Dr. Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao (NTR), a legendary figure and a visionary who believed that “Society is the Temple and People are the Gods,” founded the Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University as his brainchild. To preserve and promote the Telugu language, literature, history, culture, and fine arts, he established this university on December 2, 1985, through Act No. 27 of 1985, with its headquarters in Hyderabad and sub-centers in Rajahmundry and Srisailam.

The Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University is a unique institution and functions as an international university. It provides linguistic, literary, and cultural services not only to the Telugu people in the two Telugu states but also to those living in other states across India and abroad.

In April 1987, the District Collector of East Godavari allotted 45 acres of land in Bommuru, near Rajahmundry, vide G.O.No.D5/887/86, dated August 17, 1987. It was there that the then Chief Minister, the Honorable Dr. Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, laid the foundation stone for the Sahitya Peetham (Academy of Literature).

Following the bifurcation of the united Andhra Pradesh into two states (Andhra Pradesh and Telangana) on June 2, 2014, and after a gap of nearly 11 years, the Government of Andhra Pradesh issued G.O.Ms.No. 23 on May 23, 2025. This order officially established the Telugu University with Rajahmundry as its headquarters, integrating the Sahitya Peetham in Rajahmundry, the Peetham of History, Culture, and Archaeology in Srisailam, and the Sri Siddhendra Yogi Kuchipudi Kala Peetham in Kuchipudi.