Podili

Before British Rule its name was "Prudhilapuri", meaning "Head Quarters of the Universe", there is Purana reference to this related to Prudhu Chakravarthi.[2][3]

The Kakatiyas were yet another dynasty to hold sway over the area comprised in Prakasam district. The first ruler who had anything to do with this district was Rudra (1150-1195 A.D.) The next phase in the conquest of this district appears to be in the time of Ganapathi Deva. He was the son of Mahadeva. So far as this district is concerned, Ganapathi Deva subdued the Velanadu Cholas, Telugu Cholas of Konidena and Chakranarayana princes.

With the first, he acquired mastery over Podili and Darsi and seems to have entrusted it to the Kayastha chief Gangaya Sahini who was ruling from Panugal to Marajawadi. These series of conquests brought Podili, Darsi, Addanki, Markapur and Giddaluru taluks of this district under the sway of the Kakatiyas.[4]

The Saluvas ruled over the Podili area in the 15th century A.D., with their capital at Podili. A few inscriptions and the Kaifiyat of Podili form the sources of their history. The Saluvas were known as Sombuvarayas and are confused with the Saluvas of Guntur, who acquitted and distinguished themselves better than the Saluvas of Podili and became celebrated in Srinatha's works. The rule of the Saluvas of Podili ended with Telugu Rayudu. Afterwards nothing is heard of his successors or sons.[5]

Podili is located on kurnool-ongole Road. It is 15.604°N 79.608°E in the Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh. It has an area of 43.88 square kilometres (16.94 sq mi).[6]

Podili-Kanigiri Plain is located in the South central part of the district expanding over complete Podili and parts of Markapur, Tarlupadu, Kanigiri and Pamur areas. It is drained by Musi and Paleru rivers with their tributaries, which are the sources of minor irrigation. The geology shows Archaean and lower Pre-Cambrian rock formations while the soils are Ustalfs-Tropepts.

According to Census 2011, Podili's urban population is 31,145. Out of this, 15,681 are males while the females count 15464 here. This town has 3349 kids in the age group of 0–6 years. Among them 1753 are boys and 1596 are girls.[7] According to 2011 census, the total number of households present in Podili Mandal is 16230.[8][9]

Drinking Water

Residents depended on monsoon rains for drinking water. Currently, water from the reservoir Nagarjuna Sagar Dam reaches the town via pumplines through a plant near Doruvu.

The first cases of endemic skeletal fluorosis (and its neurological signs) in the world were recorded in the Podili, Darsi and Kanigiri areas of Andhra Pradesh in 1937.[10]

The primary and secondary school education is imparted by government, aided and private schools, under the School Education Department of the state.[11][12] The medium of instruction followed by different schools are English, Telugu.

Podili came into the limelight in 2013 when a student from Podili bagged first rank in EAMCET and JEE Advanced.[13][14][15][16]

Similar thing happened on 14 April 2017 when a girl from Podili named Shaik Sharmila topped the Intermediate Board examinations conducted by the Andhra Pradesh Board of Intermediate Education.[17][18]

It is a part of Markapuram (Assembly constituency) along with Konakanamitla, Tarlupadu mandals. KUNDURU NAGARJUNA REDDY is the present MLA of Markapuram Assembly constituency.[19]

It is a part of Ongole Lok Sabha constituency. The current MP of is Maagunta Srinivasul Reddy.[20]