During Qutb Shahi, Mughal, and Nizam rule, it was referred to in official records as Rājmandrī[19] and the same name was anglicized during the British colonial era as Rajahmundry.

On 10 October 2015, the State Government of Andhra Pradesh officially renamed the city with its original name Rajamahendravaram.

The city as a prominent settlement can be traced back to the rule of the Eastern Chalukya[21] king Rajaraja Narendra, who reigned around 1022 AD.

[25] Rajahmundry was the hotbed of several movements during India's freedom struggle and acted as a base for many key leaders.

When the Indian National Congress had its first meeting in Bombay (Mumbai), two leaders from Rajahmundry, Nyapathi Subba Rao and Kandukuri Veeresalingam, participated in it.

During his visits, he used to address the public in "Pal Chowk" (the present-day Kotipalli Bus Stand).

Rajahmundry is acclaimed as the birthplace of Telugu literature—its grammar evolved from the pen of the city-born poet Nannayya.

Godavari Urban Development Authority (GUDA) is also working for the progress of new master plan.

A floriculture research centre is in construction at Vemagiri to give a major boost to the nurseries in Godavari districts.

[34] It is one of the largest bullion markets in India which consists hundreds of gold, silver and platinum shops throughout the city.

Ratnamson is a brand name of the K.V.Ratnam and sons, Ratnam Ball pen works at Fort Gate, Rajahmudry.

[citation needed] Julia Maitland, a campaigner for "native" education, founded a multilingual school and reading room in the town in 1837.

[41] Nalam Krishna Rao, a write and social activist from Godavari, setup the Gowthami Grandhalayam in Rajahmundry in 1898.

Durga Cinetone was the first South Indian film studio, to be built in Rajahmundry in the year 1936 by Nidamarthi Surayya.

[42] The city has produced many well-known artists in the Telugu film industry such as Adurthi Subba Rao, S. V. Ranga Rao, Ali, Raja Babu, Jaya Prada, Sameera Reddy, Bhanupriya, Sriman, Meghna Reddy, Thotakura Venkata Raju, Uma Pemmaraju, Ramesh, Sira Sri, Bhaskarabhatla Ravi Kumar, Ali and J. D.

[citation needed] The river Godavari and its bridges and the Sir Arthur Cotton Museum[43] are some of the attractions in the city.

Government of Andhra Pradesh is rehabilitating the old Godavari bridge (Havelock Bridge) and constructing resorts, convention centers, film studios, hotels, recreational places at Pichukalanka and other islands on River Godavari and eco-tourism centre at Kadiyapulanka, Zoological Park.

The Government is signing MoUs with private agencies for Malls, Multiplexes, Hotels, Convention Centers and Recreational places on PPP mode as a part of tourism development.

A new railway line to Raipur from the city connecting Rampachodavaram and other East agency areas is in the proposal.

The frequency of trains will be increased after the completion of Kovvur-Bhadrachalam railway line and the distance to Secunderabad will be decreased.

[52] National Waterway 4 was declared on 24 November 2008, which connects the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and the union territory of Puducherry.

It passes through Kakinada, Rajahmundry, Tadepalligudem, Eluru, Commanur, Buckingham Canal and also part of Krishna and Godavari rivers.

APTDC and other private agencies' boats and launches are available daily from Pushakar Ghat to Papikondalu and Bhadrachalam.

Indigo airline has been operating non-stop flights to and fro the cities namely Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai.

A new integrated domestic terminal will come up at Rajahmundry airport as part of its expansion and upgradation plans.

The new terminal building, which will be built at a cost of Rs 135 crore, will have all modern facilities including aero bridges, and will be able to handle 1,400 passengers (700 arrivals and 700 departures) at a time.

The airport has also obtained a DGCA license for handling wide-bodied aircraft such as Airbus A321 and Boeing 737.

The government of AP is keen on exporting flowers through this airport from the nurseries in Kadiyam mandal of East Godavari district.

[65] The Government Arts College was founded more than 150 years ago by the reformer, Kandukuri Veeresalingam Panthulu.

[71] National Institute of Technology, Andhra Pradesh, Tadepalligudem is located 34 km (21 mi) from the city.