Andhra Pradesh – At the Crossroads of Modernity and History

The state of Andhra Pradesh is situated in the southern part of India. The state is bordered by the neighboring states of Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Maharashtra and Orrissa on one sides and Bay of Bengal Ocean on the other. This state is also like the other southern states of India rich in culture, art and heritage. It is situated on the confluence of two major races of India, the Aryan and Dravidian and also has a significant influence of Islamic Mughal culture. One of the most beautiful languages of India, the Telugu language is a mainly Dravidian language but with a lot of influence from the Aryan Sanskrit.

Andhra Pradesh is a state that had been ruled by various kings of different dynasties and religious beliefs. This has created a big impact on the culture, language, lifestyle, art and architecture of the state. The capital city of Hyderabad is a paradox with sophistication and modernity one part and an undeveloped but rich in Islamic influence old part. These two aspects reflect the essence of Hyderabad which is divided into new modern Hyderabad and the under developed old Hyderabad. Hence the city of Hyderabad offers a tourist a mixture of modern pleasures and old world charm. The city is a bustling one on one side with all the entertainments needed for the old tourist and the other side filled with wonders of Islamic architecture. The Charminar in old Hyderabad is an architectural wonder built in memory of a couple in love. This part of the city also boasts of the Golconda Fort, which is a historic fort with many tales and stories associated with its history. The Salarjung Museum in Hyderabad is one of the finest museums in the country.

The state of Andhra Pradesh is filled with numerous temples, among them the Sri Venkateshwara temple in Tirupati is world famous. This temple is both a pilgrim and tourist attraction as this is a beautiful temple on top of a hillock called Tirumala, which has a salubrious climate all year round. This temple is one of the richest temples in India in terms of the collections from pilgrim donations. Apart from Tirupati, the Srisailam and Badrachalam temples are also worth visiting. Most parts of Andhra are arid and dry but the fertile Godavari Plains offer the tourist plenty of greenery. There are some waterfalls in the state; among them the Talacona Falls is very famous.

The state is well connected by rail, road and air. Hyderabad has an international airport of world class standard. The languages spoken are Telugu, Hindi and Urdu. English is spoken by many and understood by the rest. The best time for visit is Sep-Feb.