Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh ఆంధ్ర ప్రదేశ్
State of India
Clockwise from top left: Tirupathi, Prakasam Barrage, Lepakshi Nandi (bull) Clockwise from top left: Tirupathi, Prakasam Barrage, Lepakshi Nandi (bull)
Official seal of Andhra Pradesh Seal
Nickname:  Rice Bowl of India
Location of Andhra Pradesh in India
Map of Andhra Pradesh Map of Andhra Pradesh
Country	India
Established	1 November 1956 (1956-11-01)
Capital	Hyderabad
Largest city	Hyderabad
Districts	23 total
Government
• Body	Government of India, Government of Andhra Pradesh
• Governor	E. S. L. Narasimhan
• Chief Minister	N.Kiran Kumar Reddy (caretaker)
• Legislature	Bicameral (294 + 90 seats)
• Deputy Chief Minister	Damodar Raja Narasimha
• High Court	Andhra Pradesh High Court
Area †
• Total	275,045 km2 (106,195 sq mi)
• Rank	4th
Population  (2011)
• Total	84,655,533
• Rank	5th
• Density	310/km2 (800/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+05:30 (IST)
UN/LOCODE	AP
ISO 3166 code	IN-AP
Vehicle registration	AP
HDI	0.473 (low)
HDI rank	15th(2011)
Literacy	67.77% (2011)
Official state language	Telugu Urdu
Website	ap.gov.in
Symbols of Andhra Pradesh
Emblem	Kalasha
Song	Maa Telugu Thalliki by Sri Sankarambadi Sundaraachari
Language	Telugu Urdu
Bird	Indian Roller
Flower	Water lily
Tree	Neem
Dance	Kuchipudi
Sport	Kabaddi

Andhra Pradesh (/ˌndrə prəˈdɛʃ/; Template:Lang-te) abbreviated A.P., is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the country's southeastern coast. It is India's fourth-largest state by area and fifth-largest by population. Its capital and largest city was Hyderabad. Andhra Pradesh was bordered by Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Odisha in the north, the Bay of Bengal in the east, Tamil Nadu to the south and Karnataka to the west.

According to the Planning Commission of India, in the financial year 2011–12 the state was ranked second in nominal GDP, and fourth in GDP per capita. Andhra Pradesh's GDP in the financial year 2011 was ₹5,676.36 billion (US$68 billion). It is historically called the "Rice Bowl of India". More than 77% of its crop is rice; Andhra Pradesh produced 17,796,000 tonnes (19,616,732 short tons) of rice in 2006. Two of the mega cities of the state – Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam – were listed among the top 15 cities contributing to India's overall Gross domestic product.

Andhra Pradesh has the second longest coastline (of 972 km (604 mi)) among all the states of India, after Gujrat. Two major rivers, the Godavari and the Krishna, run across the state. The small enclave (30 square kilometres (12 sq mi)) of Yanam, a district of Pondicherry, lies in the Godavari delta to the northeast of the state. The state comprises three regions: Telangana, Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema. The state's most populous cities are Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Guntur, Rajahmundry, Warangal and Nellore (2011 census).

The primary official language of Andhra Pradesh is Telugu and the co-official language is Urdu. Other languages often spoken in the state include Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Kannada and Oriya.

On 1 November 1956, the States Reorganisation Act formed Andhra Pradesh by merging the Andhra State with the Telugu-speaking areas of the already existing Hyderabad State, also know as Telangana. The Marathi-speaking areas of Hyderabad State merged with Bombay State and the Kannada-speaking areas were merged with Mysore State.

In February 2013, the Parliament of India enacted legislation which will lead to the formation of a new state to be known as Telangana from ten districts in north-western Andhra Pradesh. Hyderabad will become the capital of the new state and will continue to serve as capital of the remaining Andhra Pradesh for a period of time not exceeding 10 years. The new state, comprising Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema, is expected to come into existence within three months.

History

Main article: History of Andhra Pradesh

Kondaveedu

File:Kakateeya Sculpture.jpg

Kakatiya sculpture at Warangal

A pillar at Ahobilam temple in Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh

Rock-cut Lord --Buddha-- Statue at Bojjanakonda near Anakapalle, Visakhapatnam

Early history

The first historical records appear in the Buddhist text Anguttara Nikaya, when what is now the Nizamabad and Adilabad districts of the Telangana region constituted parts of the Assaka Mahajanapada (700–300 BCE). An Andhra tribe was mentioned in the Sanskrit epics such as Aitareya Brahmana (800 BCE) and Mahabharata (400 BCE). The Natya Shastra written by Bharatha (1st century BCE) also mentions about the Andhra people. The roots of the Telugu language have been seen on inscriptions found near the Guntur district and from others dating to the rule of Renati Cholas in the 5th century CE.

Megasthenes, a Greek traveller and geographer who visited the Court of Chandragupta Maurya (322–297 BCE), mentioned that the region had three fortified towns and an army of 100,000 infantry, 200 cavalry, and 1,000 elephants. Buddhist books reveal that Andhras established their huts or tents near the Godavari River at that time.

Inscriptions shows that there was an early kingdom in coastal Andhra (Guntur District) ruled first by Kuberaka and then by his son Varun, with Pratipalapura (Bhattiprolu) as the capital. Around the same time, Dhanyakatakam/Dharanikota (present day Amaravati) appears to have been an important place, which was visited by Gautama Buddha. According to the ancient Tibetan scholar Taranatha: "On the full moon of the month Chaitra in the year following his enlightenment, at the great stupa of Dhanyakataka, the Buddha emanated the mandala of 'The Glorious Lunar Mansions' (Kalachakra)".

The Mauryans extended their rule over Andhra in the 4th century BCE. With the fall of the Maurya Empire in the 3rd century BCE, the Satavahanas became independent. After the decline of the Satavahanas in 220 CE, the Ikshvaku dynasty, Pallavas, Ananda Gotrikas, Rashtrakutas, Vishnukundinas, Eastern Chalukyas, and Cholas ruled the land.

Scholars have suggested that the Prajñāpāramitā Sutras, the earliest Mahayana Sutras, developed among the Mahāsāṃghika along the Krishna River in Andhra country. A.K. Warder holds that "the Mahāyāna originated in the south of India and almost certainly in the Andhra country." Anthony Barber and Sree Padma note that "historians of Buddhist thought have been aware for quite some time that such pivotally important Mahayana Buddhist thinkers as Nāgārjuna, Dignaga, Candrakīrti, Aryadeva, and Bhavaviveka, among many others, formulated their theories while living in Buddhist communities in Andhra." They note that the ancient Buddhist sites in the lower Krishna Valley, including Amaravati, Nagarjunakonda and Jaggayyapeta "can be traced to at least the third century BCE, if not earlier." Sri Singha, Savari, Maitripa and Virupa lived and taught in the Andhra region for some portion of their lives or were in some cases permanent residents. Ronald Davidson calls the Krishna River valley "a site of extraordinary Buddhist activity for almost a thousand years."

During this period, Telugu emerged as a popular language, supplanting Prakrit and Sanskrit. Telugu was made the official language by the Vishnukundina kings (5th and 6th centuries), who ruled from their capital city of Vengi. Eastern Chalukyas ruled for a long period after the decline of Vishnukundinas; their capital was also Vengi. As early as the 1st century CE, Chalukyas were mentioned as being vassals and chieftains under the Satavahanas and later under the Ikshvakus. The Chalukya ruler Rajaraja Narendra ruled Rajahmundry around 1022 CE.

The battle of Palnadu (1182) resulted in the weakening of the Eastern Chalukya dynasty and led to the emergence of the Kakatiya dynasty in the 12th and 13th centuries CE. The Kakatiyas were at first vassals of the Rashtrakutas, and ruled over a small territory near Warangal. Eventually all the Telugu lands were united by the Kakatiyas. In 1323 CE, Delhi Sultan Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq sent a large army under Ulugh Khan to conquer the Telugu country and captured Warangal. King Prataparudra was taken prisoner.Reddy dynasty started from here they ruled more than 100 years after them. Musunuri Nayaks recaptured Warangal from the Delhi Sultanate in 1326 CE and ruled for fifty years

Modern history

Inspired by their success, the Vijayanagara Empire, one of the greatest empires in the history of Andhra Pradesh and India, was founded by Harihara and Bukka, who served as treasury officers of the Kakatiyas of Warangal. In 1347 CE, an independent Muslim state, the Bahmani Sultanate, was established in south India by Ala-ud-Din Bahman Shah in a revolt against the Delhi Sultanate. The Qutb Shahi dynasty held sway over the Andhra country for about two hundred years from the early part of the 16th century to the end of the 17th century. Although Hyderabad was founded less than 500 years ago, archaeologists have unearthed Iron Age sites near the city that could date back to 500 BCE. Approximately over 1000 years ago this region was ruled by Kakatiyas until 1310 CE, and fell under Delhi sultanate from (1310–1345), when the central sultanate became weak the Bahmani Sultan revolted against the Sultan of Delhi Muhammad bin Tughluq and established an independent state in Deccan within the Delhi Sultanates southern provinces and ruled until 1518 CE. Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk, governor of Golconda, declared independence from the Bahmani Dynasty and proclaimed himself Sultan of Golconda in that year, and he founded the Qutb Shahi dynasty.

Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, a fifth Sultan of the Qutb Shahi dynasty (the ruling family of the Golconda Sultanate, previously a feudatory of Bahmani sultanate that declared independence in 1512) founded the city of Hyderabad on the banks of the Musi River in 1591 to relieve a water shortage the dynasty had experienced at its old headquarters in Golconda city (11 kilometres west of Hyderabad city on the other side of Musi). He also ordered the construction of the Charminar. The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb captured the kingdom of Golconda including the city of Hyderabad in 1687 and, during this short Mughal rule, Mughal-appointed governors of the city soon gained autonomy.

In 1724, Asaf Jah I, who was granted the title Nizam-ul-Mulk ("Governor of the country") by the Mughal emperor, defeated a rival official to establish control over kingdom of Golconda renamed it as Hyderabad state. Thus began the Asaf Jahi dynasty that ruled Hyderabad State until a year after India's independence from Britain. Asaf Jah's successors ruled as the Nizams of Hyderabad. The rule of the seven Nizams saw the growth of Hyderabad city both culturally and economically. Hyderabad city became the formal capital of the kingdom (Hyderabad state) and Golkonda city was almost abandoned. Huge reservoirs, like the Nizam Sagar, Tungabhadra, Osman Sagar, and Himayat Sagar, were built. Survey work on Nagarjuna Sagar had also begun during this time; the actual work was completed by the Government of India in 1969. The wealth and grandeur of the Nizams is demonstrated by the fabled Jewels of The Nizams, which is a tourist attraction. The state was the richest and the largest among the princely states of India. The land area of the state was 90,543 mi²; its population in 1901 was 50,073,759. It enjoyed an estimated revenue of £90,029,000.

IIabs in Hyderabad

Visakhapatnam city skyline view

See also: Andhra State, Vishalandhra Movement, Telangana Movement, and Telangana Rebellion

In Colonial India, Northern Circars became part of the British Madras Presidency. Eventually this region emerged as the Coastal Andhra region. Later the Nizam rulers of Hyderabad ceded five territories to the British which eventually emerged as Rayalaseema region. The Nizams retained control of the interior provinces as the princely state of Hyderabad, acknowledging British rule in return for local autonomy. However, Komaram Bheem, a tribal leader, started his fight against the erstwhile Asaf Jahi Dynasty for the liberation of Hyderabad State. Meanwhile, the French occupied Yanam, in the Godavari delta, and (save for periods of British control) would hold it until 1954.

India became independent from the United Kingdom in 1947. The Nizam wanted to retain the independence of the Princely Hyderabad State from India, but the people of the region launched a movement to join the Indian Union. The state of Hyderabad was forcibly joined to the Republic of India with Operation Polo in 1948.

State reorganisation

In an effort to gain an independent state based on the linguistic and protect the interests of the Andhra (Telugu-speaking) people of Madras State, Potti Sreeramulu fasted until death in 1952. After 1949 JVP committee report which stated "Andhra Province could be formed provided the Andhras gave up their claim to the city of Madras (now Chennai)", Madras city became bone of contention. But after Potti Sreeramulu's death, Andhra state was carved out of Telugu speaking areas of Madras State on 1 November 1953, with Kurnool as its capital city.

Ethipothala Falls

Hyderabad state in 1956 (in yellowish green). After reorganisation in 1956, regions of the state west of Red and Blue lines merged with Bombay and Mysore states, respectively and rest of the state (Telangana) was merged with Andhra state to form Andhra Pradesh state

The State Reorganisation Commission had recommended that the residual Hyderabad State (i.e. Telangana region) continue as a separate entity. On the basis of Agreement called Gentlemen Agreement on 1 November 1956, the Telugu-speaking areas of the former Hyderabad state also known as Telangana merged with the Andhra state to form the state of Andhra Pradesh. The city of Hyderabad, the former capital of the Hyderabad State, was made the capital of the new state.

There were several movements to invalidate the merger to form two states viz. Andhra and Telangana in 1969, 1972 and now. 1969 movement was in Telangana region where 369 people died in police firings and 1972 movement was in Andhra region. In 1972 to invalidate the Supreme Court ruling that the Mulki Rules for Telangana people protection in jobs and education which were part of Gentlemen Agreement are valid, Jai Andhra Movement took place and Six Point formula implemented to give legal sanctity to the jobs and educational facilities to Andhra people in Telangana region. The current movement, which started in 1996, is in Telangana region and is an ongoing political issue in the state. In 2004 Congress party and in 2009 TDP party have fought elections with alliance with Telangana Rashtra Samithi party (which was born for Telangana state formation in 2001).

On 9 December 2009, Government of India announced process of formation of Telangana state. It was announced that a separation proposal for Telangana would be introduced to the state assembly. Controversy arose as to the future status of Hyderabad City, part of one of the ten districts of Telangana region. This move was opposed by protesters from Kosta and Rayalaseema regions; however, the protests in the state capital Hyderabad were rocked only by pro-bifurcation protests. On 23 December 2009, the government decided to put the decision of bifurcating the state on hold until a consensus is achieved among the different political parties.

This agitated supporters of a separate Telangana state. On 5 January 2010, the Central Government represented by Home Minister P Chidambaram conducted a meeting by inviting all the recognised political parties of AP and recorded their stand on the issue. The Government of India appointed a committee, headed by B. N. Srikrishna, to guide the central government to settle the issue of Telangana amicably. The committee submitted its report on 30 December 2010, a day before its term was to expire.

On 30 July 2013 the ruling Congress party's Congress Working Committee (CWC) passed a Resolution to demerge Telangana from Andhra Pradesh State as the 29th state of Republic of India. On the same day, the, the ruling coalition, United Progressive Alliance (UPA) also passed the same Resolution creating Telangana State with Hyderabad as its capital. The timeline for the creation of the new state involves an elaborate process, which has been allotted a 122 days, or at least four months. The bifurcation has to be approved by the Indian Parliament before the state is officially created. This triggered the rise of Samaikyandhra Movement (United Andhra movement) in the coastal and rayalaseema districts of the state. The agitation led by Non Gazetted officer employee unions of the state government with support from students and all sections of people crossed 63 days upsetting the public life across the region. On 3 Oct 2013, The Union Cabinet in its meeting held on Thursday approved the bill for creation of separate Telangana State by bifurcating the Andhra Pradesh thus forming the 29th State in the country. The cabinet assured that rights of the citizens from all the regions of the state will be protected and a Group of Minister composed of the Unions Ministers of Home, Finance, Human Resource Development, Health, Irrigation, Power, Environment and Forests and Railways, as well as the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission is constituted to go into the various issues which concern both States and suggest appropriate measures to address them. The Union Cabinet gave the go-ahead for the creation of a 10-district Telangana and outlined the blueprint for carving out the country's 29th state from the current Andhra Pradesh on 6 December 2013. The central government on Friday sent to President Pranab Mukherjee the draft bill for formation of a separate Telangana state. President Pranab Mukherjee late on Wednesday evening, 13 December 2013, sent the Telangana draft Bill to the AP Legislature and gave it six weeks to express its opinion. The draft Telangana Bill was introduced in the State Legislature of Andhra Pradesh for its members to express their views on the draft bill but no consent is needed. Amid constant disruptions for four continuous days which made discussions impossible, the Speaker of the Assembly, Nadendla Manohar, suspended the legislature. Speaker N. Manohar adjourned the assembly till 3 Jan amid uproar by the Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra) lawmakers opposing the debate on the bill for the creation of a separate Telangana state.

On February 18, 2014 the 15th Lok Sabha passed the resolution for creation of state of Telangana. Rajya Sabha passed the bill on February 20, 2014. The bill needs the approval of the President upon which Telangana will become the 29th state of India.

Geography and climate

Main article: Geography of Andhra Pradesh

The Mouth of the Godavari River (East) emptying into the Bay of Bengal

Greater Flamingoes (Phoenicopterus roseus) taking off Pocharam lake

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. Andhra Pradesh is divided into three regions. 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 third region is Coastal Andhra. 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 Indian Space Research Organisation's Satish Dhawan Space Centre is located at the barrier island of Sriharikota, in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh.

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 from the Southwest Monsoon 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 centre and is the third largest city of the state, followed by Rajamundry, Tirupati, Nellore, Warangal, and Kakinada. Other important places of the state are Kadapa, Srikakulam, and Kurnool.

Demographics

First Languages of Andhra Pradesh in 2010

  Telugu (83.88%)

  Urdu (8.63%)

  Hindi (3.23%)

  Tamil (1.01%)

Population statistics

Telugu is the first official language of the state, spoken by 84.02% followed by Urdu, which is the second official language of the state and is spoken by 11.76% of the population. Major linguistic minority groups are Hindi (1.05%), and Tamil (1.01%). Other languages spoken in Andhra Pradesh by less than 1% are Kannada (0.74%), Marathi (0.80%), and Oriya (0.64%). Languages spoken by less than 0.2% of the population include Malayalam (0.09%), Gujarati (0.02%), Bengali (0.05%), Gorkhali/Nepali (0.03%), Punjabi (0.02%) and Sindhi (0.01%).

Andhra Pradesh ranks tenth of all Indian States in the Human Development Index scores with a score of 0.416. The National Council of Applied Economic Research district analysis in 2001 reveals that Khammam, Krishna, West Godavari, Chittoor, and Medak are the five districts in rural AP with the highest Human Development Index scores in ascending order.

The data show that the poor make up 16.3% of the total population in rural AP, and expenditure on consumption is around 13.5% of the total consumption expenditure. The female literacy rate is 0.66 compared to male literacy rate in rural AP. The district-wise variations for poverty ratio are high and low for the ratio of female/male literacy rate. The gender gap in illiteracy is one of the issues being addressed by Asmita Resource Centre for Women, an Indian NGO based in Andhra Pradesh that works to better the socio-economic status of women and communities in India.

Religions

Tirumala Temple entrance

Religion in Andhra Pradesh
			Percent
Hinduism			89.01%
Islam			9.16%
Christianity			1.54%
Jainism			0.05%
Sikhism			0.04%
Others			0.68%

The state is home to Hindu saints of all castes. An important figure is Saint Yogi Sri Potuluri Virabrahmendra Swami. He was born in the Vishwabrahmin (goldsmith) caste and had Brahmin and Dalit disciples. Fisherman Raghu was a Shudra saint where as Saint Kakkayya was a chura (sweeper) Harijan saint.

Islam in Hyderabad, with historical patronizing by the rulers, has a strong Sufi influence, with various movements active in the last two decades. Hyderabad has also produced many renowned religious scholars representing different Islamic sects and trends, including Abul Ala Maududi, Turab-ul-Haq Qadri, and Allamah Rasheed Turabi.

Most Telugu Christians are Protestant belonging to major Indian Protestant denominations such as the Church of South India, the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Samavesam of Telugu Baptist Churches and several others.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Andhra Pradesh

See also: Software industry in Andhra Pradesh

High court of Andhra pradesh

Andhra Pradesh's GDP for 2011 was approximately ₹ 5,676.36 billion, placing it third among the states. The state ranks second in terms of overall Gross State Product among all the states of the Indian Union. In terms of Per capita GSDP the state compares very favorably with other large states. In the 2010 list by Forbes Magazine, there are several from Andhra Pradesh among the top 100 richest Indians.

Aerial view of Visakhapatnam port

Srisailam Dam - Hydro Electric Power Source

Agriculture has been the chief source of income for the state's economy. Andhra Pradesh is an exporter of many agricultural products. Four important rivers of India, the Godavari, Krishna, Penna, and Thungabhadra flow through the state, providing irrigation. Rice, sugarcane, cotton, Chili pepper, mango, and tobacco are the local crops. Recently, crops used for vegetable oil production such as sunflower and peanuts have gained favour. There are many multi-state irrigation projects in development, including Godavari River Basin Irrigation Projects and Nagarjuna Sagar Dam. AP's farms depend on child labour rather than mechanization to remain competitive.

The service sector of the state accounts for 43% of the gross state domestic product (GSDP) and employs 20% of the work force. Andhra Pradesh economy has registered over 5.5% annual economic growth rate during the last two decades. The state is ranked fifth industrially developed states in India.

Economic trends of Andhra Pradesh

Year	GSDP	State Rank
2008	₹3,364,813 (US$40,000) millions	3
2009	₹4,267,850 (US$51,000) millions	3
2010	₹4,904,110 (US$59,000) millions	3
2011	₹5,889,630 (US$71,000) millions	3
2012	₹6,762,340 (US$81,000) millions	3

Andhra Pradesh ranks second in India in terms of mineral wealth. The state has about one third of India's limestone reserves, estimated at about 30 billion tonnes. The Tummalapalle Uranium mine in Andhra has confirmed 49,000 tonnes of ore and there are indications that it could hold reserves totalling three times its current size, The Times of India quoted Srikumar Banerjee as saying. The mine's proven reserve is enough to support a 8,000 mega watts nuclear power plant for 40 years, the report added. The Krishna Godavari Basin has huge reserves of natural gas and petroleum. The state has a large amount of coal reserves. The state ranks first nationwide in hydro electricity generation, with a national market share of over 11%. Andhra Pradesh has the fourth largest power generating utility in the country, with an installed capacity of around 10,650 MW. The two cheapest sources of thermal power generation – coal and natural gas – are in abundance.

File:800px-Assembly1.jpg

The Andhra Pradesh State Legislative Assembly in the centre of Hyderabad City.

The IT exports in Andhra Pradesh reached ₹350.22 billion (US$4.2 billion) in 2010-11, contributed to 13.9% per cent of national IT exports and ranked fourth in India. Other key sectors include, Biopharmaceuticals, Power, Automobile, Tourism, Textiles, Retail, Leather, Mining and Religious tourism.

Administration

Main articles: Government of Andhra Pradesh, Politics of Andhra Pradesh, and List of Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh has a Vidhan Sabha (legislative assembly, lower house) of 294 seats, and a Vidhan Parishad (legislative council, upper house) of 90 members. 31 members are elected from local bodies, 31 members are elected from the assembly, eight members are elected from teachers, eight members are elected from graduates, and 12 members are nominated by the Governor. In the Parliament of India Andhra Pradesh has 18 in the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House, and 42 in the Lok Sabha, the Lower House. Currently, Andhra Pradesh is administratively divided into 23 districts.

Andhra Pradesh had a series of governments headed by Indian National Congress (INC) Party until 1982. Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao is the founder of Telugu Desam party and served as the first chief minister from the party. N. Chandrababu Naidu held the record for the longest serving chief minister (1995 to 2004). P. V. Narasimha Rao served as the chief minister of the state from 1971 to 1973, and went on to become the Prime Minister of India in 1991. The first Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh was Neelam Sanjiva Reddy who later served as President of India.

Until 1962, the CPI, along with socialist parties, played an important role as opposition parties. Parties namely Praja Socialist Party and Krishi Lok Party played an important role in 1950s. In the 1967 state assembly elections, all socialist parties were eliminated and CPI lost opposition party status. N.G. Ranga's Swatantra Party became the Opposition Party. They also failed to hold control later and became defunct. In 1978 Jalagam Vengal Rao and Kasu Brahmananda Reddy formed the Reddy Congress and contested against INC but lost.

In 1983 the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) won the state elections and N.T. Rama Rao (NTR) became the chief minister of the state for the first time. This broke the long time single party monopoly enjoyed by the INC from 1956 until 1982. A few months after the election, Nadendla Bhaskara Rao usurped power when NTR was away in the United States for medical treatment. After coming back, NTR campaigned for a comeback by demonstrating the support of the majority of the elected MLAs. The governor Thakur Ram Lal was ousted by Indira Gandhi and in his place she appointed Shankar Dayal Sharma. NTR was reinstated as chief minister. Within a month NTR recommended the dissolution of the assembly and called for fresh elections. Indira Gandhi was assassinated on 31 October 1984 by her Sikh bodyguard and Rajiv Gandhi was made Prime Minister by President Giani Zail Singh. In the ensuing elections for Lok Sabha and the AP Assembly, the Telugu Desam Party won in Andhra Pradesh and NTR came back to power.

The 1989 elections ended the rule of NTR, with the INC party returning to power with Marri Chenna Reddy at the helm. He was replaced by Janardhan Reddy in 1990, who was replaced by Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy in 1992. In 1994, Andhra Pradesh gave a mandate to the Telugu Desam Party again, and NTR became the chief minister again. Nara Chandrababu Naidu, the son-in-law of NTR, came to power with the backing of a majority of the MLAs. The Telugu Desam Party won both the assembly and Lok Sabha election in 1999 under the leadership of Chandrababu Naidu. There was an assassination attempt on Naidu in 2003 in Tirupathi; he survived the attack. In the ensuing elections the party lost power to a resurgent INC and its allies. Y. S. Rajasekhar Reddy became the Chief Minister.

Y. S. Rajasekhar Reddy became the CM again by fending off the Praja Rajyam Party and a major alliance of TDP, TRS, CPI and CPM. He died on 2 September 2009 in a helicopter crash. Konijeti Rosaiah, a senior statesman and former state finance minister, became the Chief Minister on 3 September 2009. On 24 November 2010, Rosaiah submitted his resignation on the grounds of increased work pressure. Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy was sworn in as the new Chief Minister on the following day.

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Andhra Pradesh

Belum Caves

Kuntala Waterfall

Andhra Pradesh is promoted by its tourism department as the "Koh-i-Noor of India."

Andhra Pradesh is the home of many religious pilgrim centres. Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati is, according to believers, the abode of Hindu god Venkateswara. Srisailam, nestled in the Nallamala Hills, is the abode of Mallikarjuna and is one of twelve Jyotirlingas in India. Amaravati's Shiva temple is one of the Pancharamams, as is Yadagirigutta, the abode of an avatara of Vishnu, Narasimha Swamy. The Ramappa temple and Thousand Pillar temple in Warangal are famous for their temple. The state has numerous Buddhist centres at Amaravati, Nagarjuna Konda, Bhattiprolu, Ghantasala, Nelakondapalli, Dhulikatta, Bavikonda, Thotlakonda, Shalihundam, Pavuralakonda, Bojjannakonda (Sankaram), Phanigiri and Kolanpaka. The Vijayanagara Empire built number of monuments, including the Srisailam and Lepakshi temples.

The golden beaches at Visakhapatnam, the one-million-year-old limestone caves at Borra, picturesque Araku Valley, hill resorts of Horsley Hills, river Godavari racing through a narrow gorge at Papi Kondalu, waterfalls at Ettipotala, Kuntala and rich bio-diversity at Talakona are some of the natural attractions of the state. Kailashagiri is a park near the sea in Visakhapatnam. Visakhapatnam is home to other tourist attractions such as the INS Kursura S20 Submarine museum (the only one of its kind in India), the longest beach road in India, Yarada Beach, Araku Valley, and Indira Gandhi Zoological Gardens.

The Borra Caves are located in the Anatagiri Hills of the Eastern Ghats, near Vishakapatnam. They are at an altitude of about 800 to 1300 metres and are famous for million-year-old stalactite and stalagmite formations. They were discovered by British geologist William King George in 1807. The caves get their name from a formation inside the caves that looks like the human brain, which in the local language, Telugu, is known as burra. The Belum caves were formed due to erosion in limestone deposits in the area by the weakly acidic water of the Chitravati River millions of years ago.

The Papi Hills are located in Khammam district, near Bhadrachalam. Boat cruises are available on the river Godavari.

The Belum Caves in Kurnool District have a length of 3,229 metres (10,594 ft), making them the second largest natural caves on the Indian subcontinent. The Belum Caves derive their name from Bilum, the Sanskrit word for caves. In Telugu, the caves are known as Guhalu. The caves have long passages, spacious chambers, freshwater galleries, and siphons. The caves' deepest point is 120 feet (37 m) from the entrance and is known as Patalganaga.

Horsley Hills, elevation 1,265 metres (4,150 ft), is a summer hill resort in Andhra Pradesh, about 160 km (99 mi) from Bangalore and 144 km (89 mi) from Tirupati. The town of Madanapalle lies nearby. Major tourist attractions include the Mallamma temple and the Rishi Valley School. Horsely Hills is the departure point for the Koundinya Wildlife Sanctuary at a distance of 87 km (54 mi).

Nirmal is famous for its handicrafts and paintings. Kuntala waterfall, at 45 metres (148 ft), is the biggest in the state. Charminar, Golconda Fort, Chandragiri Fort, Chowmahalla Palace, and Falaknuma Palace are some of the monuments in the state.

Kanaka Durga Temple in Vijayawada in Krishna district, Venkateswara Temple in Dwaraka Tirumala, West Godavari District, and Surya temple in Arasavelli in Srikakulam District are also places to see in Andhra Pradesh.

The Annavaram Satayannarayana Swami temple is in East Godavari, near Kakinada. Konaseema is another place in East Godavari for nature lovers with scenic greenery of lush paddy fields and coconut groves. All along the banks of river Godavari and its canals.

The Charminar, built in 1591 CE, is a monument and mosque located in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India. The landmark has become a global icon of Hyderabad, listed among the most recognized structures of India. The Charminar is on the east bank of Musi river. To the northeast lies the Laad Bazaar and in the west end lies the granite-made richly ornamented Makkah Masjid. The English name is a transliteration and combination of the Urdu words Chār and Minar, translating to "Four Towers"; the eponymous towers are ornate minarets attached and supported by four grand arches.

The Thousand Pillar Temple is one of the oldest temples of South India that was built by the kakatiya. It stands out as a masterpiece and achieved major heights in terms of architectural skills by the ancient kakathiya vishwakarma sthapathis. It is believed that the Thousand Pillar Temple was built by King Rudra Deva in 1163 AD. The Thousand Pillar Temple is a specimen of the Kakatiyan style of architecture of the 12th century. It was destroyed by the Muslims of Tughlaq dynasty during their invasion of South India. It comprises one temple and other building. There are one thousand pillars in the building and the temple, but no pillar obstructs a person in any point of the temple to see the god in the other temple. The present day engineers have taken out all the pillars from the building. After they lifted all the pillars they encountered a huge mass of sand. It took nearly two weeks for them to take away all the sand. It was wet sand, because of a pipe connection from the nearby water body named Bhadrakali Cheruvu.

Religious tourism

Diguva Mangalagiri Temple

Durga Temple in Vijayawada

Ramappa Temple

Mounagiri Hanuman Temple in Anantapur

Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in the town of Tirumala in Chittoor district is a very important pilgrimage site for Hindus throughout India. It is the second richest pilgrimage city of any religious faith in the world after Padmanabhaswamy Temple in the Indian state of Kerala. Its main temple is dedicated to the god Venkateswara. In 1517, Vijayanagara ruler Sri Krishna Deva Raya, on one of his many visits to the temple, donated gold and jewels, enabling the Vimana (inner shrine) roofing to be gilded. Statues of Sri Krishna Deva Raya and his spouse stand in the premises of the temple.

The five ancient Hindu temples of Lord Shiva, known as Pancharama Kshetras, are located at - Amararama, Draksharama, Somarama, Ksheerarama and Kumararama. The Sivalingas at these temples are made from a single Sivalinga.

Simhachalam is another popular pilgrimage site of national importance located on a hill 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of the Visakhapatnam city centre. Simhachalam is said to be the abode of the savior-god Narasimha, who rescued Prahlada from his abusive father Hiranyakashipu. One of the most exquisitely sculpted shrines of Andhra Pradesh, it has a beautifully carved 16-pillared Natya mantapa and a 96-pillared Kalyana mantapa. The temple was built in 11th century by Kullotunga chola. Engaged couples go to this temple as a ritual just before marriage. It is one of the most crowded temples of Andhra Pradesh.

Srisailam temple in Kurnool district is a very famous Shiva temple, and is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines. Lord Rama himself installed the Sahasralinga, while the Pandavas lodged the Panchapandava lingas in the temple courtyard. The Skanda Purana, an ancient religious text, has a chapter called "Srisaila Kandam" dedicated to this temple, which points to its ancient origin. It is said that Adi Shankara (c. 788–821 CE) visited this temple at the time that he composed his Sivananda Lahiri. Srisailam is located in Kurnool district.

Bhadrachalam Temple is a temple to Lord Rama in the town of Bhadrachalam in Khammam district. It is situated on the banks of the river Godavari. This is the place where Kancherla Gopanna (1620–1680) wrote his devotional songs dedicated to lord Rama. It was believed that lord Rama spent some years on the banks of river Godavari here in Treta Yuga. Kancherla Gopanna raised the funds and constructed the temple during the reign of Tanisha in the 17th century. Sri Rama Navami, a celebration of the Marriage of Lord Rama and sita, is celebrated here every year. Government of Andhra Pradesh sends pearls for the event.

Kanaka Durga Temple is a temple to the goddess Durga situated on the Indrakeeladri Hill in the city of Vijayawada on the banks of Krishna River. Special pujas are performed during Dasara, also called Navratri. The most significant are Saraswati puja and Theppotsavam. The festival of Dasara for the Goddess Durga is celebrated there every year. A large number of pilgrims attend the colourful celebrations and take a holy dip in the Krishna River.

Raghavendra Swami Mutt in Mantralayam is a town in Kurnool district. It lies on the banks of the Tungabhadra river on the border with neighbouring Karnataka state. It is also called Manchale. The town is noted for the holy presence of the Vrindavana of Guru Raghavendra Swami, a Madhwa saint and follower of Madhwacharya. It is believed that Guru Raghavendra Swami is in the Vrindavana from the past 339 years and is believed to be in the Vrindavana for another 361 years. While entering the Vrindavana, Guru Raghavendra Swami stated that he would be there (in the Vrindavana) for 700 years.

Notable religious locations in Andhra Pradesh

Mecca Masjid Frontage

• Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Antarvedi(అంతర్వేది సాగర సంగమం),Razole, East Godavari district
• Tirumala Venkateswara Swami Temple in Tirupati

• Yaganti Caves and Mahanandi, pilgrimage centres in Kurnool
• Sri Rama temple in Bhadrachalam

• Srikalahasti Temple, ancient Shiva temple by the Swarnamukhi river in Chittoor district
• Kanipakam Vinayaka Temple, Kanipakam in Chittoor district

• Sri Viswa Viznana Vidya Adhyatmika Peetham, in Pithapuram, East Godavari district
• Simhachalam, in Visakhapatnam
• Sri Kanaka Durga Temple, Vijayawada

• Lepakshi, Anantapuramu.
• Srisailam Bramaramba mallikarjuna swami temple, Srisailam, Karnool district
• Ghantsala Jaladeeswara swami temple, Ghantasala, Krishna district

Culture

Main article: Culture of Andhra Pradesh

Bapu's paintings, Nanduri Venkata Subba Rao's Yenki Paatalu (Songs about a washerwoman called Yenki), mischievous Budugu (a character by Mullapudi), Annamayya's songs, Aavakaaya (a variant of mango pickle in which the kernel of mango is retained), Gongura (a chutney from Roselle plant), Atla Taddi (a seasonal festival predominantly for teenage girls), the banks of river Godavari, and the Dudu basavanna (the ceremonial ox decorated for door-to-door exhibition during the harvest festival Sankranthi) have long defined Telugu culture. The village of Durgi is known for stone craft, producing carvings of idols in soft stone that must be exhibited in the shade because they are prone to weathering. Kalamkari is an ancient textile art form dating back to the Indus Valley Civilisation. Andhra Pradesh is famous for doll making. Dolls are made from wood, mud, dry grass, and lightweight metal alloys. Tirupathi is famous for redwood carvings. Kondapalli is famous for mud toys with rich colors. The village of Etikoppaka, located in Visakhapatnam district, produces lacquered toys. Nirmal paintings are expressive and are usually painted over a black background. Story telling in Andhra Pradesh is an art form in itself. Folk dances unique to Andhra Pradesh include Yaksha ganam, Burra katha (usually done by three people, telling stories using three different musical instruments), Jangama kathalu, Hari kathalu, Chekka bajana, Urumula natyam (usually done at festivals, where a group of people dance in circles with loud music), and Ghata natyam (performances done with earthen pots over one's head).

Andhra Pradesh has many museums, the Salar Jung Museum in Hyderabad, which features a varied collection of sculptures, paintings, and religious artifacts, including the Archaeological Museum at Amaravati near Guntur City that features relics of nearby ancient sites, and the Visakha Museum, in Visakhapatnam, which displays the history of the pre-Independence and thotla konda which depicts the age old budhist stupa's and cultural style, 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.

Just like in other parts of the country, many festivals are celebrated in Andhra Pradesh, which include - Ugadi, Sankranthi, Dasara, Varalakshmi Vratham, Vinayaka Chavithi, Deepavali, Batukamma, Rakhi poornima, Christmas, Sri Rama Navami, Bonalu, Maha Shivaratri, Nagula Chaviti, Holi, Eid ul-Fitr, Eid ul-Zuha, Muharram and Milad-un-Nabi.

Cuisine

Main article: Telugu cuisine

The cuisine of Andhra Pradesh is one of the spiciest of all Indian cuisines. There are many variations to the cuisine based on geographical regions, caste and traditions. Rice is the staple food and is used in a wide varieties of dishes. Typically, rice is 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. Pickles and chutneys, locally known as thokku and pachadi in Telugu, are popular in Andhra Pradesh, many varieties of pickle and chutney are unique to the State. Chutneys are made from practically every vegetable including tomatoes, brinjals (eggplant), and roselle (Gongura). Aavakaaya (mango pickle) is probably the best known of the Andhra Pradesh pickles.

Ulava charu is also a popular dish.

Meat, vegetables and greens are prepared with different spices (masala) into a variety of strongly flavored dishes such as fish curry, brinjal curry and Gongura pachadi are the most popular dish of the state. The coastal region is even more well versed with the varieties in sea food specially known for Chapala Pulusu, Bommidala pulusu, Koramenu kura. Much of the cuisine is mainly prepared of 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.

The desserts or sweet dishes cherished in Andhra range from Payasam which is a rice or vermicelli pudding served both warm and cold; Pootharekulu; Bobbattlu; Paalakova; Mamidi Tandra; Khaja; Bandar Laddu; Sunnandalu; Ariselu.

Performing arts and crafts

See also: Shadow Puppets of Andhra Pradesh

Kuchipudi, dance by Yamini Reddy

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 Bonalu, Dappu, Chenchu Bhagotham, Kuchipudi, Bhamakalapam, Burrakatha, Veeranatyam, Butta bommalu, Tappeta Gullu, Lambadi, Dhimsa, Kolattam, and Chindu. Jaanapadam theenmar 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.

Literature

Main article: Telugu literature

Nannayya, Tikkana, and Yerrapragada form the trinity who translated the great Sanskrit epic Mahabharata into Telugu. Pothana is the poet who composed the classic SriMad Maha Bhagavatamu, a Telugu translation of Sri Bhagavatham, authored by Veda Vyasa in Sanskrit. Nannayya (c. 11th century CE), the earliest known Telugu author, was patronized by the king Rajaraja Narendra who ruled from Rajamahendravaram (now Rajahmundry). The Vijayanagara emperor Krishnadevaraya wrote Amuktamalyada. The Telugu poet Vemana, a native of Kadapa, is notable for his philosophical poems. Telugu literature after Kandukuri Veeresalingam (1848–1919) is termed modern literature. Known as Gadya Tikkana, Satyavathi Charitam was the author Telugu-language social novel, Satyavathi Charitam. Jnanpith Award winners include Sri Viswanatha Satya Narayana and Dr. C. Narayana Reddy. The Andhra Pradesh native and revolutionary poet Sri Sri brought new forms of expressionism into Telugu literature.

Other modern writers include Gunturu Seshendra Sarma, the only person nominated from India for a Nobel prize in literature since Rabindranath Tagore. The West Bengal Government conferred on him the title Rashtrendu ("Moon of the Nation"). Telugu University awarded him an honorary Doctorate in Literature in 1994. He received the Kalidas Samman award from the Madhya Pradhesh government, and he won the Central Sahitya Akademi fellowship in 1999. Puttaparthi Narayanacharyulu is one of the scholarly poets of Telugu literature. He wrote the books Sivatandavam and Panduranga Mahatyam. Other notable writers from Andhra Pradesh include Srirangam Sreenivasarao, Gurram Jashuva, Chinnayasuri and Viswanatha Satyanarayana.

Cinema

Main article: Telugu Cinema

A western street replica at Ramoji Film City

The Prasads IMAX world's largest 3D-IMAX screen Prasads IMAX

In the early 1980s, the Telugu film industry had largely shifted its base to Hyderabad from Madras. The Telugu film culture (or, "Tollywood") is the second-largest film industry in India next to Bollywood Film Industry. Hyderabad houses the Prasads IMAX theatre, which was the biggest 3D IMAX screen in the world when it was built in 2007. It is also home to Ramoji Film City which is the world’s largest integrated film studio complex at over 2,000 acres (809 ha) of land. Prolific film producer from the state, D. Ramanaidu holds a Guinness Record for the most number of films produced by a person. Nandhamuri Taraka Rama Rao and Chiranjeevi are the prominent figures in the Telugu film industry. In the years 2005, 2006 and 2008 the Telugu film industry, has produced the largest number of films in India exceeding the number of films produced in Bollywood. The industry holds the Guinness World Record for the largest film production facility in the world. The Prasads IMAX located in Hyderabad is the world's largest 3D IMAX screen, and the most attended cinema screen in the world. The state of Andhra Pradesh, consists of the most number of cinema theatres in India.

Music

Main article: Music of Andhra Pradesh

Balamuralikrishna during a concert in Kuwait on 29 March 2006, accompanied by Mavelikkara Sathees Chandran (violin), Perunna G. Harikumar (mridangom), Manjoor Unnikrishnan (ghatam)

Many composers of Carnatic music like Annamacharya, Tyagaraja, Kshetrayya, and Bhadrachala Ramadas were of Telugu descent. Modern Carnatic music composers like Ghantasala and M. Balamuralikrishna are also of Telugu descent. The Telugu film industry hosts many music composers and playback singers such as S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P.Susheela, S. Janaki, P B Srinivas. Telugus have a large number of folk dances. Folk songs are popular in the many rural areas of the state. Forms such as the Burra katha and Poli are still performed today.

Sports

The Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh, is the governing body which looks after the infrastructure development in Cricket, Field hockey, Association Football, Olympic weightlifting, Chess, Water Sports, Tennis, Badminton, Table Tennis, Cycling etc. Sports like kho kho, kabaddi, chinni daandu and goli (marbles) are played mostly in coastal Andhra & Telangana areas.

One of the most popular sports in Andhra Pradesh is cricket. The Hyderabad Cricket Association nurtures potential international players. The Hyderabad cricket team has won the Ranji Trophy twice. The Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad and ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam, regularly host international matches. The Sunrisers Hyderabad, an Indian Premier League franchise, is based in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam.

Notable cricketers from Andhra Pradesh, include Maharajkumar of Vizianagram, M. V. Narasimha Rao, Mohammad Azharuddin, M. S. K. Prasad, V.V.S. Laxman, Tirumalasetti Suman, Arshad Ayub, Ambati Rayudu, Paul Valthaty, Venkatapathy Raju, Sravanthi Naidu, Yalaka Venugopal Rao etc.

Other accomplished sports-persons include, A. Ramana Rao, Karnam Malleswari, Pullela Gopichand, Sania Mirza, Saina Nehwal, Sharath Kamal, Chetan Anand (Badminton), Guttikonda Pradeep, (Volley Ball), Mukesh Kumar (Hockey), Saranjeet Singh (Hockey), Abdul Najeeb Qureshi, Jwala Gutta, Raman Subbarao, Kamineni Eswara Rao, etc. Grandmasters in Chess like, Humpy Koneru, Pendyala Harikrishna, Dronavalli Harika and Gogineni Rohit hail from the state.

Education and research

Indian School of Business

Andhra Pradesh is served by more than 20 institutes of higher education. All major arts, humanities, science, engineering, law, medicine, business, and veterinary science are offered, with first degrees and postgraduate awards available. Advanced research is conducted in all major areas.

Andhra Pradesh has 1,330 arts, science and commerce colleges; 1,000 MBA and MCA colleges; 847 engineering colleges; 53 medical colleges, one NIT(in warangal) and one Indian Institute of Technology (in Hyderabad). The student to teacher ratio in higher education is 19:1. According to the 2011 census, Andhra Pradesh has an overall literacy rate of 67.02% (as per India 2011 Census). The male literacy rate is 74.9% and the female literacy rate is 59.15%.

Osmania University is one of the oldest modern universities in India, and one of the largest university systems in the subcontinent with over 300,000 students on its various campuses and affiliated colleges. The Government of Andhra Pradesh has established Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies (RGUKT) in 2008 to cater to the educational needs of the gifted rural youth of Andhra Pradesh. The Institute specializes in teaching and research in Information Technology and other emerging disciplines under the control of a common university Governing Council and following a common syllabus.

School children in an elementary school in Andhra Pradesh

The state has recently made strides in setting up several institutes. The Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Indian Institute of Biotechnology, University of Hyderabad, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Hyderabad, International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIIT-H), National Institute of Technology NIT Warangal, National Institute of Nutrition the Nalsar University of Law, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) Hyderabad, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad, National Institute of Rural Development, School of Planning and Architecture, Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies, prestigious Indian School of Business (ISB) and IFHE university's IBS, Hyderabad. The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and The Institute of Hotel Management, Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition are also located in Hyderabad. Also Georgia Institute of Technology, is in the process of setting up their campus in Hyderabad.

Additionally the Dr. N.T.R. University of Health Sciences Vijayawada Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Osmania University, Andhra University, Nagarjuna University, Kakatiya University, Sri Venkateswara University, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University, Telangana University Nizamabad, Mahathma Gandhi University Nalgonda, Palamur University Mahaboobnagar, Rayalaseema university, Kurnool, Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University(SVVU) and private engineering colleges like Muffakham Jah College of Engineering and Technology, Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology, VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology, MVSR Engineering College, GRIET, Hyderabad Institute of Technology And Management to serve their people across Andhra Pradesh.

Transport

Major road links of Andhra Pradesh

The railroad bridge between Rajahmundry and Kovvur

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport

• Road: A total of 146,954 km (91,313 mi) of roads are maintained by the State, of which State Highways comprise 42,511 km (26,415 mi), National Highways 2,949 km (1,832 mi), and District Roads 101,484 km (63,059 mi). The growth rate for vehicle ownership in Andhra Pradesh is the highest in the country at 16%.

The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) is the major public transport corporation owned by the government of Andhra Pradesh that connects all the cities and villages. APSRTC is in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the largest fleet of vehicles (approximately 21,000), and the longest distance covered daily. Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station [M.G.B.S] in Hyderabad and Nehru Bus stand in Vijayawada are among the largest bus stand in Asia. Thousands of private operators also run buses connecting major cities and towns. Private vehicles like cars, motorised scooters, and bicycles occupy a major share of the local transport in the cities and adjoining villages.

File:Vij9.jpg

Vijayawada Junction is an important junction of South central railway zone

The New look of Vijayawada Railway Station

Visakhapatnam seaport

• Rail: Railways are a major means of transport connecting all major cities and towns. The history of railways in Andhra Pradesh dates back to the time of Nizam of Hyderabad. Most of Andhra Pradesh falls under the auspices of the South Central Railway, founded in 1966 with its headquarters at Secunderabad. The East Coast Railway serves Srikakulam, Vizianagaram District, and part of Visakhapatnam district including Visakhapatnam City. Vijayawada railway station is one of the busiest railway junctions in India. Second largest & busiest Railway station in Asia.
• Air: Hyderabad International Airport, also known as Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, is the international airport for the city of Hyderabad. It has won WORLD NO 1 Airport award twice (2009, 2010) in the 5 - 15 million passenger category. It is the largest airport in the state and one of the busiest airports nationwide. Visakhapatnam Airport, the other international airport in the state is the second largest serving close to 1 million passengers annually. Other airports in the state are Vijayawada Airport, Rajahmundry Airport, and Tirupati Airport. The government also has plans to start airports in eight other cities: Guntur, Ongole, Nellore, Warangal, Kadapa, Tadepalligudem, Kurnool, Karimnagar, Ramagundam and Kothagudem.
• Sea: Andhra Pradesh has two of the major ports of India at Visakhapatnam, the second largest port of India (cargo handling) and Kakinada and three minor ports at Krishnapatnam (Nellore), Machilipatnam, and Nizampatnam (Guntur). A private port is being developed at Gangavaram, near Visakhapatnam. This deep seaport can accommodate ocean liners up to 200,000–250,000 DWT. Andhra Pradesh has the second largest sea coastal line in India of 974 km.

Newspapers and journals

Telugu

• Eenadu
• Andhra Jyothi
• Andhra Bhoomi
• Andhra Prabha
• Prajasakti
• Surya
• Vaartha
• Visalaandhra
• Sakshi
• Namasthe Telangana

Urdu

• Awam
• Etemaad daily
• The Munsif Daily
• The Siasat Daily
• Blitz

English

• Deccan Chronicle
• The Hindu
• Hindustan Times
• The Business Line
• The Economic Times
• The New Indian Express
• The Times of India
• The Hans India

See also

• Samaikyandhra Movement
• Telangana Movement
• Part One of the Constitution of India
• Index of Andhra Pradesh-related articles
• Outline of India
• Index of India-related articles
• Bibliography of India
• Template:Wikipedia books link
• History of India
• List of people from Andhra Pradesh
• Middle kingdoms of India
• Traditional games of Andhra Pradesh
• Uttarandhra

External links

• Template:Dmoz
• STD Codes of Andhra Pradesh
• Andhra Pradesh Facts & Figures

Government

• Andhra Pradesh Government Website
• Department of Tourism, Government of Andhra Pradesh