Rajahmundry

Rajahmundry (officially Rajamahendravaram) is one of the oldest cities on the banks of the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh. It is traditionally associated with the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi, especially King Rajaraja Narendra (11th century), and the city’s name is widely linked to Rajamahendri, reflecting that royal legacy. Because it sits on a major river crossing and fertile delta routes, Rajahmundry grew as an important centre for trade, administration, and agriculture across coastal Andhra.

The city holds a special place in Telugu cultural history. The celebrated poet Nannaya, often regarded as the “Adi Kavi” (first poet) of Telugu, is closely connected with the Vengi court traditions that flourished in this region, and Rajahmundry later became known as a hub of Telugu literature and learning. Over the centuries, the area witnessed shifts under larger South Indian and Deccan powers, including the Kakatiyas and the Vijayanagara Empire, before the political landscape changed again in the early modern period.

During colonial times, Rajahmundry expanded as a district-level town with courts, schools, and river-based commerce. In modern Andhra Pradesh, it remains a major cultural and economic centre of the Godavari belt—famous for its river ghats, festivals, and a strong literary identity alongside growing urban development.