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Indian Architechture Through the Ages Introduction to Indian Architechture Architechtural Glossary Getting Around in India
 
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Cities in Andhra Pradesh
Simhachalam
Warangal
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Palampet
Hyderabad
Golkonda
Chezarla
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Srisailam
Alampur
Tadpatri
Ahobilam
Satyavolu
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Chandragiri
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Lepakshi
 

About Andhra Pradesh

South India comprises four states that speak the Dravida language. Telugu is spoken in Andhra Pradesh, Kannada in Karnataka, Tamil in Tamil Nadu and Malayalam in Kerala. It is entirely different from the Aryan language and script of the North and they comprise 25 percent of the population of India. It is said that the Dravidas developed the ancient Indus Valley Civilization. They moved south due to constant north-south strife and for the need to free themselves from the control of Aryan people and the Hindi language.

The heart of Andhra Pradesh is the former feudal kingdom of Hyderabad. Even during British rule this kingdom was independent and after Indian Independence it joined the Indian Democratic Republic rather than continue independent. At present the capital of Andhra Pradesh, along with Secunderabad in the north has a population of 4,500,000. It is the sixth largest city in India. Charminar, the symbol of this city, is an Islamic memorial tower that is also the name of a popular brand of cigarettes and easily recognized.

Golconda, much older than Hyderabad, some kilometres to the west, was a prominent Islamic capital in the 16th and 17th centuries. Today only the citadel and the Qutb Shahi royal tombs remain to tell the tale. As in Karnataka the northern half of the state became a stronghold of Islam and the southern states continued predominantly Hindu till the end. The Dravidian temples start from here. The state is blessed with many good quality structures, but not as classic as the ones in Tamil Nadu.

Buddhism spread here from the north and ruins can be seen in Amravati and Nagarjunasagar. Unfortunately the top portions of the structures have collapsed and one cannot get a clear idea of how the building may have looked.

Floor plan of vijaya Mahal (palace) belonging to the vijayanagar Dynasty in Chandragiri (17th century)