Pithapuram

Pithapuram or Pitapuram is a city and a municipality in the Kakinada district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is a part of Kakinada Urban Development Authority. It is an ancient town and a pilgrimage centre with a history dating back over 1500 years.

Pitapuram is home to the temple of Puruhutika Devi, one of the eighteen Maha Shakta pithas in Shaktism. It is located on the premises of Kukkuteswara Temple. Sripada Sri Vallabha, a prominent Hindu saint of 14th century, was born and lived in Pitapuram. The town was also mentioned in Skanda Purana and in Srinatha's Bheemeswara Puranam (c. 15th century).

Pitapuram as a sovereign city has history dating back to ancient times. It was mentioned in Samudragupta's Prayaga inscription (c. 350 CE) by the name Pishtapura and was then ruled by the king Mahendra. Pitapuram also served as the initial capital of Eastern Chalukyas in 7th century CE before they moved their capital to Vengi. Later, Pithapuram was one of the Rastras, an administrative division, of the Eastern Chalukyas. One of the collateral branches of Chalukyas called Pitapuram Chalukyas, ruled the area around Rajamahendravaram, Pitapuram and Draksharama in the 12th and 13th centuries. From the 18th century, Pitapuram was the centre of Pitapuram Estate. The total area of the estate in 1903 was 393 sqmi.

History
Pitapuram was originally called Pishtapura. The earliest extant inscription to mention the city is the c. 350 CE Gupta emperor Samudragupta's Prayaga Pillar inscription, which states that he defeated the king Mahendra of Pishtapura. The inscriptions of the fourth and fifth century Vasishtha and Mathara dynasties also mention Pishtapura, describing it as a part of Kalinga.

In the seventh century, the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II annexed Pishtapura to his kingdom. Pitapuram served as the initial capital of Eastern Chalukyas in 7th century CE before they moved their capital to Vengi. Later, Pitapuram was one of the Rastras, an administrative division, of the Chalukyas. One of the collateral branches of Chalukyas called Pithapuram Chalukyas, ruled the area around Rajamahendravaram, Pithapuram and Draksharama in the 12th and 13th centuries. Inscriptions ranging from 1186 to 1391 and belonging to the Velanandu chiefs, the Konas, and Reddi kings were also found in Pitapuram.

The family of Pitapuram Zamindar came to Godavari District in 1571 and was given the Jagir of Anaparthi. They were made the Sardars of Rajamahendravaram who led 4000 troops. They got the Zamindari sanad in 1749 from Rustum Khan, a general of Nizam. Later they made a permanent settlement with the British in 1802. The total area of the estate in 1903 was 393 sqmi with a revenue of ₹9,14,000 paying a peskash of ₹2,44,000. Pitapuram Raja sponsored the monumental classical Telugu dictionary Sri Suryarayandhra Nighantuvu and commissioned the first typewriter in Telugu.

The city hosts temple of Puruhitika Devi. It is one among eighteen Sakthi Peethas.

Geography
Pithapuram is located at 17.1167°N, 82.2667°W. It has an average elevation of 10 m. It is located near several beaches though not one in particular. Pithapuram is landlocked and most of its economic activity takes place in Kakinada. Some of the neighbourhoods in Pithapuram include C.B.M. Christian Medical Centre, Jaggayya Cheruvu, Drivers Colony, PadaGaya Junction, Agraharam and Satellite City.

Demographics
As per the 2011 Indian Census, the city had a population of 54,859. The average literacy rate stands at 75.00% with 35,434 literates, higher than the national average of 73.00%.

Transport
Pithapuram city is situated on NH 216. Pithapuram railway station is located on Duvvada-Vijayawada section of Howrah-Chennai main line. Rajahmundry Airport is located 55 km from Pithapuram.

Notable residents

 * Devulapalli Krishnasastry
 * Dronamraju Krishna Rao (1937–2020), geneticist, was born in Pithapuram