Krishna district

Krishna district is a district in the coastal Andhra Region in Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, with Machilipatnam as its administrative headquarters. It is surrounded on the East by Bay of Bengal, West by Guntur, Bapatla and North by Eluru and NTR districts and South again by Bay of Bengal. In 2022 Krishna district was divided into Krishna and NTR districts. Krishna district, with its district headquarters at Machilipatnam was formerly called Machilipatnam district. Later it was renamed as Krishna district, by adding certain taluks of the Guntur district of united Andhra Pradesh in 1859. It was named after the Krishna River (also known as Krishnaveni in literature) the third longest river in India. The river flows through the district before it empties itself into Bay of Bengal, near Hamsaladevi village. The history of this region dates back to the 2nd century BCE. The area was ruled by the Satavahanas (230 BCAD 227); Pallavas (AD 340AD 500), Chalukyas (AD 6151070 AD) and later by Cholas, Kakatiyas, Musunuri Nayaks, Reddy dynasty and Gajapati kings of Odisha. Satavahana period (230 BCAD 227): The Satavahanas ruled this region with headquarters at Srikakulam, at present a village in Ghantasala mandal of the district. Prominent rulers during this period were Srimukha (founder), Gotamiputra Satakarni and Yajnasri Satakarni (last Satavahana king). The Satavahanas imparted more stability and security to the life of the people of the region for more than four centuries. Pallava Kingdom (AD 340AD 500), spread over from Krishna river to Tungabhadra, including Amaravati in the East, Bellary in the West and Kancheepuram in the South with capital cities at Venginagar near Eluru and Pithapuram, both in Vengidesa. Bruhitpalayanas, the contemporaries of Pallavas ruled the district with Koduru as their capital. Vishnukundinas (AD 6th century) rulers created cave temples at Mogalrajapuram (now in Vijayawada) and Undavalli. Eastern chalukyas (AD 615AD 1070), the entire Andhra country was under the control of a single ruler under their reign.