Nandyal is a city in
Kurnool District,
Andhra Pradesh,
India. It is a major centre of trade and commerce in the region and is also important because of its religious significance. The town derives its name from
Nandi, the vehicle of
Shiva, whose temple here draws pilgrims from afar. It had a population of 151,771 at the time of the 2001 Census.
Nandyal is located at
15.48°N 78.48°E[2] and has an average elevation of 203 metres (666 feet). It is surrounded on all sides by hills while the Kunderu River flows to its west. The Nallamala Hills to the east are extensively forested while the ones to the south have been mined for granite.
Geography
The city is rich in water resources owing to its many tanks and reservoirs. These give it an equitable climate throughout the year. However summers can be particularly hot. The average temperature is around 28 C.
Demographics
Nandyal has a population of 151,771.Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Nandyal has an average literacy rate of 63%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. Male literacy is 72%, and female literacy is 55%. In Nandyal, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age. Most of the population is
Hindu.
History
Nandyal has been an important pilgrimage site since the days of the
Vijayanagar Kingdom owing to its nine Nandi temples. It was the introduction of railways however in 1890 that led to its rapid development. It became a municipality in 1900 and was visited, among others, by
Mahatma Gandhi and
Jawaharlal Nehru.
Tourism
Nandyal is surrounded by nine temples of Lord
Shiva, called Nava Nandi). Nine Temples includes Mahanandi, Shivanandi, Vishnunandi, Somanandi, PradhamaNandi, Garudanandi, Suryanandi,Krishnanandi,Omkaram. They attract a large numbers of devotees throughout the year. Nandyal is also the gateway to
Belum Caves and
Srisailam.
Economy
The city is a major hub of industry and agriculture. The main exports are cement, PVC pipes, mangoes and rice.
Politics
A
Lok Sabha constituency is named after the city.
P.V Narasimha Rao registered his record breaking victory in 1992 from this very place. The current MP is S.P.Y Reddy.
Transportation
Within the city,
auto rickshaws and rented cars are a common means of commutation.