Anantapur is a city and a municipal corporation in Anantapur district in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located 356 kilometres (221 mi) south of state capital, Hyderabad and is the headquarters of the Anantapur District. Anantapur was headquarters of "Datta Mandalam" (Rayalaseema and Bellary districts) in 1799 and Sir Thomas Manro was the first collector for ceded districts. Anantapur was an important place for the British Indian Army in the Second World War. Current JNTU-CEA campus, once a bunker for the British artillery; remains can be found on the campus location.