Ponduru is a small town in Srikakulam district that has earned a big name across India and abroad for its unique khadi and handloom tradition. For decades, weaving has been the main occupation here for many families. Traditional weaver communities like the Devanga and Pattusali/Padmasali are well-known here for their fine hand-spinning and weaving skills. Mahatma Gandhi himself admired the finesse of Ponduru cloth and is recorded as having preferred khadi from this village, even sending his son Devdas Gandhi to study the craft here.
Ponduru khadi is very special because almost every step is done by hand. Local varieties of cotton like hill cotton and Punasa cotton are grown in the region, cleaned using simple traditional tools (famously a fish jawbone instead of modern machines), and then spun on a single-spindle Gandhi charkha to produce very fine yarn. This yarn is then woven on handlooms into sarees, dhotis, shirting material and other fabrics. The texture of Ponduru khadi is so fine that it became closely associated with the freedom movement and the original spirit of khadi.
Ponduru is easily accessible by all three major modes of transport—roadways, railways, and airways—which is a relief for many travel enthusiasts planning to visit the town.
Srikakulam APSRTC bus station and Etcherla APSRTC bus station are the nearest major bus stations to Ponduru. APSRTC operates several buses from major cities to Ponduru in the Srikakulam district.
Railways remain one of the most affordable and preferred modes of travel in India, and Ponduru is well connected through nearby stations such as Srikakulam Road and Cheepurupalli railway stations.
For air travel, the nearest airports to Ponduru are Visakhapatnam Airport and Biju Patnaik Airport in Bhubaneswar, offering convenient regional and national connectivity.
The Ponduru Palace is a beautiful royal structure located in Ponduru town, Srikakulam. It served as an important palace of the Kalinga rulers and is spread across a large, well-maintained area. The palace is known for its antique collections, historic artifacts, and its calm, elegant surroundings, making it a notable heritage spot in the region.
Ponduru, though a small town, gained immense recognition for producing some of the finest khadi fabric in the world. The khadi made here is known for its exceptional quality and craftsmanship. Mahatma Gandhi himself admired Ponduru Khadi for its texture and purity and even wrote about it in Young India, a famous national newspaper during the pre-independence era.
| Bank Name | Bank Address |
|---|---|
| APGVB Tadivalasa Address | near Kalanjali Theater, Ponduru - Sarvaswarapuram Road, Ponduru |
| Central Bank of India Ponduru Address | G.Sigadam - Chettupodalam Road, near Ponduru Vastralaya, Ponduru |
| Co Operative Bank Ponduru Address | near Saraswati Kirana and General Stores, Chakali veedi, Ponduru |
| DCCB Bank Ponduru Address | near Panchayat Office, Ponduru |
| Bank Name | Bank IFSC Codes |
|---|---|
| APGVB Tadivalasa IFSC Code | APGV0001166 |
| Central Bank of India Ponduru IFSC Code | CBIN0284689 |
| Co Operative Bank Ponduru IFSC Code | APBL0001010 |
| DCCB Bank Ponduru IFSC Code | APBL0001010 |
| Bank Name | Bank Toll Free Numbers |
|---|---|
| APGVB Tadivalasa | 1800 121 0354 |
| Central Bank of India Ponduru | 1800 22 1911 |
| Co Operative Bank Ponduru | 1800 425 3555 |
| DCCB Bank Ponduru | 18004251958 |
