Centuries ago, Andhra Pradesh was a major Buddhist centre and part of Emperor Ashoka's sprawling kingdom. Not surprisingly, traces of early Buddhist influence are still visible in several places in and around the state. After the death of Emperor Ashoka, several dynasties from the Ikshvakus, Pallavas, Chalukyas, Kakatiyas, Vijayanagaram kings, Qutb Shahis, Mughals and the Asaf Jahi's, ruled this princely city.

The history of Andhra Pradesh dates back to the epic era of the Ramayana and the Mahabharatha. But the documented history points to 236 BC, when Satavahana established a kingdom and a dynasty around the modern Hyderabad. During the reign of 450 years, Buddhism flourished in the kingdom. The rulers were followers of Brahmanism, but the women folk practiced Buddism. It was during this period that Buddhism spread from these shores to China, The far East and to Sri Lanka. The Ikshvakus succeeded the Satavahanas and ruled the kingdom for 57 years. The Pallavas annexed the area South of River Krishna and ruled till the end of 6th century.

Then came the dynasties of Chalukyas and the Kakatiyas. The Kakatiyas established themselves as rulers of a Telugu speaking people. The glorious reign of the Kakatiyas came to end in the 14th century and for the first time Telugus came under a Muslim regime that brought with it a totally different set of customs, language and religion.

The Delhi Sultanate came in power in 1347 AD, governed by Allahuddin Hasan, claiming lineage to Bahman Shah of Persia, revolted against the Delhi Sultanate and declared himself ruler of the southern part of the territory, comprising mainly the Deccan and Telangana area.

It was somewhere around this time that the Qutub Shahi dynasty came into being when Sultan Quli, the Bahmani governor of Telangana, became independent and extend the new kingdom of Golconda right upto Machlipatnam on the east coast. Given the title of Quli-ul-Mulk by the Bahmanis, Qutub Shah, a descendant of a royal family of Hamdan in Persia, took over the reins and ruled till 1548.

Aurangazeb last Mogul king to rule India, conquered the Deccan in 1687 and left his governors, the Nizams, to rule Andhra. The British and French took over from the Nizams. Andhra became a part of Indian Union in 1947. The present state was formed in 1953, merging a part of the then Madras State (present Tamil Naidu) and the princely state of Hyderabad.

Andhra Pradesh is said to have been the home of the Pre- Dravidian dark coloured inhabitants. Andhra region witnessed the rule of Chandragupta Maurya during which it established itself as an independent kingdom. After Ashoka, the Mauryan empire declined giving opportunity to establish smaller kingdoms. In about the third century BC the Satavahanas ruled for about five centuries. The Satavahanas established a strong rule with their territories extending upto Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. The Satavahanas were overpowered by the Ikshvakus by the third century AD. During this period Brahmanism is said to have been revived. This reduced the influence of the Buddhist which was fostered by the Satavahanas.

PLACES OF INTEREST IN ANDHRA PRADESH

HYDERABAD
Andhra Pradesh spells magic. For it combines the old with the new, retaining its old culture and hospitality while driving itself to conquer new frontiers, particularly in the realm of information technology as well as tourism. Over the past few years, Andhra Pradesh tourism has emerged as a frontrunner in regards to the creation of new tourist attractions and infrastructure.

Out of all the states of erstwhile Deccan - Bijapur, Berar, Bidar and Golconda - Golconda was by far the most powerful. Ruled by the Qutub Shahis, the capital Bhagyanagar was named after a royal beloved Bhagmati, who later as the wife of Quli Qutub Shah became Hyder Mahal and thus was born Hyderabad.

Nagarjuna Sagar
Nagarjunakonda may be named after Nagarjuna, the revered Buddist monk, who governed the "Sangha (Buddhist monastery )" for nearly 60 years around the turn of the 2nd century.AD. He founded the Madhyamika school,which studied and developed the teachings of Mahayana Buddism.

CITY SIGHTS

Char Minar
The most important landmark of the city, it was built, as the legend goes, by Mohammed Quli Qutab Shah in honour of his Hindu wife, Bhagmati, in 1591 AD. The 53 mts. tall structure now forms the centrepiece of the old city and is surrounded by crowded bazaars.

Mecca Masjid
Close to the Char Minar is the largest mosque of South India, the Mecca Masjid, with lofty colonnades and entrance arches made of single slabs of granite. The mosque was begun by Abdullah Qutb Shah in 1614 AD and completed by Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb in 1687.

Jama Masjid
Also near the Char Minar is the oldest mosque in Hyderabad (1597 AD)

Golconda Fort
Standing atop an isolation hill on the outskirts of the city, the fort is known for its acoustic effects in built in the architectural design. The original fort was built by the Kakatiyas of Warangal, some eight hundred years ago. The Qutb Shahi rulers of hyderabad adopted for fort and converted the mud structure into solid battlements and palaces with stone.

Qutb Shahi Tomb, Hyderabad TravelsQutb Shahi Tombs
This cluster of graceful structures is the last resting place of the Qutb Shahi dynasty. Surrounded by well maintained gardens, the tombs are remarkable in their uniformity of design, each crowned by an onion-shaped dome?

SHOPPING
To leave Hyderabad without a material remembrance is nearly impossible, for the city has so much to offer. Pearls and diamonds are what the nobles in the mediaeval times sought here. The famed Kohinoor was mooned in these lands and it now adorns the British Crown. Cultured pearls in strings or set in jewellery is still a flourishing industry that employs a large number of craftsmen.

Birdiware-black metal inlaid with silver, Pochampalli sarees and fabric, handwoven in silks and cottons, glass bangles, are some of the other handicrafts and perfumes that have made Hyderabad a shopper's delight. And if one is looking for variety and bargains then the lanes of the old city around Char Minar are the best place.

How to Reach:

By Air:
The twin cities of Hyderabad and Secundrabad are linked by air services to most important centres of India.

By Rail:
Hyderabad & Secunderabad are well covered on the extensive network of Indian Railways. Both the broad-gauge and metre-gauge services connect the two cities with all parts of the country with some of the fastest trains in operation in India.

By Road:
Hyderabad is very well linked to all major centres of the region by regular bus services of Andhra Pradesh State Road.