Krishna District, formerly called Masulapatnam, was one of the oldest British administered areas of
Andhra Pradesh. In 1859, it was formed dividing the existing
Guntur District and adding certain
taluks to it. It is named after the mighty
river Krishna.
The area covered is 8,727 sq km, with 88 km of coastal line. The population is approximately 4 million. Krishna District is well advanced in the field of education.
The climate is tropical with hot summers and cold winters. April to June is the hottest period. The south-west monsoon arrives in late June and the average rainfall received is 1,028 mm.
Since the district is endowed with a rich variety of soils, agriculture is the most important occupation. Paddy is the main food crop produced. Mineral resources include chromites, diamonds, iron ore, lime stone, mica and sulphur.
Vijayawada is the largest commercial center, with an important railway junction which connects it to New Delhi,
Kolkata, Chennai,
Hubli, Gudivada and Machilipatnam. The airport at Gannavaram is about 16 km away, and there is a minor sea port at Machilipatnam. The second largest bus station in the state is also located in Vijayawada.
