The East Godavari District is situated in the North Coastal part of the state of A.P and the District limits are West Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Khammam and the Bay of Bengal. The East Godavari District is called as the rice bowl of Andhra Pradesh and coconut groves and it is called as another Kerala.
East Godavari, it is the Rice Granary of Andhra Pradesh, waves tourists to have a glance of its rich cultural heritage. The HQ of the District is situated in Kakinada. The District is a residual part of the old Godavari District after West Godavari District was divided in 1925. As the name of the district pass on, East Godavari District is nearly related with the river Godavari, occupying a main part of the delta area.
The East Godavari district is having the region of 10,807 Sq Kilometers with 5 Revenue divisions, 1012 Grama Panchayats and 60 Revenue Mandals.
History of East Godavari District
The district’s modern history started when Qutb Shahi, the Sultan Quli Qutb Shah ruler of Golconda, came from the coastal area and reduced to submission it in the 15th century. Nevertheless, when the Mughals Empire under the leadership of Aurangzeb began dominating the fields in southern India, he finally conquered the sultanate of Golconda in 1687, including the East Godavari district, becoming one of the empire’s 22 states. The Mughals Empire appointed viceroys to watch its holdings, with Asaf Jah as the Nizam-ul-Mulk for the Deccan. Nevertheless, in 1724, Asaf Jah invaded the Deccan and founded the rule of the Nizams of Hyderabad.
When the British came and began to colonize much of India, the Nizams sought to be on their favorable side and as an outcome, were permitted to continue with their rule, under the oversight of the British empire. In 1823, the claims of the Nizam were purchased without restrictions by the British East India Company. They were integrated into the Madras Presidency, a state of British India, and the Godavari district was constituted. When India benefitted its independence in 1947, the Madras presidency became the Madras State, which finally became the new state of A.P in 1953. The district of Godavari was finally split into two such as the West Godavari district and the East Godavari district.
Tourism Places in East Godavari District
Tourism in East Godavari district is all about the beauty of nature and the district abounds in a number of places which are splendid in their natural beauty, and rich in their display of fauna and flora. The following are the prime attractions of tourism in the East Godavari District.
Dowleswaram
The Sir Arthur Cotton Museum was inaugurated by the Honorable Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Sri Nadamuri Tarakarama Rao (N.T.R) on 25.2.1988 and the Museum is situated in the building which was antecedently under the occupation of Executive Engineer, and Godavari Head Works Division Dowleswaram. The above museum was begun with a purpose to educate the individuals how the great Engineer Sir Arthur Cotton during those olden days built the mighty anicut across Godavari river and converted the lands of West and East Godavari Districts as very fertile. The Museum tells the construction of present Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage built with the advance engineering skill.
Antarvedi
Antharvedi is situated at a distance of 130 Kms from Kakinada, 65 Kms from Amalapuram and 100 kms from Rajahmundry. In Kritayuga, Sage Sounaka and his colleagues collected in Naimisaranya to conduct Satrayaga. In their Leisure time, they used to learn about the discerned and important historical India holy places from Suta, a quaranic storyteller. One day, they asked him to tell about the greatness and importance of Antharvedi Holy Place and of Lord Lakshmi Narasimha. Suta was proud of to tell the story which was once told by Lord Brahma to Sage Narada.
Rajahmundry
Rajahmundry Town is the largest town in East Godavari and it is a Divisional Head Quarters. The Howrah Madras railway line passes thru the town longitudinally and has two railway Stations namely “RAJAHMUNDRY” and “GODAVARI” Road cum Rail Bridge was built on river Godavari connecting Kovvur and Rajahmundry is believed to be an engineering feat. It is Asia’s 2nd largest Road cum Rail Bridge and the Town is linked with all Centers of the State with motorable roads.
Rajahmundry is first of East Godavari District to become Corporation. Rajahmundry with a populace of approximately 3 Lakhs, lying on the left bank of the river Godavari, situated on National Highway, 560 Kilometer away 520 Km. from Hyderabad and from Madras, is not only an ancient town where rich literary actions throve, but it is a significant commercial center.
Maredumilli
Some other main tourist attraction of the east Godavari is the Maredumilli forests of East Godavari District and they have a rich biodiversity and the region has semi evergreen plant forests with rolling terrain, which forms part of the Eastern Ghats mountain range. The Maredumilli Community Conservation and Eco Tourism Area are located on Maredumilli – Bhadrachalam road, almost 4 Kilometer away from Maredumilli village. There are many streams flowing thru the area over the rolling stones in the deep woods.
The Eco tourism project is handled by the local indigenous tribal community of Valamuru, Valmeekipeta Vana Samrkshana Samithi and Somireddypalem people with the active affirm of the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department. It offered a unique chance to the native cultural community to spread the message of conservation to the masses. The jungle star campsite is situated adjoining the Valamuru River with the stream flowing on 3 sides fail to notice the Vali-Sugriva Konda which is conceived to be the war ground of the Vali-Sugriva on the Ramayana period. As a part of the Tourism Development Maredumilli Forest Rest House was built in 1914, the Forest Rest House is in Maredumilli Village with all amenities.