Srikalahasti ((SKHT)dakshin kailash ) is a holy town in Chittoor district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is a municipality and the mandal headquarters of Srikalahasti mandal in Tirupati revenue division. The town is a part of Tirupati Urban Development Authority, which is located on the banks of the River Swarnamukhi.
History
Gopuram of the Srikalahasteeshwara Temple
This Srikalahasti town is named after Sri (spider), Kala (snake) and Hasti (elephant) that once worshipped the Shiva lingam here and attained Moksham.
As per another legend, Vayu and Adishesha had a dispute to find out who is superior, to prove their superiority, Adishesha encircled Mount Kailash, Vayu tried to remove this encircle by creating a twister. Because of the twister, 8 parts from Kailash fell into 8 different places which are Trincomalee, Srikalahasti, Tiruchirappalli, Thiruenkoimalai, Rajathagiri, Neerthagiri, Ratnagiri, and Swethagiri Thirupangeeli.
Geography
Swarnamukhi river and the bridge at Srikalahasti
Srikalahasti is located at 13°45′N 79°42′E on the bank of river Swarnamukhi. It is located 38 km north of Tirupati central.
Demographics
As of 2011 Census of India, the town had a population of 80,056. The total population constitute, 38,995 males and 41,061 females – a sex ratio of 1053 females per 1000 males, higher than the national average of 940 per 1000. 8,224 children are in the age group of 0–6 years, of which 4,227 are boys and 3,997 are girls – a ratio of 946 per 1000. The average literacy rate stands at 78.66% (male 85.15%; female 72.57%) with 56,501 literates, significantly higher than the national average of 73.00%.
Education
The primary and secondary school education is imparted by government-aided and private schools, under the School Education Department of the state. The medium of instruction followed by different schools are English and Telugu.
Sri Kalahasteeswara Institute of Technology entrance