Andhra Pradesh

Capital : Hyderabad
Largest city : Hyderabad
District(s) : 23
Population : 76,210,007 (5th)
Density : 277/km² (717/sq mi)
Language(s) : Telugu, Urdu
Governor : Narayan Dutt Tiwari
Chief Minister : Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy
Established : November 1, 1956

Andhra Pradesh ,or A.P the "Rice Bowl of India", is a state in southern India. It lies between 12°41' and 22°N latitude and 77° and 84°40'E longitude, and is bordered by Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Orissa in the north, the Bay of Bengal in the East, Tamil Nadu to the south and Karnataka to the west. Andhra Pradesh is the 4th largest state in India by area and population. It is the largest and most populous state in South India. The state is crossed by two major rivers, the Godavari and the Krishna.

History
An Andhra Kingdom was mentioned in the Sanskrit epics such as Aitareya Brahmana and Mahabharata. Inscriptional evidence showed that there was a kingdom in coastal Andhra ruled by Kuberaka with Pratipalapura (Bhattiprolu) as his capital in 5th century BCE. This probably was the oldest known kingdom in south India. Around the same time Dhanyakatakam/Dhranikota seemed to be a very important place. According to Taranatha: "On the full moon of the month Chaitra in the year following his enlightenment, at the great stupa of Dhanyakataka, the Buddha emanated the mandala of "The Glorious Lunar Mansions" (Kalachakra). The Mauryans extended their rule over Andhra in 4th century BCE. With the fall of the Mauryan Empire Andhra Satavahanas became independent in 3rd century BCE. After the decline of the Satavahanas in 220 CE, Ikshvakus, Pallavas, Vishnukundinas, Anandagotrikas and Cholas ruled the Telugu land. Inscriptional evidence of Telugu was found during the rule of Renati Cholas (Kadapa region) in 5th century CE[citation needed]. During this period the Telugu language, emerged as a popular medium undermining the predominance of Prakrit and Sanskrit[citation needed]. Telugu was made official language during Vishnukundina Kings[citation needed] who ruled from Vinukonda as the capital. Eastern Chalukyas ruled for a long period after the decline of Vishnukundinas. Their capital was Vengi. As early as 1st century CE, they were mentioned as being the vassals and chieftains under the Satavahanas and later under Ikshvakus.

The battle of Palnadu resulted in the weakening of Chalukyan power and emergence of the Kakatiya dynasty in the 12th and the 13th centuries CE. The Kakatiyas were at first the feudatories of the Western Chalukyas of Kalyani, ruling over a small territory near Warangal. In 1323 CE, Delhi Sultan Ghiaz-ud-din Tughlaq sent a large army under Ulugh Khan to conquer the Telugu country and capture Warangal. King Prataprudra was taken prisoner. Musunuri Nayaks recaptured Warangal from the Delhi Sultanate and ruled for fifty years. The Vijayanagar empire, one of the greatest empires in the history of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and India, was founded by Harihara (Hakka) and Bukka, who served as commanders in the army of the Hoysalas or were employed as treasury officers of the Kakatiyas of Warnagal. In 1347 CE, an independent Muslim state, the Bahmani kingdom, was established in south India by Alla-ud-din Hasan Gangu as a revolt against the Delhi Sultanate. The Qutb Shahi dynasty held sway over the Andhra country for about two hundred years from the early part of the 16th century to the end of the 17th century.

In Colonial India, Northern Circars became part of the British Madras Presidency. Eventually this region emerged as the Coastal Andhra region. Later the Nizam had ceded five territories to the British which eventually emerged as Rayalaseema region. The Nizams retained control of the interior provinces as the Princely state of Hyderabad, acknowledging British rule in return for local autonomy.

India became independent from the United Kingdom in 1947. The Muslim Nizam of Hyderabad wanted to retain his independence from India, but his state of Hyderabad was forced to become part of the Republic of India in 1948 as Hyderabad State.

In an effort to gain an independent state, and protect the interests of the Telugu people of Madras State, Amarajeevi Potti Sriramulu fasted until death. Public outcry and civil unrest after his death forced the government to announce the formation of a new state for Telugu speakers. Andhra attained statehood in October 1953 with kurnool as its capital.

On 1 November 1 1956 Andhra State merged with the Telangana region of Hyderabad State to form the state of Andhra Pradesh, which would be mainly Telugu-speaking. Hyderabad, the former capital of the Hyderabad State, was made the capital of the new state Andhra Pradesh.

Geography Regions
Andhra Pradesh has the longest coastline in India of 970 kilometres[3] and can be broadly divided into three unofficial geographic regions, namely Kosta (Coastal Andhra), Telangana and Rayalaseema.[4][5][6].

Telanagana
Telangana region marked in white.Telangana or Telingana (Telugu:???????) is an unofficial region in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The region lies on the Deccan plateau to the west of the Eastern Ghats range, and includes the ten northwestern interior districts of Adilabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Mahbubnagar, Medak, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Rangareddi, Warangal and the state capital, Hyderabad. The Krishna and Godavari rivers flow through the region from west to east.

Kosta
KostaKosta occupies the coastal plain between Eastern Ghats ranges, which run the length of the state and the Bay of Bengal. It includes the nine districts of East Godavari, Guntur, Krishna, Nellore, Prakasam, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and West Godavari.

Rayalaseema
RayalaseemaRayalaseema lies in the southeast of the state on the Deccan plateau, in the basin of the Penneru River. It is separated from Telangana region by the low Nallamalla forest and from Coastal Andhra by the Eastern Ghats. It includes the four districts of Anantapur, Chittoor, Kurnool, and Kadapa, formerly known as Cuddapah.

Rivers and hills
The state is dotted with hill ranges from the north to the south, running erratically down the middle of the country dividing it into western and eastern or coastal Andhra. These hills form integral geographical entities of Andhra life and history. In the north, there are Simhachalam and Annavaram hills, in the middle country there are the Srisailam hill ranges and in the south are the Tirumalai-Tirupati hills.

The Krishna and Godavari rivers together irrigate thousands of square kilometres of land and create the largest perennial cultivable area in the country. Nearly 75% of the state territory, is covered by the basins of three big rivers - Godavari, Krishna and Pennar and their tributaries. In addition, there are 17 short rivers like Sarada, Nagavali, Musi and other streams. The two great perennial rivers of the state, Godavari and Krishna spring from the Western Ghats in Maharashtra and flow eastward and joins the Bay of Bengal. The Godavari enters the state of Andhra Pradesh from Maharashtra while the Krishna first goes to Karnataka where it flows for a considerable distance before entering Andhra Pradesh. Besides these two big rivers, there are the Tungabhadra, the Pennar and many other small rivers and rivulets. Pennar originates in the Karnataka plateau. Like all the peninsular rivers and even those which arise in central India, like the Narmada, Sone and Chambal, all these are rain fed rivers as there is no snow below the Himalayas. Andhra Pradesh has considerable topographical variations with dense forest in the north east, flat paddy lands in the coastal plains, several noteworthy beaches along the Bay of Bengal and the stark boulder-strewn region around Hyderabad. Andhra Pradesh leads in the production of rice (paddy) and is called India's Rice Bowl.

Divisions
Districts of Andhra PradeshAndhra Pradesh can be divided into four governance regions, namely Coastal Andhra, Uttarandhra or North Cosatal Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana.

Andhra Pradesh has 23 districts:
Adilabad
Anantapur
Chittoor
Kadapa
East Godavari (Kakinada)
Guntur
Hyderabad
Karimnagar (Sriramapuram)
Khammam
Krishna (Machilipatnam)
Kurnool
Mahbubnagar, (Palamuru)
Medak
Nalgonda
Nellore
Nizamabad (Induru)
Prakasam (Ongole)
Rangareddi
Srikakulam
Visakhapatnam
Vizianagaram
Warangal
West Godavari

Important cities:-
A list of the most important cities in the state:

-Hyderabad is the capital and with the adjoining twin city of Secunderabad, is the largest city in the state.
-Guntur is the heart of tobacco, mirchi and cotton industries, features many nearby ancient sites(A,N,S,B).
-Tirupati is the place of richest temple in the world and the most visited pilgrimage site in India.
-Vijayawada is an important trading centre and a prominent railway junction.
-Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh's main seaport, is home to the Indian Navy's Eastern Naval Command.
-Warangal is one of the oldest cities in the state with a history of 800 years. It was the capital of the Kakatiya dynasty.

Transport Railways Central Railway East Coast Railway
Airports
Hyderabad (Begumpet)
Shamshabad (Expected to start from March 2, 2008)
Visakhapatnam
Vijayawada (Gannavaram)
Rajahmundry (Madhurapudi)
Tirupati (Renigunta)

Government also have plans to start airports in 6 other cities including Nellore, Warangal and Kadapa.

Road
Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) is the major public transport corporation owned by government of andhra pradesh connecting all the cities and villages. APSRTC has also the distinction of being in the Guinness book of World records for having the largest fleet of vehicles, and the longest area covered/commuted daily (Rahil). Apart from this thousands of private operators run buses connecting major cities and towns of the state. Private vehicles like autorickshaws occupy a major share of the local transport in the cities and adjoining villages.

Music
The state has a rich musical heritage. All three legends of the Carnatic Music Trinity - Thyagaraja, Shyama Sastri and Muthuswami Dixitar were of Telugu descent. Other great composers include Annamacharya, Kshetrayya, and Bhadrachala Ramadasu. Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna is a contemporary legend.

Qawwali and Sama are most popular forms of devotional Sufi songs, Akbar Hussain & Ehsan Hussain are notable Qawwals.

Dance
Kuchipudi, the traditional dance of AndhraJayapa Senani (Jayapa Nayudu) is the first person who wrote about the dances prevalent in Andhra Pradesh . Both Desi and Margi forms of dances have been included in his Sanskrit treatise 'Nritya Ratnavali'. It contains eight chapters. Folk dance forms like Perani, Prenkhana, Suddha Nartana, Carcari, Rasaka, Danda Rasaka, Shiva Priya, Kanduka Nartana, Bhandika Nrityam, Carana Nrityam, Chindu, Gondali and Kolatam are described. In the first chapter the author deals with discussion of the differences between Marga and desi, tandava and lasya, Natya and nritta. In the 2nd and 3rd chapters he deals with angikabhinaya, caris, Sthanakas and mandalas. In the 4th Chapter Karnas, angaharas and recakas are described. In following chapters he described the local dance forms i.e. desi nritya. In the last chapter he deals with art and practice of dance.

Classical dance in Andhra can be performed by both men and women, however women tend to learn it more often. Kuchipudi is the state's best-known classical dance forms of Andhra Pradesh. The various dance forms that existed through the states's history are Chenchu Bhagotham, Kuchipudi, Bhamakalapam, Burrakatha, Veeranatyam, Butta bommalu, Dappu, Tappeta Gullu, Lambadi, Bonalu, Dhimsa, and Kolattam.

State symbols
State language - Telugu & Urdu
State symbol - Poorna Kumbham
State song - Maa telugu thalliki by Sankarambadi Sundarachari
State animal - Blackbuck, (Krishna Jinka)
State bird - Indian Roller, (Paala Pitta)
State tree - Neem (Vepa)
State sport - Kabaddi, in Telugu Chedugudu
State dance - Kuchipudi, Andhra Natyam
State flower - Water lily

Temples in the state
Tirupati: Tirupati is the abode for the famous Hindu temple of Lord Venkateswara. It is the richest Hindu religious institution and second richest in the world after the Vatican[citation needed]. It records an annual income of about 100 Billion Rupees (2.5 Billion US Dollars), mostly from offerings by the devotees.

Vemulavada:Notable for the Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Temple complex, a site of pilgrimage for both Hindu (particularly devotees of Vishnu and Shiva) and Muslim worshippers. Built by Chaluka Kings between AD 750 and 975, the complex is named for its presiding deity Sri Raja Rajeswara Swamy, an incarnation of Shiva. It houses several temples dedicated to other deities including Sri Rama, Lakshmana, Lakshmi, Ganapathy, Lord Padmanabha Swamy and Lord Bhimeshwara. The complex also contains a 400 year old mosque.

Vijayawada: Vijayawada houses the second biggest and equally famous temple of Goddess Durga also known as Kanaka Durga.

Narayanpet: Sri Sri Sri Sadguru Avadhuth Narasimha Swami Math is located in Narayanpet of Mahabubnagar dist. www.srisadguru.com

Srisailam: Abode for Lord Siva worshipped with the name of Mallikarjuna and Goddess Parvathi, worshipped with the name of Bhramaramba. Srisailam has a unique distinction amongst the Hindu temples of the world; it is the only place to be one of 18 Shaktipithas and one of 12 Jyothirlingas. Huge hydro-electric multi-purpose dam has also been constructed at this place on river Krishna.

Bhadrachalam: Abode for Lord Rama. The legend goes back a few hundred years. There was a devotee by name Bhakta Ramadas, who was a tax collector in Taneesha (a Muslim ruler of Golkonda)'s government. Apparently he spent all the tax collection money on building a temple for lord Rama, eventually was put in prison by the Taneesha. Bhakta Ramdas has offered his prayers to lord Rama in the form of Kirtanas, and one fine day, lord Rama and his brother Lakshmana come in disguise to re-pay the money to Taneesha. Taneesha finally realized his mistake and from that day, not only freed Bhakta Ramadas, but also agreed to supply the required alms for the temple at Bhadrachalam. Till date, in independent India, the state administration maintains the ritual.

Srikalahasti: SriKalahasti is one of the Panchabhoota Sthalams signifying the 5 elements, 1) wind (Kalahasti), 2) water (Thiruvanaikaval), 3) fire (Tiruvannamalai), 4) earth (Kanchipuram) and 5) space (Chidambaram) that Siva embodies.

Ahobilam: Ahobilam or Ahobala is a complex of 9 temples of Lord Narasimha. Tandur : Sri Bhavigi Bhadreshar Temple in Tandur Rangareddy Dist of Andhra Pradesh

Mangalagiri: A temple town between Vijayawada and Guntur. Adobe of Lord Narasimha. The unique distinction at this shrine is that, the deity is offered payers in the form of 'Panakam' or Jaggery Water.

Annavaram: The holy shrine is the sanctum sanctorum of Lord "Satyadeva" or "Satyanarayana".

Simhachalam:This holy shrine is the adobe of Lord Narasimha, worshipped in the name of "Narasimha".

Pechalakona:It is the place of Penchala Narasimha Swamy Temple. It is located in Rapur mandal of Nellore Dist.

Srikakulam: There are two places with the same name in the state. A district and town by the same name on the north east corner of the state as well as a small village on the bank of river Krishna in Krishna district. The village Srikakulam houses the "Andhra Mahavishnu" temple. Legend says that this temple was constructed by the great Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Kingdom.

Ramappa Temple: a Shiva temple in the temple town of Palampet, near Warangal.

Veerabhadra temple in the temple town of Lepakshi is a example of the Vijayanagar architectural style and art.

Ujjaini Mahakali Temple: The Temple is located in Secunderabad, Monda Market. The Temple is very famous for its Festival called Bonalu.

Sri Mogileeswara Temple: The temple is located at a small village known as mogili which is by the side of NH4,which is 10 km far from palamaneru.The temple is abode for the Lordsiva and parvathi.In this temple water is coming from the mouth of Nandi(ox)but it is stopped due to some natural changes.From this 3 km away a hill called as Devara Kondais abode for Parvathi

Festivals
New Year in January
Sankranthi in January.
Maha Shivaratri in February/March.
Ugadi or the Telugu New Year in March/April.
Rama Navami celebrated in March/April 9 days after Ugadi.
Good Friday in March/April.
Varalakshmi Vratham in August.
Vinayaka Chavithi in August.
Ramzan in October, 2007.
Dasara in September/October.
Atla Tadde 3rd day in bright half of Aswiyuja month (falls in September/October in Gregorian calendar)
Deepavali in October/November.
Bakrid in January, 2008.
Bonalu in Sravanam. (Celebrated in Telangana region).
Bathukamma celebrated during September/October in Telangana region.
Christmas celebrated in December all over the state.

Tourism
Araku valleyAndhra Pradesh is the home of many religious pilgrim centres. Tirupati, the abode of Lord Venkateswara, is the richest and most visited Hindu temple in India. Srisailam, the abode of Sri Mallikarjuna, is one of twelve Jyothirlingalu in India, Amaravati's Siva temple is one of the Pancharamams,and Yadagirigutta, the abode of an avatara of Vishnu, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha. The Ramappa temple and Thousand Pillars temple in Warangal are famous for some fine temple carvings. The state has numerous Buddhist centres at Amaravati, Nagarjuna Konda, Bhattiprolu, Ghantasala, Nelakondapalli, Dhulikatta, Bavikonda, Thotlakonda, Shalihundam, Pavuralakonda, Sankaram,Phanigiri and Kolanpaka.

Rishikonda beachThe golden beaches at Visakhapatnam, the one-million-year old limestone caves at Borra, picturesque Araku Valley, hill resorts of Horsley Hills, river Godavari racing through a narrow gorge at Papi Kondalu, waterfalls at Ettipotala, Kuntala and rich bio-diversity at Talakona, are some of the natural attractions of the state.

Charminar, Golconda Fort, Chandragiri Fort, Chowmahalla Palace and Falaknuma Palace are some of the monuments in the state.

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