Palakollu

During the reign of Golkonda Qutub Shahi in the 16th and 17th centuries, the textile industry was flourishing in the Palakollu region. Made of cotton, calico, lingerie and blankets. Textiles made of colored dye were also made in palakollu. All of these garments reached the port of Machilipatnam and from there shipped to various parts of the country by ship.[19] In 1770, agriculture and business were disrupted by a major drought that hit the Krishna and Godavari deltas. The drought has had an adverse effect on the textile industry, which is home to the palakollu industry. The Dutch industry reports that the textile industry in the palakollu in region had slowed down in the late 18th century. The rise of textile imports from England in the 19th century, along with other Coromandel coastal textile centers, has also severely damaged Palakollu textile. In the case of the markets where textile products are sold, England's milling of local garments has begun in the region. This has caused the palakollu industry to become the center of the textile industry.[20]

Under the rule of the Qutb Shahi, the iron-making industry in palakollu was elastic. The Narasapuram Shipbuilding industry is nearby . In India, iron ships were generally made of wood in other areas. Due to the lack of iron in the Godavari Delta region, Narasapur was only used for making nails and other iron tools. These conditions have given rise to the iron nail industry in palakollu.[21]

Palakollu has a tropical climate. When compared with winter, the summers have much more rainfall. The climate here is classified as Aw by the Köppen-Geiger system. In Palakollu, the average annual temperature is 27.9 °C. In a year, the average rainfall is 1208 mm.The driest month is January, with 1 mm of rainfall. In October, the precipitation reaches its peak, with an average of 286 mm.The warmest month of the year is May, with an average temperature of 32.4 °C. At 23.4 °C on average, January is the coldest month of the year. The difference in precipitation between the driest month and the wettest month is 285 mm. The variation in annual temperature is around 9.0 °C. The weather is hot and humid, with a tropical climate and, thereby, no distinct seasons. The coolest months are December and January There is heavy monsoon rain at the end of summer, with depressions in the Bay of Bengal.

Film director Dasari Narayana Rao in New Delhi

The town is notable for many artists like Chiranjeevi, Allu Ramalingiah, Allu Aravind, Kodi Ramakrishna, Dasari Narayana Rao, Chalam, Mandolin Srinivas, RaviRaja Pinisetty, Chintapalli Ramana, Nookala Chinna Satyanarayana, Ghazal Srinivas (recipient of Guinness World Record for most languages sung), Beri Thimappa (founder of Madras), Veera Pothana (Nandi awardee, cine and drama writer), R. NaniKrishna (film director and producer), Chanti Addala (art director and producer), Relangi Narasimha Rao (director), Bunny vasu (producer), Maruthi (director), Ananth Sriram (lyricist).

Allu Rama Lingaiah, commonly known as Allu, was an Indian Telugu language comedic actor from Palakollu, who appeared in over one thousand Tollywood films.

Anantha Sriram Chegondi is an Indian lyricist, mainly writing lyrics for songs in Telugu language films. He is one of the most sought after lyricists in the Telugu film Industry.

Dasari Narayana Rao is an Indian film actor, director and producer in Telugu cinema. He has directed about 140 films, produced three films, and worked as a dialogue writer and as a lyricist.Actor Chiranjeevi contested the 2009 lok sabha elections from his hometown and lost.

Palakollu Municipality official logo

The Palakollu Municipal Council (PMC) is the municipal governing body of the town. It was constituted as a municipality on 1 April 1919. The jurisdiction of the civic body is spread over an area of 19.49 km² (7.53 sq mi) and has 32 municipal wards. Each ward is represented by a councilor, elected by popular vote. The Council Members democratically elected headed by a municipal chairman, who is the titular head of PMC; executive powers rest with the municipal commissioner, appointed by the state government. The PMC carries out the town's infrastructural work such as building and maintenance of roads and drains, town planning including construction regulation, maintenance of municipal markets and parks, solid waste management, the issuing of birth and death certificates, the issuing of trade licences, collection of property tax, and community welfare services such as mother and child healthcare, and pre-school and non-formal education.[24]

The municipality was constituted in 1919 and upgraded as a third grade municipality in 1952. The Palakollu Municipality was upgraded to first grade in August 1965. Its constituents include the municipality of Palakollu, and the outgrowths of Poolapalli, Ullamparru, and Palakollu (rural). Now Palakollu municipality 1 January 2019: Eluru Urban Development Authority (EUDA) created. Palakollu became a part of EUDA along with places in West Godavari District.

Palakollu (Assembly constituency) is a legislative assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh. Sri Chodisetty Surya Rao was its longest serving municipal chairman, from 1956 to 1986. Many colleges ASNM, Dasari Women's degree college, Coco Junior govt college, 34 acres of drinking water tanks developed with 20 year vision, government hospital, and lorry stand are all developed under his regime. As gratitude people of Palakol erected a bronze statue in center of the town.[25]

For providing facilities to the people the Government of Andhra Pradesh started MeeSeva[26] (at your service) centres all around the town and the state. The main purpose of this facility was to bring public services closer to home. MeeSeva provides online signed digital certificates like income certificates, residence certificates, land records and other registration records. These records are further stored in an online database.[27]

Palakollu is becoming one of the major healthcare centers in West Godavari District. Government General Hospital is one of the major government hospitals in the West Godavari District, also serving patients from the cities and neighbouring mandals of Poduru, Yelamanchili and Penugonda. The town has about 50 hospitals including surgeons, orthopedics, gynecologists, dental specialists, ENTs, eye specialists, RMPs and PMPs.

Palakollu Assembly constituency is one of the constituencies for Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Nimmala Rama Naidu is the present MLA of the constituency from Telugu Desam Party.[28] The constituency falls under Narasapuram (Lok Sabha constituency) which was won by Kanumuru Raghu Rama Krishna Raju of YSR Congress Party.[29][30]

Referred to as "Palakolian", the residents of Palakollu are predominantly Telugu, with a minority Gujarati (including Memon). Telugu is the official language. Hindus are in the majority. Muslims and Christians form a very small minority of the people in Palakollu. According to the 2011 census, the religious makeup of Palakollu town was: Hindus (95.64%), Muslims (2.11%), Christians (1.97%), Jains (40 people), Sikhs (10 people) and Buddhists (3 people); 143 people did not state any religion.[37]

Palavelli Boutique Resorts lake view

Palavelli Boutique Resorts is located at a distance of 12.9 km from the town. the resorts Nestled on the banks of the Vashista, a tributary of the River Godavari at Yalamnachalli Lanka, the Palavelli Boutique Resorts reflects the rich culture and tradition of the Konaseema region in Andhra Pradesh.[43]

Palakollu bus station phase 1 platforms

Sri Potti Sriramulu bus station Located in palakollu town APSRTC operates buses from Palakollu to major cities like Hyderabad, Rajamahendravaram, Kakinada, Vizag, Vijayawada, and Tirupati. Ten express trains service the town, which is on the Narsapur – Vijayawada railway route.[46] A bridge was built on Vasista Godavari near Chinchinada 8 km away from Palakollu connecting East Godavari and West Godavari Districts of Andhra Pradesh, which makes it a part of National Highway 216. Palakollu railway station is classified as a B–category station in South Central Railway zone.[47]

The town has a total road length of 78.80 km (48.96 mi).[48]

Palakollu Railway Station entrance

Palakollu Railway Station is classified as a B category station With three platforms In Vijayawada railway division.[49] It is one of the main stations, and is located on the Bhimavaram–Narasapuram branch line, Nidadavole-Narsapuram railway line of South Central Railway zone.[50]

National Waterway 4 was declared on 24 November 2008, and connects the Indian states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and the union territory of Puducherry. It passes through Kakinada, Rajahmundry, Eluru, Commanur, Buckingham Canal and also part of Krishna and Godavari rivers rivers.[51] It is being developed by Inland Waterways Authority of India, and was scheduled for completion in 2013.[52]

Rajahmundry Airport is the airport serving to Palakollu 70 km away.[53] A new terminal building was inaugurated on 16 May 2012. The runway is expanded from the 1,749 m to 3,165 m to facilitate the landing and takeoff of bigger aircraft.[54] The state government is developing the airport as an international airport. Heli tourism is introduced in the airport.[55]