Anantapur, or Anantapuramu, is a city in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India.. It is the headquarters of the Anantapur district. The city’s name is derived from either Ananda, the name of the wife of Anantaras Chilkkavodeya, diwan of the medieval Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagar who built the city, or he himself. He also built the ‘Anaantasagaram and Bukkarayasamudram villages and Anaatasagaram’, a big tank, which means “Endless Ocean”. The city located some 356 kms away from Hyderabad, and 210 km from Bangalore was once the headquarters of the Datta Mandalam Rayalaseema districts of Andhra Pradesh and the Bellary district of Karnataka.
It was also a strategically important location for the British Indian Army during Second World War. Anantapur is well connected by rail, road and air to the rest of the country through Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad. Known for its mineral resources Anantapur is basically known as a pilgrimage town with numerous temples in and around the city that also act as landmarks namely Sri Kasivisweswara & Kodanda Rama Swamy Temples, Sri Virupakeshwara & Obuleswara Swamy Temple, Sri Peta Basaveswara Swamy Temple, Sri Rama Swamy temple, ISKCON temple, Sri Mounagiri Kshetram known for its 39ft Monolithic Hanuman statue, Shivakoti temple, Harihara Temple, and Sri Anjanayaswamy Temple.
Anantapur is known for its numerous forts such as Gooty fort, Raidurga fort, and Penukonda fort. Ananatpuacts as a staging point to visit Veerbhadra temple, Lepakshi. Also wort are Thimmamma Marimanu,Dhamavaram, Hemavathi lake, Aluru Kona among others. Also worth visiting are Ahobilam temple, Bugga Ramalingeswara Swami Temple and Tadipatri. The Clock Tower in the center of the city is a major landmark and center for shopping in the city. There are few Anantapur Shopping malls, and shopping places in Anantapur to have a pleasant shopping experience.t here are a few hotels and lodges in Anantapur that provide mid range and budget accommodation to tourist.
The center of Rayalseema is known for its spicey Andhra style food, and several restaurants serve a variety of veg non-veg South Indian dishes. The city is a staging point to visit Babiah Dargah in Penukonda, and Bellum caves. Dharmavaram, Pennahobilam, Puttaparthy. The city is home to numerous educational institutes. Besides minerals agriculture and automobile are emerging as important economic activities in the city. The city is perfect for weekend visit
