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"Athithi
Devo Bhava"
Come to Andhra Pradesh. Be our God.
Welcome
to the third largest state in India - Andhra Pradesh, a State
rich in natural resources, cultural heritage, history and
most of all, an opportunity to explore them. Created by combining
the old princely state of Hyderabad with the Telugu speaking
portions of the former state of Chennai, Andhra Pradesh to
this day retains much of its regal glory and mystic charm.
Geographically,
the state enjoys a strategic location. Most of it stands on
the high arid Deccan Plateau, sloping down to the low-lying
coastal region to the east where the mighty Godavari and Krishna
rivers consummate with the Bay of Bengal. Andhra Pradesh is
blessed with a charming countryside, watered by 34 rivers
and commands a 1000 km. coastline.
Rocks,
forests, verdant green fields, lakes and golden beaches washed
by the sea make Andhra Pradesh a fascinating state and one
that is ideally suited for wildlife. There are about 20 notified
sanctuaries in the state and each of them is home to a variety
of rare animal species such as the Great Indian Bustard, Nilgai,
etc.
History
of Andhra Pradesh:
Centuries
ago, Andhra Pradesh was a major Buddhist centre and part of
Emperor Ashoka's sprawling kingdom. Not surprisingly, traces
of early Buddhist influence are still visible in several places
in and around the state. After the death of Emperor Ashoka,
the Satavahanas established their kingdom in this region.
During
the 7th century, the Chalukyas held sway over Andhra Pradesh
until the 10th century, when the Cholas seized power. In the
14th century, Muslim power reached this southern state and
for centuries ruled over this princely state and finally was
taken over by a General of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in
1713. The successors of the General, known as Nizams, ruled
the state till Indian Independence.
Successive
dynasties from the Ikshvakus, Pallavas, Chalukyas, Kakatiyas,
Vijayanagaram kings, Qutb Shahis, Mughals and the Asaf Jahis,
have contributed significantly to the State's rich cultural
tapestry and have left behind a heritage studded with spectacular
monuments, temples, mosques, palaces all vibrant with arts,
crafts, dance and literature.
Heritage
of Andhra Pradesh:
Beautiful
crafts, exquisite remnants of a glorious past, vibrant religious
festivals, irresistible delicacies together with the charming
people and the sonorant mother tongue Telugu, are some of
the indelible impressions of this state.
The sky-scrapes
of the state present a montage of architectural styles, replete
with astonishing sculpture and splendid edifices left behind
by several dynasties. Hyderabad, the state capital, is a historic
city, and is famous as the former seat of the wealthy Nizams.
Charminar, Salar Jung Museum and the mighty Golconda Fort
are some of the famous heritage spots in the city.
Kuchipudi
is a classical dance form of Andhra Pradesh. Lacquer toys,
Anakapalli articles, Nirmal - painted pottery, Bidri - lead
inlaid black metal trinklets, palm and slate articles, as
well as Gadhwal, Pochampalli and Dharmavaram silk saris are
some of the amazing handlooms and handicrafts the state is
renowned for.
Agriculture
is the main occupation of about 70% of the people in Andhra
Pradesh. The main crops are rice, maize, millets, pulses,
castor, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, groundnut and banana.
The covered forest area in the state is about 23%, and important
forest products include teak, eucalyptus, cashew, bamboo and
soft wood. Some of the major industries in the state are machine
tools, synthetic drugs, pharmaceuticals, heavy electrical
machinery, ships, fertilizers, electronic equipment, aeronautical
parts, cement and cement products, chemicals, asbestos, glass
and watches. Important minerals found in the state are copper
ore, manganese, mica, coal and limestone.
Cuisine
of Andhra Pradesh has a distinct flavor and is relished by
many epicureans. Rice is the staple food and chillies dominate
the native taste. The ubiquitous Andhra pickle, spicy in taste
and flavor is the most appetising dish. Even Gongura chutneys
enhance the basic flavor of a meal. Papads roasted or fried
are an often-preferred addition. To round off a sumptuous
lunch, kheers, a variety of sweets and paans are veritable
specialties.
State
at a glance:
| State
Capital |
Hyderabad
|
| Population
(thousands in 1991) |
66,508
|
| Area
(thousand sq. km) |
275
|
| Females
per 1000 males (1991) |
972
|
| Literacy
rate (1991) |
44.1
|
| Ratio
of urban population (1991) |
26.9
|
Net
Domestic Product
(Rs. million at current prices in 1992-93) |
397,040
|
| Per
Capita Income |
5,802
|
| Principal
Languages |
Telugu
and Urdu |
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