The region that spreads amidst three famous Shiva shrines—at Kalahasti , Srisailam and Draksharamam was called Tri-linga. The region had become a part of the
empire of Ashoka. Mighty dynasties who have left their indelible mark on history ruled it even later. They were the Satavahanas, the Pallavas and the Chalukyas. The most
glorious period in the history of the Andhras was the era of Krishnadevaraya (1509-1529), who ruled over an empire that embraced the whole of South India, famous as the
Vijayanagar Empire. The Telugu-speaking areas were separated from what was the composite Madras State, on 1 October 1953, and the Andhra Pradesh came into being. The new
state, to begin with, was formed with 11 districts; 9 more districts belonging to Telangana region were added in 1956.
Andhra has plenty to see than to be visualized about. Starting with a culture that's caressed over 1,000 years and more, Andhra Pradesh's cultural lineage
has amazing blend of Hindu and Islamic ethos and other diverse cultures. There's the capital city of Hyderabad, living in splendor. Move over it, and the state has verdant
forests and splendor-laden temple, lining the wild interiors where the terrain dominates the Deccan Plateau. Flowing through the lands are the rivers-Krishna and Godavari.
Also call it as the domain of the erstwhile Nizam, once the wealthiest man in the world. According to history, the first recorded rulers of Andhra were the Satavahanas
who flourished by the First Century AD. Owe the spectacular Buddhist sites in the state to them. Then came the Islamic rule, with the Bahamani kings making their way in
to Hyderabad, and the nearby Golconda, which are replete with rich culture and history. There's the countryside Andhra, rich with Buddhist site at Amaravati and
Nagarjunakonda, pilgrimage like Tirupati and Puttaparti.
The heritage of Indian music has two main branches the Hindustani and the Karnatic. The Andhras have made rich contributions to the growth of the Karnatic music.
One of the most charming forms of dance, Kuchipudi, was evolved in Andhra Pradesh. ‘Yakshagana’, a kind of dance-drama, and ‘Bommalata’, a shadow-play, are some other aspects
of the cultural heritage of the Andhras. Highly significant antiques are found in Andhra Pradesh bearing relevance to various stages of development from the lower palaeolithic
times.