history

Cumbum is a town and a Mandal in Prakasam district in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India.This township is under Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh. The history of Cumbum can be divided into British (Nizam) period and Post-Independence period: British Period: For the administration of the vast area ceded by the Nizam under the Treaty of 1800, the Government of Madras, appointed Major Munro as the Principal Collector, with four sub-collectors under his immediate authority.

   Cumbum was a Taluk with a Tahsildar and a small regiment during the 1850s in Madras Presidency. Due to the incidence of malaria, the British regiment was closed down and moved. But, now the town is pleasant and best fit with many amenities. Post-Independence period: Cumbum was in Kurnool district prior to formation of Prakasam district. Later, in 1971 the areas of Markapur division was brought into the limits of newly formed distrct which was named as Prakasam District. Thus, Cumbum is now in Prakasam district. Cumbum town is now rapidly developed having educational institutions and commercial banks. Cumbum Tank is one of the best tourist place considering wide and ancient tank bund with beautiful scenario like green crops, beautiful long railway track and hills inside the tank which can be viewed standing from Tank Bund. If the tank is full of water, boat shire will be good entertinement to attract visitors. Renovation of Guest House on Tank Bund has to be taken up by government. Approach road on the foot of the hill need to be formed with Tar. Cumbum Tank is versatile to recognize as a historical and tourist place in the district since it was built nearly 400 years ago.Cumbum mandal showed a very good growth indicators in the Census 2011. According to census of India, Cumbum mandal has been recognized as the second highest in literacy in Praksam district literacy having 73.55% literates after Ongole Mandal.

 State high ways Vinukonda-Nandyal and Kadapa roads, the Vijayawada-Guntakal pass through the town. Direct buses are available to Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai where booking can be done in APSRTC reservation website. Union government accepted to convert this state high way into 4 lane National High way till Renigunta via Bestavarapet, Kaningiri, Rapuru and Venkatagiri. 

Railway lane of Guntur division in South Central Railway passes through the town connecting to cities Bangalore, Hyderabad, Hubli, Vasco-Da-Gama, Guntur, Vijayawada, Machilipatnam, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Palasa, Bhubaneswar and HowrahKolkata. Most popular trains commuting via Cumbum Railway station are Prashanthi Express, Amaravathi Express, Howrah Express, Kondaveedu Express, Guntur - Secunderabad fast passenger. The Railway Ministry had accepted for Cumbum - Proddatur railway lane in 2010 and 2013 Railway budgets and a survey was underway. Please refer to Indian Railways website for accurate information

 Cumbum tank bund, 3 km away from Cumbum town is a picnic spot for weekends. Visitors used to have group lunches on tank-bund. People enjoy beautiful scenery, green fields, hills, railway track, sunrise and sunset visible from tank-bund. Waves of water, inside hills are special attraction of Cumbum tank and can spend entire day on this tank. Cumbum lake is accessible both by the rail from Cumbum railway station and by road from Nandyal, Giddalur, Ongole and Kadapa. It is one of the most picturesque valleys in the Guntur-Nandyal-Guntakal section of South Central Railway. Cumbum Tank or Lake: Cumbum Lake, also known as Gundalakamma Lake, built on Gundalakamma rivulet upon Nallamala hills, is one of the oldest man made lakes of Asia.It is second largest irrigated lake in Asia.

 It is said that the lake was built by sage Jamadagni at the opening between two hills of Nallamala range. But history records that the anicut (dam) was built by the Gajapati, kings of Orissa in 15th Century AD while the area was under their control. It was subsequently renovated by the Vijayanagar Princess Varadharajamma wife of King Sri Krishnadevaraya. The lake in its present form is about 7 km long and on average, about 3.5 km wide. The Imperial Gazette of India, at the turn of 20th century, puts the height of the dam at 57 feet (17 m) and the drainage area at 430 square miles (1,100 km2). The directly irrigated land was about 10,300 acres (42 km2) in all. Cumbum lake is accessible both by the rail from Cumbum railway station and by road from Nandyal, Giddalur, Ongole and Kadapa. It is one of the most picturesque valleys in the Guntur-Nandyal-Guntakal section of South Central Railway. The Bogada and Chelama rail tunnel, one of the longest in broad gauge line, (1.6 km)are situated near this station. Cumbum tank, formed by damming the Gundlakamma river by earthen bund, which is the highest in the Presidency (80 ft), with 100 yards length. The tank spreads over an area of 9 square miles (23 km2), and irrigates 6,944 acres (28.10 km2) with over 3,500 acres (14 km2) being second cropped in a good year. A more successful work is the Cumbum tank, formed under native rule by damming a gorge of the Gundlakamma river. A water-colour painting of Cumbum tank on the Gundlakamma River painted by an unknown artist in March 1794 is still preserved at the British Library.