Allur Nellore District

Allur, also known as Alluru, is a town in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh, India. Serving as the administrative headquarters of Allur Mandal within the Kavali revenue division, it has long held regional significance as a centre of trade, agriculture, and missionary activity. Its historical role in colonial administration and its participation in the Indian independence movement further underscore its cultural and political importance in coastal Andhra.
Situated between the seacoast and the railway corridor connecting Nellore and Kavali, Allur lies in an agriculturally productive zone characterised by canal-irrigated and rain-fed lands. The town’s development reflects a complex interplay of geography, economy, religion, and political reorganisation across different eras.

Geography

Allur is located approximately 30 kilometres northwest of Nellore. It is bordered by the villages of Allurupeta, Gogulapalli, Graddagunta, Isakapalli, Indupuru, North Mopuru, Puruni, and Singapeta. The town lies within the Pennar river basin, with portions of its agricultural land served by the Pennar canal system and the remainder dependent on rain-fed tanks.
The soils in the region are predominantly red soils, generally low in nitrogen, medium in phosphorus, and high in carbon and potash. The combination of soil characteristics and irrigation sources has facilitated a long tradition of crop cultivation and rural livelihoods.

Historical Background

Missionary Influence and Colonial Administration

During the nineteenth century, Allur emerged as an important revenue centre within the Nellore district of the Madras Presidency. It also served as a significant station for the American Baptist Mission, which expanded its work into the region in the mid-1860s. Missionaries John E. Clough and Lyman D. Jewett visited Allur in 1865, establishing a residential base and acquiring properties for mission activities.
In 1873, Edwin Bullard founded an American Baptist church in the town. Although he ended direct mission management shortly thereafter, Allur continued to function as an outstation under the Nellore mission. From 1873 onwards, W. S. Davis, a missionary from New Jersey, devoted four decades of service to the area. Resident missionaries were formally appointed from 1893, consolidating Allur’s role in regional Christian education and evangelism.
A mosque was constructed in 1910, marking the continued religious diversification of the settlement. Communal tensions surfaced in the 1920s concerning the playing of music during Hindu processions near the mosque, eventually resolved through a decree in 1928.

Freedom Movement

Allur played a notable part in the Indian nationalist movement. Together with the neighbouring village of Gogulapalle, it became a venue for Salt Satyagraha activities in the Nellore district, resulting in the arrest of several participants. Mahatma Gandhi visited the town on 30 December 1933 during his coastal Andhra tour, attending both Panchayat and public meetings.

Demographics

According to the 2011 Census of India, Allur had a population of 11,656, comprising 5,768 males and 5,888 females, reflecting a sex ratio of 1,021 females per 1,000 males. Children aged 0–6 numbered 1,195. The literacy rate stood at 68.88 per cent, slightly below the state average, with 7,206 literate individuals recorded.

Local Government

Allur operates as a Nagar Panchayat, divided into multiple wards, each represented by an elected ward member. The Panchayat is chaired by a sarpanch, with Kareti Chandra Leelamma serving in this role, while the panchayat secretary, Vijayaramu, oversees administrative functions.

Administrative Evolution

Under British rule, Allur fell within Nellore district of the Madras Presidency. It hosted offices of a Deputy Tahsildar and Sub-Magistrate and became one of the earliest sub-registrar offices in the area, established in 1871. Originally part of Nellore Taluk, Allur was incorporated into the newly created Kovur–Nellore Taluk in 1910. With the reorganisation of administrative units into mandals in 1985, Allur became a mandal headquarters.

Political Profile

From 1978 to 2009, Allur functioned as an assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh. Electoral boundaries were redrawn in 2009, placing Allur Mandal within the Kavali Assembly constituency, while neighbouring regions such as Bucchi were reassigned to Kovur constituency.
Representatives for Allur across election cycles included members of the Indian National Congress, Telugu Desam Party, and Communist Party of India (Marxist), reflecting the area’s diverse political alignments.

Economy

Allur has historically been an agrarian hub, supplemented by trade and local industry. Rice cultivation is central to its economy, with produce exported to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The nearby Isakapalli salt factory also contributed to regional employment and economic activity.
During British rule, Allur was the highest land revenue-generating town in the Nellore district, earning approximately ₹53,000 in 1901. Its population grew steadily from 3,677 in 1873 to 7,527 by 1901, making it one of the most populous settlements in the taluk.
The town was commonly distinguished as Pantala Allur (“Allur with staple”) to differentiate it from another Allur in Prakasam district.

Banking Facilities

Banking services available in Allur include:

• Punjab National Bank, AllurIFSC: PUNB0935000MICR: 524024007
• Andhra Pragathi Grameena Bank, AllurIFSC: APGB0004039MICR: 524703682
• State Bank of India, AllurIFSC: SBIN0015069
• Syndicate Bank, AllurIFSC: SYNB0003464MICR: 524025505
• Andhra Pradesh State Cooperative Bank, AllurIFSC: APBL0009021MICR: 524841682

Education

Formal education in Allur began to take shape in 1868 with the establishment of a government secondary school. Prior to this, learning was restricted to informal outdoor schools focusing on Telugu literacy and arithmetic. The American Baptist Mission founded a middle school around 1878, operating it until 1927, and opened a boarding school for boys in 1907.
Significant educational reform occurred under Madabushi Seshachari, who mobilised local elites and collaborated with the Ramakrishna Mission to found the Ramakrishna Middle School in 1928. The institution expanded to a high school in 1934, a junior college in 1950, and eventually a degree college in 1998.

Healthcare

Allur’s earliest recorded medical institution was a government-aided dispensary established in 1872. The town currently hosts two public healthcare facilities: the Allur Government Hospital and an Ayurvedic hospital, providing primary medical services to the community.

Culture and Religion

Allur is home to several historic temples, including the Siddeshwara temple and the Gopalaswamy (Vishnu) temple, both featuring inscriptions of local antiquity. A shrine dedicated to Perantalamma commemorates a woman who died in a sati ritual, reflecting older social practices of the region.
The annual Poleramma festival is a major cultural celebration. Each January, villagers decorate their homes and streets with rangavalli and floral displays. Offerings of cooked rice and neem leaves are made, and the deity is carried through the village in a ceremonial palanquin placed upon animal motifs such as a tiger or swan.

Transport

Road travel remains the most convenient means of reaching Allur. APSRTC buses connect the town with Nellore and Kavali, including non-stop services from Nellore. The nearest railway station is Bitragunta, located 11 kilometres away, with major stations at Nellore and Kavali providing broader connectivity.
The nearest domestic airport is at Tirupati (Renigunta), about 150 kilometres distant, linking to cities including Vijayawada, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Mumbai, and Delhi. Chennai International Airport, approximately 200 kilometres away, offers extensive national and international services.