Kadapa

Kadapa (officially YSR Kadapa) is a historic city in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, known for its strategic location between the Eastern Ghats and the Deccan plateau. The name is often linked to the idea of a “gateway,” reflecting Kadapa’s long role as an entry point to the sacred hills of Tirumala and the southern interior. The region has ancient roots, with early settlement traditions and strong links to Buddhist and Jain remains found across Rayalaseema.

Through the centuries, Kadapa and its surrounding tracts came under major dynasties such as the Chalukyas, the Kakatiyas, and later the Vijayanagara Empire, which supported temple culture, fortifications, and irrigation systems. After Vijayanagara’s decline, the area witnessed contests among local Nayaka rulers and larger Deccan powers. By the 17th–18th centuries, Kadapa became important under the influence of the Qutb Shahis and then the Nizams of Hyderabad, and it later entered the British administrative sphere as part of the Madras Presidency.

Kadapa is also remembered for its distinctive Islamic heritage, including the Darga of Ameen Peer and historic mosques, alongside prominent Hindu temples, reflecting the city’s layered cultural history. In the modern era, Kadapa grew as a district headquarters with education, trade, and transport links, supported by mineral resources like limestone and barytes in the region. Today, it remains a key urban centre of Rayalaseema.