Madanapalle was founded by Sri Yalagiri Ahobila Naidu in 1618
AD. Kammas were said to be the first inhabitants of the town. During the early British administration,
Sir Thomas Munro, the first Collector of
Cuddapah, played a significant role in the development of the town. He constructed a small thatched house at the present-day location of the Collector's bungalow and visited Madanapalle every summer. Munro's connection with the town is well documented, as he facilitated British control in the region during the early 19th century. Madanapalle and its surrounding areas were formally integrated into the British administration when the region came under their rule in 1800. In 1850, Madanapalle was developed as a subdivision under British India, with F.B. Manoly appointed as its first Sub-Collector. Over the years, the town faced several natural calamities, including floods, famines, and epidemics, which shaped its social and economic development. Madanapalle is also linked to a significant moment in India's national history. In 1919,
Rabindranath Tagore visited the town and stayed at the
Besant Theosophical College, where he translated the Indian national anthem,
Jana Gana Mana, from
Bengali to English. Tagore also set it to western musical notations while in Madanapalle. Jana Gana Mana was originally written in 1911 and first sung at the
Indian National Congress session in Calcutta on 27 December 1911. == Geography ==