andhra

Andhra Pradesh though lying to the south is also considered as part of the central and eastern India. Andhra Pradesh is called The Rice Granary of India as it is the major cultivator of rice in India. It is bordered by Maharastra, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It stands on the high Deccan Plateau and slopes down to the coastal region to the east. It is here that the two major rivers Godavari and Krishna that flow through Andhra Pradesh meets that Bay of Bengal. Due to the proximity to the sea Andhra Pradesh has some of the finest beaches in India and a coastline that spreads across 1,000 Kms. The state of Andhra Pradesh is also renowned for its legendary rulers, temples, toys and beautiful handicrafts, rich literature and Kuchipudi dances.

History

Andhra Pradesh was once a major Buddhist centre and part of Ashok's large empire. It remained in the hands of Chalukyas from 7th to 10th century and was then ruled by the Cholas till the 13th century. It was then captured by the Muslims and then again conquered by Vijaynagar rulers. It was again in the 16th century that finally the Qutab Shahi dynasty was established at Hyderabad. Their regime came to an end in 1687 when the kingdom was taken over by a general of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The general's successor, the Nizams of Hyderabad ruled the state thereafter until Independence.

Festivals

There are several festivals celebrated in Andhra through out the season. As is common in India every season brings a festival, this truly depicts the spirit of the people. The most common festivals celebrated by the people of Andhra Pradesh are Sankranthi in January, Ugadi which is the Telugu New Year in March-April, Vinayaka Chavithi in August, Dussehra in October and Deepawali in November.

Cuisines

The main course of food for Andhra people as is common in south India is rice. Rice is served with curry and other food items include Dosas and Idlis etc. Andhra cuisine is considered to be one of the most spicy ones among Indian cuisines. You will be able to find a great variety of Pickles and Chutneys. The Hyderbadi Biryani is the most famous of all dishes in Andhra for its distinct taste.

Handicraft

The handicrafts of Andhra Pradesh are popular all over India. The clothes made in Andhra are very famous especially the hand-woven fabrics. The cotton and silk sarees made in Andhra Pradesh are well known for its unique and generic designs. Nirmal in Andhra is famous for its wooden toy industry as well as Nirmal paintings which are rich in colour and variety.

Architecture

The architecture of Andhra Pradesh is a blend of the European and domestic vernacular architecture. There are various monuments that has been attracting tourists like the prehistoric Cairns, Buddhist setups, important Hindu and Jain temples, Churches and secular monuments. These monuments depict the architectural splendour of the state. The city of Hyderabad is famous for the excellent architectural mosques and Islamic tombs.

Travel

Air: The major airport at Andhra Pradesh is at Hyderabad. It is connected to all major cities of the country and the airlines which operate are domestic and International flights. The other airports in Andhra include Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Tirupati airports.

Rail: Hyderabad is well connected to cities of South India and other parts of the country. Other cities in Andhra like Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Warangal have railway stations.

Road: Andhra Pradesh has wide network of roads that connects it to other states in India.