Hyderabad
Hyderabad, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh is a bustling 400-year-old
metropolis with an urban population of 4.2 million people approximately.
Hyderabad is located on the Deccan Plateau and the Musi River, 650m above
sea level. The physiography of Hyderabad is dominated by hills, tanks, forests,
and rock formations.
The History of Hyderabad
The history of Hyderabad begins with the establishment of the Qutub Shahi
dynasty. Quli Qutub Shah seized the reins of power from the Bahamani kingdom
in 1512 and established the fortress city of Golconda. Inadequacy of water,
and frequent epidemics of plaque and cholera persuaded Mohammad, the fifth
Quli Qutub Shahi ruler to venture outward to establish the new city with
the Charminar as its center and with four great roads fanning out in the
four cardinal directions. Hyderabad's fame, strategic location and Golconda's
legendary wealth attracted Aurangazeb who captured Golconda after a long
siege in 1687. After this defeat the importance of Hyderabad declined
and the city fell into partial ruin.
As the Mughal Empire decayed and began to disintegrate, the viceroy, Asaf
Jah I proclaimed himself the Nizam and established independent rule of the
Deccan. Hyderabad once again became a major capital city, ruled by successive
Nizams of the Asaf Jah dynasty until the state was merged into the Indian
Union in 1948.
Tirupati
Tirupati - A Divine Destination
Tirupati City is located in the southeastern part of Andhra Pradesh State.
It lies about 152-km northwest of Chennai in the Palkonda Hills. Tirupati
is known as the abode of the Hindu god Venkateshvara (also spelt as 'Venkatesvara'),
"Lord of Seven Hills". About 10-km northwest of Tirupati, at an
elevation of 750m, is the sacred hill of Tirumala, which was considered
so holy that before 1870 non-Hindus were not permitted to ascend it.
Back To History - The Ruling Dynasties
Tirupati was developed mainly by the contributions made by kings during
their rule. Almost all the kings from great dynasties of the southern
peninsula have paid homage to Lord Sri Venkateswara in this ancient shrine
of Tirupati. The Pallavas of Kancheepuram (9th century AD), the Cholas
of Thanjavur (a century later), the Pandyas of Madurai, and the kings
and chieftains of Vijayanagar (14th - 15th century AD) were devotees of
the Lord and they competed with one another in endowing the temple with
rich offerings and contributions.
The decline of the Vijayanagar dynasty did not affect the contributions
to this place as many nobles and chieftains from all parts of the country
continued to pay their homage and offer gifts to the temple. Raghoji Bhonsle,
the Maratha general, visited the temple and set up a permanent endowment
for the conduct of worship in the temple. He presented valuable jewels
to the Lord, including a large emerald, which is still preserved in a
box named after the General. Among the later rulers who have endowed large
amounts are the rulers of Mysore and Gadwal.
During the rule of the Vijayanagar dynasty contributions made to the
temple increased enormously. Krishnadevaraya had statues of himself and
his consorts installed at the portals of the Tirupati temple, and these
statues can be seen to this day. There is also a statue of Venkatapati
Raya in the main temple at Tirupati.
After the fall of Hindu kingdoms, came the Muslim rulers of Karnataka
and after their downfall the British took over, and many of the temples
came under their supervisory and protective control.
In 1843 AD, the East India Company divested itself of the direct management
of non-Christian places of worship and native religious institutions.
Vijayawada
Vijayawada- The City of Victory
Vijayawada, also called as "Bezawada", is 257-km from Hyderabad
and is located on the banks of the Krishna River, and is bounded by the
Indrakiladri hills on the West and the Budameru River on the North. Situated
along the Chennai- Howrah and Chennai-Delhi rail route, this is the largest
railway junction of the South Central Railway. The city forms a part of
the Krishna district, spread over an area of 58-sq- kms (urban area).
Vijayawada or the "City of Victory" if literally translated
gets its name from the legend, which says it was here on the Indrakiladri
Hill, that Arjuna, the Pandava Prince, won the blessings of Lord Shiva
for his penance. During the British rule the city experienced significant
growth.
In particular, the completions of the Krishna Barrage and the Railway
Bridge on Krishna have helped the region expand its agricultural and commercial
base. The famous Chinese traveller Hieun T`sang has visited this city.
Today, with excellent communications, perhaps the best in the South where
railways are concerned, Vijayawada become one of the big business centres
of the State. Commercially, culturally and industrially the city is a
very flourishing one.
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