Andhra Pradesh

Introduction

Down there at the river

© Sathyasai

Andhra Pradesh is a Indian state in the southeastern part of the country and is the 5th most populous state in India.

Geography

Andhra Pradesh covers around 275,000 square kilometres and has a coastline of almost 1,000 kilometres, forming its eastern border with the Bay of Bengal. Furthermore, the state is bordered by Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Orissa in the north, Tamil Nadu to the south and Karnataka to the west.

Cities

• Hyderabad - the capital
• Vishakapatnam
• Warangal - After the formation of 2 different states, Warangal happens to be the second fastest (next to Hyderabad) developing city of Telangana state. Not just in terms of urbanization, but there is a great development in terms of tourism in & around Warangal. These tourist spots are rich in heritage, culture, history and scenic spots. About 2 days would be necessary to visit the major tourist attraction in & around Warangal.

Events and Festivals

• Holi is quite popular in the Indian sub-continent and is traditionally celebrated on the day after the full moon in the month of Phalguna (early March), according to Hindu calender. Holi is a thanksgiving festival, where people offer prayer to God for good harvest and fertility of the land. Holi is a festival of freedom from social norms and caste inhibitions are shed for a day as people indulge in fun and merry-making. Colors and 'gulal' are showered on the people dressed up for the occasion and the whole community seems to merge into one big family under the guise of colors, without any distinction whatsoever. Children with face smeared with colors run around with 'pichkaris' (big syringes to splash colored water) and play amongst themselves. People exchange good wishes, sweets and gifts. Holi is also marked by vibrant processions which are accompanied by folk songs, dances and drum beating. Parties are also organized where snacks and the traditional milk-based drink “Thandai” is served which is often intoxicated with “Bhang”. Of late, lots of foreigners have started taking interest in this festival and they even enjoy the colors and the intoxicating drink. It is advised to cover your hair with a cap and eyes with sunglasses to avoid the colors splashing the eyes and damaging the hair.
• Republic Day - Republic Day is a national holiday in India every January 26 to commemorate the adoption of the Constitution in 1950 and the declaration of independence in 1930. The capital of New Delhi is the focus of the celebrations, including a flag raising ceremony, wreath laying, 21-gun salute, Presidential speech, and presentation of awards for selflessness and bravery. A massive military parade includes elephants ridden by children who have received national accolades.
• Gandhi Jayanti - Gandhi Jayanti is a national public holiday commemorating the birth of the peaceful activist, Mohandas Gandhi on October 2, 1869. The celebration coincides with the United Nations’ International Day of Non-Violence. In India, Gandhi is remembered through statues, flower and candle offerings, prayers and singing the devotional hymn Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram. The Indian government issues special mint rupees and postage stamps bearing his picture.
• Diwali - Diwali is the five-day festival of lights held in India in late October or early November each year. The widely celebrated Hindu event marks Lord Rama’s victory over the demon Ravan. Homes and streets are decorated with lights, candles and small clay lamps, and new clothes are worn and sweets are exchanged.

Getting There

By Plane

Hyderabad International Airport, located around 25 kilometres from the centre of Hyderabad, is the major gateway to Andhra Pradesh, handles both domestic and international flights. Domestic flights are available to all the major cities within the country, including Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Aizwal, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Raipur, Thiruvananthapuram, Aurangabad, Bhopal, Goa, Indore, Rajahmundry, Vadodara, Hubli, Nagpur, Tuticorin, Agartala and Coimbatore. International destinations include cities such as Dubai, Sharjah, New York, Dammam, Jeddah, Frankfurt, Riyadh, Singapore, London, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Kuala Lumpur, Doha, Bangkok and Chicago.
There is a non-stop air-conditioned shuttle bus service available from the airport to the city centre. These buses run at 30 minutes interval to/from several points in the city and the airport between 3:30am and 11:30pm hours, and at a 1 hour frequency between 11:30pm to 3:30am. Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSTRC) also provides non air-conditioned bus services between various points in the city and the airport at much lower fares. A dedicated train service is also being constructed, which is expected to be operational in a few years time.

External Links

• Official Website