Andhra Pradesh is encircled by Madhya Pradesh and Orissa in the north. The Bay of Bengal surrounds it in the east, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in the south and Maharashtra in the west. Andhra Pradesh is the fifth largest state in India. It is a connection between the north and south India. Spread over a large area , Andhra Pradesh is the most populous state in the south of India.
There are three major regions in Andhra Pradesh - (1) Northern Circars or coastal Andhra including Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Ongole and Nellore districts; (2) Rayalaseema or Ceded districts including Kurnool, Cuddapah, Chittoor and Anantapur districts; and (3) Telangana including Khammam, Nalgonda, Warangal, Karimnagar, Medak, Nizamabad, Aadilabad, Mahbubnagar and Hyderabad districts.
The Circars or Coastal districts are the vital districts compared to the other two regions and at the same time well developed. The second region, Rayalaseema are situated close to the coastal districts. This area receives less rainfall compared to the coastal districts. Thus, drought is a regular feature here. The third region is the Telangana region, which is a former princely state of Nizam's Hyderabad. This is nearby Maharashtra's Marathwada region and some parts of Karnataka.
¤ The Varied Landscape
The topography of Andhra Pradesh is quite varied with dense forest in the north east, flat paddy lands in the coastal plains and several noteworthy beaches along the Bay of Bengal. Apart from these, the area around Hyderabad is strewn with many huge rocks. Thus, providing a landscapes each different from the other.
¤ Mountains and Rivers
The state of Andhra Pradesh provides information on varied land scapes of the state. Andhra Pradesh has many hill ranges that stretch from the north to the south. These hill ranges divide it into western and eastern or coastal Andhra. These hills are an inseparable part of the geography and the history of Andhra Pradesh. In the northern part of the state, there are Simhachalam and Annavaram hills. The Srisailam hill ranges are located in the middle of the state and Tirumalai-Tirupati hills are located in the south.
There are two major rivers in Andhra Pradesh, Godavari and Krishna. They originate from the Western Ghats in Maharashtra and flow eastward, further joining the Bay of Bengal. The Godavari enters the state of Andhra Pradesh direct from Maharashtra, whereas the Krishna river arrives in the state after coming from Karnataka.
Apart from these two big rivers, there are the Tungabhadra, the Pennar and many other small rivers and rivulets. The river Pennar emerges from the Karnataka plateau. It is a rain fed peninsular river.
¤ Climate
The climate of Andhra Pradesh is generally hot and humid. The temperature in summer varies between 20 degree Celsius to 40 degree Celsius, whereas in winter it is between 13 degree Celsius and 32 degree Celsius. The climate of the state is dominated by the South-West monsoons. Best time to visit Andhra Pradesh is between the months of October and February.
¤ Flora and Fauna
Andhra Pradesh is rich in flora and fauna. The state is bestowed with a lush coastal belt, moist deciduous Eastern Ghats, dry deciduous forests of the Nallamalais and mangrove belt at Coringa.
The fauna of Andhra Pradesh is equally good with many wildlife sanctuaries here. The Nehru Zoological Park is a natural habitat of numerous birds and animals. Other sanctuaries like the Pakhal and Ethurnagaram wildlife sanctuaries near Warangal has a wide variety of animals like Tiger, Panther, Wild Boar, Jackal Muntjack, Fox, Gaur, Wild Dog, Spotted Deer and Sloth Bear. A good variety of water birds and reptiles are also found here.
The dense forests of Nallamalai at Srisailam in central Andhra Pradesh has a wildlife sanctuary that consists of innumerable animals, birds, and reptiles. India's largest project tiger reserve also lies over here. The Kolleru Bird Sanctuary is a haven for migratory birds. There is another sanctuary called Kawal wildlife sanctuary, which is home to many species of birds. The Coringa sanctuary is situated in the delta region of the Godavari. This sanctuary is famous for reptiles like the salt-water crocodile, fishing cats and others.
