Guntur district is an administrative district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, located in the coastal Andhra region. The district takes its name from its headquarters, the city of Guntur, one of the largest urban centres in the state. It is known for its agricultural economy, particularly the cultivation and trade of chillies, tobacco, cotton, and turmeric, and for hosting one of Asia's largest chilli markets at Guntur.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Andhra Pradesh |
| Region | Coastal Andhra |
| Headquarters | Guntur |
| Type | District |
| Official language | Telugu |
Guntur district lies in the south-eastern part of Andhra Pradesh, on the southern bank of the Krishna River, which forms a portion of its northern boundary. The district features a mix of deltaic plains in the north and east, formed by the Krishna river system, and drier upland tracts in the south and west. The Bay of Bengal lies to the east, giving the district a coastal frontage. The terrain supports extensive irrigated agriculture, particularly through canals fed by the Krishna.
The district is administered by a District Collector and Magistrate, an officer of the Indian Administrative Service. It is divided into revenue divisions, which are further subdivided into mandals comprising villages and towns. Guntur city serves as the administrative, judicial, educational, and commercial nucleus of the district.
Following the reorganisation of districts in Andhra Pradesh in 2022, the boundaries of Guntur district were redrawn, and several of its former mandals were carved out to form the new districts of Palnadu and Bapatla. The reorganised Guntur district retains the city of Guntur as its headquarters along with surrounding mandals.
The territory of present-day Guntur district has a long recorded history, having formed part of successive south Indian polities including the Satavahanas, the Andhra Ikshvakus, the Pallavas, the Eastern Chalukyas, the Kakatiyas, the Vijayanagara Empire, and the Qutb Shahi sultans of Golconda. The region later came under the Mughals and the Nizam of Hyderabad before being ceded to the French and subsequently the British in the eighteenth century as part of the Northern Circars.
Under British rule, Guntur was organised as a district in the Madras Presidency. After Indian independence, it became part of Madras State and, following the formation of Andhra State in 1953 and Andhra Pradesh in 1956, was incorporated into the new Telugu-speaking state. In 1970, the southern portion of the older Guntur district was separated to form Prakasam district.
Agriculture is central to the district's economy. Guntur is one of India's principal producers of chillies, and the Guntur Mirchi Yard is among the largest spice markets in Asia. Other major crops include tobacco, cotton, paddy, turmeric, and pulses. The Tobacco Board of India, which regulates Virginia tobacco cultivation and exports, has historically been associated with the region. Cottage and small-scale industries include cotton ginning, oil milling, and textile weaving, and the Mangalagiri area is known for its handloom sarees.
Telugu is the predominant language of the district. Guntur has a long tradition of Telugu literature, classical music, and theatre. The town of Amaravati, situated on the banks of the Krishna in the broader Guntur region, is historically significant as a centre of early Buddhism, associated with the Amaravati Stupa and the Mahachaitya. Mangalagiri, with its Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple on Mangalagiri hill, is an important pilgrimage site.
Guntur city is a notable educational hub in coastal Andhra Pradesh. Institutions in the district include Acharya Nagarjuna University at Nagarjuna Nagar, several medical, engineering, and agricultural colleges, and a number of long-established schools and intermediate colleges.
The district is well connected by rail and road. Guntur Junction is a major railway station on the South Central Railway network. National highways linking Chennai with