Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh, the third largest state in India is said to have been the home of the Pre- Dravidian inhabitants. Andhra region witnessed the rule of Chandragupta Maurya during which it established itself as an independent kingdom. The state located in South India, is bounded by Tamil Nadu in the south, Maharashtra in the North and North-West, Madhya Pradesh in the North-East, Karnataka in the West, and the Bay of Bengal in the East. The medieval city of Hyderabad is its capital.
The main languages spoken here are Telugu, English, Urdu and Hindi.

LAND
 

Andhra Pradesh lies between 12o41' and 22o longitude and 77o and 84o40' latitude. It is bounded by Madhya Pradesh and Orissa in the north, the Bay of Bengal in the east, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in the south and Maharashtra in the west. Andhra Pradesh is the third largest state in India and it forms the major link between the north and the south of India. It is the biggest and most populous state in the south of India.

There are three main regions in Andhra Pradesh -
1. Northern Circars or coastal Andhra comprising Srikakulam,Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Ongole and Nellore districts;
2. Rayalaseema or Ceded districts comprising Kurnool, Cuddapah, Chittoor and Anantapur districts;
3. Telangana comprising Khammam, Nalgonda, Warangal, Karimnagar, Medak, Nizamabad, Aadilabad, Mahbubnagar and Hyderabad districts. The Circars or Coastal districts are well developed and enjoy a greater degree of affluence than the other two regions; Rayalaseema is close to the coastal districts and here rainfall is less than in the coastal districts and drought conditions prevail sometimes, and the Telangana region is of the former princely state of Nizam's Hyderabad, which is close to Maharashtra's Marathwada region and some parts of Karnataka.

The state is dotted with hill ranges from the north to the south, running erratically down the middle of the country dividing it into western and eastern or coastal Andhra. These hills form integral geographical entities of Andhra life and history. In the north, there are Simhachalam and Annavaram hills, in the middle country there are the Srisailam hill ranges and in the south are the Tirumalai-Tirupati hills. early 75% of the state territory, is covered by the basins of three big rivers - Godavari, Krishna and Pennar and their tributaries.  In addition, there are 17 short rivers like Sarada, Nagavali, Musi and other streams. The two great perennial rivers of the state, Godavari and Krishna spring from the Western Ghats in Maharashtra and flow eastward and joins the Bay of Bengal. The Godavari enters the state of Andhra Pradesh direct from Maharashtra, but the Krishna first goes to Karnataka where it flows for a considerable distance before entering Andhra Pradesh. Besides these two big rivers, there are the Tungabhadra, the Pennar and many other small rivers and rivulets. Pennar originates in the Karnataka plateau. Like all the peninsular rivers and even those which arise in central India, like the Narmada, Sone and Chambal, all these are rain fed rivers as there is no snow below the Himalayas. Andhra Pradesh has considerable topographical variations with dense forest in the north east, flat paddy lands in the coastal plains, several noteworthy beaches along the Bay of Bengal and the stark boulder-strewn region around Hyderabad.

PEOPLE

The general physical traits of the people of Andhra Pradesh are tall, round-headed, broad-faced, with a long arched forehead, thick and protruding noses, with straight hair and yellow skin. Certain castes of Brahmins and Kapus of Vizag district, in Andhra Pradesh have the following features which accords with the description of the sub-races of the Mediterranean belonging to the main division of Caucasoid; short of medium height, with long and elevated or medium-sized heads, normal eyebrows, with short broad faces, prominent but medium-sized noses, straight hair and wavy tufts. The general colour of the skin is wheat-gray.
The other inhabitants of the Andhra are divided into two classes. The first of them belong to the forests and hill area of the Deccan Plateau. The others belong to the extended areas of the doab between the rivers Krishna and the Godavari. The foresters answer to the description of the Australoid sub-race. The Chenchus of  Srisailam hills belong to this class. They are short, with elevated long heads and possess clear and well-defined eyebrows, with protruding mouths and snub flat noses. The general colour of the skin is wheat-gray and the hair is black and crinkled.
Gadabas, Savaras and Koyas belonging to the Bhadrachalam and Simhachalam hilly areas, bear the complex features of Mongolids and Australoids. From the earliest times, the Telugu land included among its inhabitants foresters and hill-men and other tribals. Some tribals inhabited the sea-board region. Today there are nearly 32 lakh tribals and 50 lakh nomads and other backward people in Andhra Pradesh. Their habitat spreads along the coastal and mountain strip of the Bay of Bengal from the Bhadragiri agency in Srikakulam district to the Bhadrachalam agency in Khammam and Godavari districts. From there it spreads north-east wards to the Adilabad region. This tribal area is contiguous to the tribal areas of Bastar, Dandakaranya and Vidarbha. There are about thirty-three kinds of tribals in eight districts of Andhra Pradesh. Important among them are the Khonds, Kolamis, Nayakpods, Koyas, Kondadoras, Valmikis, Bhagatas, Savaras, Jatayus, Gadabas, Yanadis and Chenchus.

These tribes have absorbed elements of Hinduism. The tribal people worship their own pantheon of nature gods and goddesses and continue to revel in their ancient customs and manners. Their languages do not have scripts and are essentially verbal. Tradition has a firm grip on them. The laws of tradition are always obeyed scrupulously and any breach is strictly censured. Their social life is obedience to the leader who commands immense respect and holds sway over all aspects of tribal life. They do not hesitate to participate in the feasts and festivals of the community. They sing and dance. The Yanadis along the coastline, the Chenchus of the Srisailam hill area, the Koyas and Savaras of Godavari and Srikakulam forest areas, and the Khonds of Adilabad forests are typical in ancient habits. Their beliefs are simple and seek direct uninvolved expression. They are honest and frailties in character.In Andhra Pradesh there are certain nomadic tribes. Piccukaguntlu, Balasanta, Saradakandru, Viramushtivaru, Bavanilu, Birannalavaru, Gollasuddulu, Davaluru, Jangamulu, Kommuvaru etc are Telugu nomads whose main occupation is ballad singing. They are favoured by particular castes for maintaining their family records and singing their past glory. Some of them are occupied in itinerarytrade and commerce, while their womenfolk  are engaged in cottage industries like making toys, baskets, mats, beads and cosmetics. They are always on the move, subject to the changes of weather and this state of living is traditional. These nomadic tribes have their own forms of recreation and pastimes which go a long way in making their life less rigorous and even contended. They take suffering in their stride but they know how to seek refuge from life's worries in a native and pleasant manner.
Among non-Telugu nomads, Lambadis also called Sugalis are very prominent. Originally they were Rajasthani's who took to a nomadic way of life and moved in batches towards the south of the sub-continent. Some of them are found in rural areas. They are itinerant traders. Besides the Lambadis, mercenary soldiers of Maharashtrian stock have settled down mostly in Telangana. They are called 'Are' and they speak a dialect which is a mixture of Marathi and Telugu. Their occupation is agriculture. They have only a spoken language. Their manners and customs are different from those of the country of their domicile. Cultural complexities have arisen due to historical circumstances. Many foreigners of different faiths have entered Andhra Pradesh and some of them made cultural conquests through fire and sword. Others prevailed in the guise of spiritual uplift. Both these foreign elements have disrupted the continuity and peaceful life of the people and affected their tradition and culture. The Tribal Welfare and Social Welfare departments are trying to better the lot of the tribals and backward classes with educational and economic plans. Free education,hostel facilities, cottage industries, housing societies, agricultural facilities, bank loans and cooperative corporations for the marketing of forest produce like honey and herbs, are some of the ways by which it has sought to better the lives of these simple people.

HISTORY

Andhra Pradesh is said to have been the home of the Pre- Dravidian inhabitants. Andhra region witnessed the rule of Chandragupta Maurya during which it established itself as an independent kingdom. After Ashoka, the Mauryan empire declined giving opportunity to establish smaller kingdoms. In about the third century BC the Satavahanas ruled for about five centuries. The Satavahanas established a strong rule with their territories extending upto Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The Satavahanas were overpowered by the Ikshvakus by the third century AD. During this period Brahmanism is said to have been revived. This reduced the influence of the Buddhist which was fostered by the Satavahanas.  
 

By the end of the third century AD the Pallavas of Kanchi put an end to the rule of the Ikshavakus. Art and Architecture advanced during their rule. By 4th century AD the Anandas established their rule which lasted till 6th century. During the 7thcentury the Eastern Chalukyas exercised  their power for about four centuries. Literature was advanced during this period with promotion of the Telegu script. The Kakatiyas who were the feudatories of the Eastern Chalukyas became independent in about the 12th century. During the rule of Delhi Sultanate, Muslims repeatedly attempted intrution into Andhra. In 1332 AD Ulugh Khan established themselves. The Reddi Kingdom of Kondavidu; the Velama kingdom, the Vijayanagar Kingdom also ruled independently . The rule of Muhammad Tughlag witnessed the rise of the independent Muslim Power at Bijapur. This was under the Bahamani Sultanate.  In 1518 the Sultan Qili Qutub Shah declared himself independent and founded the Qutub Shah dynasty which existed till 1687. During this period literature, art and architect are advanced. The city of 

Hyderabad was laid in 1591 by Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah. The Mughals put an end to the Qutub Shahi rule in 1687. After this the Asafjahis called Nizams emerged. They influenced Andhra Pradesh till the 18th century till  Andhra Pradesh was ceded to the East India Company. Gradually the whole of Andhra Pradesh except Hyderabad was under the British till 1947. In 1956 Andhra Pradesh was declared as a state.

FESTIVAL

Andhra Pradesh is famous for its varied culture and tradition. One of the highlights of its culture are the numerous festivals celebrated here. Most of these festivals are religious and some are organized by the government of Andhra Pradesh state. These festivals are celebrated with great pomp and gaiety.
Of the religious festivals and fairs, Brahmotsavam at Tirupati and the Sri Rama Navami Festival at Bhadrachalam are quite popular. Lumbini Fair, Vishaka Utsav, Deccan Festival are popular fairs highlighting the culture of the state.

Hindu festivals such as Dussehra, Deepavali, Sri Ram Navami, Krishna Janmashtami, Vinayaka Chavithi or Ganesh Chaturthi and Maha Shivratri are celebrated in the state. Similarly, Muslim festivals such as Bakr Id and Id-ul-Fitr and Christian festivals like Christmas, Easter and New Year's Day are also celebrated with gaiety. However, the celebrations of Ugadi (Telugu New Year's day in March-April) and Sankranti (in January) are unique in the state. Bathakamma is special to the Telengana region. In the month-long festival, Goddess Bathakamma's idol is worshipped and is made to float on the rivers and lakes.

The annual tourism events include the Visaka Utsav (from the third Friday to Sunday of January), Deccan Festival (on the 25th of February, of which the Pearls and Bangles Fair is a part), Rayalseema Food and Dance Festival (in October, at Tirupati) and Lumbini Festival (from the second Friday to Sunday of December, at Nagarjunasagar and Hyderabad).
Arts and Crafts of Andhra Pradesh

There is no dearth of exuberant culture and traditions in andhra Pradesh. Here you can find many forms of performing arts, handlooms and curios. The range of handicrafts is absolutely fantastic at Andhra Pradesh. They hold a special place in the culture and tradition of the state.

¤ Handicrafts 

Some of the most exquisite handicrafts are found in Andhra Pradesh. Many of them evolved from within the state whereas some were brought by the people coming to this magnificent state.

¤ Banjara Needle Crafts (Embroidery) This art form belongs to the nomads and gypsies of Andhra Pradesh. The embroidery of this form is live and vibrant. Banjaras in Andhra Pradesh display their colorful lifestyle through their exuberant clothes.

¤ Bidri CraftThis craft belongs to the the city of Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh. It basically involves silver inlay on metal, which is very exquisite. There are many legends related to its entry and exit into the country and then to Andhra Pradesh.

¤ Bronze CastingsThe famous bronze idols were based on the verses from the Shilpashastra. These verses were called dhyana. These verses instruct the craftsmen about the physical measurements, proportions, description of the deity, characteristics, symbolism and above all, aesthetics.

¤ Budithi Brassware The Budithi Brassware originated from a small village called Budithi in central Srikakulam, a district in Andhra Pradesh. This place is famous for creating beautiful shapes out of alloys. These shapes are also available in modern as well as antique style.

¤ Pembarthi Metal CraftsPembarthi is a small village located in the state of Andhra Pradesh at about 100 kms from Hyderabad. The village is famed worldwide for its unmatched brassware tradition. This meticulous brass work art flourished during the reign of Kakatiyas empire.

¤ Durgi Stone CraftThe famous Durgi stone craft originated in the Durgi. It is situated 10 Kms from Macherla in Andhra Pradesh. There is a school of sculpture and stone carving located here, which imparts this ancient skill. Some of the masterpieces of Durgi Stone Craft is found at the Nagarjunakonda museum.

¤ Kondapalli ToysThe famous Kondapalli toys are made of softwood, known as Tella Poniki. These toys are also made up of sawdust, tamarind seed powder, enamel gums and watercolors. After the toy is carved on the wood, a paste made of tamarind, wood and sawdust is applied for giving further shapes and attaching limbs etc., to the toy. This art form belongs to the Kondapalli district of Andhra Pradesh.

¤ Lacquer WareThe Lacquer craft is widely found in Etikoppaka in Andhra Pradesh. This place is one of the major centers of this craft. The Lacquer craft involves the application of lacquer on wood in pleasing shades to create a distinguishing appeal.

¤ Nirmal Arts - Paintings & ToysThe Nirmal art is generally found in the Nirmal town, Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh. Here, many craftsmen known as Nakash reside. They are involved in Niramal arts, in which scenes from the Hindu epics, Mahabharata and Ramayana are painted.

¤ Veena ManufacturingAt Bobbili in Andhra Pradesh, the oldest musical instrument, Saraswati Veena is manufactured. This instrument is even mentioned in almost all ancient texts. It is an integral part of Carnatic music, famous all over the world for its melody and harmony.

¤ HandloomsThe handlooms of Andhra Pradesh are of excellent quality. It is also famous for its fine saris all over the world. Every region of the state has its own style and weave.

¤ Chirala TextilesThe textiles of Chirala are quite famous. The Chirala textile is made by using a large quantity of oil, which is used in preparing yarn for weaving. After the fabric is ready, it is wrapped with wax & clay before being dyed in selected colors .

¤ Dharmavaram SarisThe Dharmavaram in Andhra Pradesh is famous for silk saris all over the world. These saris are specially worn on functions. They have simple, plain borders without much contrast. The borders of these saris are commonly broad having brocaded gold patterns. The borders also have butta and the pallus of the saris have exclusive designs.

¤ Eluru CarpetsThe Eluru in Andhra Pradesh is famous for its woolen pile carpet industry. This art from was brought to India by the Persians who migrated to Andhra Pradesh during the Muhammaddin regime. Later, they developed the carpet industry here.

¤ Gadwal SarisGadwal located in Andhra Pradesh is famous all over the world for its beautiful saris. The body of the Sari is cotton whereas the border and pallu are in silk. The cotton and silk fabrics are woven separately and then attached together.

¤ Ikat Weaving Handlooms This is a skill that requires a lot of intricacy. It is a style of weaving, where the yarn is randomly dyed in natural zigzag or geometric patterns. The Ikat weaving originated in Nalgonda district of andhra Pradesh. This internationally acclaimed weaving form, is now practiced mainly in Puttapaka, Pochampalli and Chautuppal villages of andhra Pradesh.

¤ Kalamkari FabricsThe Kalamkari is a fabric famous all over the world for its beautiful vegetable colors used on the clothes. These fabrics include a range of special mythological designs for Hindus, prayer carpets for Mohammadans, tent lining cloth, chintz, table clothes and curtain clothes printed in attractive colors. This art form is found at Machilipatnam in andhra pradesh.

¤ Mangalagiri Sarees The Mangalagiri saris and dress materials are made from Mangalgiri cotton, which is quite popular here. Mangalagiri, located 12 Kms from Vijayawada is also an important pilgrimage center in Andhra Pradesh.

¤ Uppada Sarees Handlooms The Uppada saris are produced in Uppada, a beach town located 20 kms from Kakinada. It is famous for attractively designed cotton saris. At Peddapuram, 20 kms from Kakinada one can buy delicately designed silk saris created by local artisans.

ECONOMY

Agriculture 

Andhra Pradesh is one of the agriculturally rich and food grains surplus states of the country and it makes its surplus rice available for consumption in other states. The state is the largest producer of rice in India. It is also the leading producer of cash crops like Tobacco, Groundnut, Chillies, Turmeric, Oilseeds, Cotton, Sugar and Jute. Its tobacco is noted for its high quality and much of it is exported, although there is a world wide movement against smoking. Millets, groundnuts, cotton, jowar and ragi are the principal crops of the state. Pulses of all kinds are also widely sown in the state. The state also produces some of the finest varieties of Mangoes, Grapes, Guavas, Sapotas, Papayas and Bananas. About 70% of the workforce in the state is dependent on agriculture and more than a third of the state's gross domestic product is derived from the out put of the earth through agriculture. Land holdings are small and this led to a violent communist movement in the year around independence. The states forest cover accounts for 24% of the total landmass of Andhra Pradesh, although it is unevenly distributed. Teak is the most important forest product in the Telengana region and this is in plenty in the Kurnool forest too.

Industry.

The recent growth in Andhra Pradesh's Industry is evidence to Former Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu's achievements. With a friendly investment atmosphere, the State has become an attractive choice for investment. One of the main Industrial area in Andhra Pradesh is HITEC city, a technology township  in Hyderabad. The Hyderabad Information Technology Engineering Consultancy City (HITEC City) the largest Information Technology park in India, spread in 151 acres, offers world class state-of-the-art IT infrastructure under one roof to companies operating in the field of IT services, IT enabled services, Telecom, Engineering Consultancy and related services. Shilparamam, also in Hyderabad, located in Madhapur 14 km off the city HITEC city is an arts and crafts village, which plays host to the countless traditions of arts and crafts of India. It stands to preserve the dying art forms.
The other industries in the large scale sector consist of sugar mills, spinning and textile mills, electrical, paper and cement manufacturing units. In the small scale sector there are pesticides and insecticides production, engineering workshops, automobile units and repairs, chemical industries, utensils manufacturing, wooden furniture, electrical items, cotton ginning and edible oil etc.
Mineral Wealth

The mineral wealth of Andhra Pradesh consists mainly of asbestos, barytes, coal, chromite, iron ore, kyanite, mica and chinaclay. There occurs other minerals in small quantity in some areas although limestone occurs extensively. The crysotite kind of asbestos is found only in Andhra Pradesh. It is spun into yarn and woven into fireproof cloth. This mineral occurs mainly in Cuddapah. Coal occurs in a broad belt in the Godavari basin covering Adilabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Warangal and West Godavari districts.
 

TOURISM

Hyderabad, the fifth largest city in the country, is the capital of Andhra Pradesh and has several prominent places in and around it. It has a Hindu-Muslim culture with a number of monuments of historical importance like Char Minar, Golconda, Salar Jung Museum, Mecca Masjid, Osman Sagar and Osmania University. The capital is in reality the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad linked together by the Hussain Sagar Lake.
The sites of historical importance include Warangal, Palampet, Vemulavada, Bhadrachalam, and Lepakshi. Andhra Pradesh is known for pilgrimages, not only for Hindus, but also for followers of other religions like Muslims, Christians and Buddhists. The state has a rich heritage of temples, mosques, churches and viharas. The state is known for the famous Sri Venkateswara temple at Tirupati, Birla Mandir at Hyderabad and Bhadra Kali temple at Warangal, Mecca Masjid at Hyderabad, the Buddhist viharas at Nagarjunasagar, and the Sai Baba Ashram at Puttaparthi. The Hindu pilgrimage sites include Tirupati, Srisailam, Basara, and Srikalahasti. The state was once the site of a flowering Buddhist culture. The Salivahanas, who were Buddhists by religion, followed the Satvahana dynasty. Several Buddhist stupas and viharas were built during their reign, and Buddhist centers flourished at Nagarjunakonda, Amravati, Sankara, Bhattiprolu, Guntupalli, Gantasala, Salihunda, Panigiri, Nelakondapalli, and Bahvikonda.

There are waterfalls at Ettipothala, Kuntala, and Gandipet. The caves at Undavalli and Borra are also major tourist attractions. Two large and world famous dams are located at Nagarjunasagar and Nizamsagar.
Many wildlife sanctuaries can be found in the state, namely, Kawal, Sivaram, Pakhal, Pranahita, Eturnagaram, Kinnerasani, Papikonda, Nagarjunasagar, Srisailam, Pocharam, Gundlabrahmeshwaram, Shri Venkateshwara, Srilanka Malleswara, and Kaundinya. There are four bird sanctuaries in the state at Kolleru, Rollapadu, Nelapattu, and Manjira.
The state has nearly 1,000 km of coastline, with eight of its 23 districts having direct access to the sea with azure water caressing golden sands, which accounts for the presence of so many beaches. Starting from Bheemunipattnam near Vishakhapatnam down to Mypad in Nellore district, the coastline of Andhra Pradesh offers unalloyed joy to the sun worshippers and sea bathers. Apart from the Ramakrishna beach, Lawson's bay and Rishikonda beach at Vishakhapatnam and Bheemunipattnam beaches there are other famous beaches such as Manginapudi, near Machilipattnam, Kakinada, Chirala, Kalingapatnam and Mypad.

How to get there

Air: 

Begumpet Airport at Hyderabad, also known as Hyderabad Airport, is currently the only international airport in Andhra Pradesh. It is well connected to most major Indian cities and some overseas. Other important airports of the state include Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, Tirupati and Vishakapatnam.
Sea: Major Sea Port of Andhra Pradesh is at Vishakapatnam which have regular cruise to Andaman &is also connected with other major ports. Gangavaram deep water port is under development. Minor Sea ports include Kakinada, Krishnapatnam, and Machilipatnam.


Rail:

Andhra Pradesh is well connected with around 620 Railway stations. In which three main train stations include Hyderabad or Nampally, Secunderabad and Kacheguda. Secunderabad is the main station from where one can get trains to all major towns/cities of the country. It has a Total Rail network of 5107 kms


Road: 

Andhra Pradesh has a total road network of 178,474 Kilometers with about 12 National Highways of 4014 Kms. and State Highways of 8763 Kms. Andhra pradesh state road transport corporation, considered as the largest state transport undertaking in the world provides transit facility in the state of Andhra pradesh. APSRTC runs intercity and inter district buses within the state of Andhra pradesh. It also runs interstate routes connecting to the adjacent states of Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Geography and climate

Geographically, Andhra Pradesh is composed of most of the eastern half of the Deccan plateau and the plains to the east of the Eastern Ghats. It is the fourth largest state in India. The northern part of the plateau is the Telangana region and the southern part is known as Rayalaseema. These two regions are separated by the River Krishna. The plains to the east of Eastern Ghats form the Eastern coastal plains. The Eastern Ghats are discontinuous and individual sections have local names. The Kadapa Basin formed by two arching branches of the Eastern Ghats is a mineral rich area. The coastal plains are for the most part delta regions formed by the Godavari, Krishna, and Penner rivers. The Eastern Ghats are a major dividing line in the state's geography. The Ghats become more pronounced towards the south and extreme north of the coast. The Eastern Ghat region is home to dense tropical forests, while the vegetation becomes sparse as the Ghats give way to the Deccan Plateau, where shrub vegetation is more common. Most of the coastal plains are put to intense agricultural use. The west and southwest parts of Andhra Pradesh have semi-arid conditions.

The climate of Andhra Pradesh varies considerably, depending on the geographical region. Monsoons play a major role in determining the climate of the state. Summers last from March to June. In the coastal plain the summer temperatures are generally higher than the rest of the state, with temperature ranging between 20°C and 41°C.
July to September is the season for tropical rains in Andhra Pradesh. The state receives heavy rainfall during these months. About one third of the total rainfall in Andhra Pradesh is brought by the Northeast Monsoon. October and November see low-pressure systems and tropical cyclones form in the Bay of Bengal which, along with the Northeast Monsoon, bring rains to the southern and coastal regions of the state. November, December, January, and February are the winter months in Andhra Pradesh. Since the state has a long coastal belt the winters are not very cold. The range of winter temperature is generally 12°C to 30°C.
Hyderabad is the capital and, along with the adjoining twin city Secunderabad, is the largest city in the state. Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh's main seaport, is the second largest city and is home to the Indian Navy's Eastern Naval Command. Due to its location and proximity to major rail and road routes, Vijayawada is a major trading center and the third largest city. Other important cities and towns are Kakinada, Warangal, Guntur, Rajahmundry, Tirupati, Srikakulam, Machilipatnam, Tenali, Ongole, Kurnool, Anantapur, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Nirmal, Nellore, Bhimavaram, Narsapuram, and Eluru.

Cultural institutions

Andhra Pradesh has many museums, including the Archaeological Museumat Amaravati near Guntur City that features relics of nearby ancient sites, the Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad, which features a varied collection of sculptures, paintings, and religious artifacts, and the Visakha Museum in Visakhapatnam, which displays the history of the pre-Independence Madras Presidency in a rehabilitated Dutch bungalow. Victoria Jubilee Museum in Vijayawada has a good collection of ancient sculptures, paintings, idols, weapons, cutlery and inscriptions. Other ancient sites include dozens of ancient Buddhist stupas in Nagarjunakonda which is now an island in Nagarjuna Sagar, an artificial lake that formed after the construction of Nagarjuna Sagar Dam. The Island has a large museum that houses many Buddhist relics.

Cuisine

The cuisine of Andhra Pradesh is one of the spiciest of all Indian cuisines. There are many variations to the Andhra cuisine (all involving rice) depending on geographical regions, caste, and traditions. Pickles and chutneys, called pachchadi in Telugu, are particularly popular in Andhra Pradesh and many varieties of pickles and chutneys are unique to the State. Chutneys are made from practically every vegetable including tomatoes, brinjals (eggplant), and roselle (Gongura).Avakaya (mango) is probably the best known of the Andhra pickles.

Rice is the staple food and is used in a wide variety of ways. Typically, rice is either boiled and eaten with curry, or made into a batter for use in a crepe-like dish called attu (pesarattu is made of a mixture of this batter and mung beans) or dosas, a crepe filled with black beans or lentils.

Meat, vegetables and greens are prepared with different spices (masala) into a variety of strongly flavored dishes such as Nellore fish curry, mango brinzal curry, and Gunturu Gongura pachadi. Hyderabadi cuisine is influenced by the Muslims who arrived in Telangana in the 14th century. Much of the cuisine revolves around meat. It is rich and aromatic, with a liberal use of exotic spices and ghee (clarified butter). Lamb, chicken, and fish are the most widely used meats in the non-vegetarian dishes. Biriyani is perhaps the most distinctive and popular dish of Hyderabadi cuisine.

Dance

Classical dance in Andhra can be performed by both men and women; women tend to learn it more often.Kuchipudi is the state's best-known classical dance form. The various dance forms that existed through the state's history are Chenchu Bhagotham, Kuchipudi, Bhamakalapam, 
Burrakatha,Veeranatyam, Butta bommalu, 
Dappu, Tappeta Gullu, Lambadi, Bonalu, 
Dhimsa, Kolattam and chindu. 
Jaanapadam is a popular folk dance.

Jayapa Senani was the first person to write about the dances prevalent in Andhra Pradesh.Both Desi and Margi forms of dances are included in his Sanskrit treatise Nrutya Ratnavali.