Prakasham is a district in the southern coastal belt of Andhra Pradesh, stretching from the mouth of the Krishna River down toward Nellore. Its headquarters, Ongole, sits about 160 km south of Vijayawada on the Bay of Bengal coast. The district is largely agricultural — it grows cotton, tobacco, and chilies in quantity — but the coastline and a scattering of temples give it a quiet appeal for travellers passing through this part of the state.
The region takes its name from the Telugu freedom fighter Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu, known as the "Lion of Andhra," whose legacy remains a point of local pride. Away from Ongole, the landscape opens into low hills and river-fed plains. The Gundlakamma River cuts through the district, and the reservoir built on it draws pilgrims and picnickers alike to the Venkateswara temple on its banks.
Kothapatnam Beach and the temples around the district see local visitors on weekends and festival days. For most travellers Prakasham is a stopping point rather than a destination, but those who slow down will find genuine devotional life and an unhurried pace that the bigger Andhra cities have largely lost.