History of Macherla

The name Macherla originated from Mahadevi Cherla. This town is in the heart of Palnadu, and has a history of over a thousand years. The famous battle Palnati Yudhdham (War of Palnadu) took place between Macherla and Gurajala between 1176 AD - 1182 AD

The Palnadu Battle is also called the Andhra Mahabharatam because of several similarities.

The town is renowned for the Chennakesava Swamy temple built here during the reign of the Haihaya Kings. The annual festival, celebrated on a grand scale, attracts pilgrims and tourists from far and wide.

Temple :

The main temple is the Sri Laxmi Chennakesava Swamy Temple. It was built around the 13th century A.D. The main gate has one tall Dwajastambam (Flag Staff) Swamy statue which is covered with wood and bronze. Close by are four stone figures viz., Sri Madbhagavathamu, Srimannarayana Avataram, Sriman Mahabharatam, and Srimad Ramayanam. Another temple dedicated to Veerabhadraswamy is located in the Old town. It was built in 18th century A.D. Another Historical Laxmi Chennakesava Swamy temple was built around 13th century A.D in Nagulavaram Village which is located 12 kilometers from Macherla town.

MACHERLA CHENNAKESAVA TIRUNALLA (USTAV) happens IN APRIL month every year.

Nagarjunakonda Museum (Tourism) :

Nagarjunakonda, meaning the hill of Nagarjuna, was named after the Buddhist scholar and savant Acharya Nagarjuna. It was a great religious center promoting Brahmanical and Buddhist faiths, molding the early phases of art and architecture affiliated with them. It was an extensive Buddhist establishment nourishing several sects of Buddhism that culminated into the full-fledged Mahayana pantheon. At present it is a unique island in India housing an archaeological museum and transplanted and reconstructed monuments of Nagarjunakonda valley datable to prehistoric to late medieval times endangered with the submergence under the Nagarjunasagar project. The objects displayed in five galleries include carved limestone slabs, sculptures, inscriptions and other antiquities all assignable to 3rd-4th century AD constitute a majority of the exhibits. The key gallery is known for the masterpieces of Ikshvaku art and architecture in the form of all pervading serene Buddha, well sculptured ayaka-slabs, the cross beams of ayaka-platforms capturing in all finesse the episodes of the life of the enlightened one punctuated with joyous mithunas and elegant tree nymphs, etc. Two galleries located in a large hall, exhibit the decorated drum slabs, dome slabs, cornice beams and other architectural units of a stupa, a few Brahmanical sculptures besides a variety of earthen ware of the Ikshavaku and subsequent periods. The carved architectural units which once decorated the various stupas, capture the life of the Master from his birth to Mahaparinirvana passing through the events of great departure, meditation, enlightenment and preaching. The popular miracles he performed during his life time and the stories of the previous births known as Jatakas like Sasa-jataka, Champeya-jataka, Sibi-jataka, Mandhathu-jataka, etc. also form subjects of carvings.

KCP Cements :

Macherla is famous for the cement manufactured by 'The KCP Limited'. KCP Cement Division has a State-of-the-art Cement manufacturing plant at Macherla. The factory was erected on 3 July 1941 by V. Ramakrishna group. India’s 1st dry process kiln of 400 TPD capacity was installed here in 1958 by HUMBOLDT, Germany even while it was still a prototype in Europe. The capacity was augmented by a 600 TPD line in 1962 when a second wet process kiln was installed in collaboration with FIVES LILLIE CAIL, France. Today, KCP’s 100% modernized cement plant with a World Bank funded outlay of Rs.367 million incorporates the latest technology such as the energy-efficient dry process, with a two support kiln and a five stage pre-heater with flash calciner with a capacity of 2000 CPD. KCP also incorporates a sophisticated centralized process control system with hardware and software from SIEMENS, Germany.

The plant was conceived with the objective of supplying the Cement requirements for the multi-purpose Nagarjuna Sagar Dam Project 25 KM away, and after completing all the contracted supply requirements for the Dam, it continued to produce and supply Premium Quality Cement, chiefly to other projects such as Srisailam Project and retail outlets in South India under a comprehensive funding agreement with the World Bank and consortium of Indian Financial Institutions, a new and state-of-art, energy efficient kiln line of 1200 TPD capacity with recirculating feed Calciner and five stage Pre-heater and vertical roller mills for Raw Meal and Coal grinding, centrally controlled and monitored through a comprehensive scheme of Instrumentation and Computers, went on stream in December, 1989 at the same location and the capacity of plant re-evaluated to 5,00,000 TPA for the year 2001-2002, and the old lines were scrapped. The production level of the unit for the year 2004 - 2005 are 4,21,515 MTs of Clinker; 4,84,551T of Cement Produced and 4,86,844 T of Cement Packing, which denotes 97% in cement,

Tourism :

Ethipothala Falls is a mountain stream cascading down the hills from a height of 21.3 meters into a lagoon. This waterfall is a combination of three streams namely Chandravanka Vagu, Nakkala Vagu and Tummala Vagu. The lagoon has a crocodile-breeding center. After flowing for 3 km, this stream joins with the river Krishna. Ranganadha and Dattatreya temples are located near the waterfalls.

Nagarjuna Sagar dam is 24 km away from Macherla. The reservoir is the third largest man-made lake in the world. It is also one of the most prominent Buddhist sites in Andhra Pradesh.

Anupu is located 18 km from Macherla towards Nagarjuna Sagar. It is said that the Buddhist phiolosopher Nagarjuna taught in Anupu.

Nilampati SriLakshmi Ammavaru Temple in Adigoppula is also famous.

Sathrasaala is located 25 km from Macherla towards Guntur. It is a place where VISWAMITHRA conducted Yagna along with Rama in Threthayugam. Here we can find Naga Shasanam similar to the Shasanam we find in Lord Chennakesava Temple Macherla.

Durgi is located 12 km from Macherla towards Narasaraopet. Before this area ruled by "Dhushana" so that DURGI name has came. In Durgi you can find lot SHILPA KALA here you can find lot of Shilpa kala colleges. From Durgi that statues are exporting to all over India.

Pedda Kaluva (it's the continuation of Nsagar water) flows through Macherla, the speciality here is a road passes under the canal.

Nagarjunakonda (Lat. 16° 31' N, Long.79° 14' E) is situated in Macherla Mandal of the District Guntur. The nearest railway station is Macherla, at a distance of 24 km. The museum is situated on an island in the Nagarjunasagar dam. To reach the Island there is a jetty point at Vijayapuri, south of the Nagarjunasagar dam.

Famous People :

Kanneganti Hanumanthu - Revolutionary and leader for the Pullari revolt.

Palanati Brahmanaidu - Minister to Haihaya kings who tried to abolish the caste system in the 12th century

Late Sri Gurram Mallayya - Freedom fighter, and Famous painter.

Tirunagari Sri Ramanjeneyulu - Telangana Gorky.

Julakanti Nagi Reddy (Ex.MLA)

Mr. pulupula sivaiaih-- famous poet, communist leader from athmakur village durgi mandal.

Famous poet :

Gadhavala Asthana kavi, kavi sihma, Maha kavi shekara Brahma Sri POKURI KASIPATHI AVADHANULU was born at Bodilaveedu,Macherla thaluka and his statue at Ambedkar centre,Macherla .his famous books are Siddi Yogi Charithra Malleswara shatakam

Rayavaram village people participated in palnaati yuddam. A small temple of swords is located in thummepally.