Andhra Pradesh, India - "State of the Andhras"

Andhra Pradesh, which literally means “State of the Andhras,” was named after the ancient Aryan tribe that migrated to the area 3,000 years ago. But modern “A.P.,” as it is often called, is India’s fifth-largest state, now made up of millions of people speaking Telugu, Urdu, Hindi, Tamil and English.

Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh’s capital city, is a high-tech center of some 4 million people. With its large Muslim population, Hyderabad is home to India’s largest mosque. Before it became an Indian state in 1953, the area was ruled by Muslim sultans. Despite its modern image, agriculture provides the livelihood for 70 percent of the people of Andhra Pradesh. In fact, the state produces a surplus of rice and other grains for export.

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