South India

    It is the first state formed on the linguistic basis after independence, and the fifth largest state in India – both in area and population and shares borders with Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra. The state has three distinct regions – the coastal region comprising nine districts called Andhra, the heartland formed by four districts called Rayalseema, and Telangana consisting of Hyderabad the capital city and nine adjacent districts. The climate is hot and humid.

    It forms a major link between north and south India. Krishna and Godavari are the major rivers. Tungabhadra is a major tributary of Krishna. These rivers are of great economic significance because of their rich hydro electric potential. The Andhra people, it is believed, were originally of Aryan stock who moved south of the Vinhdyas and mingled with the Dravidians centuries ago.

Charminar

    The earliest historical reference to the Andhras – the people from whom the state derives its name can be traced to the time of the Mauryas. In the first Century after the birth of Christ, this region was an important seat of Buddhist religion and philosophy. Nagarjuna the famous metaphyscian was from Andhra and the monastery at Nagarjunkonda – a site now submerged under the reservoir of a dam – was visited by many foreign scholars.

    In the 13^th Century A.D. the Kakatiya dynasty dominated this tract of land and had their capital at Warangal. In 1332 the armies of the Tughlaq emperor in Delhi defeated them and four splinter kingdoms emerged. One of these was Vijayanagar that resisted the invaders from the north for two centuries.

    Vijayanagar lost its primacy when it was laid low by the alliance of the four Nawabs of Bidar, Bijapur, Ahmednagar and Golconda. Subsequently the Qutabshahis of Golconda established their dominance over others and built the city of Hyderabad and reigned supreme until subdued by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in the 17^th Century.

    Aurangzed appointed Asaf Jah as his governor, whose successors later asserted independence and took the title of Nizam. In 1800, the Nizam signed the Subsidiary Alliance with the British and accepted British paramountcy. The last Nizam joined the Indian Union in 1947.

    Andhara Pradesh is recognized as the granary of South and has a rich variety of cash crops. Agriculture accounts for 50 per cent of its income and provides livelihood for 70 percent of its population. The crops cultivated are paddy, bajara, jowar, ragi, maize, groundnut, chilies, sugarcane, tobacco and castor. The state ranks number one in the country in tobacco production.

    With a coastline extending over 970 kilometres, it is the largest maritime state in India. Vishakhapatanam is the most important port that caters to the needs of Madhya Pradesh and Orissa also. An integrated steel plant is located here that started functioning in 1970. Tirupati in Chittor district is amongst the most important pilgrim centres in the country. This is where the Venkateshwara temple is situated here. The Shiva shrine at Mallikarjuna is another prominent place for Hindu worship.

    Hyderabad is a historic city that houses many tourist attractions. Char Minar is the most popular landmark and the Salarjung Museum houses the most tantalizing display of art objects collected over a life time by a whimsical and eclectic collector. The ruins of the Golconda fort are eight kilometres away, and the twin city Secunderabad is separated by Hussein Sagar – a beautiful man made lake. Golconda was renowned the world over in the medieval period as a rich mine of diamonds. The famous stone, the Kohi-Noor was found here. It was taken by the British as part of colonial booty and is now in the British crown.

    The classical dance form of the state is Kuchipudi.