Markapuram district | |
|---|---|
   | |
.svg) Markapuram district in Andhra Pradesh | |
 Interactive map of Markapuram district | |
| Coordinates: 15°44′06″N 79°16′12″E / 15.735°N 79.27°E / 15.735; 79.27 | |
| Country |  India |
| State |  Andhra Pradesh |
| Region | Rayalaseema |
| Formed | 31 December 2025 |
| Founded by | Government of Andhra Pradesh |
| Headquarters | Markapuram |
| Largest city | Markapuram |
| Administrative Divisions | |
| Government | |
| • District Collector | M Vijaya Suneetha IAS |
| • SP | V. Harshavardhan Raju, IPS |
| Area | |
• Total | 10,035 km2 (3,875 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 1,142,313 |
| • Density | 113.83/km2 (294.83/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Telugu |
| Literacy | |
| Time zone | UTC+05:30 (IST) |
| Postal Index Number | 523XXX |
| Website | markapuram |
Markapuram district[1] is one of the twenty eight districts in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It was formed in 2025. The headquarters of the district is located at Markapuram.[2]
Etymology
The name of the district is derived from the name of the district headquarters, Markapuram.
Geography
Markapuram district is bounded by Nagarkurnool district of Telangana state in the north, YSR Kadapa,SPSR Nellore districts in the south, Nandyal district in the west, Palnadu and Prakasam districts in the east.
The Nallamalas and the Veligondas are the major hill ranges in the district which separate the District from Kurnool and YSR Kadapa Districts.The Nallamalas consist of a range of continuous fairly steep hills with an average elevation of about 620 meters above sea level. There are two passes in the Nallamalas namely, the Nandi Kanuma and Manbala Kanuma. The Nandi Kanuma passes from Bellary (in Karnataka) via Kurnool, Dornala, and Yerragondapalem to Markapur. The portions of Veligondas stand prominently as two continuous parallel ranges of fairly steep hills running in a north–south direction with a wide valley in between. The water from the eastern range of hills drains in a northerly direction to the Gundlakamma river.[3] The Gundlakumma river flows in this district Thippayapalem Reservoir, Duvvaleru Project, Cumbum tank and Bhavanasi tanks are constructed on this river.
Flora and Fauna
The total forest area is 4,42,073 Ha. which forms 30.86% of the total geographical area.The Nallamalla forest has wildlife including tigers.[4]
Mineral resources
Markapuram is India's main slate-manufacturing town.
Administrative divisions
The District comprises two revenue divisions viz., Markapuram and Kanigiri. There are a total of 21 mandals, with 6 in Kanigiri division and 15 in Markapuram division.
Demographics
At the time of the 2011 census what is now Markapuram district had a population of 11,42,313. The sex ratio is 962 females per 1000 males and the literacy rate is 60.87%. 192,010 (16.87%) live in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes made up 243,353 (21.30%) and 47,224 (4.13%) of the population respectively.[6]
Language wise, 92.55% of the population of the district spoke Telugu and 6.29% Urdu as their first language.[7]
Politics
Markapuram district forms part of one parliamentary constituency and has four assembly constituencies. The district lies partly in the Ongole Lok Sabha constituency.[8]
The assembly constituencies in the district are:[8]
| Constituency number | Name | Reserved for (SC/ST/None) |
Lok Sabha constituency |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102 | Yerragondapalem | SC | Ongole |
| 111 | Markapuram | None | |
| 112 | Giddalur | None | |
| 113 | Kanigiri | None |
Tourism
The Bhairavakona cave temples in the district are 8th-century single rock-cut cave temples (similar to Mahabalipuram) for Lord Shiva.[9][10] Other religious places include the Sri Bala Tripuranthakeswara and Sri Bala Tripurasundaridevi temples at Tripuranthakam and the Chenna Kesava temple in Markapur.[11]
Cumbum tank is one of the oldest man-made lakes in Asia. The anicut was built by the Vijayanagar Princess Varadharajamma (also known as Ruchidevi), wife of Sri Krishna Devaraya. The length of this tank is 7 km (4.3 mi) and width is 3 km (1.9 mi). It has received World Heritage Irrigation Structure (WHIS) tag in the year 2020 by UNESCO.[12]
References
- "Andhra Pradesh Cabinet approves formation of two new districts, headquarters status for Madanapalle". The New Indian Express. 30 December 2025.
- "A.P. Cabinet clears district reorganisation, mandal realignment". The Hindu. 29 December 2025.
- CPO 2022, p. 1.
- CPO 2022, p. III.
- "Population by Religion - Andhra Pradesh". censusindia.gov.in. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India. 2011.
- "District Profile | Markapuram District, Andhra Pradesh | India". Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- "Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Andhra Pradesh". Census of India. Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
- "District-wise Assembly Constituencies". Chief Electoral Officer, Andhra Pradesh.
- Subba Reddy, V. V. (2009). Temples of South India. ISBN 9788121210225.
- Staff Reporter. "Devotees throng rock cut cave temples at Bhairavakona". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014.
- AP Tourism e-brochure Prakasam district (PDF). 2023.
- Chatterjee, Badri (1 December 2020). "Four sites in India get World Heritage Irrigation Structure tag". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
Books
CPO (2022). District Handbook of Statistics -2020 (Updated for district reorganisation in 2022) (PDF). Ongole.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)