Eluru is a city in West Godavari district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is the district headquarters of West Godavari district and also the mandal headquarters of Eluru mandal. The city is one of the 13 municipal corporations in the state. As of 2011 census, the city had a population of 214,414 and an urban agglomeration population of 250,693. Eluru is situated on the national highway NH 5 connecting Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam. Eluru was earlier called Helapuri and has a rich cultural and political history.