Podili is a Municipality Town in Prakasam district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is the mandal headquarters of Podili mandal. Podili is also known as Prudulapuri. Before British rule its name was "Prudulapuri" meaning "Head quarters of the universe". There is purana reference to this related to Prudhu Chakravarthi.
Etymology
Podili is also known as Prudulapuri. Before British rule its name was "Prudulapuri" meaning "Head quarters of the universe". There is purana reference to this related to Prudhu Chakravarthi. Podili Hill is very famous with name of Podili Konda.
Transport
Podili is connected by road to all cities in Andhra Pradesh by Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, Operated by its own depot. Railway line. Nadikudi-srikalahasthi is passing (under construction) through the town.
Regional Connectivity
Road
Podili is a town in Podili Mandal in Prakasam District of Andhra Pradesh State, India. It is located on Kurnool-Ongole Highway. NH 565 passes through the Outskirt of Podili Municipality which connects Podili to Hyderabad on the Northern side and Nellore on the Southern side and further connects to Chennai via NH 16. Other than that the Podili-Vinukonda, Podili-Tangutur, Podili-Markapur which is a State Highways, connects Podili to all major towns in state. Podili-Tangutur Road connects it to NH 16 towards Chennai.
Rail
The nearest Railway Station is at Donakonda which is 35 km far from the Podili Municipality. Railway Station at Ongole and Markapur road is around 50 km and 44 km away from the Podili Municipality. There is a proposed railway line from Nadikudi to srikalahasti which passes through Podili Town.
Air
Vijayawada is the nearest Airport to Podili is at a distance of 172 km. Other International nearby Airports are Hyderabad, Tirupati and Chennai. All these Airports have good connectivity with major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Banglore and other International Cities. There is a proposal for a Green Field Domestic Airport at Ongole.
History
The Kakatiyas were yet another dynasty to hold sway over the area comprised in Prakasam district. The first ruler who had anything to do with this district was Rudra (1150-1195 A.D.) The next phase in the conquest of this district appears to be in the time of Ganapathi Deva. He was the son of Mahadeva. So far as this district is concerned, Ganapathi Deva subdued the Velanadu Cholas, Telugu Cholas of Konidena and Chakranarayana princes.
With the first, he acquired mastery over Podili and Darsi and seems to have entrusted it to the Kayastha chief Gangaya Sahini who was ruling from Panugal to Marajawadi. These series of conquests brought Podili, Darsi, Addanki, Markapur and Giddaluru taluks of this district under the sway of the Kakatiyas.
The Saluvas ruled over the Podili area in the 15th century A.D., with their capital at Podili. A few inscriptions and the kaifiyat of Podili form the sources of their history. The Saluvas were known as Sombuvarayas and are confused with the Saluvas of Guntur, who acquitted and distinguished themselves better than the Saluvas of Podili and became celebrated in Srinatha's works. The rule of the Saluvas of Podili ended with Telugu Rayudu. Afterwards nothing is heard of his successors or sons.
Geography
Podili is located on kurnool-ongole Road. It is 15.604°N 79.608°E in the Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh. It has an area of .
Podili-Kanigiri Plain is located in the South central part of the district expanding over complete Podili and parts of Markapur, Tarlupadu, Kanigiri and Pamur areas. It is drained by Musi and Paleru rivers with their tributaries, which are the sources of minor irrigation. The geology shows Archaean and lower Pre-Cambrian rock formations while the soils are Ustalfs-Tropepts.
Climate
Podili has a tropical climate, specifically a tropical wet and dry climate (Aw) under the Koppen climate classification, Podili is located near the coast of the Bay of Bengal. The Podili town is surrounded by the range of Eastern Ghats. It has an average elevation of 154 metres (505 feet), and enjoys a hot climate for most of the year. Summer is very hot.
Demographics
According to Census 2011, Podili's urban population is 31,145. Out of this, 15,681 are males while the females count 15464 here. This town has 3349 kids in the age group of 0–6 years. Among them 1753 are boys and 1596 are girls. According to 2011 census, the total number of households present in Podili Mandal is 16230.Podili municipality merged three Grama Panchayaths (Kambhalapadu, Madalavaripalem, Nandipalem) in 2020. In 2021 population is around 52100