Coastal Andhra Explained

Coastal Andhra
Native Name:Kōstā Āndhra
Settlement Type:Geographic region of Andhra Pradesh
Coordinates:15.8°N 80.9°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Andhra Pradesh
Subdivision Type2:Districts
Subdivision Name2:
Subdivision Type3:Largest city
Subdivision Name3:
Subdivision Type4:Major Cities
Subdivision Name4:
Unit Pref:Metric
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:91915
Population Total:34,195,655
Population As Of:2011
Population Footnotes:[2]
Demographics Type1:Languages
Demographics1 Title1:Official
Timezone1:IST
Utc Offset1:+05:30
Registration Plate:AP05, AP06, AP07, AP08, AP16, AP18, AP26, AP27, AP37, AP39
Blank1 Name Sec1:Largest airport
Blank1 Info Sec1:Vijayawada Airport
Demographics1 Info1:Telugu
Demographics1 Title2:Others

Coastal Andhra or Kosta Andhra (IAST: Kōstā Āndhra) is a geographic region in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Vijayawada is the largest city in this region. The region share borders with Rayalaseema, Uttarandhra and Telangana. It was a part of Madras State before 1953 and Andhra State from 1953 to 1956. According to the 2011 census, it has an area of which is 57.99% of the total state area and a population of 34,193,868 which is 69.20% of Andhra Pradesh state population. This area includes the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh on the Circar Coast[3] between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal, from the northern border with Odisha to Rayalaseema in the south.

Coastal Andhra is a fertile region suitable for agriculture, which is facilitated by the rivers Godavari, Krishna and Penna.[4] The prosperity of Coastal Andhra can be attributed to its rich agricultural land and an abundant water supply from these three rivers. Rice grown in paddy fields is the main crop, with pulses and coconuts also being important. The fishing industry is also important to the region.[5]

History

The region of Andhra rose to political power during the reign of the Maurya Dynasty. Megasthenes mentioned that Andhra was a flourishing empire of the Satavahanas' since before the common era. Coastal Andhra was also ruled by the famous Chalukyas in between the period of the 7th Century and the 10th century CE. This period was followed by the reign of many other dynasties such as the Cholas, the Kakatiyas as well as the Vijayanagara Empire.

According to 11th century inscriptions, coastal Andhra is bounded by Mahendragiri mountains (in north-eastern border with Gajapati district of Orissa), Kalahasti temple (in Chittoor district near the border of Nellore district), Srisailam temple (in Kurnool district near the border of Mahbubnagar district and Prakasham district).[6]

The Gajapati and Ganjam districts of Odisha were granted to the French East India Company around 1752. Later they were transferred by the French to the British. Nellore, which extends as far as Ongole Taluk, was later received from the Nawab of Arcot, under an establishment. Some parts of present-day Nellore and Chittoor were in the hands of Venkatagiri Rajas. The British made an arrangement with the Raja of Venkatagiri in 1802 to claim power in those territories also.

The districts of Andhra (Circar) and Rayalaseema were ceded by the Nizam of Hyderabad to the British colonial administration, which became part of Madras Presidency.[7]

Geography

Coastal Andhra is located in the eastern region of the state of Andhra Pradesh on the Circar Coast and comprises 18 districts: Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Kakinada, Konaseema, East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, Krishna, NTR, Guntur, Palnadu, Bapatla, Prakasam and Nellore districts. It borders Rayalaseema region of the state and the states of Telangana. The presence of the Godavari River, Krishna River and Penna River makes the area fertile for irrigation. The coastal line of this region is the second longest in the country, extending up to 974 km.[8]

Demographics

The area had a total population of 34,195,655 as per 2011 Census of India.

Coastal Andhra is predominantly Hindu (around 93%). Estimates of the Christian population are around 1.51% of the Coastal Andhra population.[9]

The main and most spoken language is Telugu.[10]

Culture

Kuchipudi is the classical dance form of the state, which was originated in the Kuchipudi village of Krishna district.[11]

Cuisine

Rice is the staple food in the coastal cuisine and is usually consumed with a variety of curries and lentil soups or broths. The cuisine of Coastal Andhra is influenced by various seafood varieties.

Politics

The 18 districts of Coastal Andhra region are: Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Kakinada, Konaseema, East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, Krishna, NTR, Guntur, Palnadu, Bapatla, Prakasam and Nellore.[12]

Chief Ministers from the region are:

Cities and towns

Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Guntur, Nellore, Kakinada, Eluru, Rajahmundry are popular cities in this region. The other major cities of this region are Gudivada, Tenali, Narasaraopeta, Bhimavaram, Machilipatnam, Ongole, Tadepalligudem, Also other major towns in the region are, Chirala, Amalapuram, Palakollu, Narasapuram, Kavali, Chilakaluripet, Kandukur.

Tourism

Buddhist hub

Coastal Andhra is one of the major Buddhist hubs in India after the Gangetic plains in Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. Many remnants from large monasteries to small stupas are found in this region from Srikakulam district in the North to Nellore district in the South. Archaeological excavations conducted at Gudivada yielded an ancient Buddhist stupa mound. The major Buddhist Remnant sites in this region are as Amaravathi, Salihundam, Ramatheertham, Thotlakonda, Bavikonda, Bojjannakonda, Kummarilova,[13] Kodavali,[14] Bhattiprolu etc.

Rivers, lakes and wetlands

Andhra Pradesh contains 259 coastal wetlands, covering an area of 18,552 km2,[15] out of which 88 are manmade.

Lake Kolleru a major lake in Coastal Andhra. Kolleru, a natural sweet-water lake, is situated in the West Godavari district and serves as a natural flood-balancing reservoir for the two rivers. The lake is also an important habitat for up to 50,000 resident and migratory birds. The lake was declared a wildlife sanctuary in November 1999 under India's Wildlife Protection Act, and designated a wetland of international importance in November 2002 under the international Ramsar Convention. In this region, the river Akhanda Godavari splits into several distributary branches, including the Gouthami, Vasishta, Vainatheya, and Vruddha Gouthami, before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.

Transport

Notable personalities

National flag design

Singers

Telugu literature, arts and cinema

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Andhra Pradesh Fact Sheet. mapsofindia.com.
  2. Web site: 2013-11-12 . Wayback Machine . 2023-02-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131112141602/http://www.ap.gov.in/Other%20Docs/Population.pdf . 12 November 2013 .
  3. Web site: Write short notes on the Northern Circars and the Coromandal Coast. 5 January 2011.
  4. Book: Rao, Desari Panduranga . Trends in Indian Transport System: A Districtwise Study . Inter-India Publications . 1985 . 978-0-86590-701-0 . 158.
  5. Web site: Indian States fish production.
  6. Book: Austin Cynthia Talbot Assistant Professor of History and Asian Studies University of Texas. Precolonial India in Practice : Society, Region, and Identity in Medieval Andhra: Society, Region, and Identity in Medieval Andhra. 23 August 2001. Oxford University Press. 978-0-19-803123-9. 36–.
  7. News: Andhra Pradesh – end of an era. 8 April 2016. Business Standard. 30 July 2013. Hyderabad.
  8. Web site: Administrative and Geographic profile. msmehyd.ap.nic.in. 5 April 2017. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160911225305/http://msmehyd.ap.nic.in/PROFILE%20-AP.pdf. 11 September 2016.
  9. Web site: Census Reference Tables, C-Series Population by religious communities. Censusindia.gov.in.
  10. Web site: AP Government Portal – Official Andhra Pradesh State Govt. Portala Pradesh. www.ap.gov.in. 5 April 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20160603172005/http://www.ap.gov.in/AP%20State%20Statistical%20Abstract%20May%202014/1%20ADMINISTRATIVE%20AND%20GEOGRAPHICAL%20PROFILE.pdf. 3 June 2016. dead.
  11. News: Art has to be nurtured to sustain. 5 April 2017. The Hindu.
  12. Web site: Districts of Coastal Andhra . mapsofindia . 19 April 2014.
  13. News: B.V.S. Bhaskar . Buddhist site found near Tuni . The Hindu . 16 February 2012 . 29 July 2013.
  14. News: K.N. Murali Sankar . ASI gets tough with encroachers . The Hindu . 29 November 2011 . 29 July 2013.
  15. Wetlands of India report, ISRO
  16. News: P.Manoj. Dugarajapatnam in Andhra Pradesh to have new major port. 26 July 2014. Live Mint and The Wall Street Journal. 10 May 2013.
  17. News: Rama Mohan. AP to Set up Maritime Board to Develop Ports. 26 July 2014. ibtimes.co.in. International Business Times, India. 13 July 2014.