Anantapur City is head quarter and municipal corporation of the Anantapur District of the state Andhra Pradesh, India. It is largest district in Andhra Pradesh and having 64 mandals. It is known for second lowest rain fall in India after Jaisalmeer of Rajasthan State. It is located 356 kilometers (221 mi) south of the state capital, Hyderabad and 196 kilometers (122 mi) north of Bangalore on the NH-7. Anantapur was headquarters of "Datta Mandalam" (Rayalaseema and Bellary districts) in 1799 and Sir Thomas Manrowas the first collector for ceded districts. Anantapur was an important place for the British Indian Army in the Second World War. Current JNTU-CEA campus, once a bunker for the British artillery; remains can be found on the campus location
