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Art,
Culture & Heritage
Andhra Pradesh, is a state rich in natural resources, cultural heritage, history and most of all, an opportunity to explore them.
Created by combining the old princely state of Hyderabad with the Telugu speaking portions of the former state of Chennai, Andhra Pradesh to this day retains much of its regal glory and mystic charm.
As the home of abundant folk tradition, Andhra Pradesh has more than sixty classical and folk dance forms.
The cultural heritage of Andhra Pradesh is rich with classical and folk arts ranging from the ballad singing
'Burrakatha' to the refined classical form of 'Kuchipudi' dance.
Telugu, the official language of Andhra Pradesh, is described by C.P. Brown as the " Italian of the East ".
It has been influenced by Sanskrit. The prominent poets of Telugu include Nannaya, Tikkana, Sri Krishna Devarayulu and a host of others.
The dance styles in the State are based on the standard treatises, viz. Abhinaya Darpana and Bharatarnava of Nandikeshwara, which is sub-divided into Nattuva Mala and Natya
Mala. A few of the popular performing arts are mentioned below.
Popular
Performing Arts
Andhra Natyam:
The traditional dance form of 'Andhra Natyam' originated as a temple dance
around 2000 years ago. The dance form was categorized as 'Agma Nartana' performed in the temples, 'Carnatakam' performed in the royal courts, and 'Darbari Attam' performed in the courtyards of temples for the common man.
Andhra Natyam is similar in style to Bharatanatyam and is based on Nandikesa's 'Abhinaya Darpana' and Bharata's 'Natya Shastra'.
This was the female tradition (Lasya) of dance that was characterized by a rich display of foot work and superior
'abhinaya'. The present Andhra Natyam is performed with stylish costumes, makeup, ornaments and
orchestra, unlike the original version.
Kuchipudi Dance:
Kuchipudi, a blend of music and abhinaya, is Andhra Pradesh‘s unique contribution to dance.
It flowered from a village called Kuchelapuri or Kuchelapuram in Krishna district. From its birth around 300 B. C., it has remained a continuous and living tradition of this
region. It was originally performed by men of the Brahmin community.
This dance drama enactment throbs with Telugu lyrics and Sanskrit verses. It is distinguished from other dance forms by narrative interruptions that makes it very popular and expressive. This art form emphasizes on animation. Apart from that it is akin to 'Bharathanatyam'. The present style of Kuchipudi and its
development are accredited to 'Siddhendra Yogi' and
'Tirtha Narayana'.
Perini Thandavam: 'Perini
Thandavam' is a vigorous male dance form flourished during the warrior Kakatiyas of Warangal.
The warriors enacted the dance in front of the idol of 'Lord Siva' before they left for the battlefield.
The dance is done to the resounding beats of drums. Dr. Nataraja Ramakrishna revived the dance form to the present day status.
Tappetta
Gullu: 'Tappatta Gallu', a folk dance in narrative form that combines devotion with
entertainment, is confined to Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts. The dance involves 15 - 30 dancers dressed in colorful attire with a small drum locally called 'tappetta gundu'.
With rhythmic beat of the drum, the performers sing and dance to enchant the villagers.
This dance form has become a popular ballad being performed at important cultural festivals in Andhra Pradesh.
Some other dances are Burra Katha, Dappu Dance,
Kolattam, Yakshagana, Puli Vesham.
Paintings
Kalamkari
Paintings: Kalamkari literally means, Kalam - pen & kari - work, i.e., art work done using a pen.
Vegetable dyes are used to
color the designs applied on cloth. The art of painting using organic dyes on cloth was popular in several parts of India, but this style of Kalamkari flourished at Kalahasti (80 miles north of Chennai) and at Masulipatnam (200 miles east of
Hyderabad). The Kalamkari tradition chiefly consists of scenes from Hindu mythology.
Figures of deities with rich border embellishments were created for the temples.
In Masulipatnam, the weavers were involved in the block printing art, while at Kalahasti, the Balojas (a caste involved in making bangles) took to this art.
Festivals
Deccan
Festival: This highlights Hyderabad's arts, crafts, culture and
cuisine. It includes exhibition of pearls, bangles and food.
Cultural programs, food stalls arts and craft shops etc., is also organized.
Lumbini
Festival: Organized to celebrate the Buddhist Heritage of Andhra
Pradesh, this festival takes place in Nagarjunasagar and Hyderabad for three days from
the 2nd Friday of December.
Visaka Utsav:
This is organized to promote the arts, crafts and cuisine of Visakhapatnam
District. The festival is celebrated every year for three days beginning
from the 3rd Sunday of January.
Rayalaseema Food and Dance
Festival: Organized in October to highlight the arts and cuisine of Rasyalaseema area of Tirupati, Chitoor District.
Ugadi: This native New Year comes soon after the celebration of
'Holi' in April-May. Spring is considered as the first season of this native New Year of Andhra.
Well-known
Monuments
How
to Reach Hyderabad.
Road
: Hyderabad, being Capital city is well connected by Road from all major
cities in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and
Orissa.
Rail
: Being headquarter of South Central Railway, Well connected from all
major cities of India. Hyderabad & Secunderabad Railway Stations.
Air
: Has international airport.
Charminar, Hyderabad
The Charminar is as much the signature of Hyderabad as the Taj Mahal is of Agra or the Eiffel Tower is of Paris.
It is a magnificent square edifice of granite, built upon four grand arches
each facing a different direction.
These arches support two floors of rooms and gallery of archways. At each corner of the square structure is a minaret rising to a height of 24 meters, making the building nearly 54 meters tall.
It is these four (char) minarets (minar) that give the building, its name Charminar.
Each minar stands on a lotus-leaf base, a special recurrent motif in Qutub Shahi buildings.
The first floor was used as a madarasa (college) during the Qutub Shahi period.
The second floor has a mosque on the western side, the dome of which is visible from the road, if one stands some distance away.
The city can be viewed from the roof of the Charminar. Due to severe overcrowding of the minarets, only visitors with special permission from the Archaeological Survey of India, Hyderabad Circle are allowed to go to the top of the minarets.
The clocks above each of the four archways were added in 1889.
Timings people are allowed (only in the cellar of the monument) all the day and during night times till
10 pm.
Golconda Fort, Hyderabad
Golconda is one of the famous forts of India.
The name originates from the Telugu words "Golla Konda" meaning "Shepherd's Hill".
The origins of the fort can be traced back to the Kakatiyas period.
Golconda was originally a mud fort, which passed to the Bahmani dynasty and later to the Qutb Shahis, who held it from 1518 to 1687 A.D.
The first three Qutb Shahi kings rebuilt Golconda, over a span of 62 years.
The fort is famous for its acoustics, palaces, factories, ingenious water supply system and the famous Fateh Rahben gun, one of the cannons used in the last siege of Golconda by Aurangzeb, to whom the fort ultimately fell.
The glorious past of Golconda Fort is narrated effectively with matchless Sound and Light effects. The unique Sound & Light Show takes you right back in time, when Golconda was full of life, glory and grandeur.
Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad
Falaknuma Palace is situated in Falaknuma, about 4 km South of Charminar.
It stands on a hill overlooking the city of Hyderabad. It is a magnificent palace.
"The edifice had the same importance in Hyderabad in the near past as the Palace of Kremlin had in Moscow" says Dharmendra
Prasad. Falaknuma served as the royal guest house for the rulers of Hyderabad, King George and Queen Mary,
King Edward-VIII, and the Prince of Wales. Falaknuma palace is a masterpiece designed by an Italian architect. The marble used was specially imported from Italy.
Osmania University, Hyderabad
Established in 1918, it is one of the oldest universities in India.
Named after Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan, the university buildings are splendid, especially the Arts College building which is a perfect example of
Indo-Saracen architecture.
Purani
Haveli, Hyderabad
Purani Haveli is situated to the South
East of Afzal Gunj Bridge near Dewandevdi. This is also a building based on Western architecture and noted for its cultural and historical background.
When the layout of the city of Hyderabad was being planned, the ruler of the kingdom, Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah earmarked a large estate for the residence of Hazrat Mir Momin, his Chief Adviser and
Peshwa (Prime Minister), who emerged as a saint and as a statesman.
The main building is reminiscent of the 18th Century European architecture.
Although the buildings in the complex were constructed in the second half of the 19th Century during the reign of the sixth Nizam, Nawab Mir Mahboob Ali Khan Bahadur, the seventh Nizam, Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur added the auxiliary buildings with spacious court yards.
Paigah Tombs, Hyderabad
There are many tombs of several generations of the Paigah nobles including Asman Jah, Viqar-ul-Umara and Shams-ul-Umara. The tombs are magnificent structures, decorated in stuccowork, and represent the Asaf Jahi and Rajasthani styles. The geometrical designs in the Paigah Tombs are unique and perforated with screens. This style is unique to the Paigah tombs and is not found elsewhere in the world.
Museums
A.
P. State Museum, Hyderabad
Andhra Pradesh State Museum is
located in the picturesque Public Gardens. The museum boasts of one of the richest repositories of antiques and art objects in the country.
Built in 1928 by the Nizam VII, the museum building itself is a fine example of
Indo-Saracen architecture.
The museum
consists of a Buddhist gallery, Brahmanical & Jain gallery, Bronze gallery, Arms & Armour gallery, Numismatics gallery, Ajanta gallery,
etc.
Timings: 10:30am to 5pm
Close: Fridays
Photography: by permission
The Nizam's Museum, Hyderabad
Located in the stately Purani Haveli, the palace acquired around the year 1750 by the second Nizam is now converted into a museum with a fascinating collection.
The museum showcases the gifts and mementos presented to the last Nizam on the occasion of the silver jubilee celebrations in 1936.
Also displayed are vintage cars - 1930 Rolls Royce, Packard and a Mark V Jaguar.
There are silver models all the prominent buildings of the city and citations in Urdu about H.E.H. Mir Osman Ali Khan, gold burnished wooden throne used for the silver jubilee celebrations, gold tiffin box inlaid with diamonds, gold model of Jubilee Pavilion, silver coffee cups studded with diamonds and silver filigree elephant with mahout are some of the notable items on display.
The museum is open between 10.00 am and 5.00 pm on all days except Fridays.
It is 2 km from Charminar and 1 km from Salar Jung museum.
Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad
This museum houses one of the biggest one-man collections of antiques of the world by Mir Yousuf Ali Khan Salar Jung III.
These include Persian carpets, Moghal miniatures, Chinese porcelain, Japanese lacquerware, famous sculptures including the Veiled Rebecca and Marguerite and Mephistopheles, a superb collection of jade, daggers belonging to Queen Noor Jahan and the Emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb's sword and many other fabulous items.
The museum is open between 10.00 am and 5.00 pm on all days except Fridays.
Amaravati Museum, Amaravati
The collection includes the antiquities from other Buddhist sites in Andhra Pradesh belonging to the 3rd Century BC to about the 12th Century AD, a gold necklace from
Gummadidurru, relic-caskets with bone-relics and gold flowers.
The exhibits in the Museum are arranged in different galleries.
Gallery I
This gallery displays some of the selected examples of the art-tradition of
Amaravati, besides an inscribed relief of Buddha from Gummadidurru.
Image of Buddha, Coins, Beads, Terracotta, Pottery, Drum slabs, Dome-slabs, Pillars & Rail fragments and Miscellaneous Sculptures.
Gallery II
The exhibits in the gallery comprise a few early relics of the 2nd Century BC, inscribed pillars, drum & dome
slabs, two Buddha images from Alluru and a stone-wheel from
Lingarajapalli. 35 km Guntur and 70 km from
Vijayawada. From Guntur, Amaravati is well connected by bus and there are frequent buses from Guntur. Private transport is also available.
How to Reach Amaravati
By Road : Amaravati is located 34 kms from Guntur. It is well connected by Road.
By Rail : Amaravati is 34 kms from Guntur Railway station.
By Air : Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad Airport.
Reference:
http://www.saigan.com/
http://www.andhratourism.com/
http://www.1upindia.com/
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