Interesting Facts about Andhra Pradesh

This article is all about historical, geographical, social, religious, cultural, amazing, rare, unknown interesting facts about Andhra Pradesh.

Quick Basic Facts about Andhra Pradesh

• Capital – Hyderabad for 10 years (New Proposed Capital – Amaravati)
• Official Language – Telugu
• Area – 1,60,205 Sq Km
• Area Rank – Eighth (8th)
• Population – 4,93,86,799 (2011 census)
• Population Rank – 10th
• Sex Ratio – 993 females per 1000 males
• Literacy Rate – 67.4 %
• Coastline – 972 Km.
• No. of Districts – 13
• Assembly seats – 175 + 58 (Bicameral Constituency)
• Lok Sabha Seats – 25
• Rajya Sabha Seats – 11
• Created on – Oct 1, 1953
• First Chief Minister – Tanguturi Prakasam
• First Governor – Chandulal Madhavlal Trivedi
• Highest peak – Arma Konda (in eastern ghats), altitude 1680 Mt

State Symbols of Andhra Pradesh

• State Tree – Neem
• State Flower – Water Lilly
• State Fruit – Mango
• State Animal – Blackbuck
• State Bird – Indian roller
• State Sport – Kabaddi

Historical Facts about Andhra Pradesh

• After India’s independence in 1947, Nizam of hyderabad was apathetic to merge with Indian union. The state of Hyderabad was hence captured as per diplomacy of Ballabh Bhai Patel on 17 Sept 1948 by military operation named “Operation Polo”.
• As per States Reorganization Act of 1956, Andhra State thus came to existence by merging the Telugu dominating areas of Hyderabad state with the regions extracted out from Madras State to create new state Andhra Pradesh.
• Andhra Pradesh is the first Indian state of free India which was formed on purely linguistic basis in 1953.
• The Qutubshahi of Golconda laid the foundations of modern Hyderabad.
• One of the most powerful empires of Medieval India – “Vijayanagar Empire” prosperoused on this region. The other important empires of Medieval India which prospered in Andhra region are – Bahmani Sultanate and Qutb Shahi dynasty.
• Present Rayalseema region of Andhra got its name because of Rulers of Vijaynagar empire who have surnames “Raya” (example Harihar Raya, Bukka Raya etc)

Geographical Facts about Andhra Pradesh

• Andhra Pradesh borders Telangana in northwest, Chhattisgarh in north, Odisha in northeast, Karnataka in west and Tamilnadu in south. Yanam which is a part of Union Territory of Puducherry is located in the east and is landlocked.
• Andhra Pradesh has two distinct regions – Coastal Andhra and Rayalseem and hence also called Seemandhra.
• Andhra Pradesh has second longest coast line after Gujarat. For details read Coastal length of Indian States
• The largest Tiger Reserves (by area) is Nagarjuna Srisailam Sanctuary which is in Andhra Pradesh.
• The highest peak is Arma Konda which rises 1680 m above sea level. This is not only the highest peak of Andhra Pradesh but also of Eastern Ghats.
• Krishna and Godavari are the major river system of the Andhra Pradesh. Godavari is the largest and the broadest river of South India.
• This state is Eighth largest by Area and 10th largest state by Population.
• Andhra Pradesh has second longest coastline just after the Gujarat.
• Amravati is proposed as the new Capital, till then Hyderabad will remain capital of both Andhra and Telangana for about 10 years.
• Anantapur is the largest district of Andhra Pradesh by area. East Godavari district is largest by population.

Social and Cultural Facts about Andhra Pradesh

• The  magnificent  Falaknuma palace of Hyderabad was built by  NawabVikar-ul-Umra in year 1893. It was later turned to  a  luxary hotel.

  

• Tirupati in Chittor district is of the most famous holy cities of India. The main temple is on top of a hill Tirumala. Lord Venketaswara’s diety is revered in Tirupati temple.
• The other important religious places are Sriramachandra Swamy temple of Bhadrachlam, the Mallikarjuaswami temple of Srisailam. Ahobala temple, Srikumaram temple and Simhachalam temple are also famous.
• Prasanthi Nilyam at Puttapurthi is internationally famous ashram of Sri Sai Baba.

• The Big Nandi Bull (of Lord Shiva) located in Lepakashi is one of the main religious attraction point of  Andhra.
• Literacy rate of Andhra Pradesh is 67.4 % which is much below the national average of 74.04 %. Andhra Pradesh is 5th most illiterate state of India.
• Mallikarjuna Swamy temple of Srisailam (Kurnool district) is one of the twelve Jyotirlings of Shiva.
• Mogarajapuram caves of Vijaywada containing idols of shiva and vinayak are good historic tourist spot.
• The main place of attraction is “Charminar” which was built in 1951 by Mohammad Qutub Quli Shah. Some other important places are  Salar Jung Museum, Health Museum, Birla Mandir and Mecca Masjid.
• Folk Dances of Andhra – Ghatna Mardala, Natakam, Burrakatha, Buttabommalu, Tappeta Gullu, Lambadi, Dhimsa and Chindu are the popular folk dances of Andhra Pradesh.
• Classical Dances – Kuchipudi is the popular classical dance form of this state. Andhra Natyam, Bhamakalapam, Veeranatyam are other classical dances which is practiced in this state.
• Main festivals of the state – Ugadi (telugu new year), Makar Sankranti, Dasara, Vinayak Chaviti, Deepavali, Attla Taddi etc.

 

 Economic Facts about Andhra Pradesh

• Agriculture is the primary driver of State’s economy and Rice is the main agricultural product.
• Andhra Pradesh is also called as Rice Bowl of India.
• Main Agriculture Products of Andhra Pradesh– Rice (77 % of foodgrain production), wheat, jowar, bazra, millet, pulses, oil seeds, sugarcane, cotton, chili pepper and tobacco. Cashew and eucalyptus oil are produced.
• Andhra Pradesh leads all other states in production of Tobacco with a monopoly in Virginia Tobacco.
• Andhra Pradesh accounts for 10 % for total fish production of India while 70 % of total Shrimp comes from this state.
• Mineral Resources of Andhra Pradesh – Chrysolite asbestos, barytes, copper ore, manganese, mica, coal and limestone.
• Andhra Pradesh is also called as Ratna Garbha of India. Its resources estimates to 110 M tonnes of industrial grade minerals and 200 M tonnes of building materials.
• The famous diamonds Kohinoor and Pitt came from the mines of Golconda.
• Tummalpalle mines are rich source of Uranium.

 

Famous Persons of Andhra Pradesh

• Sarojini Naidu – She was born and brought up in Hyderabad. Her actual name was Sarojini Chattopadhyay (Bengali by birth and culture) married to telugu doctor Govindarajulu Naidu.
• S Radhakrishnan – was the second President of India who belonged to Andhra.
• Neelam Sanjeev Reddy –  was the first Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and the sixth President of India.
• Y Venugopal Reddy – was former RBI governor.
• Shobha Naidu and Yamini Reddy – are famous Kuchipudi dancers who belong to Andhra Pradesh.
• Karnam Malleswari – is famous weightlifter who won bronze in Sydney olympics (year 2000).
• Pullela Gopichand – is the only second Indian after Prakash Padukone to win All England Badminton Championship in 2001. He was born in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh.
• Koneru Humpy – is the youngest Indian to become a chess Grandmaster. She belongs to Vijaywada of Andhra Pradesh.
• Venkatpati Raju – is the famous cricketer of 90s who was known for his leg spin bowling.
• Ambati Rayudu – is the present ODI and IPL cricket player. He belongs to Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.
• Actresses Jaya prada and Samira Reddy  both were born in Rajahmudry of Andhra Pradesh.