Tadpatri Town
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts.Many units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Tadpatri Town
Head-quarters of the taluk of the same name in Anantapur District, Madras, situated in 14° 55' N. and 78° 1' E., on the right bank of the Penner river, 5/2 miles from the railway station at Nandialpad. Population (1901), 10,859. It is said to have been founded in the sixteenth century by Ramalinga Nayudu, a subordinate of the Vijayanagar kings. After the battle of Talikota, the country round it was subdued by the Golconda Sultan and a Muhammadan governor appointed. Afterwards it was captured by Morari Rao, and later by Haidar Ali. It is a considerable trading centre, and is noted for its silk and cotton cloths. It is also a place of much sanctity. Its founder built the temple on the river bank dedicated to Rameswara. His son, Tim ma Nayudu, erected another temple to Chintalaraya.swami. These two shrines are elaborately decorated with sculptures which are some of the finest work extant of the Vijayanagar period. They are executed in a close-grained greenstone that lends itself to minute finish. In the centre of the town another fine temple is now under construction by the local Chettis. Experts consider that it will be as fine a piece of workmanship as its ancient neighbours. Much of the design is being copied from the older work. Tadpatri was greatly dam- aged by a high flood which swept down the Penner in 1851. Three- fourths of the town was washed away, and much of the temple on the river bank was brought to the ground.
