A synthesis of the ancient and the modern and of various religious beliefs with a skyline dotted by temples, mosques minarets, stupas and churches that is the essence of Andhra Pradesh. The fifth largest state of India situated on the south eastern coast, Andhra possesses its own unique charms. The recorded history of Andhra begins with the Mauryan period. The Satavahans founded a long dynasty of 30 kings and ruled over the region around Hyderabad for nearly 450 years. They were followed by the lkshavakus the Pallavas and the Eastern Chalukyas of the 7th century who ruled over the Eastern four century by the Kakatiyas and in 1336 the famous Vijayanagar kingdom was founded.
The 16th century withnessed the rule of the Qutub Shahi kings who were succeeded a little later by the famous Nizams of Hyderabad. The latter contributed immensely by way of art architecture culture tradition monuments life style and riches. The state of Andhra Pradesh was created out of a portion of the old Madras state and the addition of the erstwhile state of Hydrabad. The remarkable monuments of Hydrabad speak of the architectural genius of the Qutub Shani rulers and it was from the bowels of the Golconda mines that the most controversial most converted and most magnificent of diamonds the Kohinoor was extracted in 1656. Great writers like Meghasthenes and Pliny also mention Andhra in their writings, and the Puranas to make a mention of it Buddhist stupas viharas and sculptures show Andhra as one of the important religious centers of Buddhism