Incredible India! Andhra Pradesh - The Rice Bowl of India

Fast Facts of Andhra Pradesh

Situated in: Southern Part of India

Established on: November 1, 1956

Capital City: Hyderabad

Biggest City: Hyderabad

Districts: 23

Area: 275, 045 sq. km

Population: 84,655, 533

Literacy: 67.77 percent

Official Languages: Telugu, Urdu

Best Time to Visit: October to March.

Official Website of Andhra Pradesh: http://www.ap.gov.in/

One of the southern states of India, Andhra Pradesh was created by combining the old princely state of Hyderabad and the Telugu speaking portions of the former Madras state. Andhra Pradesh is bordered by the states of Maharashtra, Orissa, Chhattisgarh in the north, Tamil Nadu in the south, Karnataka in the west and the Bay of Bengal in the East. Andhra Pradesh is the fourth largest state of India by area and fifth largest by population. Andhraites are colourful people proud of their sonorous language, Telugu and love music, dance, stage play and cinema.

Andhra Pradesh is a treasure trove of lush landscape, stalagmite and stalactite caves, fragrant and fruit-laden groves, dense forests teeming with varied wildlife, rich traditional and cultural heritage, old and new temples and magnificent forts and monuments. Besides, the state is criss-crossed by 34 big and small rivers, among them Godavari and Krishna are the largest peninsular rivers. The Godavari and Krishna rivers form large web-shaped deltas in the Andhra region, which make Andhra Pradesh’s reputation as the ‘Rice bowl of India.’

History of Andhra Pradesh

The history can be traced back to thousand years before the birth of Jesus Christ. Since its origin, Andhra Pradesh has seen a succession of dynasties such as Mauryas, Satavahanas, Ikshavakas, Pallavas, Eastern Chalukyas, Cholas, Kakatiyas, Vijaynagar Kings, Qutab Shahi Kings, the Mughals and finally the Asaf Jahi Nizams.

Tourist Destinations - Andhra Pradesh

A perfect blend of old and new, Andhra Pradesh was ruled by several rulers, who built a number of temples, shrines, churches and mosques in the state. Today, people with a keen interest in architecture or archaeology visit the excavations or old sites of Andhra Pradesh. River and valleys, mystic wildlife and unexplored caves, delectable food and invigorating drinks, excellent architecture and exotic handicrafts, rich arts, crafts and culture, colourful fair and festival, together draw large number of tourists every year to the state. Popular tourist destinations in Andhra Pradesh include Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Warangal, Vijayawada, Tirupati, Nagarjuna Sagar, Khammam, Kurnool and Karim Nagar.

Temples of Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh was ruled by a number of dynasties and rulers who built several temples in this region. The architecture, sculpture and the intricate construction patterns unique to several royal dynasties are reflected in the temples of Andhra Pradesh. Although, some of the old temples are in ruins, but many of them still stand as a witness to the centuries of history and the patronage of various kingdoms such as the Cholas, the Pallavas, the Chalukyas, the Eastern Gangas and the Vijayanagar Kings. Must visit temples are Tirupati Temple, Vijayeswara Swami Temple, Vemulawada Shiva Temple, Veerabhadraswami Temple, Thousand Pillar Temple, Birla Mandir and Kanakadurga Temple.

Forts & Monuments of Andhra Pradesh

Forts and historical monuments of Andhra Pradesh attract tourists from all parts of the country and abroad. Built several centuries ago by the Hindu and Muslim rulers, the forts and monuments of Andhra Pradesh retain their original charm even today. Some of the important forts and monuments are Charminar, Golconda Fort, Falaknuma Palace, Purani Haveli, Asmangarh Palace, Bhongir Fort, Bobili Fort, Chandragiri Fort, Elgandal Qila, Gandhi Hill, Khammam Fort, Kush Mahal, Kondapalli Fort, Kurnool Fort, Manthani Temples, Warangal Fort and Udayagiri Fort.

Arts & Culture of Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh is bestowed with a rich and varied heritage of arts and culture. Fine arts and traditional arts forms and handicrafts have been revered and treasured in the region for a very long time now. Some of the popular handicrafts of Andhra Pradesh are Kalamkari, Bidri, Himroo, Nirmal and Filigree. The beautiful state is also known for other art forms like stone-carving, wood-carving, metalware, nirmal painting and leather puppet-making. The land of Telugu speaking people is home to prominent poets of Telugu including Nannaya, Tikkana, Sri Krishna Devarayulu and several other poets. Dance and music are also an important part of Andhra’s life. Kuchipudi, a fine combination of music and abhinaya, is Andhra’s unique contribution to dance forms of India as well as world.

Cuisine of Andhra Pradesh

Andhra is known for its hot and spicy cuisine, which include both the traditional Andhra cuisine and the famous Hyderabadi cuisine, with a influence of Mughlai delicacies Spices are prominently used in the traditional dishes of the state and every meal has its own specialty. Eating habits of Andhraites are quite different, majority of people prefer vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, while seafood is popular only in the coastal areas.

Fairs and Festivals of Andhra Pradesh

A land of varied people, religions, languages, culture and tradition, celebrates several festivals all through the year. Most of the Andhra’s festivals are religious, while some are exclusive to certain temples and regions. Apart from these, the Andhra Pradesh state government organizes some festivals every year. Be it the Hindu festivals of Dusshera, Deepawali, or the Muslim festivals of Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, or the Christian festival of Christmas, all festivals are celebrated by people of all religions with equal excitement and enthusiasm. Fairs and Festivals in Andhra Pradesh are characterized by colour, gaiety, feasts and various kinds of prayers and rituals. In fact, fairs and festivals in Andhra Pradesh populate the cultural scene of this state and draw large number of tourists from both far and near.

Natural Attractions of Andhra Pradesh

Lakes and Rivers - There are several lakes and rivers in the state which offer excellent boat cruising options. Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation runs cruises on Hussain Sagar Lake and also in Godavari and Krishna rivers. Most important lakes and rivers include Alisagar, Ashok Sagar, Durgam Cheruvu, Hussain Sagar Lake, Osman Sagar Lake, Ramappa Lake, Krishna river and Godavari river.

Hills and Valleys - The captivating landscape of Andhra is ringed with rugged hills and mysteriously deep valleys. Some of the popular hills and valleys are Ananthagiri Hills, Araku Valley, Horsley Hills, Kailasagiri, Papi Kondalu and Talakona.

Caves - Dating back to million years Belum and Borra are most popular caves of Andhra Pradesh. Other important caves are Guthokonda Caves, Mogalrajapuram Caves, Undavalli Caves and Yaganti Caves.

Beaches - With gentle waves, miles of golden sand and a peaceful ambience, Andhra Pradesh has everything for making a perfect beach holiday. Most popular Andhra Beaches are Ramakrishna Beach, Rishikonda Beach and Lawson’s Bay. Besides, Andhra has many other beaches such as Bapatla Beach, Bheemunipatnam Beach, Kalingapatnam Beach, Koduru Beach, Kothapatnam Beach, Maipadu Beach, Manginapudi, Perupalem, Ramapuram Beach and Vodarevu Beach.

Wildlife – Andhra’s thick vegetation, moist ever green forests, dry deciduous forests of the Nallamalais and the mangrove stretch at Coringa are home to most of the wildlife sanctuaries and parks. While you visit wildlife sanctuaries of Andhra Pradesh you can see a variety of wild animals like the Tiger, Wild Boar, Gaur, Wild Dog, Jackal, Fox, Spotted Deer, Sloth Bear etc. Apart from these, you can also see several birds species and a lot of reptiles such as Salt-water crocodile and Fishing cats. Noted wildlife sanctuaries include Alisagar Deer Park, Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary, Kolleru Lake Bird Sanctuary, Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Rolapadu Bird Sanctuary, Sri Lanka Malleswara Wildlife Sanctuary, Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuary and Srisailam Nagarjuna Sagar Tiger Reserve.

Shopping in Andhra Pradesh

A trip to Andhra is incomplete without doing some shopping at the colourful shopping joints along the streets or the big shopping malls, or Art & Crafts village or the Governments Emporium. Andhra Pradesh offers a striking range of items, popular among them are Pearls, Silver Filigiri, Banjara Mirror work, Atar, Fabric, Kalamkari, Bidri and Nirmal toys.

How to Reach Andhra Pradesh

By Air: Hyderabad, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh has good air connections with major cities in India and the state. A number of airlines connect Hyderabad with Vishakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Warangal, Tirupati, Ramagundam and Rajamundry. From Hyderabad flights are available for other countries too.

By Rail: The twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad are the main railway stations of the state. A number of express and super fast trains connect these cities with major cities like New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore. Other cities like Vishakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Warangal have also trains from all parts of the country.

By Road: National and State Highways connect cities and town of Andhra Pradesh with each other and neighbouring states. All places of tourist interest are connected by good roads with regular bus services. The Andhra Pradesh Travel and Tourism Development Corporation organizes conducted tours to the tourist destinations of the state and also outside the state.

Accommodation in Andhra Pradesh

All the major cities including state capital Hyderabad and tourist destinations are dotted with hotels, resorts, guest houses, tourist lodges. You can stay in star categories hotels or a budget category hotel as per your requirements and budget. It is suggested to book the hotel in advance through an authorized agent to avoid the last minute hassle.

You can book a Hotel in Andhra Pradesh or tour package online through: www.makemytrip.com