Overview
Nandyal district is an administrative district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It was carved out as a separate district as part of the reorganisation of districts in Andhra Pradesh that took effect on 4 April 2022, when the state government increased the number of districts from 13 to 26. The town of Nandyal serves as the headquarters of the district.
Key facts
| Name | Nandyal district |
|---|---|
| State | Andhra Pradesh |
| Country | India |
| Headquarters | Nandyal |
| Formed | 4 April 2022 |
| Carved out of | Kurnool district (with portions from Prakasam district) |
| Region | Rayalaseema |
Background
Before the 2022 reorganisation, the area covered by the present Nandyal district largely formed the eastern and southern portions of the erstwhile Kurnool district, with some mandals drawn from the neighbouring Prakasam district. The reorganisation, undertaken by the Government of Andhra Pradesh under Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, sought to align district boundaries broadly with parliamentary constituencies in order to bring administration closer to the people.
Geography
The district lies in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. It is bordered by Kurnool district to the north and west, Prakasam district to the east, and the Sri Sathya Sai and Anantapur districts and parts of YSR Kadapa district to the south. The Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers, along with their tributaries, influence the drainage of the region. The terrain includes parts of the Nallamala hill range in the eastern stretches.
Notable natural and heritage sites
- Mahanandi – an ancient Shaiva temple known for its perennial spring-fed tanks.
- Ahobilam – a major Vaishnava pilgrimage centre dedicated to Narasimha, located in the Nallamala hills.
- Yaganti – a temple town associated with the Uma Maheswara shrine.
- Belum Caves – among the longest cave systems in the Indian subcontinent.
- Sections of the Nallamala forests, part of the larger Nagarjunasagar–Srisailam Tiger Reserve landscape.
Administration
The district is administered by a District Collector and Magistrate appointed by the Government of Andhra Pradesh, supported by officers responsible for revenue, police, and development functions. For revenue administration, the district is organised into revenue divisions and mandals, each headed by a Revenue Divisional Officer and Tahsildar respectively. Local self-government is provided through gram panchayats, mandal parishads, the zilla parishad, and urban local bodies including the Nandyal municipal corporation.
Economy
Agriculture is the primary occupation, with paddy, cotton, groundnut, pulses, and horticultural crops cultivated under both irrigated and rain-fed conditions. Irrigation is supported by canals from the Srisailam reservoir system and by tanks and lift schemes. Cement manufacturing and limestone-based industries are significant in the region, given the availability of mineral deposits. Nandyal town is a long-established trading hub for agricultural produce.
Transport
The district is served by the Nandyal railway station on the South Central Railway, lying on routes that connect Guntakal, Guntur, and Secunderabad. National Highway and state highway networks link Nandyal with Kurnool, Kadapa, Hyderabad, and Vijayawada. APSRTC operates bus services from Nandyal to towns across the state.
Demographics and culture
Telugu is the principal language spoken in the district, with Urdu also used by sections of the population. The district shares the cultural traditions of Rayalaseema, including temple festivals at Mahanandi and Ahobilam, and folk performance traditions associated with the region.
Related topics
- List of districts of Andhra Pradesh
- Kurnool district
- Rayalaseema
- Nandyal
- Ahobilam
- Mahanandi
- Belum Caves
References
- Wikidata: Q110714861
- Government of Andhra Pradesh, notifications on the formation of new districts (April 2022).