Pusapati Vijayarama Gajapathi Raju III (1826 – 1879) He was credited with transforming Vijayanagaram into an Educational Center. His reign also experienced various developmental works like roadways, schools etc in Vizianagaram. He and his son had a distinction of being the only father and son to be the members of viceroy council at the same time.

Vizayarama Gajapati -III laid the basic structure for the cultural edifice of Vizianagaram on which the super structure was raised by his illustrious son Ananda Gajapati (31-12-1850 to 23-5-1897). He was the brightest gem in the diadem of the Royal house of the Pusapatis of Vizianagaram under whose stewardship its cultural hegemony reached a very high water mark. It is observed that ‘he was a prince’, handsome in mien and enlighten in mind a poet and a scholar, an athlete and man-of-letters, a musician, a virtuoso’ He was conferred with the titles of Maharaja in 1881, K.C.I.E (Knight Commander of Indian Empire) in 1887 and G.C.I.E (Grand Commander of the Indian Empire) in 1892. He was twice member of the Madras Legislative Council in 1884 and 1894. He was the perfect example of the saying that a healthy body and sound mind go well together. The Duke of Buckingham addressed him as the ‘Prince Charming’ which was a just testimony to his physical beauty. The celebrated literary giants Tirupati Venkata Kavulu declared that among all the princes they have visited Ananda Gajapati was the wa the only discernng scholar (Emu Juchina rajulandella okra Vizianagaram Maharaju Vetta).