West Godavari district General information
West Godavari District is one of the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh, India. Eluru, is the district headquarter. The district had a population of 3,803,517 of which 9.74% were urban as of 2001
Overview
During the division of Northern Cirkars in to Districts, ELURU was made a part of Machilipatnam District. Later, it was included in the Godavari District in 1859. Subsequently, Eluru made part of the Krishna District. Finally in the year 1925, West Godavari District was formed with Eluru as its Headquarters and all the District Offices and Regional Offices were setup in Eluru Town.West Godavari District, as its name indicates, is a part of the Godavari Delta in Andhra Pradesh. It lies between 16o 15'-17o30' northern latitudes and 80o55' and 81o55' eastern longitudes. It is surrounded by Khammam District on the north, Krishna District and the Bay of Bengal on the south and on the east by river Godavari and Krishna District on the West. The District occupies an area of 7742 sq.km. with density of population of 454 per sq.km. The total population of the district is 35.18 lakhs, of which 27.90 lakhs is rural and 7.28 lakhs urban. In the district The total forest area is 81,200 hectares, forming 10.49% of the total geographical area of the district. The area covered by paddy is 82.80%, tobacco: 4.86%, sugarcane: 4.73% and chilies:1.29%. Above 70% of the workers are engaged in agriculture and allied actives. Nearly 37% of the population living in rural areas depends, upon agriculture for its livelihood. In about 68% of the irrigates area, the cultivation is mainly under canals. Tube wells and tank-g come next in the order of source of irrigation. The normal annual rainfall of the district is 1076.2 mm. Most of the rainfall is received during the south-west monsoon. West Godavari district is known as "the greenery of Andhra Pradesh". The district has 15,84,065 literates forming 53.38% of the population of the district, excluding 0-6 age group. Separately for urban and rural areas, the literacy rates work out to 67.61 and 49.55% respectively. Again within the urban areas, the male and female literacy rates separately work out to 74.72% and 60.55% respectively against the corresponding figures of 55.75% and 43.30% in rural areas.
Economy
West Godavari District has a richly cultivated land, divided into Delta and uplands. In Delta, coconut, rice farming and aquaculture is practiced. In uplands oil palm, tobacco, cotton, sugar cane, corn, cashew, mango, banana, and other fruit farming is practiced. Cotton barrage built on River Godavari at Dhavaleswaram channelling two canals, in which one canal is passing through west godavari and making the soil fertile. In coastal belt of the district, a large portion of prawns & fish is exported from here ot Japan, America etc. Andhra Sugars in Tanuku is famous sugar factory in Andhra. Vendra paper mills in Bhimavaram, Foods, fertilizers & fats in Tadepalligudem are few to note. The district is neglected for industrialization despite availability of raw materials. ONGC has started exploration activities in 1980 onwards in KG basin, Reliance & Cairn making efforts to pull out Oil & GAS.
West Godavari is popularly known as GRANARY OF INDIA with about 50% of states rice production comes from the district.Though the whole country suffers from draught the district never faces such conditions
Lifestyle
West Godavari district is mostly rural, and less than 20% is urban. West Godavari is very famous for Cockfights during Sankranthi (Pongal) festival. The largest bets in Cockfights in India goes in this district.
Climate
The region mostly has a tropical climate like the rest of the Coastal Andhra region. The summers (March-June) are very hot and humid with practically non-existent winters. The rainy season (July-Jan) is the best time to visit this place with the fields brilliantly green with paddy crops, rivulets flowing with water and the sun shining brightly, but not burning as it does in the summer. The regions has long been home to Indian nobles due to its climate and fertile soil, and several zamindar mansions are scattered around the Godavari area.
Tourist Place
Dwaraka Tirumal (39 km): This famous pilgrim is located at the top of the hill, with a part of the temple carved out of the hill. The temple carved out of the hill. The temple has an impressive five-storyed gopuram at the main entrance. Its Annual Festival is in April - May.
Kolleru Pelicanry and Birds Sanctuary (20 km): This large bird sanctuary extends over 900 sq km of wetland and marshes Surrounding the Kolleru Lake, between the Krishna and Godavari deltas. Pelicans arrive here during the nesting season to raise their young. Winter is a time of great activity, and the babble of these birds can be heard a quarter of a mile away. Apart from pelicans, grey herons, white ibis, pond herons, egrets and many migratory duck and water birds can be seen here.
Natta Rameswaram: An important pilgrim centre, the Rameswara Temple here has a lingam made of shells and conches. Thousand of devotees congregate here on Mahasivaratri day to take a dip in the Gosthani River.
Pattisam: Pattisam is a pilgrim centre in the picturesque Devakutaparavatam Hills. The Saivite and vaishnative shrines here are of gerat religious importance. Pattisam, created by the Gautami River, ia also a picnic site.