan adorned him and out of the
gold of such awards he made gold ornaments
and donated them to the temple of Srirama
at Bhadrachalam. He published a number
of books like ‘Panineeyam’, ‘Swararamam’,
Na Sangeetha Yathra etc.
Dr. Paluri Sankara Narayana a multi-
linguist and mathematician happened to be
a student of Municipal High School
Srikakulam. He also worked as teacher in
the same school as a contemporary of Dr.
Chilukuri Narayana Rao another great
Scholar. He also worked as tutor at Jaipur,
Pithapuram, Nuziveed and Cochin estates

Paluri Sankara Narayana Compiler of

English Telugu Dictionary
79
 Sri Kurmapu Narasimham popularly
known as K.N. is one of the proud sons of
the soil of Srikakulam. He mastered the art
painting following the School of Raja Ravi
Varma. He won accolades from all walks of
life for his wonderful sense of aesthetics.
The painting of lord Buddha demonstrates
his skills and plunders the hearts of all the
art lovers. He is famous for oil paintings.
He was one of the two artists invited by
Thirumala Thirupathi Devasthanam to
portray a life size painting of lord Balaji,
which certainly placed him on a very high
pedestal in domain of artists.
Famous Painter Kurmapu Narasimhamam

Portrait of Dhyana Buddha Shakunthala at Ashram

80
 Vaddadi Papayya, or Vapa (as he was
popularly known) the man who romanced
colours, is today acknowledged as the
greatest painter to have ever set foot in
Srikakulam.
Though few of his original works seem to
have survived, his art continues to live in the
printed versions of the numerous magazines
for which he drew and painted.
Vaddadi Papayya
He drew pictures exclusively for the
monthly ‘Chandamama’, basically a
magazine that published stories from the
ancient texts for children. The
‘Chandamama’ was extermely popular by
virtue of the illustrations by ‘Vapa’.
He painted pictures for many periodicals
viz., Yuva, Andhra Patrika, Abhisarika,
Bharathi, Swathi etc.,
81
 Portrait of Innocent Girl - Vaddadi Papayya

82
THE FOLK

Gangireddulata

83
82
 The richness of day-to-day existence of
generations of civilisations and culture
culminate in various expressions of art, viz.,
dance, song, music and otherforms.
Srikakulam has its cultural ethos
encapsulated in its art forms that are unique
in retrospect to the region that represent its
socio-economic conditions.
The most popular art form of the district
‘The Tappeta Gullu’ is an embodiment of
mans ability to mould himself to his environs
and the spirit to tame natures forces.
This art form is played specifically by the
Chenchu Bhaghavatham
Left : Performing the Tappetagullu
shepherd community of the district. Initially,
during the nights the shepherds would gather
at a place and sing songs during the nights
to keep predators away from their flock of
sheep, with an occassional thumping on their
chests with bare hands.
Overtime, he tied a hollow tin on to his
chest and wore anklets and added rythm to
his songs in praise of Lord Krishna.
What we witness today is a refined form
of the primitive art of dance and song, that
has evolved into a colourful art form
combining acrobatic feats, dance and
music.
85
 Satya bhama in Thurpu Bhaghavatham folk art form
Artist : Bothalakoti Samba Murthy.
86
 Another intriguing art form is the ‘Chenchu
Bhagavatham’. Practised by an aboriginal
tribe called the ‘Chenchu’ it is a narrative
art form performed by a group attired in
traditional tribal gear with horns of animals
and costumes of hide, headgear decorated
with feathers add colour to the performance.
The theme of narration in this art form is
based on a descriptive form of the love and
romance between Lord Vishnu and his
consort. Solo art forms have been around
for ages. Developed basically to get the royal
edicts or other messages of social welfare
across to the people. These later took the
form of folk art with attributes from each
culture. Some of the solo artforms found in
the district are the Bhama Kalapam, Golla
Kalapam and Jamuku Paata. Jamuku Paata
Dappu Vaidyam
is the most popular of these. The simplicity
of portraying various mythological stories in
the form of a song is the beauty of these
solo art forms. A male dressed as a woman
tells the story.The accompanying artists
carry two percussion instruments called the
‘Jamukus’. It is a hollow drum, with one end
closed with hide of a goat. A chord binds
one end of the drum to the hide. When the
string is struck it makes music and is played
in rythm of the song.
Each festival brings on veritable feast of
various art forms in the country side. The
Erukala Paata, Pandiri Paata, Siva
Bhagavatham, Gangireddu Aata, Puli
Vesham, Komma Dasari and scores of other
art forms are popular.
87
 Most enthralling and scintillating tribal
dance form is “Thimsa”. It is ancient art
form practised in the Eastern Ghats of
Srikakulam Dist. A male invites females for
singing and dancing in group.
They sing romantic tales to attract the
females. With simple attire the tribal folk
enjoy dancing during festive seasons on the
hills. This dance form is a part of culture of
tribals which spread over all the tribal villages
of North India. Seethampeta village is famous
for this art form. This Thimsa Dance
Thimsa Dance
88
increases integrity among Savaras. There
are different forms of dance like Bode
Thimsa, Gunderi Thimsa, Bagh Thimsa and
so on. In the month of Chaitram the Savaras
celebrate a festival called Chaitraparvam.
In the festival people of one village invite
people of the neighbouring village. The male
and Female unitedly perform this dance.
These festivals are called in Savara
language ‘Sankidi Kelchar’.
A primitive art form of Savara tribes of
Srikakulam district is My My Gurram.
 Those tribal artists at the top of the hill
lead a life of seclusion without the influence
of the modern civilisation. Illiteracy, poverty
and simple living with hunger is the order of
their life.
Inspite of all these odd things, they are
fully conscious of their cultural identity. The
poverty and hunger didn’t prevent them from
entertaining and leading the way of life they
desire following the ancient customs,
traditions and heritage.
One male acts as a horse in full decor
and dance to the tunes of music played on
ancient instruments like Thudumu Sannai,
My My Gurram
Drum and Flute. One devil holding some
green grass in his hand calls the horse My
My Gurram. Oh! horse! come! Please come!.
The dance continues.
During festive seasons the artists move
round the village performing the art door-to-
door.
They buy one Pig and sacrifice it to
Goddess and they distribute the meat. While
performing the art they sing a song which
nerrates the quarrel between wife and
husband which ultimately ends in a
compromise.
89
 Chekka Bhajana singing the stories from
mythology, dancing round the deities in the
villages is another important and popular folk
art form in Srikakulam district.
More than 20 artists,wearing uniform
attire,holding chekkas (Percussion
Instruments) in their hands move round and
sing the stories of Ramayana. This art form
is patronized in all the villages in ancient
times during festivals. The Kalpatharuvu, a
bronze tree with 108 lights is a special
attraction of this art form.
Though the Thirumala Thirupathi
Devastanam and some other temples are
encouraging the Art form, the educated
Chekka Bhajana
90
youth feel shy of dancing and singing the
age old stories. They are attracted by
modern movie fictions and songs. Thats
why there is every danger of this art
becoming extinct.
This Chekka Bhajana will be performed
through out the nights for more than 10
hours. During the auspicious months of
worship like Karthikamasam and during
Sriramanavami festival this art will be
performed. Chekka is an instrument playing
with right hand in two parts of wood arranging
tin pieces in the cut gaps to sound musically.
Muvvalu small metal balls are also fixed to it
to give musical sound while playing.
NATURAL HERITAGE

Enchanting Sunnapugedda Water Falls

91
90
 Srikakulam is not all about Industries and
education. It is not all about agriculture and
ancient temples. It is also the winter home
for rare species of birds that migrate from
far off places.
Situtated about 60 kilometers from
Srikakulam, the Telineelapuram Bird
Sanctuary is a hive of activity during the
months of October to April. Thousands of
Pelicans and Painted Storks from Siberia
descend to make this place their home to
nest and breed.
Sunnapu gedda and Mettuguda, both
nestling in the district are homes to gushing
water falls which have been enthralling
visitors by their silvery cascade flowing
Mettuguda Water falls
Left : Telineelapuram Syberian Bird Sanctuary
amidst lush greenery and rocks. Those
waterfalls are a delight to anybody.
A study of the ethnomedicine parctices
of the aborigines have revealed that ever
probale disease/ailment, fatal or otherwise
has cure hidden in the green leaves, fruit,
root or stalk of a specific medicinal herb,
and that, these species of plants grow
within the precincts of the district.
With over 386 species of medicinal plants
having been studied and their efficacy
recorded, the door of ancient medicinal
practices seem to have been thrown open
for modern society to explore, scrutinise and
exploit the benefit of such a study with the
help of modern medicinal practices.
93
92
 Numerous endangered species have
been identified and recorded, as the study
continues further, it is time for man to realise
that the secret alleys of nature’s labyrinth
continue to hold the secrets of health and
make efforts to conserve them, before they
completely disappear from the face of the
earth.
Natural Heritage
Left : Telkunchi Syberian Bird Sanctuary
Another Bird Sanctuary is situated at
Telikunchi about 150 kilometers from
Srikakulam near Ichapuram. While most of
the parent birds return by December, the
fledglings leave around April when they are
strong enough to take the arduous flight
back home.
95
 Another wonder of nature is situated at
Tekkali, within the premises of the
Government hospital. A very uncommon tree
of mammoth proportions has been a cause
of intrigue and fascination among the locals.
The trunk of the tree bears resemblance
to a leg of the elephant and has been aptly
christened as the ‘yenugu paadam chettu
or the elephant-leg tree by the locals.
During the month of July, it bears large
bright coloured flowers, which bloom at
midnight and shrivel the following noon. Its
fruit resembles a big sized gourd.
Medicinal Plant
Recently, it has been identified as a five
banyan tree is situated at ‘Byredlaputtuga’
hundred year old tree, which is known by
a village in the Kaviti mandalam. Spread over
the name ‘Adansonia’, a native of the tropical
an area of above an acre, its root stumps
African forests. It has been found to be of
number about a hundred, making it
immence medicinal value. The acidic pulp
impossible to identify the trunk of the tree.
of the fruit when used to prepare drinks is
The age of the tree is not known, but an
refreshing and it helps in relieving stomach
age-old tradition of a fair is conducted every
disorders and irritations and also cures
year during the month of May for a period
scurvy.
of three days, in honour of a local village
A wonder of wonders is the centuries old deity.

94 The centuries old Banyan tree with an unidentifiable trunk.

 The very mention of natural beauty,
conjures up numerous images in various
forms. Nature has blessed Srikakulam with
beauty in all its forms, be they, beautiful
beaches, lush green forests, blue ponds,
brilliant sunrises, unending stretches of
mountains etc.,
At a village by name Metturu, situated
about 11 Kms from Palasa, a master piece
of art created by the five elements of nature
is on display. The Yerra Matti Dibbalu (Red
Sand dunes); is a wonderful spectacle of
naturally formed tower’s, which soar
magnificently into the sky besides numerous
Elephant Leg Tree Tekkali
beautifully created spires that decorate the
skyline.These formations are a result of the medicinal herbs and plants. The tribal
rainwaters cascading down towards the sea communities that have inhabited the region
for hundreds of years cutting through the for many millennia have over the ages
red sands for ages, that has formed into a accumulated vast knowledge that has been
gorge which reaches over 50 feet deep at passed on from generation to generation by
places. This gorge is lined by beautiful word of mouth. It was only recently that an
formations in red sand on either side, which investigation carried out by a well-known
show case the masterpieces of art, sculpted ethnomedicinist from the district revealed the
by natures hands. Call it beauty or nature’s secret store of nature’s precious largesse
benevolence; the district is a cache of that it endowed to the human race.

95
97
 EPILOGUE

The simmering lights at Pydibheemavaram Industrial Estate

Left : Nature’s benevolence, a master piece of art the Red sand dunes 99
98
 The northern most tip of the state of
Andhra Pradesh, Srikakulam was carved
out of the two neighbouring districts of
Ganjam and Visakhapatnam on 15th
August 1950.
Blessed with the perennial water sources
of the Nagavali, the Vamsadhara, the
Mahendratanaya and the Bahuda that water
the fertile lands of the district. Lined with a
sea coast of over 193 kilometers on the
eastern side, its landscape dotted with
beautiful hills carpeted with lush green
forests and a large population of hard
working people denote its core strengths.
Riding on these strengths the district
has been developing in leaps and bounds
in a varied array of fields, beginning with
The Madduvalasa Reservoir
Left : The Gotta Barrage
harnessing the fertile lands to major irrigation
projects to setting up of large scale industries
creating major employment avenues.
Beginning with the construction of the
Narayana Puram anicut in 1963 and the
Pydigam project during the same period
together watered over 45,000 acres of
land.
By the year 1977, the Gotta Barrage
was constructed and commissioned
bringing a further 1,40,000 acres of land
under cultivation.
To further harness the available water
resources, the Maddu valasa reservoir
was constructed in 1977. This resulted in
a further addition of over fifteen thousand
acres of land brought under irrigation.
101
 Agriculture had been the main thrust area
of development in the district since its
inception. A number of smaller irrigation
projects have been taken up in the district.
Kalinga Dal, Dabarsinghi in 1986, Paatu
Bommika, Lokotha Valasa, Jumpar kota
reservoirs further augmented the proper
utilisation of the water sources.
Today lush green fields, prosperous
farmers and escalating land values are the
signs of prosperity in the district.
Another major irrigation project on the
anvil is the Vamsadhara Project, Phase II.
Comprising of three reservoirs and a 34
kilometer long canal, it is projected to irrigate
a total area of over seventy five thousand
Vamsadhara Project Phase - II
102
acres.
The Ragolu agricultural institute set up as
early as 1956 is another major contributor
towards the successful implementation of the
irrigation projects in terms of promoting
better crop management by providing better
seed and other related assistance to the
farmer.
In 1970 the small farmers of the district
came under the umbrella of the “Sannakaru
Raithu Abhivrudhi Samstha”. This institute
worked untiringly towards the betterment of
the small farmer. As a result today the small
farmers in the district are better placed than
their counterparts in other parts of the state.
The Sri Visakha Grameena Bank was set
up in 1976 exclusively to provide financial
assistance in the form of loans to the farmers
of the district. Having disbursed loans to a
large number of farmers, it is one of the
largest organisations working towards the
cause.
Jute production in the district has been
another area of tremendous growth under
the “Krushi Vignana Kendram”. Set up in
1986, it has been providing yeoman service
to this sector. Today Srikakulam is the
second largest producer of jute in the state
of Andhra Pradesh.
Topographically the district is situated in
a vulnerable zone. Regular floods and storms
have devastated large tracts of lands and
Bhavanapadu Fishing Harbour
villages, disrupting normal life and leaving
behind a trail of devastation. Over the years
the administration has been able to put in
place an effective disaster management in
place to cope up with any exigencies in the
event of such a calamity taking place.
The only one fishing harbour in
Srikakulam District is Bhavanapadu. The
concrete heaps laid into ocean to stop the
currents look like outer harbour of
Visakhapatnam. By dredging, a natural
canal of Sea water arranged to draw the
fishing boats to the shore through the nose
of the harbour. Boating is special attraction
to tourists. It is at a distance of 70 kms from
Srikakulam.
103
 With massive hills of the Eastern Ghats
dotting the landscape, granite is a lucrative
business in the region. In the international
market granite sourced in the district is
popular under the trade name ‘Srikakulam
Blue’. It is among the prime varieties that
are exported to Europe, USA, Japan and
the Arab countries. Almost 80% of the
granite obtained from the mines is
exported and fetches an annual revenue
of over Rs. 80 Crores by way of exports.
The Srikakulam granite belt extends from
Narasannapeta in the southwest and runs
in the northeast direction towards Odisha. It
generally occurs in bouldery hill type
deposits.
The Blue Granite quarry
104
One of the most beautiful areas is the
Uddanum area. Over 30,000 acres of
greenery. Almost the entire northeastern
stretch of the district is covered by
orchards, farms and plantations of jack
fruit, cashew, coconut, mango and
almond.
Coconut is grown here in abundance.
Not only as a major source of revenue
generation but a vital resource for
generation of employment opportunities.
Coconuts are graded depending on the
size and quality before they are shipped
all across the country. Coir is another
important allied industry here.
 With a coastline running a length of 193
kilometers, fishing has always been a
mainstay business opportunity since ages.
Fish to the tune of 2,300 metric tonnes per
annum is exported all over the country
from the district.
The salt pans of Naupada have been
around since the time when the country
was going through an upheaval during the
freedom struggle.
The area has been an important bearing
on the salt satyagraha movement. The
freedom fighters assembled here and
observed the satyagraha movement. It is also
the backdrop of the famous outburst
‘Maakoddee thelladorathanamu’ by the great
poet Garrimella Satyanarayana.
Today approximately 5 lakh tonnes of salt
is exported from the district, and over a third
of it is produced in Naupada.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University, Etcherla
Since independence 29 major industries
have been set up in the district at a total
cost of 330 crore rupees.
Providing quality education has not only
been an important agenda on the
developmental plans of the district after
independence, but srikakulam had the
privilege of housing one of the oldest
schools in the region.
Dr. B.R.Ambedkar University at Etcherla
crowns the educational Institutes in the
district. This takes care of the requirement
of further studies in specialised branches
of higher education. Well connected by
roads the district boasts of a network of over
2000 kilometers of roadways inter
connecting villages and towns. It is
connected to the rest of the country via the
four-lane National highway No 5 that directly
links it to Madras in the south and Kolkata in
the east.
105
 Industry forms the backbone of the
district. Be it jute, coir, pharmaceutical, to
a Titanium extraction plant, Srikakulam
hosts them all.
Cashew is almost a synonym to
Srikakulam. The world’s best cashew is
grown at Palasa, a town on the north
eastern side of the district. The cashew
industry has been one of the prime movers
of the economy in the district. Not only
does it provide employment to in large
numbers, it is also a major source of
The Training & Technology Development Centre
106
revenue generation in the district.
Cashew at Srikakulam is known to be
crisp and rich in taste. Unlike the usual
boiling process, cashew is extracted by a
roasting method which gives the cashew
kernels that extra crispiness and rich taste.
The Training and Technology
Development Center is a community
based organisation set up by the
government to train self help groups on
various vocational skills viz., embroidery,
fashion technology, electrical maintenance
and a host of other income generating
activities.
In the maze of modernism, the district still
retains its cultural identity. They are many
individuals and institutions that work towards
preserving the rich traditions of yore.
The Municipal School in Srikakulam was
built in 1856 as a primary educational
institution. It was later upgraded to a high
school in 1884. It is one of the oldest
institutions in India.
It was on the grounds of this school that
GMR Institute of Engineering & Technology, Rajam
Mahatma Gandhi was felicitated with the
citation on Ponduru Khadi during his visit to
the district.
Today the district boasts of a number of
world-class institutions. The Aditya Institute
of Technology and Management at Tekkali,
the Sarada Institute of Science Technology
and Management at Srikakulam, the GMR
Institute of Engineering and Technology at
Rajam, a Medical College at Ragolu, a state
of the Art Kental Kollege at Srikakulam are
but a few of the institutes that serve to
dispense world class education.
107
 Water managment has always been a
pivotal factor in the regions for hundreds
of years. Ponds dug by successive rulers
through the ages made the district fertile in
the country. Numerous ponds and water
bodies that have been dug hundreds of
years ago not only exist today, but are still
utilised to water the fields today.
In an attempt to streangthen the watering
nerves of the district, the government has
undertaken the construction of the B.R.R.
Vamsadhara project Phase-II.
Built to feed water to over 32,582 acres,
this project is unique in many respects.
Built at an approximate cost of Rs. 13,353
crores, the viaduct, as it is aptly called, is
designed on the principle of well-siphoning
action.
Watered by the Vamsadhara, it consists
of an overhead canal that stands on 122
columns and runs over a distances of over
The scenic Via-duct
108
2 Kms. This canal empties into a well, which
is about 50 feet deep into the ground. The
water from this well siphons into another well
via a duct that connect it to another well,
which is situated at a distance of about 300
feet.
The water from this well is carried via a
canal that runs for 34 Kms, which
ultimately empties into the fields.
By virtue of its being the second similar
irrigation project in the state of Andhra
Preadesh, it carries a tag of being a tourist
attraction too.
Located within a beautifully landscaped
natural setting, surrounded by lush green
fields, laced by the railway line that connects
the district to the northeastern part of the
country, it is a signature of the convergence
of technology and natural beauty.
 Building new constructions has been a
boon and a bane within the purview of the
debris of modernishm. Constructions
involve digging the earth to a certain
extent. Larger the proposed building,
larger the digging required. At times these
diggings have lead to the discovery of
historical artifacts.
In similar circumstances, a recent digging
in a village calld ‘Turaka Sasanam’ and
‘Saniwada’ threw up two such rare artifacts.
A pot containing coins have yet to be studied
and identified, while the copper plate
inscriptions unearthed at ‘Saniwada’ are
similar to artifacts unearthed during an
earlier excavation in the vicinity.
These copper plate inscriptions measure
about 8½ inches in length and 4 inches in
The Yellow metal coins unearthed at Turaka Sasanam
breadth. A one-inch thick copper ring holds
four such plates together.
The ring that holds the plates together has
figurine of a royal insignia moulded at the
joint. The insignia bears a mould of Nandi
(the sacred bull), which is emblazoned with
the ubiquitious religious symbol; the conch
on all sides.
It is an exact facsimile of a copper plate
grant issued by the Ananta Varma Choda
Ganga who ruled Kalinga from 1079 A.D
to 1148 A.D. In all probability these copper
plate inscriptions belong to the same
period.
Like the artifacts of yore, that seem to
be playing a game of hide and seek, the
cultural spirit of the days gone by seem to
have been lost in the back-alleys of time.
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 The Katha Nilayam, founded by a short ancient spiritual texts to its vast collection.
story writer “kalipatnam Rama Rao” is
A drive initiated by the government to
today an epitome of Telugu literature. The
identify and safeguard ancient scriptures
world’s largest collection of short stories
threw up hundreds of ancient scriptures
in Telugu is available here. Every short story
on Palmyra leaves on various subjects’
from dailies, weeklies, monthlies, souvenirs
viz., astrology, medicine etc. an ancient
or any other publication in any part of the
library the “Upanished Mandiram” has
world is collected and preserved.
been rebuilt by ‘INTACH’ to protect further
What began as a personal hobby to degeneration of these ancient palm leaf
collect Short stories ultimately lead to manuscripts.
establishing the “Kadha Nilayam” in
A number of such restoration activities
February 1997. Today it is known as the
are in progress under the aegis of
nucleus of Telugu literature with the
INTACH. Though the district
addition of the Telugu versions of the
administration has been making concerted
Vadas, the Upanishads and numerous

Katha Nilayam Library

110
efforts to improve the economy and the living
conditions of the people, religion still remains
a factor of paramount importance.
New temples, mosques and churches are
built; festivals are celebrated with zest and
fervour event to this day. One modern temple
is the Panchayartana Devalayam, an
ensemble of five temples. Religious
congregations are held every week;
yagnas are performed regularly for the
Katha Nilayam
common good.
Peace and prosperity abound this land
of numerous temples and traditional values.
As modernisation creeps into its veins, it has
been able to retain its past glory along with
its cultural identity with avidity and gusto,
driven by the undying spirit of the people.
The story on stone shall soon be written as
the story of Srikakulam on a gemstone.
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 INTACH
Srikakulam District Chapter
z The INTACH was founded at National level in 1984 as a membership organization to care for
the unprotected heritage sites in the country . Delhi is its head quarters.
z The Srikakulam district chapter was started in 1990. The District Collector Dr.S.P.Singh, being
the Convener and a local dignitary Mr B.S.Sastry the co-convener.
z 2005-2012: Awareness about the need for preservation was taken up at gram panchayath
levels in the district. Radio talks,T.V. interviews, publication of books and broachers , rallies,
mounting of photo heritage exhibitions on all important occasions, quiz competitions, road
shows and heritage tours were organized.
z 2006: At a road show at Chennai, the chapter bagged the best presentation award. 2006
under a project of National Mission on Manuscripts, the survey of ancient manuscripts was
taken up throughout the district and 2196 manuscripts were identified.
z 2006: A National level Rural Art Camp, a work shop for 5 days was conducted to train up the
talented tribal youth in painting and traditional Arts. Mrs. Chandanakhan was the source of
inspiration who acted as Chief guest.
z The District bagged Navarathna award at National level during pooja festivals at Calcutta for
the Savara heritage stall mounted. .
z Upanishanmandiram the ancient library which was demolished in road widening is restored at
a cost of Rs.6.00lakhs.
z Eight statues of luminaries of Srikakulam district have sofar been installed on the banks of
river Nagavali.
z Workshops have been conducted to teachers to run heritage clubs in 100 schools and 40
degree colleges. They are functioning successfully.
z Twelve (12) folk art forms were video graphed documented and sent to INTACH New Delhi,
and intrun recomended for inclusion in the curriculam of Central University.
z The painting of heritage sites on the walls of Srikakulam town successfully completed.
z Completed the listing of 150 Heritage sites in the district.
z History congress of Kalinga-Andhra was conducted.
z Listing of 63 marine heritage sites completed.
z Various books like Tharathrala Srikakulam, Chusoddam Srikakulam, and awarness broachers
published.
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