District Profile
The perception of the people for a new Markapuram District aims to address the development of backwardness of the western parts of the existing Prakasam District by creating a new administrative unit with Markapuram as its headquarters vide Gazette forming a new district with assembly segments Yerragondapalem, Giddalur, Kanigiri and Markapuram for administrative convenience and lead to more equitable development of the region.
The Geographical, topographic, demographic and other socio economic aspects of Prakasam district are delineated hereunder.
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BOUNDARIES AND TOPOGRAPHY : The District is bounded by the following places and features on all the four sides.
East : Prakasam.
West : Nadyala District.
North : Palnadu District, Nagar Kurnool Telangana state.
South : SPSR Nellore, YSR Kadapa
The District occupies an area of 10,035 Sq.Kms. with a density of 114 persons per Sq.Km.
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AREA, POPULATION AND OTHER RELATED PARTICULARS
The District occupies an area of 10,035 Sq.Kms. with a density of 114 persons per Sq.Km.
There are as many as 504 villages (including forest villages) exist in the district. Out of 504 villages, 450 villages are inhabited while the balance is 54 un-inhabited and Forest villages as per 2011 Census.
The physical characteristics, natural resources and potential-ities of the Mandals in the district are not homogeneous. As per 2011 Census, the total population of the district is 11,42,313. The female population of the district is 5,60,107 and this forms 49.03% of the district and 2.26% of the State female population.
According to 2011 Census, the Rural population of the district is 9,50,303 and it constitutes 83.19% of the district population and 2.73% to that of State Rural population. Similarly, the Urban Popula¬tion of the district spread over in 4 Census Towns is 1,92,010 forming 16.81% of the district population and 1.31% of the State Urban popula¬tion
The density of population according to 2011 Census is 114 per Sq.Km. whereas it is 308 per Sq.Km. for the State. The literacy rate of the district is 60.87% which is lower than the State literacy rate of 67.41%. The Sex Ratio of the District is 962 Females per 1000 Males as against 996 of the State. The number of Main workers as arrived at in 2011 Census is 5,73,878 forming 50.24% of total population of the District.
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ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS
The District comprises two Revenue divisions viz., Kanigiri and Markapuram. 21 Mandals. ‘3’ Municipalities i.e., Markapur, Kanigiri and Giddalur and ‘1’ Nagarapanchayats i.e., Podili in the District.
Kanigiri division with ‘6’ mandals and Markapur division with ‘15’ mandals. Thus, a total of 21mandals besides 3 Municipalities, 1 Nagara Panchayat and 406 Gram Panchayats are existing in the district.
‘450’ Inhabited Revenue villages are existing in the district. They have been constituted into 406 Gram Panchayats.
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NATURAL RESOURCES
- HILLS
The important hill ranges in the district are the picturesque Nallamalas and the Veligonda which separate the District from Kurnool and YSR Districts.
The Nallamalas consist of a range of unbroken rugged and fairly steep hills with an average elevation about 620 Meters above Sea level, covering an area of 113 KMs length and 32 KMs width in North-South direction. The Nallamalas cover the Mandals of Giddalur, Markapur, Ardhaveedu, Cumbum and Yerragondapalem and the boundary between Giddalur Forest Division on the East and the Kurnool District forest divisions on the West. There are two passes in the Nallamalas namely the Nandi Kanuma and Manbala Kanuma. The Nandi kanuma forms the main artery of communication between Kurnool and Bellary (in Karnataka) Districts on the West and later connects Dornala, Yerragondapalem and Markapur on the East and Atmakur of Nandyal District on the West. The portions of Veligonda stand prominently as two continuous parallel ranges of fairly steep hills running in a north-south direction with wide valley between.
The watershed of the Eastern range of hills forms the boundary between Giddalur and Kanigiri Mandals. The water from these hills drains in a Northenly direction into Gundlakamma River.
- RIVERS:
The District is watered by the Gundlakamma, Musi and Paleru River besides small rivers like Thammileru, Sagileru and Gudisileru and streams like Ogeru vagu, Nallavagu and Vedimangala vagu.
The Gundlakamma River rises at an altitude of about 2,700 ft near Gundla Brahmeswaram of Nallamala forest. It enters the plains through the Cumbum gorge. It runs in a North-Eastern direction touches Mundlamur, Maddipadu and Ongole Mandals or Prakasam District and falls into Bay of Bengal near Devarampadu of Ongole Mandal in Prakasam District. The project across this river are the Thippayapalem Reservoir, Duvvaleru Project and Cumbum tanks.
The River Musi rises near Dokkalasala in the Veligondas. It flows first easternly and then southernly through Markapur, Northern border of Podili falls into the Bay of Bengal near Madanur of Kothapatnam Mandal in Prakasam District. It receives the Gajjaleru, Dondaleru and Atleru in its course and feeds tanks of Podili and Konakanamitla Mandals.
The River Paleru rises in the Veligondas and flows through Veligandla and Kanigiri and falls into the Bay of Bengal at Pakala of Singarayakonda Mandal in Prakasam District. It feeds Panduvagandi and Paleru Bitragunta schemes.
- CLIMATE AND RAINFALL :
In the District the heat in the summer is severe especially in the tracts of upland areas and adjoining hills. The Maximum temperature is usually recorded in the months April, May and June.
The District receives its rainfall mostly and predominantly from South West as well as North-East monsoon whose Normal rainfall is 343.3 m.m and 321.0 m.m respectively. The receipt of actual rainfall during 2025-26 from South-West monsoon is 395.4 m.m while 299.7 m.m from North-East monsoon. The agriculture activity in the district is deplorable owing to gambling of monsoons and unreliable rainfall and much dependence on Canals, tanks and wells for irrigation.
- FORESTRY:
The total Forest area in the district accounts for 4,29,962 Ha. forming 42.84% of the total Geographical area. The famous Nallamala forest is formed mainly in Giddalur, Komarole, Racherla, Ardhaveedu, Yerragondapalem, Pullalacheruvu and Dornala Mandals. According to records the Nallamalla Forest was home to Wild life and tiger population.
The District receives its rainfall mostly and predominantly from South West as well as North-East monsoon whose Normal rainfall is 343.3 m.m and 321.0 m.m respectively. The receipt of actual rainfall during 2025-26 from South-West monsoon is 395.4 m.m while 299.7 m.m from North-East monsoon. The agriculture activity in the district is deplorable owing to gambling of monsoons and unreliable rainfall and much dependence on Canals, tanks and wells for irrigation.
- HILLS
- IRRIGATION POTENTIAL:
Nagarjuna Sagar Project is source under Major Irrigation.
Cumbum Tank and Mopadu Reservoir are sources under Medium Irrigation.
546 Minor Irrigation tanks with an Ayacut of 80,735 Acres are under cultivation.
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PARLIAMENT AND ASSEMBLY CONSTITUENCIES: The District shares Part of Ongole Parliamentary constituen-cy. There are 4 Assembly Constituencies existing in the district as specified hereunder.
102-Y.Palem (SC) 111-Markapur 112-Giddalur 113-Kanigiri
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TOURISM POTENTIAL :
There is enormous potential for Tourism in Markapuram District because of location of religious monuments and endowed with rich historical or archaeological heritage. The district has it all that makes it a place worth a visit right from historical structures to Buddhist monuments and beaches to sanctuaries.
The places of religious institutions of historical/ archaeological significance in the district are presented briefly in the following statement.
Religious institutions of historical/ archaeological significance S.No Mandal Town/Village Monuments/ Temples/ Mutts existing 01 Tripuranthakam Dupadu Tripurantaka(Siva) Temple Tripuranthakam Stupa Mound 02 Markapur Markapur Sri Chennakesava Swamy Temple 03 Giddalur Giddalur Sri Rama Yogashramam Gundla brahmeswaram Gundlabrahmeswara Sanctuary & Wild Life 04 C.S.Puram Ambavaram Bhyravakona All efforts are afoot by the District Authorities for bringing about overall tourism development in the district in view of it’s vast potentiality and ample scope in this regard.