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Andhra Pradesh Architecture

Architecture in Andhra Pradesh ranges from prehistoric cairns to Buddhist Setups; Hindu and Jain temples of great importance to imposing churches, secular monuments such as the Charming of Hyderabad to some of the most beautiful mosques and Islamic tombs of India. Cities of Andhra Pradesh have interesting examples of European architecture as well as domestic vernacular architecture.

Prehistoric Architecture
In the later half of third millennium B.C., people in the central and lower Deccan (which constitute most of modern Andhra Pradesh) lived on or around granite hills. They had round or rectangular houses, 2.4 to 6 meters wide. Walls were generally made of a mixture of sticks, earth and clay; erected around 7.5 cm thick wooden posts and a bamboo screen. The roof was either conical or flat, made of bamboo strips and reeds and covered with dry leaves and clay. Of pre historic architecture only stone burials survive in different parts of the state.

European Architecture
Designed by Lt. Samuel Russel, the British Residency of Hyderabad was built in 1806 and is one of the best examples of European architecture in India. Presently used as a Government college, it has a Georgian facade and a vast campus comprising of several ancillary buildings of considerable architectural and historical significance. Some Asaf Jahi palaces of the early period, like the Chow Mahalla were built in European style. The city also has several beautiful churches built during the nineteenth century.

Modern Architecture
Unlike Chandigarh, Delhi and Ahmedabad, Andhra Pradesh does not have many specimens of modern architecture built by internationally known architects. However in Hyderabad, B.V.Doshi of Ahmedabad designed a residential colony for the ECIL, Mr Charles Correa designed the IDBI complex at Gacchibouli and Satish Gujral designed the CMC campus and buildings at Gacchibouli which are among the notable modern buildings of Hyderabad.Elsewhere in Andhra Pradesh some good modern buildings can be seen in Visakhapatnam.