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Foreign Direct investment in Telcom
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07. TRAVEL |
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Andhra
Pradesh |
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The first thing that
strikes the visitor is the sheer ruggedness of the terrain, situated
as Andhra Pradesh is mostly on the Deccan plateau. Then one notices
the grand temples rising from the hillocks, the spectacular Buddist
stupas, and even the excavated splendor of an ancient university.
One notes that the classical dance of Kuchipudi evolved here. One
experiences the high culture, an amalgam of Hindu and Muslim influences
absorbed over thousands of years. And then heads for the 1,000 kilometres
of virgin coastline. |
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The first known rulers of Andhra in recorded history
were the Satavahanas. Flourishing by the 1st century
AD, they were tolerant of Buddhism, thanks to which
Andhra has some of the most spectacular Buddhist sites
in the country. Kakatiyas, Chalukyas, Cholas, the Bahamani
kings, all have lorded over Andhra. Hyderabad, the state
capital and once capital of the biggest and most impressive
Muslim-ruled princely state of India, and nearby Golconda
are steeped in history. But so is rural Andhra with
its share of ancient and impressive sites-Buddhist ones
like Nagarjunakonda and Amaravati, and pilgrimage centres
like Tirupati and Puttaparti.
HYDERABAD
"Her bed is India, there she lies, a pearl," a character
muses in a Shakespeare play. The same is true of Hyderabad,
India's own City of Pearls, named for its flourishing
pearl trade. Hyderabad, with its twin city Secunderabad,
lies on the banks of the Musi River, where it was established
by the Qutb Shahi kings after a water shortage in Golconda
400 years ago, These days-as a major hub of India's
software industry-it is also called Cyberabad. Hyderabad
then is both historical and hitech. It's most enduring
emblem-you can't think of one without the other-is Charminar
(literally, four minarets), built soon after the city
itself, as its showpiece. Don't miss out on breathtaking
views from the top of the minarets, without even climbing
up. The techno-savvy Department of Tourism has installed
'telerobotic' cameras to view surroundings with the
help of touch-screen controls placed in kiosks on the
ground. The Old City around Charminar is woth exploring.
Not to be a missed is Laad Bazaar, the famed bridalware
market. Don't leave Hyderabad without having some of
its signature biryani. Savour the untold wealth of the
Prime Ministers of Hyderabad's Nizams at the Salarjung
Museum. It's arguably the largest one-man collectin
of artifacts and antiques from around the world and
houses many quirky items. There's Mecca Masjid, one
of the largest mosques in India, so called because the
bricks used to make the central arch came from Mecca.
Visits to Qutb Shahi Tombs, Hussain Sagar and Osman
Sagar lakes, and Ramoji Film City are considered compulsory.
Golconda Fort
Golconda is one of India's most famous forts. Originally
built of mud in the 12th century by the Yadav kings
of Deogiri, it passed on to the Kakatiyas and then the
Bahamani dynasty. It was later the capital of the Qutb
Shahis from 1518-1687. The diamond vault here once held
the Koh-i-noor and Hope diamonds. The fortress is famous
for its acoustics, palaces, ingenious water supply system
and the Fateh Rahben gun. A sound and light show held
daily takes visitors into Golconda's exciting past.
Healing
Andhra
There is one more reason to visit Andhra : to get healed.
The state offers a wealth of rejuvenation experiences
through health tourism programmes. Apart from 14 government
hospitals, Hyderabad has 30 private ones, at par with
institutes anywhere in the world, and yet
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extremely
affordable. There's alternative healing too. Hyderabad
is famous for fish medicine - miracle cure for asthmatics
disbursed free of cost, where a secret medicine is stuffed
into a live fish, which the patient has to swallow whole.
Traditional methods like the bone-setting technique of
Puttur, jaundice treatment from Krishna district, and
paralysis cure from Chirala are now widely available.
There are health resorts aplenty, and ayurveda, yoga and
nature cure are all on offer.
Warrangal
This fort city was the capital of the Kakatiyas, one of
the greatest ruling clans of Andhra Desa, as the region
was known in earlier times. Under the Kakatiyas, Telugu
culture and literature flourished. Some of the finest
architecture in south India was sculpted by the Kakatiyas.
Not-to-be-missed are the Thousand Pillar Temple, Warangal
Fort and Ramappa Temple.
Anantapur
Prasantinilayam, the abode of peace and home of Satya
Sai Baba in Puttaparti, is world-renowned. Sai Baba's
November 23 birthday is a big draw. Places of historical
interest like Penukonda and Rayadurgam Forts to religious
places like Lepakshi (famous for the Veerbhadra Temple)
and Dharmavaram are all in Anantapur. Another reason to
visit is Thimmamma Marrimanu, an amazing 550-year-old
banyan tree that has even made it to the Guinness Book.
Buddhist Sites
Buddhism came to Andhra very early, in the lifetime of
the Buddha himself. Testimony to this are nearly 50 Buddhist
sites. Nagarjunakonda. This ancient Buddhist site would
have been submerged at the time of constructing the Nagarjuna
Sagar dam. In a rare and stupendous feat, the structures
were relocated on a hill that now forms an island in the
middle of the reservoir. The hill is called Nagarjunakonda
and the dam named to commemorate Acharya Nagarjuna, founder
of Mahayana Buddhism. A vihara-shaped museum on the island
contains reliquary from the Buddhist centres of Sriparvata
and Vijaypuri. Remains of a Buddhist university have been
relocated to Anupu, 4km from here. The Ethipothala Waterfalls
are nearby. Amaravati was capital of the Satvahanas and
is the most important Buddhist site in Andhra. The largest
stupa in India is here. Tirupati Lord Venkateshwara Temple,
popularly called the Tirupati temple, is in the thickly
wooded Tirumala hills of Chittoor district. One of India's
most prosperous and vibrant temple, it attracts millions
of visitors from around the globe each year. Tirupati
town, from where the Tirumala hills are approached, is
at the base of the hills. Tirumala is also emerging as
a nature destination, so it's not just for the religious.
Nature
Unlike other wildlife destinations, overrun with visitors,
Andhra Pradesh claims to have opened up its natural treasures
gradually. The result is natural habitat untouched for
centuries. There are over 24 national parks and sanctuaries
to choose from. The Nagarjuna Sagar Srisailam |
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sanctuary, 130km from Hyderabad, is one
of the biggest successes of Project Tiger, a nation-wide effort
to preserve the magnificent predator in its natural environment.
Birdwatchers can head to Manjira Sanctuary, just 50km from the
state capital.
Beaches
Visakhapatnam, Vizag to locals, is Andra Pradesh's second largest
and one of Asia's fastest growing cities. Here in the golden
sands and the blue, blue waters of the Bay of Bengal. Rishikonda,
an unspoilt beach 8km from Visakhapatnam, is ideal for swimming
and water sports like wind and water surfing. Bheemunipatnam,
or Bhimli for short, 25km from Visakhapatnam, is a safe beach,
considering that the waters of India's east coast to tend to
be choppy. This was once a dutch settlement and the Dutch cemetery
is worth a visit. Machilipatnam, the headquarters of Krishna
district, known for its Kalamkari art, was once a major port.
There's a beauteous beach here.
Hill Stations
Andra has, surprise, surprise, delightful hill resorts too.
Horsley Hills is the best known, tucked away in the hills near
Madanapalle in Chittoor at a height of 1,265 m. It enjoys a
salubrious climate throughout the year. Araku is a valley in
the Anantagiri Hills at a height of 975 m. The railway journey
to Araku has great views of the Eastern Ghats and passes several
waterfalls and numerous tunnels on the way. It also crosses
the highest rail point in Asia. 15-km away are the well-illuminated
Borra Caves comprising stalactites and stalagmites millions
of years old. They are a must-see.
Festivals
Ugadi is the Telugu New Year. Specially conceived for tourists
are festivals showcasing Andhra's art and culture. At the International
Kite Festival, held every January at Hyderabad, participants
fill in the skies with kites of many hues. This coincides with
the harvest festival of Sankranti, one of the major festivals
of Andhra Pradesh, which is celebrated for three days. The Deccan
Festival at Qutb Shahi Tombs in April brings together the best
talent in music, classical dance and theatre. The Buddha Jayanti
Festival, held at both Hyderabad and Nagarjuna Sagar, tries
to showcase the Buddhist heritage of Andhra. There are so many
other festivals, it's safe to say, Andhra is always in celebratory
mode. For adventure lovers, paragliding, rock-climbing, bungee
jumping and river crossing are just some of the activities lined
up.
Shopping
In Hyderabad, apart from its famed pearls, you can buy excellent
Bidriware and lacquer bangles embellished with semi-precious
stones. Kalamkari is possibly the most famous export.This art
of printing on fabric with vegetable dyes is exclusive to two
districts in Andhra. Pembarti, 60km from Warangal, is famous
for sheet metal art, and you can purchase some fine specimens
here. Cheriyal village in Warangal is famous for its scroll
painting. Don't miss out on the Batik wall hangings, Nirmal
paintings and Kondapali toys. Nirmal is also known for its colourful
softwood toys. Another place where such wood is used to make
simple yet attractive toys and dolls is Etikoppaka in Visakhapatnam
district.
Cuisine
Andhra cuisine is not just about Hyderabadi biriyani and mirchi
ka salan. Delicious pickles and non-vegetarian fare abound,
with great regional variation. For dessert, do try double ka
meetha(bread pudding) and Khubani ka meetha(an apricot sweet).
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