Srikakulam
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Srikakulam is a district in the north-eastern corner of the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. The district headquarters (lat: <math>18^\mathrm{o}<math>18' N, lon: <math>83^\mathrm{o}<math>54' E) also bears the same name and is located on the banks of river Nagavali. Originally a part of Vishakhapatnam district, it became a separate district on August 15, 1950.
Facts and Figures
(Wherever, possible data is from the 2001 Census of India.)
Political
Area: 5837 square kilometers.
Total Population: 25,284,900.
Urban Population: 2,782,000.
Rural Population: 22,502,900.
Population Density: 433 persons / square kilometer.
Population Growth: +8.9% over the last decade.
Representation in Indian Parliament: 1 Lok Sabha constituency.
Representation in Andhra Pradesh legislative assembly: 12 constituencies.
Development and Economy
Literacy Rate: 55.9%
Workers in total population: 48.6% (of which 78% agriculture, 15% services).
The sand along the coast of Srikakulam district is rich in monazite and several other heavy mineral sand deposits.
Transportation: Well-connected on the mainline rail and road network. The nearest commercial airport is Vishakhapatnam.
About Srikakulam
By virtue of being in Andhra Pradesh, the primary language is Telugu. However, since it shares a border with the East Indian state of Orissa, a significant number of people can understand and even communicate in Oriya. Like most of the coastal districts in Andhra Pradesh, Srikakulam is an agrarian community. Recent developments including industrial investment and the establishment of degree granting colleges has made it similar to several small Indian towns - developing very fast but hampered by a lack of infrastructure.
Several religious and tourist places are close to Srikakulam, including Srikurmam (dedicated to Vishnu's kurma-avatara or tortoise-avatara), Srimukhalingam, Arsavalli (one of the few Hindu Sun Temples), Salihundam (Buddhist viharas and stupas dating back to 2 AD were excavated here). The closest beach is Kalingapatnam.
Trivia
The British who could not pronounce many Indian names called it "Chicacole".
Former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh and famous actor, NT Rama Rao was a legislator from Tekkali in Srikakulam district.
External links
Srikakulam.org (http://www.srikakulam.org)
SrikakulamToday.com (http://www.srikakulamtoday.com)