Raising Raja Mahendra Varam
The first and foremost poet in Telugu language Nannayya who wrote Fifth Veda, Mahabharat was born here where River Godavari roars like Vedic chanting and is called Rajamahendravaram that transformed as Rajamundry by common man’s tongue as aped after listening to British officers’ pronunciation. This area was ruled by East Chalukyas as per the records and later on the baton passed to the British and finally became part of Andhra Pradesh State. This name was derived from the Sanskrit name Raja Mahendra Puram means The city of King Mahendra. One can see the forts built by Dutch in 1600 A.D as they ruled this area until they were defeated in the hands of the East India Company.
Cultural Reforms by Social Workers
Kandukuri Veeresalingam – a social reformer and the author of Rajashekhara Charithra, the first Telugu novel – was also from Rajahmundry. He had worked for the upliftment of widows by organizing second marriages and such widow marriage took place in 1881. Rajamundry is a culturally vibrant city since long and the public used to respond to the national leaders’ directions during the freedom struggle. Bipin Chandra Pal visited Rajahmundry in April 1905 during the Vandemataram Movement. During his visits, he used to address the public in "Pal Chowk" (the present-day Kotipalli Bus Stand). Annie Besant visited Rajahmundry twice.
Attractive Flower Gardens
Nurseries here are spread over 3,500 acres in Kadiyam, Rajahmundry Rural mandals of the city. Floriculture is expanding to Mandapeta town. Central Floriculture Institute and Research Centre is operational at Vemagiri in the city. Andhra Pradesh State Government is exporting these flowers from Rajahmundry Airport through cargo planes. As Vizag is known by Beach, Rajahmundry is known by a place called Fort Gate. Several persons who had entered Tollywood were born here, maybe on the screen or behind the screen and actors or technicians.