Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Andhra Pradesh Highlights
Imagine a life of riches, pleasure gardens and poetry in Hyderabad's many palaces and royal structures ( Click
here )
Soak up centuries-old ambience at Hyderabad's colourful Laad Bazaar ( Click here )
Absorb the meditative vibrations of monks past at Sankaram ( Click here ) , Bavikonda ( Click here ) and Thot-
lakonda ( Click here ), and Guntupalli ( Click here ), destinations on a 2300-year-old monastic trail
Find devotion you didn't know you had alongside thousands of Hindu pilgrims at Tirumala ( Click here )
Enjoy the views as your train chugs through the spectacular Eastern Ghats to Araku ( Click here )
Get hypnotised by the lush intricacy and colours of kalamkari paintings in Sri Kalahasti ( Click here )
Learn about Andhra's rich ethnic diversity at tribal museums in Hyderabad ( Click here ) and Araku ( Click
here )
History
From the 3rd century BC the Satavahana empire, also known as the Andhras, reigned
throughout the Deccan plateau. It evolved from the Andhra people, whose presence in
southern India may date back to 1000 BC. Buddha's teaching took root here early on, and
the Andhras fully embraced it, building huge edifices in its honour. In the coming centur-
ies, the Andhras would develop a flourishing civilisation that extended from the west to the
east coast of South India.
From the 7th to the 10th century, the Chalukyas ruled the area, establishing their
Dravidian style of architecture, especially along the coast. The Chalukya and Chola dynas-
ties merged in the 11th century to be overthrown by the Kakatiyas, who introduced pillared
temples into South Indian religious architecture. The Vijayanagars then rose to become one
of the most powerful empires in India.
By the 16th century the Islamic Qutb Shahi dynasty held the city of Hyderabad, but in
1687 was supplanted by Aurangzeb's Mughal empire. In the 18th century the post-Mughal
rulers in Hyderabad, known as nizams, retained relative control as the British and French
vied for trade, though their power gradually weakened. The region reluctantly became part
of independent India in 1947, and in 1956 the state of Andhra Pradesh, an amalgamation of
Telugu-speaking areas plus the predominantly Urdu-speaking capital, was created.
Telangana, one of the three main regions that combined to become Andhra Pradesh, is
still being fought over: a movement to create a separate state got traction in 2009 when the
split was approved by the federal government. But the new state's formation was shelved
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