Godavari District was a district of the Madras Presidency. It has a glorious past. Which once saw the glory of many zamindari estates and also huge estates like Peddapuram, Pithapuram, Kota Ramchandrapuram, Polvaram etc. each comprising 372, 128, 66, 128 respectively. It later got bifurcated into East and West Godavari in 1925. But before that these districts compressed few Zamindaries and their histories.
Zamindari System in Godavari District Godavari District was renamed. Originally it was Rajahmundry District having the capital of the same name but renamed in 1859. This Rajahmundry District was once ruled by Eastern Chalukyas Kakatiyas Gajapathi Rulers Vijayanagar Rulers Nizam Rule French Again under the Nawab who is the Subedar of Nizam British
During the British (1765-1947) reign in Godavarai District (originally northern circars were acquired by the British in the Anglo-French wars in 1759 but again appointed the Nawab by Nizam which finally came to British hand in the year 1765) they acquired all the local poligars and in the Battle of Padmanabham they reduced the erstwhile Princely State of Vizianagaram to a Zamindari and made permanent settlement with them in 1802. From then the powers of old Zamindars were limited and acted as revenue collector between the government and ryots.
Zamindari Estates after the Permanent Settlement to 1843 During the Permanenent settlement in 1802–03, few estates like Mogalutur and Korukonda were annexed into the government due to arrears and they were split into 26 Proprietary estates . By that time there are 15 ancient Zamindaries Like Peddapuram, Pithapuram, Polavaram, Kota Ramchandrapuram, Vegayammapeta, Velampalem, Venakayapalem, Vella, Telikacherla, Jalimudi, Panangipalli, Undeswarapuram, Mukkamala, Vilasa and Janupalli, Bantumilli. Besides these are there three other Mansabdari Estates, like Rampah, Totapalli, Jaddangi.
Zamindari Estates after 1843 Many Zamindari estates were later annexed in the government due to the arrears and lost most of their villages. Then they divided the estates further and sold to other proprietors. The details were collected by Henry Morris and wrote in the Book, A descriptive and historical account of the Godavery District in the presidency of Madras Page No:371-375.
List of Zamindaris in Godavari District in the year 1874-75ZamindariHolderPeskashGodavary districtPittapore 3,41,627The rent for Pittapoor also included the rent for Cocanada and CoringaPolavaram 43,210Osuri Navarasapuram Estate alignKolanka14350Tuni 26429Annavarapupeta 3895Kapileswarapuram 8765Undeswarapuram 630Kotipally Peskash in the Vizianagaram Zamindari Uppada and Aminbada 673 Nidadavolu and Barhajhally 1,19,346 Ambarapet 16,097 Vegayammapeta Estate 8362 Tangellmudi 5143Bhimolu 3031 Anumullanka 611 Singanagudem 46 Vilasa 1440 Janupalle 218 Jalimudi 277 Telikicherla 962 Gundepalli| 962 Panangipalli 737 Sirasavilli Savaram 300 Bantumilli| 200 Mukkamala 107Jaggampet 33,072 Dontamuru 3248 Rayavaram 1998 Viravaram 26876Palivela 19,240 Kirlampudi 23,382 Gopalapuram 18,540 Elamanchili 8,823 Chinchinada 1647China Mamidipalli 255 Neredumilli 445 Vardhanani 532Dhumantigudem 142Gollaprolu 11,567 Kesanakuru 11,574 Vasantavada 7,349Narayanapuram 2,948Malakacherla 1,495 Daddipudi 378Gutala 6,749Mungondapalem 545Chidipi 1,671Peddeham 2,628Tirugudumetta 1,856Injeram 3,217Pattesam 2,282Prakkilanka| 1,822Vangalapudi 3,817Viravillipalem 3,534Nadavapalli 3,129Tyajampudi 2,791Kurukuru 1,482Billumilli 1,619Lakkavaram 2,643Jangareddigudem 499Dharmavaram 2402Krapa 2,385Malakapalli 2,282Katavaram 2,135Yadavolu 2,161Konitivada 2,004Borrampalem 1,038Vegavaram 787Gavuripatnam 1,853Murumanda 1,850Anatavaram 1,763Magam 1,746Yernagudem 1,725Vunkaramilli alias Ravimetta 1,630Kalavalapalli 1346Pativala Gurajanapalli 1,296Mallavaram 947Johurullabada alias Hukumpeta 1,401Buchampeta 738Gangolu 1,264Vella 1,240Bayyanagudem 1,006Potukurru 210Bommuru 853Guttinadeevi 776Kondagudem 753 Petta 583Viravaram 554Dandangi 551Surasaniyanam 529Nilapalli 479Nandigudem 390Nallamillipadu 203Gavaravaram 145jagannadhapuram 117Pydimetta 110Vadlapattanam 86Tirumanagudem 64Mansubdari of Godavari districtThotapalle Estate 6,310 Bhadrachalam and Rekapalle 21,090Rampah .....Source:
The same has been mentioned in the book Standing Information regarding the Official Administration of Madras Presidency.
Zamindari Estates after 1920 Later, these estates were further divided (impartiable estates weren't divided though). The list of it has been given in The Asylum Press Almanack And Directory Of Madras And Southern India 1924, Page No: 274–276.
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