Badvel – A major town of Kadapa District

Badvel (Telugu : బద్వేల్ or బద్వేలు )is the northernmost of the three taluks forming the eastern division of the district. On the west it is separated from Proddatur and Kadapa by the Nallamala and lankamala hills constitute its eastern boundary. Irregular and artificial boundaries divide it on the south from the Sidhout taluk and on the north from the Cumbum taluk of Prakasam district. It contains an area of 755 square miles.

It is the fifth largest town in the district and it is the head quarters of the assembly constituency. Recently, it was upgraded to Municipality status. Based on 2004 election census, total number of voters in Badvel constituency is 153,429.

The town is named after famous poet Baddena, who wrote Sumathi Sathakam. Initially the name was ‘Baddenavolu’; it transformed later to ‘Badvolu’ and then to its current form ‘Badvel’. Its nearest railway station is Vontimitta at a distance of nearly thirty miles to the south. Except that there is no stationary sub-magistrate at Badvel, it contains all the offices usual to a taluk headquarters. It has also a sub jail. Near the junction of the Sidhout and Proddatur roads is a travellers’ bungalow maintained by the Public Works Department. Formerly there was a District Munsif’s Court at Badvel, but it was transferred to Proddatur in 1884.

The great tank at Badvel is its principal source of wealth. It affords irrigation to seven villages, of which Badvel receives the greatest share. It has an area of about a thousand acres under the tank, of which more than half consists of inam lands. Surplus rice is chiefly exported to Udayagiri in Nellore district. Turmeric and indigo find a market in Kadapa. Its position on the main roads connecting Kadapa with Cumbum and Nellore renders Badvel a trade centre for the eastern taluks only second in importance to Rajampet. In the making of shoes and sandals it has developed a considerable industry affording occupation to a large proportion of the Musalman population.

Badvel was constituted a union in 1886 by british rulers -It has an income of rather more than two thousand rupees, principally made up of house-tax receipts, minor items being cart-stand and market fees at that time.

The Hindu temples present no feature of particular interest. There are two dargas in the town. That in the name of Saiyid Khaja Ghouse Muhi-ud-din is the more important, whereat vows are performed by Hindus as well as Musalmans.

Places of Interest in and around Badvel:

• Brahmamgari Mattam (30 kilometers)
• Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary
• Siddaihgari Mattam
• SriVasavi Kanyakaparameshwari temple