Madanapalle

Madanapalle is the largest city in Annamayya district and Rajampet Lok Sabha constituency of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a Selection Grade Municipal City Council. Madanapalle is headquarters of Madanapalle Mandal,Madanapalle revenue division and PKM Urban Development Authority.

History
Madanapalle was founded by Sri Maadanna in 1618 AD.

Sir Thomas Munro was first collector of Cuddapah. He constructed a small thatched house at the present Collector's bungalow and visited Madanapalle every summer. Madanapalle (Telugu:మదనపల్లె) or Madanapalle mandal (Mandal code-35), is a mandal HQ, town and a Municipality in Annamayya district of Andhra Pradesh state, India.Legend has it that the name of the town was originally " Maryaada raamanna puram" which has over time, changed into " Madanapalle". In 1850, Madanapalle was developed as subdivision and F.B. Manoly was the first Sub Collector. The town experienced several natural calamities like floods, famines and epidemics.

Rabindranath Tagore translated "Jana Gana Mana" from Bengali to English and also set it to western musical notations in Madanapalle. The notes were provided by Tagore himself. The national anthem was written by Rabindranath Tagore as early as in 1911 and was sung at the annual session of the Indian National Congress at Calcutta on 27 December that year.

Geography
It is located at an average elevation of 695 m above mean sea level.

Madanapalle is located at 13.55°N, 78.5°W.

Source : Climate 

Madanapalle has mild to warm summers with average high temperatures of 30 to 35 C. Temperatures do not exceed 40 C and winters are cold with temperatures between 7 and 15 C. Usually summer lasts from March to June, with the advent of rainy season in June, followed by winter which lasts till the end of February.

Demographics
Census of India, the town had a population of 180,180. The total population constitute, 90,700 males, 89,480 females and 13,448 children, in the age group of 0–6 years. The average literacy rate stands at 81.40% with 99,486 literates, significantly higher than the national average of 73.00%.

Civic administration
The municipality was formed on 1 April 1961 and is spread over an area of 14.20 km2. There are 35 election wards represented by a councilor. Madanapalle urban agglomeration is spread over an area of 23.44 km2. Its constituents include the municipality of Madanapalle, the out growths of Ankisettipalle, Chippili, Pamaiahgaripalle, Papireddipalle, Venkappakota, Basinikonda, Kollabylu, Ponnetipalem and Madanapalle (rural).

Politics
Madanapalle is an Assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh and the constituency number is 164 in Rajampet Lok Sabha constituency.

Economy
The economy is based on agriculture and main products include tomato, mango, groundnut, tamarind. Madanapalle is the biggest tomato market in Asia. The tomatoes from here are supplied to the most of the southern states & some of the northern states of India.

It is also famous for silk and silk products like saris and other casuals. The quality of silk product is recognizable. You can purchase silk sarees here at production cost. These are supplied to all major cities in South India including Bengaluru, Chennai and all silk product towns for sales.

Transport
Madanapalle is very well connected by road and rail. There are three Bus terminals in Madanapalle. State owned APSRTC buses run to different parts of the district, state and interstate – Bengaluru (KA), Kolar (KA), Chintamani (KA) and Chennai (TN), Vellore (TN).

Madanapalle Road Railway Station (MPL) is situated on Dharmavarm - Pakala Branch line and all trains stop here. Trains are available here to travel to Guntakal, Tirupati, Vijayawada. Daily trains are available from and to Guntakal & Tirupati. Other nearest Railway Station is Kurabalakota Railway Station where only Passenger trains stop.New Kadapa to Kolar via Madanapalle Railway line is under construction it Kadapa–Bangalore section.In this project planned to Upgrade Madanapalle Road Railway station as Junction and one New Railway station to Madanapalle Town.

Three National Highways and One Major State Highway passes through Madanapalle.

NH 71 - Madanapalle to Naidupeta Via Pileru

NH 42 - Uravakonda to Krishnagiri Via Kuppam

NH 340 - Kadapa to Bangalore.

Education
The primary and secondary school education is imparted by government, aided and private schools, under the School Education Department of the state. The medium of instruction followed by different schools are English and Telugu.

Madanapalle has long standing educational institutions like Besant Theosophical College,founded by Dr.Annie Besant in 1915.First Degree college in Rayalaseema Region and Rabindranath Tagore translated Jana Gana Mana from Bengali to English,Outside of Calcutta, the song was first sung by the bard himself at a session in Besant Theosophical College in Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh on 28 February 1919 when Tagore visited the college and sung the song. The song enthralled the college students while Margaret Cousins, then vice-principal of the college (also an expert in European music and wife of Irish poet James Cousins), both requested Tagore to create an English translation of the song and set down the musical notation to the national anthem which were provided by Tagore himself.

Rishi Valley School, a boarding school, founded by the philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti, Under Management of Krishnamurthy Foundation of India

Zilla Parishad High School, which was founded in 1924, Vasishta School (ICSE, AP State Syllabus) which was founded in 1981.

It also has five engineering colleges: It also has some notable intermediate colleges like
 * Madanapalle Institute of Technology and Science
 * Sir Vishveshwaraiah Institute of Science & Technology
 * Aditya College of Engineering
 * Golden Valley Integrated Campus
 * Viswam Group of Institutions
 * Sri Srinivasa degree college
 * Krishna Reddy Siddhartha Junior College
 * Venkata Reddy Siddhartha Junior College
 * Government Girls College

The government of Andhra Pradesh is planning to establish Government Medical College near Madanapalle and land acquisition has started.

Entertainment
There were many cinema theatres. At this moment, theatres Sai Chitra, Ravi, Sunil, A.S.R, Sree Krishna, Siddartha, Mini Siddartha only operating. Madhusudhana, Pancharatna, Avanthi, Usha, Jyothi, Mallikarjuna, Mini Mallikarjuna, Sesh Mahal, Bhavani, M.S.R.(Tarakarama) theatres closed or converted for other business purpose now.

Member Of Legislative Members of Madanapalle (1952-present)
Madanapalle is an assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh. Member of Legislative's (MLA) of MADANAPALLE from 1952 to till now

Notable people

 * Jiddu Krishnamurti - philosopher
 * Bindu Madhavi - Tamil film actress
 * Sri Madhukarnath - Yogi and spiritual teacher
 * Rama Prabha- actress