Dhone

Dhone was formerly known as Dronachalam.{{cite book|last1=Raju|first1=P. Yenadi|title=Rayalaseema during colonial times : a study un Indian nationalism|date=2003|publisher=Northern Book Centre|location=New Delhi|isbn=8172111398|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I3C11beCHF0C&q=Dhone+dronachalam&pg=PA2|access-date=24 April 2015}} Dhone is the second biggest municipality in Nandyal district after Nandyal Municipality. According to local tradition, the name of the village is derived from the name of the tutor Dronacharya, a character in Mahabharata, who meditated on the hill in village. There is now a Hanuman temple, Dargah and church on the hill. Dhone has large deposits of high quality limestone, and it was previously the site of an active quarry. The quarry is no longer in operation. The oldest temple in Dhone is Sri Vasavi Temple, which was constructed in 1916. The Vasavi Temple celebrated 100 at the year 2017.

Dhone is surrounded by hills on its south. Geographically it is located on Erramala hills.

According to 2011 census, Dhone had population of 59,272 of which 29,470 were male and 29,802 were female.

Population of children aged of 0-6 was 7,118, which is 12.01% of the total population of Dhone. The female sex ratio is of 1011 against state average of 993. Moreover, the child sex ratio in Dhone is around 954 compared to Andhra Pradesh state average of 939. Literacy rate of Dhone city is 72.33% higher than state average of 67.02%. In Dhone, male literacy is around 81.88% while female literacy rate is 62.96%.

Dhone has large deposits of high quality limestone. It also have good size of Granite and Polish slab Factories. Dhone is Industrially developing town.

Dhone is a Municipality in district of Nandyal, Andhra Pradesh. The Dhone city is divided into 32 wards for which elections are held every five years.

The municipality was established in the year 2005 and has an extent of {{convert|9.85|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}. During 2010–2011 period, total expenditure per annum was {{INRConvert|431|c|abbr=on}}, while the total income generated per annum was {{INRConvert|515|c|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|title=Basic Information of Municipality|url=http://cdma.gov.in/Dhone/Basic_information_Municipality.html|website=Commissioner & Director of Municipal Administration|publisher=Municipal Administration & Urban Development Department, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh|access-date=11 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120706232230/http://cdma.gov.in/Dhone/Basic_information_Municipality.html|archive-date=6 July 2012}} The municipality provided 798 public taps, 186 bore-wells, length of {{convert|106.28|km|mi|abbr=on}} roads, 1551 street lights, a park, public market, elementary and secondary schools etc.{{cite web|title=Public services/amenities|url=http://cdma.gov.in/Dhone/Public%20services_amenities.html|website=Commissioner & Director of Municipal Administration|publisher=Municipal Administration & Urban Development Department, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh|access-date=11 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707012301/http://cdma.gov.in/Dhone/Public%20services_amenities.html|archive-date=7 July 2012}}

Dhone Revenue Division have six mandals:

1. Dhone
2. Peapully
3. Bethamcherla
4. Banaganapalle
5. Owk
6. Koilakuntla.

Dhone is represented by Dhone (Assembly constituency) for Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Kotla Jayasurya Prakasha Reddy is the present MLA of the constituency representing TDP.{{cite web|title=MLA|url=http://www.ap.gov.in/government/mla/|publisher=AP State Portal|access-date=12 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008071101/http://www.ap.gov.in/government/mla/|archive-date=8 October 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Dhone Assembly 2014 Election Results|url=http://www.elections.in/andhra-pradesh/assembly-constituencies/dhone.html |publisher=Elections.in|access-date=13 October 2014}} Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy elected as CM for Andhra Pradesh represented Dhone constituency.

Dhone Junction railway station is located in Guntakal railway division of the South Central Railway zone. This junction is one of the oldest railway junctions in India.Guntur - Hubli line and Secunderabad - Bengaluru line meet in the Dhone Junction Railway station. Dhone railway station is the biggest railway station in Nandyal district.{{Cite news|date=2020-12-04|title=Doubling work through on Guntur-Guntakal section|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/doubling-work-through-on-guntur-guntakal-section/article33243778.ece|access-date=2021-04-26|issn=0971-751X}}

The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation operates bus services from Dhone bus station.{{cite web|title=Bus Stations in Districts |url=http://www.apsrtc.gov.in/Bus%20Stations.aspx |website=Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation |access-date=9 March 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322233330/http://apsrtc.gov.in/Bus%20Stations.aspx |archive-date=22 March 2016 }} Dhone has bus station situated near National Highway 44, which is called North - South corridor.

1. Kurnool = {{cvt|52|km}}
2. Nandyal = {{cvt|82|km}}
3. Adoni = {{cvt|100|km}}
4. Bethamcherla = {{cvt|36|km}}
5. Banaganapalle = {{cvt|47|km}}
6. Gooty = {{cvt|43|km}}
7. Anantapuram = {{cvt|95|km}}
8. Kadapa = {{cvt|180|km}}
9. Tirupati = {{cvt|316|km}}
10. Bellary = {{cvt|130|km}}
11. Hyderabad = {{cvt|263|km}}
12. Bengaluru = {{cvt|310|km}}
13. Vijayawada = {{cvt|395|km}}
14. Visakhapatnam = {{cvt|745|km}}
15. Guntur = {{cvt|357|km}}

• Chanugondla

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{{Nandyal district}}

{{Municipalities of Andhra Pradesh}}

Category:Cities and towns in Nandyal district