Andhra Pradesh came into existence in 1956, with the Andhra State coming together with the Telugu-speaking northern districts of Hyderabad State. Read further to learn about the unique features of the state that helps it stand apart from the other states.

It shares its border with Tamil Nadu to the north and Kerala to the west; it’s separated from Karnataka to the northwest by a narrow strip of land following a coastal bend. 

History of Andhra Pradesh

The state of Andhra Pradesh came into being with the fall of the Satavahana dynasty, which ruled over the Andhra region for about 400 years. The discovery of the inscriptions and rock-cut temples and Chalukyan architectural works at Amaravati are attributed to the period between the 2nd century BCE and the 8th century CE. 

However, several other sites in present-day Andhra Pradesh date back to earlier periods. During this period, the Satavahanas, of Indo-Aryan origin, ruled both Andhra and parts of Maharashtra.

The old name of Andhra Pradesh is derived from the word “Andhra”, meaning Satavahanas, the most senior kings of Andhra Pradesh and India.

The Father of Andhra Pradesh

Potti Sreeramulu is known as the father of Andhra Pradesh. He was a Telugu poet and social reformer. He was born on September 17, 1895, in a poor Telugu-speaking family in Thrithala, near Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, India. He joined the Indian independence movement when he saw the cruel treatment of the people of Hyderabad by the British rulers. 

He supported Nehru’s plan to establish separate states for non-Hindi speaking people as the first step towards self-rule. He later became one of his closest confidants with whom he worked to achieve this measure.

He sacrificed his life for the cause of a separate Andhra state. In 1952, Potti Sreeramulu fasted until death to protest the discriminatory attitude of the central government towards non-Hindi-speaking states. The fast lasted six weeks. When it became clear that his life was in danger, Nehru rushed him to the hospital. He died two days later, on December 15, 1952.

Unique Features Of Andhra Pradesh 

Here are ten of the unique features of Andhra Pradesh that are lesser-known to ordinary people.

• It is home to the only air-suspended pillar in the world. It is located in the Lepakshi Temple in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. The temple has 70 pillars; however, only one is suspended in the air.

• An Indian freedom fighter named Pingali Venkayya from Andhra Pradesh designed the National Flag. He did five-year-long research on the flags of thirty different countries before designing the Indian Flag.

• International Institute of Digital Technologies (IIDT), India’s first digital technology institute, is also set up in Andhra Pradesh. It offers a variety of courses ranging from cybersecurity to data analytics.

• The official language of Andhra Pradesh was referred to as “Italian of the East” by the British due to its poetic lilt. Moreover, most Telugu words also end with a vowel sound like in the Italian language.

• The Telugu film industry holds a world record for the most prominent film production rate. Last year, it became South Asia’s largest film industry in box-office success.

• Amaravati, also known as the ‘People’s capital’, is one of the oldest places in Indian History. The 2,000-year-old town is located in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh.

• Andhra Pradesh is home to the world’s giant banyan tree. It is named Thimmamma Marrimanu and spreads over 8 acres with a canopy of 19,107 sq. m.

• A small village named Lambasingi in the Chintapalli Mandal of Visakhapatnam district is the only place that receives snowfall in South India. It is called the “Kashmir of Andhra Pradesh”. It sits at 1000 metres above sea level.

• The Nagarjunakonda island of Andhra Pradesh was once a mountain. It is believed that the island was formed after the mountain submerged into the sea.

• In the past, most Indian Presidents came from Andhra Pradesh. Three out of the total number of presidents to this day were from this South Indian state.

Conclusion

Andhra Pradesh is a beautiful state. Its unique features set it apart from other Indian states. If you love history and are interested in politics, much more to learn about this state. The food is fantastic, and the diversity of culture has made it one of the most popular states in India.