Palasa
Palasa, officially known as Palasa-Kasibugga, is a coastal municipality and the administrative headquarters of Palasa mandal in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, India.[1] Situated on National Highway 16 between the cities of Srikakulam and Berhampur at coordinates 18.46°N 84.25°E and an elevation of 38 meters, it covers an area of 32.75 square kilometers and features a major railway station in the Visakhapatnam division of South Coast Railway.[1] As per the 2011 census, Palasa had a population of 57,507, comprising 28,131 males and 29,376 females, with a sex ratio of 1,044 females per 1,000 males and a literacy rate of 75.68%.[1] The town includes 14,195 households and has 5,609 children under six years of age, reflecting a balanced demographic with a slight female majority.[1] The Palasa Assembly constituency, which covers Palasa, Mandasa, and Vajrapu Kotturu mandals, includes the town.[1] Economically, Palasa is prominently known as the "White Gold City" due to its extensive cashew nut processing industry, which includes approximately 350 units and serves as the largest such center in Andhra Pradesh.[1] This sector provides direct and indirect employment to around 15,000 people in the region and facilitates exports of cashew kernels to markets in the Gulf countries, Europe, and the West.[1] The industry contributes significantly to the local economy, leveraging the area's coastal location for trade and processing of raw cashews sourced from surrounding agricultural areas.[2] In addition to its economic role, Palasa supports essential public services, including a Community Health Centre with 50 inpatient beds to cater to healthcare needs of residents and nearby communities.[1] The town's strategic position along the highway and rail network enhances its connectivity, making it a key hub for commerce and transportation in northern Andhra Pradesh.[1]Etymology and History
Etymology
The name "Palasa" derives from the Telugu language, in which it signifies "the place of palms," reflecting the historical prevalence of palm trees throughout the region.[3] This etymology emphasizes the town's longstanding connection to its natural landscape, where palm trees served as a key resource for local sustenance and economy. An alternative folk interpretation links the name to the abundance of palm groves, symbolizing fertility and prosperity in Telugu cultural traditions, though the primary linguistic root remains tied to the Telugu term for palm habitats.[3] In the broader context of Telugu naming conventions, such place names often draw from environmental features to evoke the area's defining characteristics, highlighting the cultural importance of nature in shaping regional identity and community heritage.[4]History
Palasa, located in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, originated as a rural settlement characterized by abundant palm groves that supported an agricultural economy focused on palm-based products and subsistence farming prior to Indian independence in 1947.[3] The area's etymological roots in the Telugu word for "palms" reflect this historical abundance, which shaped early community life around agrarian activities.[3] Following independence, Palasa experienced significant growth in the 1950s and 1970s, driven by the establishment of cashew processing industries that transformed the local economy. The Palasa Cashew Manufacturer's Association was founded in 1954 by Malla Janardhana, initially comprising 11 factories that expanded over time to capitalize on the region's cashew cultivation.[5] This period marked Palasa's emergence as a key cashew hub, with processing units providing employment and fostering urban development amid broader post-independence agricultural diversification in Andhra Pradesh.[6] In the 1970s, Palasa became a focal point for social movements, particularly Dalit resistance against caste-based discrimination and exploitation in cashew factories and local power structures. These struggles, rooted in upper-caste dominance over economic and political resources, culminated in notable acts of revolt and reform, as depicted in the 2020 Telugu film Palasa 1978, which draws from real events in the region involving Dalit brothers challenging oppressive landlords.[7] The film highlights the era's tensions, including segregation and denial of rights, underscoring Palasa's role in broader Bahujan resistance narratives.[8] Administrative evolution continued with Palasa-Kasibugga's designation as a municipality in 2000, formalizing its status as a second-grade urban body with 31 election wards spanning 32.75 square kilometers.[1] Recent developments include the Telugu Desam Party's (TDP) victory in the 2024 Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections, where Gouthu Sireesha won the Palasa constituency by defeating the incumbent YSRCP candidate with a margin of over 16,000 votes.[9] In November 2024, the state government sanctioned a pre-feasibility study for a greenfield airport in Palasa, allocating funds as part of six proposed aviation projects to enhance connectivity.[10] Proposals for elevating Palasa to district status gained momentum in 2025, with the government considering it among six new districts to streamline administration, potentially including constituencies like Ichchapuram, Tekkali, and Pathapatnam.[11] The cashew industry resumed operations in June 2025 after a brief shutdown due to price fluctuations, signaling recovery in the sector.[12] Tragically, on November 1, 2025, a stampede at the Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kasibugga during Ekadashi darshan resulted in nine deaths, including eight women and one boy, amid overcrowding and a railing collapse, prompting investigations into crowd management failures.[13]Geography and Climate
Geography
Palasa is a twin town with Kasibugga, located in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, India, situated between the towns of Srikakulam and Berhampur.[14] The town lies at approximately 18.773°N latitude and 84.408°E longitude, with an average elevation of 38 meters above sea level and a total area of 32.75 km².[14][15] Palasa occupies a coastal plain in the Uttarandhra region of northern Andhra Pradesh, about 8.5 km inland from the Bay of Bengal, whose proximity shapes the area's ecosystem through saline influences and marine proximity.[16][14][17] As part of Palasa Mandal, the area is bounded by agricultural lands and features prominent natural elements including palm groves and extensive cashew plantations that dominate the landscape.[14][18]Climate
Palasa experiences a tropical savanna climate (Köppen classification Aw), characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons typical of coastal regions in eastern India. The average annual temperature is approximately 28°C, with highs reaching up to 35°C during peak summer months. Annual rainfall totals around 1,074 mm, predominantly occurring during the monsoon period.[19][20] The climate features three main seasons: hot summers from March to May, with average highs of 33–35°C and low humidity before the rains; the southwest monsoon from June to September, bringing heavy precipitation peaking in August at about 206 mm and frequent wet days; and mild winters from December to February, with daytime highs around 27–29°C and cooler nights dipping to 18–20°C. This seasonal variation is influenced by the town's coastal location along the Bay of Bengal, which moderates extremes but introduces high humidity levels year-round.[19][21] Due to its proximity to the Bay of Bengal, Palasa maintains high relative humidity, often exceeding 80% during the monsoon and remaining muggy for nearly 10 months of the year. The region is particularly vulnerable to tropical cyclones, which form frequently in the Bay of Bengal and can bring intense winds, storm surges, and additional heavy rainfall, as evidenced by events like Cyclone Titli's landfall near Palasa in 2018.[19][22] More recent examples include Severe Cyclonic Storm Asani, which affected northern Andhra Pradesh in May 2022, and Severe Cyclonic Storm Montha, which made landfall near Kakinada in October 2025, causing damage in the region.[23][24]Demographics and Society
Demographics
As per the 2011 Census of India, Palasa Kasibugga municipality recorded a total population of 57,507, consisting of 28,131 males and 29,376 females, yielding a sex ratio of 1,044 females per 1,000 males.[25] The population density stood at 1,756 inhabitants per square kilometer across an area of 32.75 square kilometers.[26] Children in the age group of 0-6 years numbered 5,609, representing 9.75% of the total population, with 2,887 males and 2,722 females among them.[27] The literacy rate in Palasa Kasibugga municipality was 75.68% in 2011, surpassing the state average of 67.02% at the time, with male literacy at 84.69% and female literacy at 67.15%.[25] As an urban municipality, the entire population falls under the urban category, with no rural breakdown within its administrative limits; however, the surrounding Palasa Mandal encompasses both urban and rural areas.[28] Population growth in Palasa Kasibugga municipality showed a decadal increase of 15.27% from 49,899 in the 2001 Census to 57,507 in 2011, reflecting an annual growth rate of approximately 1.4%.[26] At the mandal level, Palasa Mandal's population rose from 87,850 in 2001 to 97,551 in 2011, a decadal growth of 11.1%, with the urban component (Palasa Kasibugga municipality) accounting for 57,507 and the rural portion for 40,044.[29][28] No official census updates beyond 2011 are available, as the decennial census originally scheduled for 2021 has been delayed and is now set to commence in phases starting in 2026, with the reference date March 1, 2027, and full results expected in 2028. Unofficial estimates for post-2011 population are not standardized due to the census delay, maintaining reliance on 2011 data for demographic analysis.[30]| Demographic Indicator | 2001 Census (Municipality) | 2011 Census (Municipality) |
|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 49,899 | 57,507 |
| Males | 24,378 | 28,131 |
| Females | 25,521 | 29,376 |
| Sex Ratio (per 1,000 males) | 1,047 | 1,044 |
| Literacy Rate (%) | 60.3 | 75.68 |
| Child Population (0-6 years) | 6,150 | 5,609 |