Bearings in Andhra Pradesh (State)

Andhra Pradesh is an Indian state located at the southern tip of the country, with a long coastline of 972 km over the Bay of Bengal. This political entity, whose capital is the city of Hyderabad, is the fourth largest state in area and the fifth most populous in the country with around 85 million inhabitants. The state was formed in 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act, combining the territories of the former states of Andhra and Hyderabad.

Andhra Pradesh is a major tourism destination in the area, receiving many visitors attracted by its natural beauty and its extraordinary historic religious buildings. Among the most important pilgrimage sites in the state are the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati, the Bhramaramba Mallikarjunaswamy Temple in Srisailam and Ramappa temple and Thousand Pillars temple in Warangal, among others. The natural attractions are equally impressive and include the Araku Valley, the Kailashagiri park and golden beaches like Yarada Beach at Visakhapatnam, the limestone caves at Borra, the hill resorts of Horsley Hills, the Papi Kondalu hill range, the Belum Caves in Kurnool, the Ettipotala waterfalls in Kuntala and the Sri Venkateswara National Park in Chittoor. The incredible offer for tourism in the region completes with monuments like the Charminar, the Falaknuma Palace and the Chowmahalla Palace in Hyderabad, the ruined city and the forts in Golconda and the Chandragiri Fort in Tirumala.

Gastronomy in Andhra Pradesh has a big variety in its different geographical areas, but throughout the state is characterized by its high use of spices. Among its traditional dishes are the Gongura pachadi, the Hyderabadi biryani, the Chapala Pulusu or the Koramenu kura. Among the most important economic activities of the state stands especially the agriculture, with a large production of rice, sugar cane, cotton and tobacco, and also significantly developed are some industries such as information technology and biotechnology.