Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh is a state in South India and is bordered by Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Orissa in the north, the Bay of Bengal in the East, Tamil Nadu to the south and Karnataka to the west. Andhra Pradesh is the fourth largest state in India by area and fifth largest by population. It is the largest and most populous state in Southern India. It is also considered the rice bowl of India. The state is crossed by two major rivers, the Godavari and Krishna. In 2004-2005 Andhra Pradesh is at the fifth position in the list of top IT exporting states of India. The IT exports from the State were Rs.1,800 million in 2004. Andhra Pradesh is a mineral rich state, ranking second in India in terms of mineral wealth and has about one third of India's limestone reserves, at about 30 billion tonnes. It ranks first nationwide in hydro electricity generation with national market share of over 11%. Andhra Pradesh is served by more than 20 leading institutes of excellence in higher education.Hyderabad is the capital city of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Hyderabad is also one of the most developed cities in the country and is the information technology (or IT) and biotechnology hub of India. Hyderabad and Secunderabad are twin cities, separated by the Hussain Sagar (bound by the 'Tank Bund'), a manmade lake made during the time of Ibrahim Qutb Shah in 1562. The Charminar (Urdu: "Four Minars") monument, built in the center of Hyderabad by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah in 1591, is a commemoration of the eradication of a plague in the region.