Andhra Pradesh

Newly divided state Andhra Pradesh has Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema comprising 9 in Coastal Andhra and 4 in Rayalaseema districts. Visakhapatnam is the largest city and Vijayawada next large city. The new capital “Amaravathi” is in Guntur district.

History:

As early as 3rd Century BC Andhra is ruled by satavahanas with Amaravathi as the capitol. Acharya NAgarjuna a great teacher lived during this period. Andhra region is ruled by ikshvakas, cholas , pallavas, salankayanas, until 13th century. Reddy dynasty ruled till 15th century, when muslims invasion started. The Vijayanagara empire's time is considered as the golden era of South India for it’s prosperity, welfare, wealth, military might and nurturing of arts. Vijayanagara Empire, one of the greatest empires in the history of Andhra Pradesh and India, was founded by Harihara andBukka, who served as treasury officers of the Kakatiyas of Warangal.

The Qutb Shahi dynasty came to power and ruled andhra country for about two hundred years from the early part of the sixteenth century to the end of the seventeenth century. In early 19th century, Northern Circars became part of the British East India company held Madras Presidency.This region became Coastal Andhra region. Later the Nizam rulers of Hyderabad surrendered five territories to the British which emerged as Rayalaseema. However, Nizams retained control of the interior provinces as the princely state of Hyderabad, acknowledging British rule. After independence nizam sates were forcibly merged into Andhra Pradesh, in 1948. The French occupied Yanam near Kakinada, after independence based on linguistic differences Telugu-speaking people of Madras State demanded separate stae and Sri Potti Sreeramulu fasted until death in 1952. Andhra State, was separated from Madras State on 1 October 1953, with Kurnool as its capital city.

On the basis of a gentlemen's agreement of 1 November 1956, the States Reorganisation Act formed Andhra Pradesh merged Andhra State with the Telugu-speaking areas of the already existing Hyderabad State and Hyderabad was made the capital of the new state Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014

In February 2014, the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 bill was passed by the Parliament of India for the formation of Telangana state comprising ten districts. Hyderabad will remain as a joint capital for 10 years for both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The new state of Telangana came into existence on 2 June 2014 approved from the President of India.