State Statistic
Average
Summer Temp : 45°C
Average Winter Temperature : 30°C
Best Visiting Season : February to October
Sightseeing : Golconda Fort, Charminar, Mecca Masjid, Lord
Venkateshwara, Amravati, Nagarjunakonda
Special Events : Shilpararam, Null Null, Lumbini Festival, Deccan
Festival, Rayalaseema Food and Dance Festival, Visaka Utsav
Shopping Places : Pearls, Silver Filigiri, Banajara Mirror, Aataar,
Kalamakari, Bidri
State Overview
The
largest of four states of South India, Andhra Pradesh, occupies an area of
2,75,000 sq kms, a space that challenges the area occupied by united kingdom
or New Zealand. Andhra Pradesh is a big land of hospitable people whose
roots ring back to Mauryan era. A land physically rich in contrast; ancient
prehistoric rocks in the plateaus of southwest lush green paddy fields in
the deltas of Godavari, low forested hills teeming with wildlife, lakes,
waterfalls- all rimmed in the east with shimmering beaches and blue waters
of Bay of Bengal. A land which represents a synthesis of religious
tradition. It has one of the most venerated Hindu temples in India, that of
Lord Venketeshwara, one of the largest ancient mosques, the Mecca Masjid, a
towering 61-meter high cathedral in Medak and ancient architectural evidence
of Buddhist devotion at Amravati and Nagarjunakonda. It is a land with a
rich heritage in arts and crafts including its own classical dance form, the
energetic Kuchipudi, and traditional art form Kalamkari painting which uses
a pen and a brush technique to paint the narrative of the religion. You have
a choice to travel all over India or just hit Andhra Pradesh.
Reaching
to Andhra Pradesh
» Airways : Andhra Pradesh has one International
Airport located at Hyderabad. Apart from this there are other Airports at
Tirupathi,Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry and Vijayawada.
» Roadways : Andhra Pradesh is well connected with
an efficient network 1,104 kms of National Highway. A number of state
tourism bus runs through out the states and inter state too.
» Railways : Nearly 5,085 km of the railways route
cover the state Andhra Pradesh out of which 4,362 km is broad-gauge, 686 km
is metre-gauge and 37 km is narrow gauge.
» Ports : A number of commercial ports punctuate
the long coastline of the state. The most important port in the state is
Visakhapatnam. Minor ports are located at Kakinada, Machilipatnam,
Bheemunipatnam, Krishnapatnam, Vadarevu and Kalingapatnam.
Key
Attraction
»
Attraction 1 : Charminar
The city's major attraction and landmark, Charminar imposing monument with
its four graceful 54 mts high minarets, was built two years after founding
the city. Open on all days, minarets are the most enchanting part of the
edifice. If you are able to seek special permission from the state for
trekking to top of minarets you can have a spectacular view of the city.
There are equal sized minarets that proportionally balance the building of
white stones.
» Attraction 2 : Golconda Fort
The legendary fort of Golconda is a magnificient architecture displaying
the genius of its builder, with wall enclosures that go up the hill forming
accoustic warning system,that a clap at the gate can be heard at the top of
the citadel(61 meters above). Also an innovative water supply system is
present here, which is used 'Persian Wheels' to raise water into storage
reservoirs in the fort. The World famous Kohinoor diamond, which now adorns
the British crown, was mined in Golconda. A sound and light show is held in
the evening.
» Attraction 3 : Salar Jung Museum
The musem houses over 35,000 object d arts, the private collection of Nawab
Salar Jung III. There are carved and inlaid peice, jewels and ornaments,
exquisitely bejewled swords and daggers of Mughal rulers.
» Attraction 4 : Mecca Masjid
Situated near the Charminar, this is the largest mosque in South India,
accommodating 10,000 persons at a time. It is beleived that the bricks used
here are brought from Mecca.
» Attraction 5 : Deccan Prehistoric Rocks
These massive grey granite rocks of the Deccan plateau, naturally sculpted
can be seen at Durgam, Cheruvu, Jubilee Hills, Geologists date them at about
2500 million years. There are only five sheilds areas in the world and the
Deccan Sheild is only one in Asia.
» Attraction 6 : Borra Caves
Andhra Pradesh has many clandestine caves and rock chisled architecture
just like Borra Caves, located at 90 km away from Visakhapatnam, these
one-million-year-old natural caves sprawl over an area of 2 square
kilometers at a height 1400 feet above the sea level. The Gosthani River
once upon a time flew over the limestone area. Due to the water pressure on
the mineral deposits the limestone dissolved and gradually the caves were
formed giving rise to interesting forms like a mushroom, a temple, a mosque,
a church and many more.
Shopping Places
Shopping
in Andhra Pradesh is an enthralling experience that involves bargaining in
the colourfull bazaars, along the streets, for pieces of unmathched
handwork. It is always better to hit Government Emporias and Cottages. In
addition, you can shop at famous markets like Laad Bazaar, Shilparamam-The
Arts & Crafts Village and other shopping joints. Exqusite jewelleries,
precious stones, pearls, glass embedded bangles, antique 'Kundan', enamel
ornaments are some of the shopper's must at Andhra Pradesh. Once there,
forget not to buy temple saris and Pochampalli silks.
