Introduction : Andhra Pradesh lies between 12o41' and 22o longitude and 77o and 84o40' latitude. It is bounded by Madhya Pradesh and Orissa in the north, the Bay of Bengal in the east, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in the south and Maharashtra in the west. Andhra Pradesh is the fifth largest state in India and it forms the major link between the north and the south of India. It is the biggest and most populous state in the south of India. 

There are three main regions in Andhra Pradesh - (1) Northern Circars or coastal Andhra comprising Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Ongole and Nellore districts; (2) Rayalaseema or Ceded districts comprising Kurnool, Cuddapah, Chittoor and Anantapur districts; and (3) Telangana comprising Khammam, Nalgonda, Warangal, Karimnagar, Medak, Nizamabad, Aadilabad, Mahbubnagar and Hyderabad districts. The Circars or Coastal districts are well developed and enjoy a greater degree of affluence than the other two regions; Rayalaseema is close to the coastal districts and here rainfall is less than in the coastal districts and drought conditions prevail sometimes, and the Telangana region is of the former princely state of Nizam's Hyderabad, which is close to Maharashtra's Marathwada region and some parts of Karnataka.

History of Andhra Pradesh

The state of Andhra Pradesh was created by unifying the old princely state of Hyderabad with the Telegu-speaking parts of the former state of Madras. It was ruled by the Chalukyas till the 10th century and then overpowered by the Cholas. In the 14th century, the Muslim power took the charge of this southern state and ruled it for centuries. Later, the the Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb seized it. After the death of Aurangzeb, Andhra Pradesh was ruled by the his successors, called Nizams, who ruled it till Independence.

Cutural and Heritage:

The various dynasties that ruled the State of Andhra Pradesh, from the Ikshvakus, Pallavas, Chalukyas, Kakatiyas, Vijayanagaram kings, Qutb Shahis, Mughals, to the Asaf Jahis, all have contributed significantly to the State's rich cultural tapestry and have left behind a heritage studded with spectacular monuments, temples, mosques, palaces all vibrant with arts, crafts, dance and literature.

The state has a rich cultural heritage. The great composers of carnatic music Annamacharya, Tyagaraja and many others chose Telugu as their language of composition, thus enriching the language. Kuchipudi is the state's classical dance form.Andhrites have been movie buffs decades. The state produces about 200 top notch movies per year.

 Andhra Pradesh has several museums, including the Salar Jung Museum, which features a varied collection of sculptures, paintings, and religious artifacts, and the Archaeological Museum, which features Buddhist and Hindu sculptures and other antiques; both museums are located in Hyderabad

The State is rich in natural resources, cultural heritage, history and most of all, an opportunity to explore them, created by combining the old princely state of Hyderabad with the Telugu speaking portions of the former state of Chennai, Andhra Pradesh to this day retains much of its regal glory and mystic charm.
 
Attractions In Andhra Pradesh

Temples
There are many attractions in Andhra Pradesh including religious, historical and natural. This state has many religious pilgrim centers, visited by innumerable devotees every year. There are many beautiful temples here, which are worth visiting sites. One of the most important and famous temples in Andhra is the Tirupati temple at Tirupati. It has Lord Venkateswara as its presiding deity. It is considered as the richest and most visited Hindu temple in India. Another temple is the Srisailam, regarded as the home of Sri Mallikarjuna. It is one of the twelve Jyothirlingams in India. Then, there is temple of Yadagirigutta dedicated to an avatara of Vishnu, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha.

At Puttaparthi, there is an ashram of popular guru Sri Sathya Sai Baba. It is visited by numerous devotees everyday. Another famous temple is situated at Warangal, known as the Ramappa temple. It is famous for some exquisite temple carvings. Apart from these, there are many Buddhist centers at Amaravati, Bhattiprolu, Nagarjuna Konda, and Phanigiri.

Natural Attractions

Besides, there is a one-million-year old limestone caves at Borra. These are very popular among tourists looking for some exclusive discoveries. Then, there is the beautiful Araku Valley and the Horsley hill resort, ideal for a quite stay. The vibrant Godavari flowing through a narrow gorge at Papi Kondalu, waterfalls and rich bio-diversity at Talakona also attract the tourists. The silver virgin beaches of Vizag are some of the other natural attractions of the state, that invites tourists.

Monumental Attractions

Some historical monuments of the state are the Charminar, Golconda Fort, Chandragiri Fort, and the Falaknuma Palace. These monuments are famous for there architectural excellence and beautiful carvings. They are also significant from the point of view of history. Thus, do not forget to visit these splendid pieces of past.

Festivals

Andhra Pradesh tourism highlights the rich culture and traditions of Andhra Pradesh, where many colorful festivals are celebrated. Some festivals are religious whereas some are organized by the state. These festivals depict the vibrant and varied culture of the state. Many of these festivals such as Deepavali, Dasara, Mohurrum, Shivratri, etc. are celebrated nation wide. Some of the popular festivals of Andhra Pradesh are Sankranthi celebrated in the month of January, Ugadi or the Telugu New Year in March/April,Vinayaka Chavithi in August, Dasara in October and off course Deepavali in November.

Besides, there are many state festivals celebrated here. These festivals are organized by the state government to promote tourism in the state. To name a few are, the Deccan Festival, Lumbini Festival, Visaka Utsav and the Rayalaseema Food and Dance Festival.

Shopping In Andhra Pradesh

Shopping can be fun in Andhra Pradesh. Hyderabad is the main shopping destination in the state. There are many lanes around the city, specially around the historical landmark of Charminar. Some of the famous bazaars of Hyderabad are Laad Bazaar and Pearl Bazaar, they are known for beautiful shops of clothes and jewelery. Here you can look forward to buy some exquisite jewelery, with precious stones set in gold and silver. Apart from these you can also buy pearls, glass embedded bangles, antique 'kundan' and enamel ornaments. The temple saris and Pochampalli silks are also a must buy.

At Hyderabad, you can also buy traditional handicrafts including bidriware, which is a black gun metal inlaid with fine silver wire in delicate patterns and filigree work that is jewelery made of twisted silver wire having a delicate trellis-like appearance. Besides these, one can also buy Nirmal lacquerware items, bags and belts embroidered by the Lambadi gypsies with sparkling mirrors and beads.

The other major shopping areas in the city of Hyderabad are Abid's, Nampally, Basheerbagh and Sultan Bazaar.