| SOUTH INDIA
>> ANDHRA PRADESH |
Andhra Pradesh, India's
fifth largest state, is sprawled over an area
of 275,068 sq. km. History has forged, and left
behind vital links with the state, as is evident
from the many edifices, monuments and architectural
ruins, the legacy of dynasties as old as 300 B.C.
Traces of the diverse and variegated facets of
the culture of the Mauryas, Pallavas, Cholas,
Satavahanas, Chalukyas and Vijayanagar, offer
imposing vistas, that continue to fascinate the
observer.
Andhra Pradesh lives in its fertile coastal plains,
semi arid Deccan plateau and the lofty hillscapes
of the Eastern Ghats. Exquisite crafts, glorious
remnants of the past, vibrant festivities, irresistible
delicacies coupled with the charming features
of the people, and the sonorant mother tongue
Telugu leave behind indelible impressions.
Some of the incredible sights of Andhra Pradesh
are the world's tallest masonry dam, million year
old caves, South Asia's first lion safari and
the world's richest temple.
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Monuments :
Bhongir
Fort (Bhongir) |
This
fort is located upon a single hill at Bhongir.
More than 500 feet high and spread over an area
of 40 acres, the fort was considered practically
impregnable by invading armies. Built in the 12th
century by western Chalukya ruler Tribhuvanamalla
Vikramaditya it has a unique egg-shaped construction
with two entry points protected by huge rocks.
A moat that encircles the fort, a vast underground
chamber, trap doors, an armoury, stables, ponds,
wells etc., make for fascinating viewing. The
view from top of the surrounding countryside is
simply breathtaking. |
Chandragiri
Fort (Chandragiri) |
Chandragiri
was the later capital of the Vijayanagara Empire.
The forts and Mahals at the place are attractions
for tourists. The fort is said to have been built
in AD 1,000 by Immadi Narasimha Yadavaraya and
has been improved in later time by the Vijayanagara
Kings.
The fort stands on a huge hill 183m high. The
southern side of the hill is enclosed by strong
walls, surrounded by a ditch. The remains of the
lower fort contain the two Mahals, the lower portion
of which is built in stone and the upper in brick.
The main building known as the 'Raj (Chandragiri)
Mahal' is majestic in appearance. The modern town
of Chandragiri lies to the east of the hill on
which the fort stands.
|
Asman
Garh Palace |
The
palace was designed and built by Sir Osman Jah,
a noble belonging to the Paigah family and one
time Prime Minister of Hyderabad State.
The granite turrets and arched windows of Asman
Garh stand atop a hill some distance ahead of
the Hyderabad TV tower. The palace now houses
an archaeological museum.
|
Charminar(
Hyderabad) |
The
Charminar is as much the signature of Hyderabad
as the Taj Mahal is of Agra or the Eiffel Tower
is of Paris. It is a magnificent square edifice
of granite, built upon four grand arches facing
North, South, East and West. These arches support
two floors of rooms and gallery of archways. At
each corner of the square structure is a minaret
rising to a height of 24 meters, making the building
nearly 54 meters tall. It is these four (char)
minarets (minar) that give the building, its name
Charminar. Each minar stands on a lotus-leaf base,
a special recurrent motif in Qutub Shahi buildings.
The first floor was used as a madarasa (college)
during the Qutub Shahi period. The second floor
has a mosque on the western side, the dome of
which is visible from the road, if one stands
some distance away. A spectacular view of the
city may be had from the roof of the Charminar,
although, due to severe overcrowding of the minarets,
only visitors with special permission from the
Archaeological Survey of India, Hyderabad Circle
are allowed to go to the top of the minarets.
The clocks above each of the four archways were
added in 1889.
Walking around the Charminar area, one is constantly
surprised by vestiges of the past intermingling
with the present. Towards the Southeast of the
Charminar is located imposing edifice of the Nizamia
Unani Hospital. About 50m to the West, the line
of shops in Lad Bazaar is interupted by an old,
crumbling brown wall, which marks the entrance
to the old Nizama?s Jilau Khana (parade ground).
The grounds are now being used for the development
of a large commercial complex. Further down, a
road to the left leads to the Khilawat Complex
(Chowmahalla Palace). The Lad Bazaar road terminates
in a square called Mahaboob Chowk where a large
19th century clock-tower looms over a delicate
white mosque of the same period. |
Golconda
Fort (Hyderabad) |
Golconda
is one of the famous forts of India. The name
originates from the Telugu words "Golla Konda"
meaning "Shepherd's Hill". The origins
of the fort can be traced back to the Kakatiyas
period Golconda was originally a mud fort, which
passed to the Bahmani dynasty and later to the
Qutb Shahis, who held it from 1518 to 1687 A.D.
The first three Qutb Shahi kings rebuilt Golconda,
over a span of 62 years.
The fort is famous for its acoustics, palaces,
factories, ingenious water supply system and the
famous Fateh Rahben gun, one of the cannons used
in the last siege of Golconda by Aurangzeb, to
whom the fort ultimately fell.
This fort is located upon a single hill at Bhongir.
More than 500 feet high and spread over an area
of 40 acres, the fort was considered practically
impregnable by invading armies. Built in the 12th
century by western Chalukya ruler Tribhuvanamalla
Vikramaditya it has a unique egg-shaped construction
with two entry points protected by huge rocks.
A moat that encircles the fort, a vast underground
chamber, trap doors, an armoury, stables, ponds,
wells etc., make for fascinating viewing. The
view from top of the surrounding countryside is
simply breathtaking. |
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