Prakasam District

Prakasam is a district in the State of Andhra Pradesh in India. The District is situated in tropical region between14°57' to 16°17' Northern latitude and 78°43 to 80°25’ Eastern longitude. The District is bounded by the following places and features on all the four sides. East : Bay of Bengal West : Kurnool District North : Partly by Guntur and Mahaboobnagar Districts. South : Partly by Nellore and Cuddapah Districts. The district is renowned for its black granite and the town of Chimakurthy is known to produces some of best quality granite in India. The district headquarters Ongole is world famous for its bullocks.

The District occupies an area of 17,626 sq km with a population of 3,397,448 as per census 2011.

The district headquarters is located in the town of Ongole, and the district was named Ongole district in the beginning in 1970. It was renamed as Prakasam District in 1972 in memory of the eminent freedom fighter, later Chief Minister of the composite Madras State and the first Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh State, late Sri Tanguturi "Prakasam Panthulu, "Andhra Kesari" who was born at Vinodarayuni palem, a hamlet of Kanuparthi village of Naguluppala Padu Mandal of this district.

Prakasam District came into existence on 02-02-1970 with the carving out portions of Markapur Revenue Division from Kurnool, Ongole Revenue Division from Guntur and Kandukur Revenue Division from Nellore Districts. However, Prakasham District's past goes all the way back to 250 BC when the Maurya Dynasty ruled over this region. This dynasty paved way for the Satavahanas, during whose reign Buddhism flourished in the region. The era saw many Buddhist temples and stupas being built. Thereafter, region saw the Ikshvaku and Vijayanagar kings, the Qutub Shahi dynasty and the lastly the Mughals. Each ruler left behind a unique impression on the cultural landscape of Prakasham.

Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) constituencies and their areas after delimitation

221 Yerragondapalem Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC) - Yerragondapalem, Pullalacheruvu, Tripuranthakam, Dornala and Peda Araveedu Mandals.
222 Darsi Vidhan Sabha Constituency - Donakonda, Kurichedu, Mundlamuru, Darsi and Thallur Mandals.
223 Parchur Vidhan Sabha Constituency - Yeddanapudi, Parchur, Karamchedu, Inkollu, Chinaganjam and Martur Mandals.
224 Addanki Vidhan Sabha Constituency - J. Panguluru, Addanki, Santhamaguluru, Ballikurava and Korisapadu Mandals.
225 Chirala Vidhan Sabha Constituency - Chirala and Vetapalem Mandals.
226 Santhanuthalapadu Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC) - Naguluppalapadu, Maddipadu, Chimakurthi and Santhanuthalapadu Mandals.
227 Ongole Vidhan Sabha Constituency - Ongole and Kothapatnam Mandals.
228 Kandukur Vidhan Sabha Constituency - Kandukur, Lingasamudram, Gudluru, Ulavapadu and Voletivaripalem Mandals.
229 Kondapi Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC) - Singarayakonda, Kondapi, Tangutur, Zarugumilli, Ponnaluru and Marripudi Mandals.
230 Markapuram Vidhan Sabha Constituency - Konakanamitla, Podili, Markapur and Tarlupadu Mandals.
231 Giddalur Vidhan Sabha Constituency - Bestavaripeta, Racherla, Giddalur, Komarolu, Cumbum and Ardhaveedu Mandals.
232 Kanigiri Vidhan Sabha Constituency - Hanumanthunipadu, Chandrasekharapuram, Pamur, Veligandla, Pedacherlopalle and Kanigiri Mandals.