Nellore is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, situated on the banks of the Penna River in the south-eastern coastal region of the state. It is the headquarters of the Sri Potti Sri Ramulu Nellore district and serves as a major commercial, agricultural, and educational centre in the Rayalaseema-Coastal Andhra interface region. The city lies on the busy National Highway 16 (the Chennai–Kolkata corridor) and on the Howrah–Chennai main railway line, giving it strong connectivity with Chennai to the south and Vijayawada to the north.
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Andhra Pradesh |
| District | Sri Potti Sri Ramulu Nellore |
| River | Penna (Pennar) |
| Region | Coastal Andhra |
| Civic body | Nellore Municipal Corporation |
| Official language | Telugu |
| Major highway | National Highway 16 |
The name Nellore is generally derived from the Tamil/Telugu word nelli (Indian gooseberry, Phyllanthus emblica) combined with ooru meaning "town", giving the sense of "town of the gooseberry tree". An alternative folk etymology connects the name with nellu (paddy), reflecting the city's long association with rice cultivation in the Penna delta. The city is sometimes referred to in older records as Vikrama Simhapuri.
The Nellore region has a long recorded history and has been ruled by successive south Indian dynasties, including the Pallavas, the Cholas, the Kakatiyas, the Vijayanagara Empire, and later the Nawabs of Arcot. Under Chola rule, Nellore (as Vikramasimhapuri) was an administrative centre in their northern territories. After the decline of Vijayanagara authority, the area passed through the hands of the Golconda Sultanate and the Carnatic Nawabs before being ceded to the British East India Company in the late 18th century as part of the Northern Circars and Carnatic acquisitions.
During the British period, Nellore was the headquarters of Nellore district in the Madras Presidency. After Indian independence and the linguistic reorganisation of states, the district became part of Andhra State in 1953 and of Andhra Pradesh on its formation in 1956. The district was later renamed in honour of Sri Potti Sri Ramulu, the activist whose fast-unto-death in 1952 catalysed the creation of a separate Telugu-speaking state.
Nellore lies in the Penna river basin, a short distance inland from the Bay of Bengal. The terrain is largely flat coastal plain, with the river dividing parts of the urban area. The climate is tropical, with hot summers, a moderate north-east monsoon between October and December that contributes most of the annual rainfall, and mild winters. The coastal location makes the district susceptible to cyclonic storms originating in the Bay of Bengal.
The economy of Nellore is closely tied to agriculture and aquaculture. The surrounding district is one of India's major producers of paddy rice, and the area is also nationally known for shrimp and prawn aquaculture along the coastal stretch, particularly around Krishnapatnam and the Pulicat backwaters. Mica mining was historically important in parts of the district. Krishnapatnam Port, located near the city, is one of the largest deep-water private ports on India's east coast and supports trade in coal, iron ore, and containerised cargo. Other economic activities include cattle and the locally famous Nellore sheep breed, retail trade, and small-scale industry.
Nellore is a predominantly Telugu-speaking city, with significant Urdu- and Tamil-speaking minorities reflecting its location near the Tamil Nadu border and its long association with the Carnatic Nawabs. The city has a notable Muslim community and is known for the Rottela Panduga ("festival of breads"), an annual event held at the Bara Shaheed Dargah that draws pilgrims of multiple faiths. Hindu institutions in and around the city include the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple on the banks of the Penna and the Mulapeta Someswara temple. The city is also associated with Telugu literary tradition, including the medieval poet Tikkana, who is credited with continuing the Telugu translation of the Mahabharata.
Nellore hosts a number of engineering, medical, and degree colleges affiliated to universities of Andhra Pradesh, including ACSR Government Medical College and Narayana and other educational groups headquartered in the city. The district has historically had high literacy compared with the state average.
Urban administration is handled by the Nellore Municipal Corporation. The city is part of the Nellore Lok Sabha constituency and contains the Nellore City and Nellore Rural assembly constituencies of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly.