Tanuku

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Tanuku | type = town | latd = 16.75 | longd = 81.7
locator_position = right | state_name = Andhra Pradesh
district = West Godavari
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude = 13
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 66,779| population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone =
postal_code = 534211vehicle_code_range =
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website = WWW.TANUKUPEOPLE.COM
footnotes =

Tanuku is a town and in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It was known as Tarakapura in ancient times. The name comes from Tarakasena, who ruled over Tanuku and the adjoining regions. Currently Tanuku is the political capital of the West Godavari district. It is little known that this town is one of the few centres in the country to produce and supply UDMH-MMH, a liquid rocket fuel, and thus has its own importance in India.=History=

According to some accounts Tanuku was the capital of Tarakapuri, the kingdom of Tarakasura, king of Asuras (demons). Tarkasena is often referred to as Tarakasura ("Taraka" + "Asura"). Asuras are demons, and Tarakasena was likely made a demon after his defeat in a great war between him and Lord Kumaraswamy (Subramania swamy), the son of Lord Shiva and Parvathi. He happened to be the son-in-law of Indra who was invaded by Tarakasura over an insult meted out to him.

Many villages derive their name from this war. The place where Lord Kumaraswamy landed on earth is now called Komaravaram. Illindra Parru is the place where Indra stayed, and the place where all the angels stayed is now known as Velpuru (Place of Angels). The place where Uraga Raju resided is known as Undrajavaram. The place where the goddess Vijayalakshmi resided is known as Mahalakshmi Cheruvu, and the place where the holy priests resided is today called Vipparru. Thus Tanuku’s history goes way back to ancient Vedic times.

Many of the surrounding villages have some historical significance and quite a few ancient monuments can be seen there. In older times the present-day Palangi was known as "Poolangi" (Stall of Flowers) and Chivatam was known as "Srivatam" (the Financial Centre). Paidiparru was known as "swarnagaram" (Place of gold), and the stall of gems once called "Ratnala Angi" is probably Relangi today. The paddy repository of the kingdom is now Vadlooru.

Tanuku is the birthplace of one of the greatest and among the very first Telugu poets of all time, Adikavi Nannayya. He is reputed to have conducted a large Yagna (sacrifice) under a Jammi tree. He also translated first three Parvas (Cantos) of the Mahabaratha from Sanskrit into Telugu.

Butta Bommalu is a typical folk dance, popular in Tanuku region. In this particular dance, the dancers wear masks of different characters and entertain people with their delicate movements, accompanied by non verbal music.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census [GR|India] , Tanuku had a population of 87,779. Tanuku has an average literacy rate of 91.4%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 94%, and female literacy is 86%. In Tanuku, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Geography

Tanuku is located at coord|16.75|N|81.7|E|. It has an average elevation of 13 metres (42 feet). The historical River Gosthani flows along three sides of the town and gives visual impression as a peninsula. It is said that the river has a spiritual power that any one who takes a dip will be washed off all sins, although this is often said about almost any body of water in India.

Economy

Tanuku is essentially an industrial town and is part of the Godavari River basin. The soil is very fertile. The entire region forms part of the rice bowl of India. Other crops grown are sugar cane, bananas, coconuts and many different types of vegetables, especially brinjal.

Education

Several good educational institutes exist in Tanuku, following the demand of the software industry. There is one engineering college, a good number of masters’ degree colleges, B. Ed. colleges, a top-ranking polytechnic college-Sree Mullapudi Venkataramana Memorial Collage"it has 4 branches 1. Civil engineering 2.Mechanical engineering 3.Electrical engineering AND 4.Instrumentation. In this college Civil Engineering is the best compared to other branches.But compared to overal andhra pradesh S.M.V.M. Polytechnic no 1 position.

and many MCA colleges.Software companies like ITON Technologies, a OMAN(MASQAT) based company and [http://www.vectramind.com Vectramind Technologies] , a DUBAI based company are located here.

Transport

Tanuku is situated at a distance of 32 km from Narsapur, 75 km from Eluru, 36 km from Bhimavaram, and 19 km from Tadepalligudem. The town is accessible by train and bus and there are frequent buses from Narsapur, Palakollu, Tadepalligudem and Eluru. Private transport is also available from Palakollu and Eluru. It also has frequent trains to several cities such as Chennai, Vijayawada, Hyderabad, and Bangalore. NH5, part of the Golden Quadrilateral (i.e., Kolkotta to Chennai), passes through Tanuku.Tanuku is well known for the sugar production and rocket fuel

External links

* [http://tanukupeople.com Tanuku PEOPLE]
* [http://www.tanuku.org Tanuku Web]
* [http://tanukuonline.com Tanuku Online]
* [http://tanuku.50webs.com 50 webs]
* [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/2/Tanuku.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Tanuku]