Kavali is a town in Nellore district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. It is one of the municipalities in Nellore district and is the second largest town in the district. Its position - exactly between 2 district headquarters, viz. Nellore and Ongole on the National Highway 5 from Chennai to Kolkata, and on the arterial Chennai-Vijayawada railway line - helped its growth, more than the other towns in the Nellore district. Kavali was one of the educational hubs of Andhra Pradesh in 1990's.
Kavali is also known as Kanakapatnam. Kanakapatnam means 'wealth will flow into this place' according to Pothuluri Veerabrahmam garu. Kavali in the local tongue(Telugu) means patrol. This name arises from the fact that in 1515, the Udayagiri king Harihara Rayulu stationed his army at this town. Being located between Nellore and Ongole, it showcases local cultures and accents from both districts.
The town houses Jawahar Bharati College, an institute for higher education, which was a fairly reputed college in the decades before the 1990s. It was reputed for very good professors in Botany, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics; and they have contributed a lot in coaching centers like Narayana, Ratnam, Amiruddin and kora . These institutes are very popular for coaching EAMCET, AIEEE and IIT and lot of students from India got trained here and succeeded in national level exams. Kavali and its resources contributed a lot to India by producing lot of engineers and doctors. Viswodaya High School, St Ann's High School were good schools in 90's and produced good students to Indian Society.
A temple of the local divinity, Goddess Kalugola Sambhavi temple has a unique history and draws from British construction techniques of building very strong buildings. It is built with a rock called Bontha Raayi found only in this region, which makes this town unique in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The other important temples are Sivalayam (Rudrapada Kshethram), Vishnalayam and an Anjaneya temple which dates back to the 13th century according to the Sasana inscriptions found on the temple walls. Ramalayams, Saibaba Mandirs etc. also draw devotees.
Kavali is also well known for the wholesale cloth business in the Coastal Andhra Pradesh after Chirala until the boom in ready-made clothing. One can find a large number of wholesale cloth markets along the most important road in the town, the Grand trunk road which passes right through the city. In 90's BPS Ice Cream, Singh Sweets, Pendem Cool Drinks use to serve popular drinks like Sugandha Water, Badam Milk, local made Ice Creams and sweets like Malai Khaza and the taste is so great and people can't find across other parts of Andhra Pradesh.
Famous Telugu actors Sri Nagabhushanam (of 'Raktakanneeru' fame) and Rajanala are from this town. Famous Short story writerMohammed Khadeer Babu (dargamitta katalu fame, onamalu movie dilouge writer) is also from this place.
| Kavali, Andhra Pradesh కనకపట్నం Kanakapatnam | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s): Mini Mumbai (due to the clothing business) | |
 
Kavali, Andhra Pradesh
| |
| Coordinates: 14.92°N 79.98°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Andhra Pradesh |
| District | Nellore |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipality |
| • Body | Kavali Municipality |
| Elevation | 28 m (92 ft) |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 1,08,768 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Telugu |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 524201 |
| Vehicle registration | AP-26 |
Contents
[hide]Geography
Kavali is located at 14.92°N 79.98°E.[1] It has an average elevation of 17 metres (56 ft). Kavali is second biggest town in Nellore District of Andhra Pradesh State, India. Kavali is 8 km away from the Bay of Bengal.
Demographics
As of 2001 India census, [2] Kavali Mandal; had a population of 1, 40, 453 and Kavali Town had a population of 85, 616. Males constitute 48% of the population and females 52%. Kavali has an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 58%, and female literacy is 65%. 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Entertainment
- There are six theaters in this town to screen the movies in local languages. Often, English and Hindi movies are also screened in these theatres. The names of the some of them are Sravanti Cinema, Manasa, Spandana, Sai Mahal, Latha, Venkateswara.
- Kavali is very close to the sea shore. Ramayapatnam, which is 14 km (8.7 mi) from Kavali has a scenic lighthouse and is a nice place to visit. However, of late, visitors are not allowed to climb the light house.
- There is a children's park in VengalRao Nagar.
- There is a beautiful location of summer storage tank and its garden.
- Viswodaya Institutions, spread over a 100 acres (0.40 km2) are also worth a visit.
- Kotha satram and Tummalapenta are two beaches people visit often.
- Evening time gowravaram daba program is very good with school friends.
Economy
- Akhila Flyash Bricks is known for the good quality of Flyash Bricks.
- Kavali is a main trading centre for clothes like hosiery and wholesale readymade garments. A large number of cloth markets that flank the grand trunk road form a large component of local economy. Many readymade garments factories run in this town.
- Kavali is mainly developed for exporting Hens to other places like Hyderabad, Chennai, Nagpur Etc. . . and have many whole scale Chicken shops like Khan & Khan chicken center [Near Railway station], Royal, Sai baba, Reka [bridge center] Etc. . . .
- People mainly depend on agriculture for income, paddy being the chief crop. There are many rice mills around the town to support this. Farmers from kavali grow one of the finest rice varieties, "Molakolukulu", which forms a sizeable share of business here. Kavali is a local hub for farm inputs, and is the main market for agricultural produce around the area. Kavali Diary (APDDC) is one of the famous ones here, supporting dairy industry.
- Gowravaram, located on NH-5 10 km south of Kavali on the way to Nellore is one of the developed villages in Kavali Mandal. It is famous for Dhabhas. Gowravaram has 3 large nurseries, one large dairy firm (owned by Chandrababu Naidu) and one engineering college (R.S.R engineering college).
- Siripuram, 7 km west of Kavali, is one of the developed village in Kavali Mandal. Brick industries are placed hear. Chukkapally Pitchaiah (Chairman of Popular group of industries) son-in-law of Jakkampudi family one of the rich family belongs to Siripuram village. Now so many people are in the shoe business in vijayawada, Vishakhpatnam and so many areas. Well known TDP Politician Mr. Ramprasad Goud (2times Mandal President) born in this village.
- The holy place of Bilakoota Kshetram (Lord Venkateswara Temple) is 15 km to the south side of Kavali near NH5.
Assembly and parliament constituency
Kavali is an assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh.
List of elected members
MLAs
- 1951 and 1955 - Bathena Ramakrishna Reddy
- 1962 - Yellampalli Penchalaiah
- 1967 - G. Subba Naidu
- 1972 - Gottipati Kondapa Naidu
- 1983 - Patallapalli Vengal Rao
- 1978, 1985, 1989 and 1994 - Kaliki Yanadi Reddy
- 1999 - Vanteru Venugopal Reddy
- 2004 - Magunta Parvathamma
- 2009 - Beeda Mastan Rao
MPs
Kavali parliamentary constituency came into being in 1962 and was lost in 1977. This was due to the delimitation based on the population. Now it is a part of the Nellore parliament constituency. The 3 MPs from Kavali were all from Congress.
- 1962 - Bezawada Gopala Reddy
- 1967 - Rebala Dasaradha Rami Reddy
- 1971 - Puli Venkata Reddy
Transportation
The Chennai-Vijayawada railway line and NH 5 that connects Chennai and Kolkata both pass through Kavali, as a result of which Kavali is easily accessible by road and rail from most parts of India. It is well connected by APSRTC buses from all parts of Nellore District, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Ongole, Guntur, Vijayawada and Tirupati. The nearest international airport is at Chennai (215 km south), with a smaller one at Tirupati (176 km south-west). The proposed Nellore domestic airport is 40 km from Kavali.
Culture
Telugu is the language of the natives. The town is located between the two district Head Quarters, Nellore and Ongole, so the town's culture is a mix of both the Nellore and Ongole cultures. Rice and seafood are the most consumed foods in Kavali due to its coastal border. People in this town will prefer to have Dosa, Idli, Pongal, Upma and Puri as morning break fast & Bonda, Bajji, Masala Vada and chicken pakodi as evening snacks. Venkareddy palav is the most preferable food item for parties. Many Muslims and Christians also live in the town. Masjids and Churches are plenty in the town. "Urusu" is worth watching for its diversified culture. The significant Vysya (business) community is famous for their clothes business.
Notable people
- Late Sri. Kaliki Yanadi Reddy (Ex-Minister) who unanimously elected as MLA for 4 times (1978, 85, 89&94). During his tenure he served well to Kavali constituency people. His succeders maintaining a charitable trust namely 'KYR Charitable trust'
- Late Sri Gottipati Kondapa Naidu(Ex- MLA)
- Sri Vanteru Venugopal Reddy-M.Tech (Ex-MLA)
- Sri Ramireddy Pratap Kumar Reddy (Civil Engineer, Builder(Samhitha Constructions, banglore), R.S.R Kalyanamandapam, correspondent of R.S.R Engineering College, R.S.R International School).
- Sri Late Gandavarapu Koti Reddy ( Rtd.DE, Kavali, hidden pillar of Pullareddy Nagar, Kavali.)
- Sri Late N.Krishna Murthy (G.D. Naidu ITI)
- Late Dodla Ramachandra Reddy, known as DR (Founder Viswodaya Institutions & Jawahar Bharati Educational Institutions)
- Late Madhuranthakam Madhava Rao (Ex-MLC [Nellore & Chithore Districts Teachers' Constituency], Socialist, Writer & Litterateur & Retired Head of English Department, Dean of Students & Member-Executive Council of Jawahar Bharati College)
- Late M. Manikya Rao (Marxist, Ex-MLC [Prakasam, earlier known as Ongole & Guntur Districts Teachers' Constituency] and Retired Head of Mathematics of Jawahar Bharati College)
- Late Bhujangaraya Sharma (poet, writer & litterateur and retired head of Telugu Department of Jawahar Bharati)
- Late Chillara Chalapathi Rao leading lawyer who practiced during 1960's and 1970's
Education
- PBR Visvodaya Institute Of Technology And Science (approved by AICTE, affiliated by JNTUK)
- Visvodaya Engineering College (VEC)
- Jawahar Bharathi Junior and Degree college (JB College), founded in 1951 by Late Sri. D. Ramachandra Reddy (DR). It is Accrediated by NAAC with 'A' grade which is one of the reputed college in Andhra pradesh. Many notable literary and political personalities in AP like Sri. Adala Prabhakar Reddy, Sri K.V. Ramana Reddy, B.V.Raghavulu, lATE Sri.Subrahmanyam-Principal secretary to CM[YSR regime], Sri.Vanteru Venugopal Reddy etc. studied in this college.
- R.S.R Engineering College (Kadanuthala), approved by AICTE & Affiliated to JNTU Ananthapur
- VSU Post-Graduate Center
- Noble College of Computer Sciences-MBA
- Master Institute of Management Sciences & Technology
- DBS Institute of Technology
Kavali also has many schools, Junior And Degree colleges. Some of them are:
- R.S.R. International School
- R.R. English Medium School. (Rama Murthy Peta)
- Jawahar Bharathi Degree College (And old college and also very famous college in Andhra Pradesh)
- Jawahar Bharathi Jr College
- Visvodaya Public High School
- Master Roots A/C Campus
- Master ABM X-Seed Campus
- Master Educational Society Main Campus
- Bhagawan Sri Satya Sai Gurukulam High School
- Bhashyam Group of Schools
- Geetanjali School
- Jaya Usha English Medium School
- Jaya Usha High School
- Magunta Subbarama Reddy Degree College
- Kranthi High School
- Sree Chaitanya Jr College
- Minerva English Medium High School
- Municipal High School
- Nalanda English Medium high school
- Narendra Bharathi Oriental High School
- Naryana Educational Group School and College
- Noble College of Computer Sciences
- Padmavathi Degree College
- Ratnam Group of Schools
- Ravindra Bharathi Group of Schools
- Sai Cooperative Junior College
- Sarada High School
- Sri Sai Inter & Degree College (Machavaram)
- St. Ann's English Medium High School
- Viswasanthi High School
- I.A.S (E.M) High School
