Peddapuram

Peddapuram is a town in the East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh in South India. The town also forms a part of Godavari Urban Development Authority.GeographyPeddapuram is located at. It has an average elevation of 35 metres (114 feet)DemographicsCensus of India, the town had a population of. The total population constitute, males, females and children, in the age group of 0–6 years. The average literacy rate stands at 76.14% with literates, higher than the national average of 73.00%.HistoryThe town Peddapuram is founded by Maharaja Vatsavai Pedda Pathrudu. For 300 years the estate of Peddapuram was ruled by Vatsavai Jagapathi Maharaja’s. The dynasty was started by Sri Raja Vatsavai Chathurbhuja Thimma Jagapathi Bahadhur. The fort of Peddapuram was built by him. He ruled the estate from 1555 to 1607. After his demise, his son Raya Jagapathi followed by his children Timma Jagapathi and Balabhadra Jagapathi ruled the Peddapuram Estate. From 1791 to 1804 the estate was ruled by Sri Vatsavai Raya Jagapathi. One of the princes of this dynasty was separated from here and started ruling an independent kingdom named as Kottam estate, and their generation never came back—they settled there—and they ruled until the end of the princely states.By the time of 1785 the Peddapuram Estate extended from Thotapalli to Nagaram encompassing 585 villages and towns. During the British rule, Sri Raya Jagapathi was chosen to take over the estate in 1802. After Sri Raya Jagapathi’s death, the three wives, Lakshmi Narasayyamma, Buchi Seethayyamma and Buchi Bangarayyamma, ruled the estate in succession. Raya Jaggapathi's widow Buchi Seethayyamma, ruled from 1828-1835. She founded two trusts for the poor, one in Peddapuram and another in Kathipudi. Even today the poor are fed for free twice a day.