Andhra Pradesh - A Glimse

Andhra Pradesh, India's fifth largest state, is sprawled over an area of 275,068 sq. km. History has forged, and left behind vital links with the state, as is evident from the many edifices, monuments and architectural ruins, the legacy of dynasties as old as 300 B.C. Andhra Pradesh is situated in fertile coastal plains, semi arid Deccan plateau and amidst hills of the Eastern Ghats. Exquisite crafts, glorious remnants of the past, vibrant festivities, irresistible delicacies coupled with the charming features of the people leave behind indelible impressions.Kuchipudi dance of Andhra Pradesh is world famous. Andhra Pradesh has also the largest Information Technology park and largest Film City in Asia.


Andhra Pradesh History:

According to the Attereya Brahmana (2000 BC), the Andhras were originally Aryans from North India who later migrated to the South and settled down there. The history of Andhra Desa begins with 236 BC, the year of King Ashoka's death. It was subsequently ruled by the Satvahanas, Sakas, Ikshvakas, Chalukyas, Kakatiyas and later the Qutub Shahis and the Nizams. During the 17th Century, British annexed the land in the name of Madras. After Independence, Andhra State came into being on October 1, 1953. Later Hyderabad State was merged to it and ultimately on November 1, 1956, it became 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, several dynasties from the Ikshvakus, Pallavas, Chalukyas, Kakatiyas,Vijayanagaram kings, Qutb Shahis, Mughals and the Asaf Jahi's, ruled this princely city.

The history of Andhra Pradesh dates back to the epic era of the Ramayana and the Mahabharatha. But the documented history points to 236 BC, when Satavahana established a kingdom and a dynasty around the modern Hyderabad. During the reign of 450 years, Buddhism flourished in the kingdom. The rulers were followers of Brahmanism, but the women folk practiced Buddism. It was during this period that Buddhism spread from these shores to China, The far East and to Sri Lanka. The Ikshvakus succeeded the Satavahanas and ruled the kingdom for 57 years. The Pallavas annexed the area South of River Krishna and ruled till the end of 6th century.

Then came the dynasties of Chalukyas and the Kakatiyas. The Kakatiyas established themselves as rulers of a Telugu speaking people. The glorious reign of the Kakatiyas came to end in the 14th century and for the first time Telugus came under a Muslim regime that brought with it a totally different set of customs, language and religion.


The Delhi Sultanate came in power in 1347 AD, governed byAllahuddin Hasan, claiming lineage to Bahman Shah of Persia, revolted against the Delhi Sultanate and declared himself ruler of the southern part of the territory, comprising mainly the Deccan and Telangana area.

It was somewhere around this time that the Qutub Shahi dynasty came into being when Sultan Quli, the Bahmani governor of Telangana, became independent and extend the new kingdom of Golconda right upto Machlipatnam on the east coast. Given the title of Quli-ul-Mulk by the Bahmanis, Qutub Shah, a descendant of a royal family of Hamdan in Persia, took over the reins and ruled till 1548.

Aurangazeb last Mogul king to rule India, conquered the Deccan in 1687 and left his governors, the Nizams, to rule Andhra. The British and French took over from the Nizams. Andhra became a part of Indian Union in 1947. The present state was formed in 1953, merging a part of the then Madras State (present Tamil Naidu) and the princely state of Hyderabad.

Area: 2,76,754
Capital : : Hyderabad
Population : : 76
Language : : Telugu, Hindi
Art : Andhra Pradesh is rich in textile industries- Uppada, Gadwal saris. Venkatagiri, Siddipet and Pochampalli are famous textile weaving places. Pearl jewellery, perfumes, silk products, exquisite saris & colourful lac bangles are unique of the State.

Industry :

The software industry is gaining prominence. Besides, iron & steel, cotton textile & engineering industries are also operating.

A visit to the state of Andhra Pradesh is a delight for art lovers, naturalists, religious…who never find a place like it owing to its varied tourist spots. The state with its glorious past and luminous present is escalating towards the future with utmost level of development in various fields. With a very short span of its commencement of development it has climbed the sky attracting every one to see this land of marvel.

Andhra Pradesh, sometimes called as the “Kohinoor of India”, is a mystical land where history has left behind the monuments and architectural ruins; and dynasties as old as 300 BC. It has many holy temples with architectural beauty, which attract large numbers of pilgrims and tourists from inside and outside the country. The Venkateswara temple at Tirupati is the most visited Hindu temple in the country. The beautiful monuments like Charminar, Golconda Fort, Chandragiri Fort and Falaknuma Palace, are some of the preferred destinations to visit.

Architecture:

Architecture in Andhra Pradesh ranges from prehistoric cairns to Buddhist Setups; Hindu and Jain temples of great importance to imposing churches, secular monuments such as the Charming of Hyderabad to some some of the most beautiful mosques and Islamic tombs of India. Cities of Andhra Pradesh have interesting examples of European architecture as well as domestic vernacular architecture.




Art & Crafts:

Andhra Pradesh has given the world a number of forms of performing arts, handlooms and curios. The world famous Kuchipudi classical dance was born in the state. Kalamkari, the art of dyeing with vegetable oils and colors, still flourishes and silk sarees woven in the state rank among the most beautiful in the world. The handicrafts occupy s special place and possess a timeless charm.



Monuments:

Bhongir Fort, Chandragiri Fort, Asman Garh Palace - Hyderabad, Charminar - Hyderabad, Golconda Fort - Hyderabad, Falaknuma Palace - Hyderabad, Legislative Assembly - Hyderabad, Osmania University, Purani Haveli - Hyderabad, Paigah Tombs.












Wildlife:


Alisagar Deer Park Nizamabad, Coringa Wild Life Sanctuary Coringa, Eturnagaram Sanctuary, Gundla Brahmeswara Sanctuary Nandyal, Indira Gandhi Zoological park Visakhapatnam, Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary Palamaneru Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary Jannaram, Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary, Kolleru Lake Bird Sanctuary, Mahaveer Harina Vanasthali National Park Hyderabad, Manjira Wildlife & Bird Sanctuary Sangareddy, Mrigavani National Park Chilkur, Nehru Zoological Park Hyderabad.





Pilgrim Centres:

Birla Mandir Hyderabad, Mecca Masjid Hyderabad, Mukteshwara Swamy Temple, Kaleshwaram Anumasamudram Peta(Rahamatabad) Nellore, Dichpalli Temple Nizamabad, Neelakanteshwara Temple Nizamabad, Prasanthinilayam Puttaparti, Sri Agastheswara Swamy Temple Tirupati, Swami Pushkarini Tirupati, The Govindarajaswami Temple Tirupati


Caves:

Belum Caves, Undavalli Caves, Yaganti Caves, Borra Caves, Kirinrandal Guthikonda Caves, Guthikonda Mogalarajapuram Caves,Vijayawada



How to reach Andhra Pradesh

The best place to begin a tour of Andhra Pradesh is Hyderabad, the capital. Hyderabad is very well - connected by air, rail and road to all major cities of India. The other major cities of the state are Secunderabad, Visakhapatnam, Waltair and Vijayawada. An efficient road and rail network connects every district to the state capital.



Heritage & Culture

The various dynasties that ruled the State of Andhra Pradesh, from the Ikshvakus, Pallavas, Chalukyas, Kakatiyas, Vijayanagaram kings, Qutb Shahis, Mughals, to the Asaf Jahis, all 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.


The state has a rich cultural heritage. The great composers of carnatic music Annamacharya, Tyagaraja and many others chose Telugu as their language of composition, thus enriching the language. Kuchipudi is the state's classical dance form.Andhrites have been movie buffs decades. The state produces about 200 top notch movies per year.

Andhra Pradesh has several museums, including the Salar Jung Museum, which features a varied collection of sculptures, paintings, and religious artifacts, and the Archaeological Museum, which features Buddhist and Hindu sculptures and other antiques; both museums are located in Hyderabad

The State is 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.

Telugu, the official language of Andhra Pradesh, is described by C.P. Brown as the " Italian of the East ". It has been influenced by Sanskrit. The prominent poets of Telugu include Nannaya, Tikkana, Sri Krishna Devarayulu and a host of others.

The dance styles in the State are based on the standard treatises, viz. Abhinaya Darpana and Bharatarnava of Nandikeshwara, which is sub-divided into Nattuva Mala and Natya Mala.

Kuchipudi, a blend of music and abhinaya, is Andhra Pradesh‘s unique contribution to dance it have flowered from a village called Kuchelapuri or Kuchelapuram in Krishna district. From its birth around 300 B. C., it has remained a continuous and living tradition of this region, performed by men of the Brahmin community.

Arts & Crafts

In keeping with the rich traditions of the State, the people of Andhra Pradesh have patronised a host of arts and crafts that not only enrich the milieu but earn the artisans a decent livelihood. Kalamkari, Bidri,Nirmal paintings, fascinating weaves from Pochampalli, Gadwal,Venkatagiri and a number of other centres have earned a name all over the world.

The State is well known for its handlooms and textiles and its silk sarees are among the best produced in the country. The people of the State too have been patrons of the arts and crafts and this has resulted in the traditions being kept alive through the ages.

It is not only such exclusive and delicate material as silk that the artisans of Andhra Pradesh deal in, but metalware, carpets, wood and stone carving too. From the exquisite silver filigree andbrass and sheet metalware, artisans of Andhra Pradesh strive to bring out the best and it is sheer magic when they get down to producing their ware.

Kalamkari, using a quill (kalam) and vegetable dyes, is an art found nowhere else but in and around Machilipatnam and Srikalahasti of the State. While the Srikalahasti style is to draw outlines with a pen or quill and fill in the colours through a wax process, the Machilipatnam practice is to use wooden blocks carved into designs for printing.

All dyes and colours are natural and the painstaking process of Kalamkari printing on fabric goes through as many as a dozen stages.

Wall hangings come in another style from Siddipet in Medak district. This method, known as Batik, utilises the ‘cold’ process involving wax to create graphic designs and figures. Batik cloth also comes in the form of dress material, scarves and even sarees.

Cherial Scroll paintings done on cloth in earth colours is one of the traditional crafts practised mainly at Cherial in Warangal district. Painted in freestyle and depicting mythological stories, they are used as visual aids, and have attained great popularity as wall decorations.

Decorative hand-crocheted lace from Narsapur and Palakollu of West Godavari district adorns many a dining table in the form of mats. Curtains and bedspreads are some of the lacework produced here.

Sheets of Artistry

Metalware is another area in which the artisan of Andhra Pradesh excels. Be it the brass sheet metal of Pembarti in Warangal district, the silver filigree of Karimnagar, the Bidriware of Hyderabad or the bronze castings in Chittoor and East Godavari district, the artistry stands out to international acclaim and acceptance.

Bidriwork originated some three centuries ago at Bidar, which was part of the erstwhile Hyderabad State. Alloys are used in moulds to create shapes and the dark metal is then inlaid with designs using silver thread. Decorative pieces, bangles, ashtrays, pen-stands, caskets, cufflinks and paper-cutters are some of the Bidriware manufactured in and around Hyderabad.

From sheet metal to wood, craftsmen vie with each other to produce delicate and intricate designs. Wood carving in Chittoor district is one of the oldest traditional crafts. The carvings depict scenes from mythology as well as figures of deities.

In other parts of the State, wood carving is done to make musical instruments and in places like in Vizianagaram town and in Nuzvid of Krishna district, such instruments as Veena and Tambura are carved out of a single block of wood.

The Simple Wood

The soft wood available in many parts of the State is used in doll and toy making as well. The wooden figures are painted in bright colours that are pleasing to the eye.

Kondapalli is a small village in Krishna district and it is here that toys and dolls that have won international acclaim are made. The simple-looking dolls depict the typical rural Indian life. Kondapalli dolls take theshape of humans, birds, animals and fruits.

The craftsmen of Nirmal too take advantage of the locally-available soft wood to carve brightly coloured vegetables, fruits and animals. Wooden dolls are made of the soft Poniki or Ankudu wood and Etikoppaka in Visakhapatnam district is another centre that makes exquisite dolls with a rustic touch.

Weaving Magic

An area that Andhra Pradesh excels in is Sarees. Silk and cotton and a mixture of both are used to create alluring weaves and designs.Pochampalli, Gadwal, Venkatagiri, Narayanpet and Chirala are some of the places where some of the world’s best sarees are woven.

Among the cottons, Narayanpet and Venkatagiri are preferred.Venkatagiri in Nellore district is known for its excellent cotton sarees with gold borders and large golden ‘pallav’. Narayanpet cotton sarees are less expensive and long-lasting. Silk sarees from Dhamavaramcompare with the rich silks of Kancheepuram in broad borders with extensive gold ‘zari’ work.

In Pochampalli sarees of Nalgonda district adjoining Hyderabad, a unique method of tie-and-dye is used and this is known as ‘ikat’. Weavers in Andhra Pradesh have mastered the art of using cotton and silk alternately for warp (length) and weft (across). Known as ‘Himroo’, the art originated in Kashmir and was brought down south by Moghal rulers.

Pearls & Bangles

Shopping for bangles in the narrow bazaars of the Old City of Hyderabad is an experience one should not miss. Lac is used to manually create designs on glass bangles and the array in which they come is mind boggling. More romantic are the names given to sets of bangles by the local sellers.

Hyderabad is also known as the ‘city of pearls’. Though not close to the sea, Hyderabad has had a flourishing trade in pearls, as the Golconda kingdom was famous for its diamonds. The processing of pearls has been skillfully mastered in Hyderabad in that craftsmen can sort, refine and polish pearls with ease.

Andhra Pradesh has turned out to be a gem of a State even in the sphere of arts and crafts.

Cuisine

The rich heritage and culture of Andhra Pradesh are reflected in the culinary skills of its people. The mere mention of Andhra and Hyderabadi cuisine brings before the mind’s eye a wholesome meal accompanied by hot tasty pickles or ‘Biryani’ accompanied by an appetising aroma.

But there is more to the cuisine of the State with each of the three regions — Coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana — having its distinctive style of cooking. Chillies and spice are used in abundance but this need not deter food lovers from indulging themselves in a feast. By and large, the cuisine is vegetarian but the Moghal influence in the Deccan made ‘Moghlai’ cooking popular.

Moghlai

While Hyderabad is known for its wholesome Biryaniand a wide range of non-vegetarian as well as vegetarian fare, the coastal region of the State offers a wide choice as far as vegetarian cooking and pickles are concerned. The chillies grown in the region are highly potent and this gives the special flavour to the pickles.

Those willing to let themselves go for Moghlai cooking can choose from a large variety. ‘Sheermal’, a local variety of bread, or tandoori rotibaked on hot coals are on the starting line. The non-vegetarian dishes include ‘paya’ — hoof of lamb cooked over a slow fire overnight in a spicy soup so that by morning the bones become soft and chewable — and ‘zubaan’ — lamb tongue cooked in the same manner.

Haleem is pieces of boneless mutton cooked over a long period with pounded wheat to form a spicy porridge. Most of the dishes are available in the evening and before sunrise in hundreds of hotels and restaurants during the fasting month of Ramzan and are popular meals to break or begin the fast with.

And it is not only meat and fowl that Moghlai deals with. The brinjal or ‘eggplant’ that has no taste of its own is given a spicy, tangy flavour in the ‘bagara baigan’, using tamarind and spices. Dalcha is a watery dal in which ‘kaddu (pumpkin)’ or boneless mutton is used. ‘Bagara tamatar’ and ‘mirchi ka salan’ are equally rich in spice and chillies and `bagara khana’ makes up for the vegetarians who miss out on the biryani.

Hot Stuff

‘Avakai’ is the really hot and tangy mango pickle and there is hardly any household in the region that does not prepare it during the summer. The raw mangoes too are extremely sour and the pickle combined with the harsh chilli-powder and pungent mustard in oil gives it a heady taste.

Gongura, known as ‘ambada’ in Hindi and Urdu, is a sour-tasting leaf that goes into either ‘dal’ or is converted into a ‘chutney’ — another speciality in Andhra. Gongura chutney with either red or green chillies gives a taste hard to find elsewhere. You also find a lot of tasty non-vegetarian dishes blended with green leafy vegetables, like ‘palak mutton’, ‘methi chicken’, ‘kheema methi’ and ‘mutton ambada(Gongura)’, which has resulted from combination of Hyderabad and Andhra cuisine.

A typical Andhra meal has lots of chillies and is often accompanied by pickles. While raw mango pickle is the hot favourite, others includelemon, gooseberry, ‘Gongura’ and even ripe chillies pickles. Ripe red chillies and tamarind are used to make ‘chutney’ that is preserved throughout the year.

Curried prawns and fish with rice are specialities in many coastal Andhra towns and cities. Rice is the staple food in Andhra Pradesh and forms the main dish even in Moghlai cooking.

Something Sweet

Sweets and ‘kheer’ are not everyday affairs but form part of the meal on special occasions in any part of the State. It is mainly during festivities that full rein is given to the preparation. While `Sheer Khorma’ is the milky vermicelli sweet popular in Hyderabad, other dessert delicacies include "Double-ka-meetha (a bread pudding)" and "Khubani-ka-meetha", a syrupy speciality made with apricots and lots of sugar. In other parts of Andhra, a rice and milk delicacy is "ksheerannam" in which jaggery (gur) and powdered cardamom enhance the taste.

While Moghlai cuisine tops the list, Andhra food comes a close second. It is often that regular non-vegetarians break their routine by going in for a typical Andhra meal.

The cuisine of Andhra Pradesh is a gourmet’s delight, truly.Such delicacies are offered by the hotels, restaurants and dhabas in and around all major cities of the State.