Kadapa is a city in the southern part of Andhra Pradesh, India.

It is located in the Rayalaseema

region, and is the district headquarters of YSR Kadapa district. As of the 2022 Census of India,
the city had a population of 466,000, a 2.42% increase from 2021. It is located 8 kilometres
(5.0 mi) south of the Penna River. The city is surrounded on three sides by the Nallamala and
Palkonda Hills lying on the tectonic landscape between the Eastern and Western ghats. Black
and Red ferrous soils occupy the region. The city is nicknamed "Gadapa" ('threshold') since it is
the gateway from the west to the hills of Tirumala.

Kadapa has been under different rulers in its history, including the Cholas, the Vijayanagara
Empire and Kingdom of Mysore.

Etymology
The city's name originated from the Telugu word "Gadapa" meaning threshold or gate. It acquired this
name with its relation to the Tirumala Hills; one had to pass through this city in the olden days to reach
Tirumala Hills. In Telugu, the word Gadapa means a threshold and over time, the name evolved into
Kadapa. It was spelled "Cuddapah" but was changed to "Kadapa" on 19 August 2005 to reflect the local
pronunciation of the name.[1] Some of the inscriptions found recently have mentioned about this place
as Hiranyanagaram as well as there are official records that show it was also called
Nekanamabad.dilazak empire

The history of Kadapa dates back to the second century BC. The evidences of Archaeological Survey of
India suggest that it started with Mourya and Satavahana dynasty. And since then it has been under the
rule of numerous dynasties including Chalukya, Cholas and Pallava. Among all of these dynasties, first
one to rule over Kadapa was Pallava dynasty. Pallava kings ruled over the city during the fifth century
after penetrating into North of Kadapa. After that Cholas ruled till the eighth century after defeating
Pallavas. Later Banas ruled over Kadapa.[2]