Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

ఆంధ్ర ప్రదేశ్
—  state  —
A white stone building with two domes
Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad
Location of Andhra Pradesh in India
Coordinates
Country  India
District(s) 23
Established 1 November 1956
Capital Hyderabad
Largest city Hyderabad
Governor E. S. L. Narasimhan
Chief Minister K Rosaiah
Legislature (seats) Bicameral (294)
Population

• Density

 76,210,007 (5th)

• 277 /km2 (717 /sq mi)
Official languages Telugu
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Area 275045 km2 (106195 sq mi)
ISO 3166-2 IN-AP
Website www.ap.gov.in
Seal of the government of Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh (Telugu: ఆంధ్ర ప్రదేశ్, Āndhra Pradēś ?, [ɑːn̪d̪ʱrə prəd̪eːɕ]  ( listen)), abbreviated A.P., is a state situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Hyderabad. The State has the second longest coastline 972 km (604 mi) among all the States in India.[1] The official languages of Andhra Pradesh are Telugu and Urdu], while other languages spoken in Andhra Pradesh are English, Tamil, and Hindi.

Andhra Pradesh 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 historically called the "Rice Bowl of India". More than 77% of its crop is rice; Andhra Pradesh produced 17,796,000 tonnes of rice in 2006.[2] Two major rivers, the Godavari and the Krishna, run across the state. The small enclave (30 square kilometres (12 sq mi)) of Yanam, a district of Puducherry, lies in the Godavari Delta in the northeast of the state.

Andhra Pradesh was formed by merging Telugu speaking areas of Hyderabad State and the Telugu speaking part of the Madras Presidency on 1 November 1956.

Contents

History

An Andhra tribe was mentioned in the Sanskrit epics such as Aitareya Brahmana (800 BCE) and Mahabharata (400 BCE).[3] The Natya Shastra written by Bharatha (1st century BCE) also mentions the Andhra peoples.[4] The roots of the Telugu language have been seen on inscriptions found near the Guntur district[5] and from others dating to the rule of Renati Cholas in the 5th century CE.[6]

Megasthenes, a Greek traveller and geographer, who visited the Court of Chandragupta Maurya (322–297 BCE), mentioned that the region had three fortified towns and an army of 100,000 infantry, 200 cavalry, and 1,000 elephants. Buddhist books reveal that Andhras established their huts or tents near the Godavari River at that time.[7]

Inscriptional evidence shows that there was an early kingdom in coastal Andhra ruled by Kuberaka,[8] with Pratipalapura (Bhattiprolu) as his capital. Around the same time Dhanyakatakam/Dharanikota (present day Amaravati) appears to have been an important place, which was visited by Gautama Buddha. According to the ancient Tibetan scholar 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)".[9][10]

Kakatiya sculpture at Warangal

The Mauryans extended their rule over Andhra in the 4th century BCE. With the fall of the Maurya Empire, the Satavahanas became independent in the 3rd century BCE. After the decline of the Satavahanas in 220 CE, the Ikshvaku dynasty, Pallavas, Ananda Gotrikas, Rashtrakutas, Vishnukundinas, Eastern Chalukyas, and Cholas ruled the land. During this period Telugu emerged as a popular language, supplanting Prakrit and Sanskrit.[11] Telugu was made the official language by the Vishnukundina kings (5th and 6th centuries) who ruled from their capital city of Warangal. Eastern Chalukyas ruled for a long period after the decline of Vishnukundinas; their capital was Vengi. As early as the 1st century CE, Chalukyas were mentioned as being vassals and chieftains under the Satavahanas and later under the Ikshvakus. The Chalukya ruler Rajaraja Narendra ruled Rajahmundry around 1022 CE.

The battle of Palnadu (1182) resulted in the weakening of the Eastern Chalukya dynasty and led to the emergence of the Kakatiya dynasty in the 12th and the 13th centuries CE. The Kakatiyas were at first vassals of the Rashtrakutas, and ruled over a small territory near Warangal. Eventually all the Telugu lands were united by the Kakatiyas. In 1323 CE, Delhi Sultan Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq sent a large army under Ulugh Khan to conquer the Telugu country and capture Warangal. King Prataparudra was taken prisoner. Musunuri Nayaks recaptured Warangal from the Delhi Sultanate in 1326 CE and ruled for fifty years. Inspired by their success, the Vijayanagara Empire, one of the greatest empires in the history of Andhra Pradesh and India, was founded by Harihara and Bukka, who served as treasury officers of the Kakatiyas of Warangal.[12] In 1347 CE, an independent Muslim state, the Bahmani Sultanate, was established in south India by Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah in 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 rulers of Hyderabad 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. Meanwhile, the French had occupied Yanam, in the Godavari delta, and (save for periods of British control) would hold it until 1954.

India became independent from the United Kingdom in 1947. The Nizam wanted to retain the independence of the Princely Hyderabad State from India, but the people of the region launched a movement to join the Indian Union. The state of Hyderabad was forcibly joined to the Republic of India with Operation Polo in 1948.

In an effort to gain an independent state and protect the interests of the Andhra people of Madras State, Potti Sreeramulu fasted until death in 1952. After his death, Andhra attained statehood on 1 November 1953, with Kurnool as its capital.

On 1 November 1956, The Telugu speaking areas of the former Hyderabad state was merged with the Telugu speaking areas of the former Madras state to form the state of Andhra Pradesh. The city of Hyderabad, the former capital of the Hyderabad State, was made the capital of the new state. There were several movements to separate Telangana and Andhra starting in the 1960s.

On 9 December 2009, it was announced that a separation proposal for Telangana would be introduced to the state assembly.[13] Controversy arose as to the future status of Hyderabad District, one of the ten districts.[14] This move was opposed by protesters from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions. On 23 December 2009, the government decided to put the decision of bifurcating the state on hold until a consensus is achieved among the different political parties. This agitated supporters of a separate Telangana state.[15] On 5 January 2010, the Central Government conducted a meeting by inviting all the recognised political parties of AP and recorded their stand on the issue. The Government of India appointed a committee, headed by B. N. Srikrishna, to guide the central government to settle the issue of Telangana amicably.[16] The committee is scheduled to submit its report by the end of 2010.

Geography and climate

Greater Flamingoes (Phoenicopterus roseus) taking off Pocharam lake
The railroad bridge between Rajahmundry and Kovvur

Geographically, Andhra Pradesh is composed of most of the eastern half of the Deccan plateau and the plains to the east of the Eastern Ghats. It is the fourth largest state in India. The northern part of the plateau is the Telangana region and the southern part is known as Rayalaseema.[17] These two regions are separated by the River Krishna. The plains to the east of Eastern Ghats form the Eastern coastal plains. The Eastern Ghats are discontinuous and individual sections have local names. The Kadapa Basin[18] formed by two arching branches of the Eastern Ghats is a mineral rich area. The coastal plains are for the most part delta regions formed by the Godavari, Krishna, and Penner rivers. The Eastern Ghats are a major dividing line in the state's geography. The Ghats become more pronounced towards the south and extreme north of the coast. The Eastern Ghat region is home to dense tropical forests, while the vegetation becomes sparse as the Ghats give way to the Deccan Plateau, where shrub vegetation is more common. Most of the coastal plains are put to intense agricultural use. The west and southwest parts of Andhra Pradesh have semi-arid conditions.

The climate of Andhra Pradesh varies considerably, depending on the geographical region. Monsoons play a major role in determining the climate of the state. Summers last from March to June. In the coastal plain the summer temperatures are generally higher than the rest of the state, with temperature ranging between 20°C and 41°C.[19]

July to September is the season for tropical rains in Andhra Pradesh. The state receives heavy rainfall during these months. About one third of the total rainfall in Andhra Pradesh is brought by the Northeast Monsoon. October and November see low-pressure systems and tropical cyclones form in the Bay of Bengal which, along with the Northeast Monsoon, bring rains to the southern and coastal regions of the state. November, December, January, and February are the winter months in Andhra Pradesh. Since the state has a long coastal belt the winters are not very cold. The range of winter temperature is generally 12°C to 30°C.[19]

Hyderabad is the capital and, along with the adjoining twin city Secunderabad, is the largest city in the state. Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh's main seaport, is the second largest city and is home to the Indian Navy's Eastern Naval Command. Due to its location and proximity to major rail and road routes, Vijayawada is a major trading center and the third largest city. Other important cities and towns are Kakinada, Warangal, Guntur, Rajahmundry, Tirupati, Srikakulam, Machilipatnam, Tenali, Ongole, Kurnool, Anantapur, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Nirmal, Nellore, Bhimavaram, Narsapuram, and Eluru.

Demographics

Religious affiliations
Population Total
Hindu 88.30%
Muslim 9.16%
Christian 1.7%
Other religions 0.84%
Population Trend
Census Pop.  %±
1961 35,983,000
—
1971 43,503,000 20.9%
1981 53,550,000 23.1%
1991 66,508,000 24.2%
2001 75,727,000 13.9%
Source:Census of India[20]

The State of Andhra Pradesh is divided into three different regions, namely Telengana, Rayalaseema and Andhra.

Telugu is the official language of the state, spoken by 83.9% of the population. Major linguistic minority groups include Urdu (8.63%), Hindi (3.23%), and Tamil (1.01%).

Other languages spoken in Andhra Pradesh by less than 1% each are Marathi (0.8%), Kannada (0.74%), and Oriya (0.44%). Languages spoken by less than 0.2% of the population include Malayalam (0.08%), Gujarati (0.06%), Bengali (0.05%), Gorkhali/Nepali (0.03%), Punjabi (0.01%) and Sindhi (0.01%).[21]

The main ethnic group of Andhra Pradesh is the Telugu people, who are primarily Dravidians.

Andra Pradesh ranks tenth compared to all Indian States in the Human Development Index scores[22] with a score of 0.416.

The National Council of Applied Economic Research district analysis in 2001 reveals that Khammam, Krishna, West Godavari, Chittoor, and Medak are the five districts with the highest Human Development Index scores in ascending order in rural AP. The data show that the poor make up 16.3 per cent of the total population in rural AP and expenditure on consumption is around 13.5 per cent of the total consumption expenditure. The female literacy rate is 0.66 compared to male literacy rate in rural AP. The district-wise variations for poverty ratio are high and low for the ratio of female/male literacy rate.[23]

Economy

Agriculture has been the chief source of income for the state's economy. Four important rivers of India, the Godavari, Krishna, Penna, and Thungabhadra flow through the state, providing irrigation. Rice, sugarcane, cotton, Chili pepper, mango, and tobacco are the local crops. Recently, crops used for vegetable oil production such as sunflower and peanuts have gained favour. There are many multi-state irrigation projects in development, including Godavari River Basin Irrigation Projects and Nagarjuna Sagar Dam, the world's highest masonry dam.[24][25]

GDP by year
Year State GDP (Rs. MM)
1980 Indian rupee81,910
1985 Indian rupee152,660
1990 Indian rupee333,360
1995 Indian rupee798,540
2000 Indian rupee1,401,190
2007 Indian rupee2,294,610
Cyber Towers at Hyderabad

The state has started to focus on the fields of information technology and biotechnology. In 2004–2005, Andhra Pradesh was at the fifth position in the list of top IT exporting states of India. The IT exports from the state were Indian rupee82,700 million in 2004–2005 ($1.8 billion).[26] The IT sector is expanding at a rate of 52.3% every year. The IT exports reached Indian rupee190,000 million ($4.5 billion) in 2006–2007, contributed to 14 per cent of total IT exports of the nation and ranked fourth in India.[27] The service sector of the state accounts for 43% of the gross state domestic product (GSDP) and employs 20% of the work force.[25] The state capital of Hyderabad is considered to be the bulk drug capital of the country. 50% of the top 10 companies in the pharmaceutical field are from the state.

Andhra Pradesh ranks second in India in terms of mineral wealth. The state has about one third of India's limestone reserves, estimated at about 30 billion tonnes. The Krishna Godavari Basin has huge reserves of natural gas and petroleum. The state is has a large amount of coal reserves.[25] The state ranks first nationwide in hydro electricity generation with a national market share of over 11%.

Andhra Pradesh's GSDP for 2005 was estimated at $62 billion in current prices. The state ranks fourth in terms of overall GSDP,[28] and fourth in per capita GSDP among the major states of India. The state ranks third in terms of Gross State Product among all the states of the Indian Union.

Major cities Hyderabad,Hindupur, Visakhapatanam, Vijayawada, Tirupathi, Warangal, Rajamahendravaram, Kakinada, Guntur, Nellore, Kurnool, Karimnagar, Kadapa

Government and politics

The Andhra Pradesh State Legislative Assembly at the centre of Hyderabad City.

Andhra Pradesh has a Vidhan Sabha (legislative assembly, lower house) of 294 seats, and a Vidhan Parishad (legislative council, upper house) of 90 members. 31 members are elected from local bodies, 31 members are elected from the assembly, eight members are elected from teachers, eight members are elected from graduates, and 12 members are nominated by the Governor. In the Parliament of India Andhra Pradesh has 18 in the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House, and 42 in the Lok Sabha, the Lower House.[29][30]

Andhra Pradesh had a series of governments headed by Indian National Congress (INC) Party until 1982. N. Chandrababu Naidu held the record for the longest serving chief minister (1995 to 2004). P. V. Narasimha Rao served as the chief minister of the state from 1971 to 1973, and went on to become the Prime Minister of India in 1991. The first Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh was Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, who later served as President of India. Among the notable chief ministers of the state are Tanguturi Prakasam, Damodaram Sanjivayya, Kasu Brahmananda Reddy, P. V. Narasimha Rao, Jalagam Vengala Rao, Marri Chenna Reddy, Tanguturi Anjaiah, Bhavanam Venkatarami Reddy, Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy, N. T. Rama Rao, Nadendla Bhaskara Rao, Nedurumalli Janardhana Reddy, N.Chandrababu Naidu, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, and Konijeti Rosaiah.

Andhra Pradesh High Court at Hyderabad, the main judicial body for the State

In 1983 the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) won the State elections and N.T. Rama Rao (NTR) became the chief minister of the state for the first time. This broke the long time single party monopoly enjoyed by the INC from 1956 until 1982. A few months after the election, Nadendla Bhaskara Rao usurped power when NTR was away in the United States for medical treatment. After coming back, NTR campaigned for a comeback by demonstrating the support of the majority of the elected MLAs. The governor Thakur Ram Lal was ousted by Indira Gandhi and in his place she appointed Shankar Dayal Sharma. NTR was reinstated as Chief Minister. Within a month NTR recommended the dissolution of the assembly and called for fresh elections. Gandhi was assassinated on 31 October 1984 by her Sikh bodyguard and Rajiv Gandhi was made Prime Minister by President Giani Jail Singh. In the ensuing elections for Lok Sabha and the AP Assembly, the Telugu Desam Party won in Andhra Pradesh and NTR came back to power.

The 1989 elections ended the rule of NTR, with the INC party returning to power with Marri Chenna Reddy at the helm. He was replaced by N. Janardhan Reddy in 1990, who was replaced by Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy in 1992.

In 1994, Andhra Pradesh gave a mandate to the Telugu Desam Party again, and NTR became the chief minister again. Nara Chandrababu Naidu, the son-in-law of NTR, usurped power with the backing of a majority of the MLAs. The Telugu Desam Party won both the assembly and Lok Sabha election in 1999 under the leadership of Chandrababu Naidu. There was an assassination attempt on Naidu in 2003 in Tirupathi; he survived the attack. In the ensuing elections the party lost power to a resurgent Congress Party and its allies. Congress on its own won 185 seats in 294 assembly, and with its allies won 226 seats; Y. S. Rajasekhar Reddy became the Chief Minister.

Y. S. Rajasekhar Reddy became the CM again by fending off the Praja Rajyam Party and a major alliance of TDP, TRS, CPI and CPM. He died on 2 September 2009 in a helicopter crash. Konijeti Rosaiah, a senior statesman and former State Finance Minister, became the caretaker Chief Minister of AP on 3 September 2009. After directives from Sonia Gandhi and the center, he will continue in the position until the next election.

Culture

Cultural institutions

Andhra Pradesh has many museums, including the Archaeological Museum[31] at Amaravati near Guntur City that features relics of nearby ancient sites, the Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad, which features a varied collection of sculptures, paintings, and religious artifacts, and the Visakha Museum in Visakhapatnam, which displays the history of the pre-Independence Madras Presidency in a rehabilitated Dutch bungalow.[32] Victoria Jubilee Museum in Vijayawada has a good collection of ancient sculptures, paintings, idols, weapons, cutlery and inscriptions. Other ancient sites include dozens of ancient Buddhist stupas in Nagarjunakonda which is now an island in Nagarjuna Sagar, an artificial lake that formed after the construction of Nagarjuna Sagar Dam. The Island has a large museum that houses many Buddhist relics.[33]

Cuisine

Hyderabad biryani served with other Indian dishes

The cuisine of Andhra Pradesh is one of the spiciest of all Indian cuisines. There are many variations to the Andhra cuisine (all involving rice) depending on geographical regions, caste, and traditions. Pickles and chutneys, called pachchadi in Telugu, are particularly popular in Andhra Pradesh and many varieties of pickles and chutneys are unique to the State. Chutneys are made from practically every vegetable including tomatoes, brinjals (eggplant), and roselle (Gongura). Avakaya (mango) is probably the best known of the Andhra pickles.

Rice is the staple food and is used in a wide variety of ways. Typically, rice is either boiled and eaten with curry, or made into a batter for use in a crepe-like dish called attu (pesarattu is made of a mixture of this batter and mung beans) or dosas, a crepe filled with black beans or lentils.

Meat, vegetables and greens are prepared with different spices (masala) into a variety of strongly flavored dishes such as Nellore fish curry, mango brinzal curry, and Gunturu Gongura pachadi. Hyderabadi cuisine is influenced by the Muslims who arrived in Telangana in the 14th century. Much of the cuisine revolves around meat. It is rich and aromatic, with a liberal use of exotic spices and ghee (clarified butter). Lamb, chicken, and fish are the most widely used meats in the non-vegetarian dishes. Biriyani is perhaps the most distinctive and popular dish of Hyderabadi cuisine.

Dance

Kuchipudi, the traditional dance of Andhra Pradesh

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

Jayapa Senani was the first person to write about the dances prevalent in Andhra Pradesh.[34] Both Desi and Margi forms of dances are included in his Sanskrit treatise Nrutya Ratnavali.

Festivals

Games

Outdoor games include Gujjana Goollu, Gilli Danda, Yedu penkulata, Kothi Kommachi, Nalugu Stambhalata, Nalugu Rallu Aata, Tokkudu Billa, Gooti Billa, Kabaddi, Kho Kho, Goleelu, and Nela-Banda. The major outdoor game played is cricket. Indoor board games include Puli Joodam, Ashta Chamma, Dahdi, Vamagunatalu, Vaikuntapali, Gavalu Aataa, and Chintha Ginjallu Aataa. Achenagandlu and Ramudu Sita are indoor games played by children and elders.

Literature

Nannayya, Tikkana, and Yerrapragada form the trinity who translated the great Sanskrit epic Mahabharata into Telugu. Bommera Pothana is the poet who composed the classic SriMad Maha Bhagavatamu, a Telugu translation of Sri Bhagavatham, authored by Veda Vyasa in Sanskrit. Nannayya (c. 11th century AD), the earliest know Telugu author, was patronized by the king Rajaraja Narendra who ruled from Rajamahendravaram (now Rajahmundry). The Vijayanagara emperor Krishnadevaraya wrote Amuktamalyada. The Telugu poet Vemana, a native of Kadapa, is notable for his philosophical poems. Telugu literature after Kandukuri Veeresalingam (1848–1919) is termed modern literature. Known as Gadya Tikkana, Satyavathi Charitam was the author Telugu-language social novel, Satyavathi Charitam. Jnanpith Award winners include Sri Viswanatha Satya Narayana and Dr. C. Narayana Reddy. The Andhra Pradesh native and revolutionary poet Sri Sri brought new forms of expressionism into Telugu literature.

Other modern writers include Gunturu Seshendra Sarma, the only person nominated from India for a Nobel prize in literature since Rabindranath Tagore. The West Bengal Government conferred on him the title Rashtrendu ("Moon of the Nation"). Telugu University awarded him an honorary Doctorate in Literature in 1994. He received the Kalidas Samman award from the Madhya Pradhesh government, and he won the Central Sahitya Akademi fellowship in 1999.

Seshendra's first work in print appeared in 1952.[1] It is the translation of Matthew Arnold's Sohrab and Rustum, which is based upon the Persian Epic Shahnama. Initially he focused on poetry and occasionally worked on literary criticism. Seshendra's first collection of prose-poems Sesha Jyotsna. He composed it strictly conforming to Telugu prosody which was published in 1972 in Telugu and English. Its translations into Hindi and Urdu appeared separately. His magnum opus was Naa Desham, Naa Prajalu (My Country, My People, Meri Dharti, Mere Log). It led to his nomination for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2004.

Shri Puttaparthi Narayanacharyulu is one of the scholarly poets of Telugu literature. He wrote the books Sivatandavam and Panduranga Mahatyam.

Other notable writers from Andhra Pradesh include Srirangam Sreenivasarao, Gurram Jashuva, Chinnaya Suri, Viswanatha Satyanarayana and Vaddera Chandidas.

Movies

Andhra Pradesh has around 3,300 cinema halls. The state produces about 200 movies a year. It has around 40% (330 out of 930) of the Dolby Digital theatres in India.[35] It houses an IMAX theatre which was the biggest 3D IMAX screen in the world when it was built in 2007:[36] the Prasads IMAX. Tollywood produces the largest number of movies in India per year.[37]

Music

Many composers of Carnatic music like Annamacharya, Tyagaraja, Kshetrayya, and Bhadrachala Ramadasu were of Telugu descent. Modern Carnatic music composers like Ghantasala and Sri M. Balamuralikrishna are also of Telugu descent.

The local film industry hosts many music composers and playback singers.

Folk songs are popular in the many rural areas of the state. Forms such as the Burra katha and Poli are still performed today.[38]

Religion

Andhra Pradesh is home to Hindu saints of all castes. An important backward-caste figure is Saint Yogi Sri Potuluri Virabrahmendra Swami. He was born in the Vishwabrahmin (goldsmith) caste and had Brahmin and Harijan disciples.[39] Fisherman Raghu was a Shudra saint.[40] Saint Kakkayya was a chura (sweeper) Harijan saint.

Several important Hindu modern-day saints are from Andhra Pradesh. These include Nimbarka, who founded Dvaitadvaita; Mother Meera, who runs an ashram in Madanapalle; Sri Sathya Sai Baba, who advocates religious unity in worship; Swami Sundara Chaitanyanandaji of the Aurobindo Mission; and Brahmarshi Subhash Patri, founder of the pyramid spiritual societies movement.

Pilgrimages and religious sites

Tirumala Venkateswara Temple, an important pilgrimage site in Tirupati
Birla Mandir Hindu temple

Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in the town of Tirumala in Chittoor district is a very important pilgrimage site for Hindus throughout India. It is the richest piligrimage city of any religious faith in the world.[41] Its main temple is dedicated to the god Venkateswara.

Simhachalam is another popular pilgrimage site of national importance located on a hill 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of the Visakhapatnam city centre. Simhachalam is said to be the abode of the savior-god Narasimha, who rescued Prahlada from his abusive father Hiranyakashipu. One of the most exquisitely sculpted shrines of Andhra Pradesh, it has a beautifully carved 16-pillared Natya mantapa and a 96-pillared Kalyana mantapa. The temple was built in 11th century by Kullotunga, a Chola Dynasty king. Engaged couples go to this temple as a ritual just before marriage. It is one of the most crowded temples of Andhra Pradesh.

Srisailam temple in Kurnool district is a very famous Shiva temple, and is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines. Lord Rama himself installed the Sahasralinga, while the Pandavas lodged the Panchapandava lingas in the temple courtyard. The Skanda Purana, an ancient religious text, has a chapter called "Srisaila Kandam" dedicated to this temple, which points to its ancient origin. It is said that Adi Shankara (c. 788-821 CE) visited this temple at the time that he composed his Sivananda Lahiri. Srisailam is located in Kurnool district.

Statue of Buddha on the Hussain Sagar Lake
Ramappa Temple

Bhadrachalam Temple is a temple to Lord Rama in the town of Bhadrachalam in Khammam district. It is situated on the banks of the river Godavari. This is the place where Kancherla Gopanna (1620–1680) wrote his devotional songs dedicated to lord Rama. It was believed that lord Rama spent some years on the banks of river Godavari here in Treta Yuga. Kancherla Gopanna raised the funds and constructed the temple during the reign of Tanisha in the 17th century. Sri Rama Navami, a celebration of the birth of Lord Rama, is celebrated here every year. Government of Andhra Pradesh sends pearls for the event.

Kanaka Durga Temple is a temple to the goddess Kanaka situated on the Indrakeeladri Hill in the city of Vijayawada on the banks of Krishna River. Special pujas are performed during Dasara, also called Navratri. The most significant are Saraswati puja and Theppotsavam. The festival of Dasara for the Goddess Durga is celebrated there every year. A large number of pilgrims attend the colourful celebrations and take a holy dip in the Krishna River.

Other temples and pilgrimage sites in Andhra Pradesh include:

Other cultural elements

Andhra Pradesh State Symbols
State language Telugu (తెలుగు)
State symbol Poorna kumbham (పూర్ణకుంభం)
State song Maa Telugu Thalliki (మా తెలుగు తల్లికి మల్లె పూదండ)
by Sri Sankarambadi Sundaraachari
State animal Black Buck (కృష్ణ జింక)
State bird Indian Roller (పాల పిట్ట)
State tree Neem (వేప)
State sport Kabaddi (చెడుగుడు)
State dance Kuchipudi (కూచిపూడి)
State flower Water lily (కలువ పువ్వు)

Bapu's paintings, Nanduri Venkata Subba Rao's Yenki Paatalu (Songs about a washerwoman called Yenki), mischievous Budugu (a character by Mullapudi), Annamayya's songs, Aavakaaya (a variant of mango pickle in which the kernel of mango is retained), Gongura (a chutney from Roselle plant), Atla Taddi (a seasonal festival predominantly for teenage girls), the banks of river Godavari, and the Dudu basavanna (the ceremonial ox decorated for door-to-door exhibition during the harvest festival Sankranthi) have long defined Telugu culture. The village of Durgi is known for stone craft, producing carvings of idols in soft stone that must be exhibited in the shade because they are prone to weathering. Kalamkari is an ancient textile art form dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization. Andhra Pradesh is famous for doll making. Dolls are made from wood, mud, dry grass, and lightweight metal alloys. Tirupathi is famous for redwood carvings. Kondapalli is famous for mud toys with rich colors. The village of Etikoppaka, located in Visakhapatnam district, produces lacquered toys. Nirmal paintings are expressive and are usually painted over a black background. Story telling in Andhra Pradesh is an art form in itself. Folk dances unique to Andhra Pradesh include Yaksha ganam, Burra katha (usually done by three people, telling stories using three different musical instruments), Jangama kathalu, Hari kathalu, Chekka bajana, Urumula natyam (usually done at festivals, where a group of people dance in circles with loud music), and Ghata natyam (performances done with earthen pots over one's head).

Education

Indian School of Business

Andhra Pradesh is served by more than 20 institutes of higher education. All major arts, humanities, science, engineering, law, medicine, business, and veterinary science are offered, with first degrees and postgraduate awards available. Advanced research is conducted in all major areas.

Andhra Pradesh has 1,330 arts, science and commerce colleges; 1,000 MBA and MCA colleges; 847 engineering colleges; 53 medical colleges, and one Indian Institute of Technology (in Hyderabad). The student to teacher ratio in higher education is 19:1. According to the 2001 census, Andhra Pradesh has an overall literacy rate of 80.5%. The male literacy rate is 70.3% and the female literacy rate is 67.4%.

The Government of Andhra Pradesh has established Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies (RGUKT)[42] in 2008 to cater to the educational needs of the gifted rural youth of Andhra Pradesh. The Institute specializes in teaching and research in Information Technology and other emerging disciplines under the control of a common university Governing Council and following a common syllabus.

The state has recently made strides in setting up several institutes. Andhra Pradesh is home to the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad,[43] International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIIT-H),[44] National Institute of Technology NIT Warangal,[45] the Nalsar University of Law, Birla Institute of Technology and Science (Hyderabad Campus), University of Hyderabad and the Indian School of Business (ISB). The National Institute of Fashion Technology and The Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition (NIFT) are also located in Hyderabad. Osmania University is situated in Hyderabad. A few new universities have been established, like Rayalaseema University.

The Government of Andhra Pradesh has established the first University of Health Sciences, fulfilling the recommendations of several committees. The Andhra Pradesh University of Health Sciences was established by Act.No. 6 of the Andhra Pradesh legislature and was inaugurated in 1986 by the late Sri N.T. Rama Rao, then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. After the death of its founder Sri N.T. Rama Rao the University was named after him as NTR University of Health Sciences, Andhra Pradesh.

Newspapers and journals

Andhra Pradesh has several Telugu-language newspapers:

Andhra Pradesh's Urdu-language newspapers include :

There are several English-language newspapers in Andhra Pradesh, including:

Andhra Pradesh is also home to several Hindi-language newspapers:

Tourism

Belum Caves
Rishikonda beach

Andhra Pradesh is promoted by its tourism department as the "Koh-i-Noor of India."

Andhra Pradesh is the home of many religious pilgrim centres. Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, the abode of Hindu god Venkateswara, is most visited religious center of any faith in the world. Srisailam, nestled in the Nallamala Hills is the abode of Mallikarjuna and is one of twelve Jyothirlingalu in India. Amaravati's Shiva temple is one of the Pancharamams, as is Yadagirigutta, the abode of an avatara of Vishnu, Lakshmi Narasimha. The Ramappa temple and Thousand Pillars temple in Warangal are famous for their temple carvings. The state has numerous Buddhist centres at Amaravati, Nagarjuna Konda, Bhattiprolu, Ghantasala, Nelakondapalli, Dhulikatta, Bavikonda, Thotlakonda, Shalihundam, Pavuralakonda, Sankaram, Phanigiri and Kolanpaka.

Araku Valley
Borra Caves (stalagmites and stalactites)

The Badami cave temples in Karnataka are an excellent example of Chalukya art and sculpture.[46] The Vijayanagara Empire built number of monuments, including the Srisailam temple and Lepakshi temples.

The 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. Kailashagiri is a park near the sea in Visakhapatnam. Visakhapatnam is home to other tourist attactions such as the INS Kursura S20 Submarine museum (the only one of its kind in India), the longest beach road in India, Yarada Beach, Araku Valley, and Indira Gandhi Zoological Gardens.

The Borra Caves are located in the Anatagiri Hills of the Eastern Ghats, near Vishakapatnam. They are at an altitude of about 800 to 1300 metres and are famous for million-year-old stalactite and stalagmite formations. They were discovered by British geologist William King George in 1807. The caves get their name from a formation inside the caves that looks like the human brain, which in the local language, Telugu, is known as burra. The Belum caves were formed due to erosion in limestone deposits in the area by the weakly acidic water of the Chitravati River millions of years ago.

The Belum Caves in Kurnool District have a length of 3,229 metres (10,594 ft), making them the second largest natural caves on the Indian subcontinent. The Belum Caves derive their name from Bilum, the Sanskrit word for caves. In Telugu, the caves are known as Belum Guhalu. The caves have long passages, spacious chambers, freshwater galleries, and siphons. The caves' deepest point is 120 feet (37 m) from the entrance and is known as Patalganaga.

Horsley Hills, elevation 1,265 metres (4,150 ft), is a summer hill resort in Andhra Pradesh, about 160 km (99 mi) from Bangalore and 144 km (89 mi) from Tirupati. The town of Madanapalle lies nearby. Major tourist attractions include the Mallamma temple and the Rishi Valley School. Horsely Hills is the departure point for the Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary at a distance of 87 km (54 mi).

Nirmal is famous for its handicrafts and paintings. Kuntala waterfall, at 45 metres (148 ft), is the biggest in the state. Charminar, Golconda Fort, Chandragiri Fort, Chowmahalla Palace, and Falaknuma Palace are some of the monuments in the state.

Kanaka Durga Temple in Vijayawada in Krishna district, Venkateswara Temple in Dwaraka Tirumala, West Godavari District, and Surya temple in Arasavelli in Srikakulam District are also places to see in Andhra Pradesh. The Annavaram Satayannarayana Swami temple is in East Godavari.

Transport

Road

Major road links of Andhra Pradesh

A total of 146,944 km (91,307 mi) of roads are maintained by the State, of which State Highways comprise 42,511 km (26,415 mi), National Highways 2,949 km (1,832 mi), and District Roads 101,484 km (63,059 mi). The growth rate for vehicle ownership in Andhra Pradesh is the highest in the country at 16%.[47]

Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) is the major public transport corporation owned by the government of Andhra Pradesh that connects all the cities and villages. APSRTC is in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the largest fleet of vehicles (approximately 21,000), and the longest distance covered daily.[48] Thousands of private operators also run buses connecting major cities and towns. Private vehicles like cars, motorised scooters, and bicycles occupy a major share of the local transport in the cities and adjoining villages.

Rail

The Secunderabad Railway Station, headquarters of the South Central Railway
Visakhapatnam seaport

Railways are a major means of transport connecting all major cities and towns. The history of railways in Andhra Pradesh dates back to the time of Nizam of Hyderabad. Most of Andhra Pradesh falls under the auspices of the South Central Railway, founded in 1966 with its headquarters at Secunderabad. The East Coast Railway serves Srikakulam, Vizianagaram District, and part of Visakhapatnam district including Visakhapatnam City. Vijayawada Railway Station is the one of the busiest railway junctions in India.

Air

Hyderabad International Airport, also known as Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, is the international airport for the city of Hyderabad. It is the largest airport in the state and one of the busiest airports nationwide.

Other airports in the state are Visakhapatnam Airport, Vijayawada Airport, Rajahmundry Airport, and Tirupati Airport. The government also has plans to start airports in eight other cities: Guntur, Ongole, Nellore, Warangal, Kadapa, Tadepalligudem, Kurnool and Ramagundam.

Sea

Andhra Pradesh has two of the major ports of India at Visakhapatnam and Kakinada and three minor ports at Krishnapatnam (Nellore), Machilipatnam, and Nizampatnam (Guntur). A private port is being developed at Gangavaram, near Visakhapatnam. This deep seaport can accommodate ocean liners up to 200,000–250,000 DWT.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Citizen Help". APOnline. 1956-11-01. http://www.aponline.gov.in/quick%20links/apfactfile/apfactmain.html. Retrieved 2009-03-03. 
  2. ↑ "Rough rice production (000 t) in India, by state, 1961-2006". International Rice Research Institute. May 2008. http://www.irri.org/science/ricestat/data/may2008/WRS2008-Table07.pdf. Retrieved 25 August 2009. 
  3. ↑ "History and Culture-History". APonline. http://www.aponline.gov.in/quick%20links/hist-cult/history.html. Retrieved 2009-03-03. 
  4. ↑ TeluguUniversity.ac.in
  5. ↑ "Andhra Pradesh News : Telugu is 2,400 years old, says ASI". The Hindu. 2007-12-20. http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/20/stories/2007122054820600.htm. Retrieved 2010-08-15. 
  6. ↑ Indian Epigraphy, R. Saloman, Oxford University Press, 1998, ISBN 0-19-509984-2, p. 106
  7. ↑ APonline.gov.in
  8. ↑ asiarooms.com (2009-12-04). "Bhattiprolu, Bhattiprolu in Andhra Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh Bhattiprolu". Asiarooms.com. http://www.asiarooms.com/travel-guide/india/hyderabad/excursions-from-hyderabad/bhattiprolu.html. Retrieved 2010-08-15. 
  9. ↑ Helmutt Hoffmann, "Buddha's Preaching of the Kalachakra Tantra at the Stupa of Dhanyakataka," German Scholars on India, Vol. I. PP. 136–140. (Varanasi, 1973)
  10. ↑ Kalacakra.org
  11. ↑ Epigraphica Indica, 27: 220–228
  12. ↑ Robert Sewell, A Forgotten Empire (Vijayanagar): A contribution to the history of India, Chapter 2 Gutenberg.org
  13. ↑ "/ India / Politics & Society - Protests as India carves up Andhra Pradesh". Ft.com. 2009-12-10. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7bb4f9e8-e5ae-11de-b5d7-00144feab49a.html. Retrieved 2010-08-15. 
  14. ↑ "Home Secretary retracts Hyderabad statement". Ndtv.com. http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/home_secretary_to_retract_hyderabad_statement.php. Retrieved 2010-08-15. 
  15. ↑ "No consensus, so no Telangana now: Centre - Politics News - IBNLive". Ibnlive.in.com. 2010-02-03. http://ibnlive.in.com/news/no-consensus-no-telangana-now-centre/107631-37.html?from=tn. Retrieved 2010-08-15. 
  16. ↑ "Srikrishna panel to visit Hyderabad from May 24–26". Hindustan Times. 2010-05-22. http://www.hindustantimes.com/Srikrishna-panel-to-visit-Hyderabad-from-May-24-26/H1-Article1-547218.aspx. Retrieved 2010-08-15. 
  17. ↑ "Andhra Pradesh Geography". Maharashtraweb.com. http://www.maharashtraweb.com/AndhraPradesh/AndhraPradeshgeography.htm. Retrieved 2010-08-15. 
  18. ↑ [1]
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Aptdc, Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (2010-05-27). "APTDC - Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation". Tourisminap.com. http://www.tourisminap.com/know_ap/index.php. Retrieved 2010-08-15. 
  20. ↑ "Population Characteristics — Andra Pradesh". Census of India. budget.ap.gov.in. http://budget.ap.gov.in/tab1_1.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-04. 
  21. ↑ "Distribution of 10,000 Persons by Language — India, States and Union Territories - 2001". Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. 2001. http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/Language/Statement3.htm. Retrieved 16 June 2010. 
  22. ↑ "Human Development Report 2007". APonline.gov.in. http://www.aponline.gov.in/Apportal/HumanDevelopmentReport2007/APHDR_2007_Chapter2.pdf. Retrieved August 15, 2010. 
  23. ↑ Beti, Jatinder S.; Ramachandran, Dr. H. (December 2008). "Human Development Index for Rural Andhra Pradesh". www.ncaer.org. National Council of Applied Economic Research. http://www.ncaer.org/Downloads/WorkingPapers/WP99.pdf. Retrieved August 15, 2010. 
  24. ↑ "Agriculture Dept. of Andhra Pradesh". http://agri.ap.nic.in. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 "Key Sectors of Andhra Pradesh". http://www.apind.gov.in/indussectors.html. 
  26. ↑ http://finance.indiainfo.com/news/2005/05/11/1105it-exports.html
  27. ↑ [2]
  28. ↑ "Statement:State GSDP at Current Prices". mospi.nic.inaccessdate=August 15, 2010. February 28, 2008. 
  29. ↑ "Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly". http://www.apassemblylive.com. 
  30. ↑ "Parliament of India". http://164.100.24.209/newls/membershomepage.aspx. 
  31. ↑ "Archaeological Museum, Amaravati - Archaeological Survey of India". Asi.nic.in. http://asi.nic.in/asi_museums_amravati.asp. Retrieved 2010-08-19. 
  32. ↑ "VizagCityOnline.com — Visakha Museum". Vizagcityonline.com. http://www.vizagcityonline.com/visakha_museum/. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
  33. ↑ IndiaTourism.com, Victoria Jubilee Museum.
  34. ↑ TeluguPeople.com, Ntitya Ratnavali.
  35. ↑ "DTS | Home". Dtsonline.com. http://www.dtsonline.com/digitalcinema/find/index.php. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
  36. ↑ "100 New IMAX Screens | /Film". Slashfilm.com. 2007-12-06. http://www.slashfilm.com/2007/12/06/100-new-imax-screens/. Retrieved 2010-08-15. 
  37. ↑ K.V. Kurmanath (6 November 2007). "Telugu film industry enters new era". Hindu Business Line. http://www.blonnet.com/2007/11/06/stories/2007110650842300.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-21. 
  38. ↑ Manorma Sharma (2007). Musical Heritage of India. APH. pp. 19–32. ISBN 8131300463. 
  39. ↑ "Sri Potuluri Veera Brahmendra Swami". Mihira.com. http://www.mihira.com/wisdommasters/veerabrahmam.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
  40. ↑ "Stories of Bhaktas — Fisherman Raghu". Telugubhakti.com. http://www.telugubhakti.com/telugupages/Monthly/Bhaktas/content1.htm. Retrieved 2008-11-29. 
  41. ↑ Uma Sudhir (September 13, 2007). "Tirupati Ousts Vatican, Reigns at Top". NDTV.com. http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070026005. 
  42. ↑ www.rgukt.in
  43. ↑ IITH.ac.in
  44. ↑ IIIT.net
  45. ↑ NITW.ac.in
  46. ↑ "The Templenet Encyclopedia — Temples of Andhra Pradesh". http://www.templenet.com/encandh1.html. Retrieved 2009-02-26. 
  47. ↑ "AP Fact File-Natural Advantages". APonline. http://www.aponline.gov.in/Quick%20links/apfactfile/naturaladvantages.html#Airways. Retrieved 2009-03-03. 
  48. ↑ "citi-Charter". Apsrtc.gov.in. http://www.apsrtc.gov.in/Contact%20Us/Grievances/Citi-Chart.htm. Retrieved 2010-08-19. 

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