Cuddapah district is said to be the heart of the Rayalaseema as it is centrally located and well connected with the 4 districts of Rayalaseema.
The District has a glorious history and a rich cultural heritage. It is identified as a part of Dandakaranya through which the Lord Rama and his consort Sita wandered during their exile.
Holy rivers like Penna (Panakini), Papaghni, Chitravati, Mandavya cut across the District giving the land a sanctity of their own. Kunderu, Sagileru are the chief Northern tributaries to Penna and Cheyyeru, Papaghni and Chitravathi are the Southern tributaries .
The total geographical area of the District is 15,379 sq. Kms. with 3 Revenue Divisions and 51 Mandals. And has TWO (Cuddapah & Rajampeta) ParliamentaryConstituencies and ELEVEN (Cuddapah, Pulivendula, Mydukur, Proddatur, Jammalamadugu, Lakkireddipalle, Rauchoti, Rly Kodur, Badvel, Rajampet & Kamalapuram) AssemblyConstituencies.
As per 2001 Census (Provisional) the population of the District is 26,01,797 of which the Rural Population is 20,14,044 and the Urban Population is 5,87,753.
Main languages spoken are Telugu and Urdu.
The district in its long history acquired composite culture. The people are hard-working and very hospitable. The population of the District consists of all important religious groups but the Hindus are in predominant number. In addition to Islam, the district came under the influence of Jainism and Buddhism also during different periods as Danavulapadu and Nandalur ancient sites suggest. Huen Trang, Chinese traveler who traveled through the district in 7th century AD recorded the existence of Sangharams (Buddhist monasteries) and nirgantha heretics (Jain). There is no authentic information available about the exact time of introduction of Islam into the district. But it is certain that Muslims inhabited the district as early as fourteenth century. Christianity was introduced into the district in the first half of eighteenth century by the Jesuit mission. Due to influence of different religions and beliefs, the people of the district acquired composite culture and secular attitude. 
The major roads meating at Cuddapah (District Headquarters) are
1) Kurnool-Cuddapah-Chittoor State Highway
2) Cuddapah-Madras State Highway
3) Cuddapah-Vempalle
4) Cuddapah-Sidhout
There is a good newtwork of roads connecting all the Mandals in the District Headquarters.
A major irrigation sources in the district are K-C canal, the Mydukur and the Chapadu Project, the upper Sagileru and lower Sagileru and the Pincha Projects.
Paddy, Groundnut, Red gram, Cotton, Bengal gram are the major Agricultural crops.
Mango, Citrus, Banana, Melons, Papaya are the fruit crops.
Turmeric, Onion, Chillies, Coriander, Vegetables and Chrysanthemum are other commercial crops grown in the district.
Cuddapah district is endowed mainly with red and black soils ranging from poor to fertile soils. Red soils occupy 53% of the cultivated area and are mostly situated in L. R. Palli, Rayachoty, Rajampet, Pulivendla and Kodur Mandals. These soils have a low nutrient status.
Black soils covered nearly 47% of the cultivated area and are generally associated with clay content located in Muddanur, Jammalamadugu, Proddatur, Mydukur, Pulivendla and Kamalapuram Mandals.
Based on the Agro-climatic conditions the District falls under Southern and scarce rainfall zone. In southern zone rainfall ranges from 700 to 800 m.m. while it is 500 to 700 m.m. rainfall in scarce rainfall zone.
Cuddapah is one of the districts in Rayalaseema area, with an un-even, isolated rainfall in different parts of the district and with large dry tracts.
The rainfall of Cuddapah district is mainly influenced by South-West monsoon and part of the district viz., Rajampet, Kodur, Rayachoty and L. R. Palli Mandals receiving the rainfall from North-East Monsoon also. The normal rainfall of the district is 700 m.m. as against the state average of 940 m.m.
HISTORY
Cuddapah is considered to be one of the district endowed with rich history. Though its history goes back to second century B C, primarily it starts with Mourya & Satavahana dynasty as per the Archeological survey evidences. It was the battle field for several dynasties - Pallava, Chalukya, Cholas who waged wars for getting authority over South India.
The Pallava kings penetrated from a time into the North of Cuddapah district and ruled for a certain period during the 5th century. Later on the Cholas defeated the Pallavas and their rule appears to have lasted till the later part of the 8th century. Subsequently the next dynasty which established its authority for a considerable period to be that of Banas
With the retreat of the Banas, Cuddapah came under the sway of a dynasty of kings called the Rastrakutas. King Indra III (915 A.D.) a later king Krishna III were the popular rulers. With the death of king Krishna III, the power and influence of this dynasty declined. The Telugu Cholas who were feudatories of Chola dynasty ruled entire Cuddapah District and their power seems to have suffered a temporary eclipse due to the aggression of Pandas but soon, the Cholas kingdom firmly established once again in the district during the first half of the 13th century.
In the latter half of 13th century, the district fallen in to the hands of Ambadeva who had temporarily usurped the Kakatiya crown and ruled from Vallur, 15 Kms. from Cuddapah and during his time the land survey carried out and a river channel was constructed at Lebaka. Subsequently Kakatiya King Prataparudra succeeded the throne after death of Ambadeva and ruled the district with Warrangal as the Capital during the opening of 14th century.
But in A.D.1309, came the invasion of the Deccan by Muslims during the reign of Khilji emperor Alla Uddin and Pratapa Rudra was defeated and he was carried as a prisoner to Delhi and hence Warrangal, the capital came into the hands of Alla-ud-din.
In A.D.1336 the Vijayanagar Kingdom was found by Hari Hara and Bukka. During A.D.1344 a Hindu confederation of Warrangal, Krishna Vijaya NagaramRaja and the Hoysala King of Mysore, with an immense force drove the Muslims out of Warrangal and rolled back the tide of their advance. This is the out come establishment of Vijayanagar empire and during the two centuries of its ascendancy.
In the battle of Talikota, the Hindus and Muslims with forces of almost fabulous strength, contested for the supremacy over Deccan and with the result the Hindus were totally defeated and the Deccan fallen into the hands of King of Golkonda.
In the year 1740 the Marathas invaded and defeated the Nawab of Kurnool and Cuddapah. Hyder Ali obtained the possession of Gurramkonda and Cuddapah from the hands of Marathas and appointed his brother-in-law Mir Saheb in Cuddapah district. Hence Mir Saheb and his son Kamaluddin were the first rulers of the district. The district later fell in to the Nizam by the treaties of Mysore and Srirangapatnam.
Later on this area was ceded to the British by the Nizam. Cuddapah tasted the lawlessness of the 'palegars'. Finally Major Munro, the first District Collector took over the reins of administration. He gave peace to the people of this region.
Shaik Peer Shah took prominent part in the first war of Independence in 1857. During the subsequent decades, people followed the leaders of the freedom movement and rejoiced with the rest of the people when India became free in 1947.
Climate
The District experiences its minimum temperature varies in 28-30 C range in November to January and its hottest temperature varies in 40-45 C range during April-May.
Based on the Agro-climatic conditions the District falls both in Southern and scarce rainfall zone. In southern zone rainfall ranges from 700 to 800 mm. while it is 500 to 700 mm. rainfall in scarce rainfall zone. The District's normal rainfall is 700 mm and its actual rainfall varies from 400+ to 800+ mm.
The District gets its major portion of rainfall (around 60%) during June-September period through South-West Monsoon. More than 30% of its average rainfall comes from North-East Monsoon during October-December. It gets its remaining 10-15% of its rainfall during Winter Period (January&February) and in Hot Weather Period (March-May).
Among the 51 Mandals of this district, Rajupalem, Duvvur, Kalasapadu & Porumailla Mandals get maximum rainfall from South-West Monsoon, while Chitvel, Kodur & Obulavaripalle Mandlas gets from North-East Monsoon.
The best season to visit this place is November to January.
HANDICRAFTS, ARTIFACTS AND HANDLOOMS
Handlooms:
� This sector occupies 2nd place next to Agriculture in providing employment to rural and urban people.
� Total loomage in the district � 18000 Nos.
� Cotton Primary Weaver Co-operative Societies � 106 Nos.
� No. of Societies working � 76
� No. of Societies under dormancy � 30
� Major handloom clusters are located in Proddatur, Jammalamadugu, Mylavaram, Khazipet, Madhavaram, Vallur, Simhadripuram, Pullampet, Badvel.
� Various popular weavers and dupion silks, polyester, indigeneous variety of cotton and silk saries dress material etc., are the pride of Cuddapah
� Export Market demand is high for dupion silk through units in Bangalore
� The production of polyester cloth was to the tune of Rs. 628.45 Lakhs during 2003-2004 of which Rs. 541 Lakhs was sold to APCO
� Other varieties production was worth the value of Rs. 6324 Lakhs with a total sales of Rs. 6258 lakhs
� The production of polyester cloth was to the tune of Rs. 505.88 Lakhs during 2004-2005 (upto 30/11/2004) of which Rs. 473.24 Lakhs was sold to APCO
� Other varieties production was worth Rs. 2441.66 Lakhs of which total sales are Rs. 2243.96 Lakhs in local market and Rs. 8.21 Lakhs was sold to APCO
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