TOURISM SPOTS IN ANDHRA PRADESH

Hyderabad,Nagarjunasagar,Tirupati



Tirupati , Puttaparthi , Warangal

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ABOUT ANDHRA PRADESH: Lose yourself in the Wonder that is Andhra Pradesh. Meander through lands steeped in chivalry and pageantry. Explore modern cities that have grown from the roots of a multi-hued past. Make a pilgrimage to holy shrines that echo with tales of antiquity. Frolic on a vast array of golden beaches that dot an enviable coastline. Sport with adventure in style. Let the jungle lure you to a fascinating world at a diverse array of wildlife sanctuaries and parks. Andhra Pradesh is the third largest state in India with an area of 275,000 sq. km. A state in the southern region of India, Andhra Pradesh is bordered on the south by Tamil Nadu state, on the west by Karnataka state, on the north and northwest by Maharashtra state, on the northeast by Madhya Pradesh and Orissa states, and on the east by the Bay of Bengal. The northern area of Andhra Pradesh is mountainous. The climate is generally hot and humid. Annual rainfall is 125 cm. The Krishna and The Godavari are the major river systems in the state. Andhra Pradesh has a very rich cultural background. Historians date life in the area to the Palaeolithic age of some 3,00,000 years ago. Of course, recorded history points to existence of societies as early as the sixth century BC in the Krishna and Godavari valleys. From such a background emerges the modern day Andhra Pradesh, on the forefront not just alphabetically. Its people are achievers who display a rare hospitality and courtesy. The State is today on the top internationally in regard to information technology and its capital Hyderabad has metamorphosed into one of the best cities in the country. Starting with a purely Andhra or Telugu culture, the people of the State have over the years imbibed the graces of Persian and Turkish cultures brought in by Muslim rulers. A confluence of such cultures has created an exclusive ‘Deccani’ culture that combines hospitality, grace, appreciation of beauty and a passion to excel. It is this driving passion that has brought the State to the foremost position today. It already has valuable gifts that nature has endowed it with — a long coastline bordered by clean beaches; hills, forests and a meteorologically and socially pleasant climate. It is not for nothing that global investors have found Andhra Pradesh ideal for setting up their units. International IT giants were among the first to be taken in by the Hi-tec City near Hyderabad and its environs that form Cyberabad — the IT destination. Urbanisation of what was known as Andhra Desa covering almost all the present Andhra Pradesh, the Deccan Plateau and peninsular India started as early as the sixth century BC and this is borne out by the accounts of Megasthenes, Greek ambassador in the court of Chandragupta Maurya, in the third century BC. Megasthenes recorded the existence of as many as 30 fortified towns in the region. It was during this period that Buddhism and Jainism vied with the already established Brahmanism. But it was after the second Buddhist council in 380 BC that Andhra Desa became a Buddhist stronghold with Dhanyakataka, today’s Amaravati in Guntur district, as its centre. After the fall of the Mauryan empire, the Satavahanas, who had accepted the suzerainty of the Mauryas, united as a single race. Their empire was vast and spread over the peninsula. The rulers were followers of Brahmanism, but the womenfolk practised Buddhism. It was during this period that Buddhism spread from these shores to China, the Far East and to Sri Lanka. The Amaravati school of art developed into a distinctive style. The Satavahanas proclaimed themselves Dakshinapathapatis – monarchs of the South. (Dakshin later came to be described as the Deccan.) Saintly Successors After the fall of the Satavahana empire, the Ikshvakus succeeded them in the coastal areas with their capital at Vijayapuri, a valley beside Sriparvata that later came to be called Nagarjunakonda. It was at Sriparvata that Acharya Nagarjuna established a centre of learning and preached the Mahayana form of Buddhism based on the Madhyamika philosophy during the 2nd century AD. Subsequently came the Vishnukundins and during their reign Telugu became the court language and the area was referred to as Telangana or the Telugu land. During the Ikshvaku rule, Prakrit was replaced by Sanskrit. By the sixth century, Telugu as a language adopted a number of Sanskrit words. Then came the Chalukyas, the Pallavas and the Kakatiyas. The Kakatiyas established themselves as rulers of a Telugu-speaking people and set up their capital at Hanumakonda. The Chalukyas and Kakatiyas proved themselves to be excellent architects and their contribution to temple architecture is a feast for the eyes even today. A New Era The glorious reign of the Kakatiyas came to an end in the 14th century and for the first time Telugus came under a Muslim regime that brought with it a totally different set of customs, language and religion. The Delhi Sultanate defeated the Kakatiyas in 1310. It was during 1347 AD that Allauddin Hasan, claiming lineage to Bahman Shah of Persia, revolted against the Delhi Sultanate and declared himself ruler of the southern part of the territory, comprising mainly the Deccan and Telangana area. The Bahmanis were a regular source of irritation to the neighbouring Gajapathi and Vijayanagar rulers. Another epochal era was during the reign of Krishna Deva Raya of the Vijayanagar Empire, who joined forces with the Gajapathi rulers of the east coast and consolidated his empire. But after his death in 1529, decay set in on the kingdom with palace feuds. It was somewhere around this time that the Qutb Shahi dynasty came into being when Sultan Quli, the Bahmani governor of Telangana, became independent and extended the new kingdom of Golconda right upto Machilipatnam on the east coast. Given the title of Qutb-ul-Mulk by the Bahmanis, Qutb Shah, a descendant of a royal family of Hamadan in Persia, took over the reins and ruled till 1548. The Birth of Hyderabad Sultan Quli was murdered by his son Jamsheed but his youngest son Ibrahim managed to escape and take refuge in the neighbouring Vijayanagar Empire under Rama Raya. Seven years in exile, Ibrahim returned to Golconda after Jamsheed’s death. By then, Ibrahim had married a Vijayanagar princess Bhageerathi and to them was born the builder of Hyderabad, Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah. The city was named Bhagnagar, after Bhagmati. Subsequently it came to be called Hyderabad, today’s vibrant metropolis that has been transformed into a fitting tribute to the builder of the city. Hyderabad today hosts some of the best buildings, both heritage and modern. Structures put up centuries ago are still preserved as monuments. Parks or gardens have been revived and the number of water bodies in and around the city rejuvenated to re-create the splendour of a thriving modern city that retains its old heritage with a sense of pride and belonging. Malls and shopping complexes in multi-storeyed structures abound but the old ambience remains. A special charm is very much there. Amidst all this romantic environment, industries have come up. Some of the multinational companies have set up branches here, a number of State and Indian Government units including prestigious research and development as well as defense establishments have made Hyderabad their home. Their staff, drawn from all parts of the country, feel at home in the new environment and culture. Andhra Pradesh is now no more just Andhra or Telugu. Though the culture exists, it is now a global destination with little distinction between the visitor and the resident.

BANK OF BARODA http://www.bankofbaroda.com A saga of vision and enterprise It has been a long and eventful journey of almost a century across 25 countries. Starting in 1908 from a small building in Baroda to its new hi-rise and hi-tech Baroda Corporate Centre in Mumbai, is a saga of vision, enterprise, financial prudence and corporate governance. It is a story scripted in corporate wisdom and social pride. It is a story crafted in private capital, princely patronage and state ownership. It is a story of ordinary bankers and their extraordinary contribution in the ascent of Bank of Baroda to the formidable heights of corporate glory. It is a story that needs to be shared with all those millions of people - customers, stakeholders, employees & the public at large - who in ample measure, have contributed to the making of an institution. Our mission statement To be a top ranking National Bank of International Standards committed to augmenting stake holders' value through concern, care and competence.

Our Logo Our new logo is a unique representation of a universal symbol. It comprises dual ‘B’ letterforms that hold the rays of the rising sun. We call this the Baroda Sun. The sun is an excellent representation of what our bank stands for. It is the single most powerful source of light and energy – its far reaching rays dispel darkness to illuminate everything they touch. At Bank of Baroda, we seek to be the source that will help all our stakeholders realise their goals. To our customers, we seek to be a one-stop, reliable partner who will help them address different financial needs. To our employees, we offer rewarding careers and to our investors and business partners, maximum return on their investment. The single-colour, compelling vermillion palette has been carefully chosen, for its distinctivenes as it stands for hope and energy. We also recognize that our bank is characterised by diversity. Our network of branches spans geographical and cultural boundaries and rural-urban divides. Our customers come from a wide spectrum of industries and backgrounds. The Baroda Sun is a fitting face for our brand because it is a universal symbol of dynamism and optimism – it is meaningful for our many audiences and easily decoded by all. Our new corporate brand identity is much more than a cosmetic change. It is a signal that we recognize and are prepared for new business paradigms in a globalised world. At the same time, we will always stay in touch with our heritage and enduring relationships on which our bank is founded. By adopting a symbol as simple and powerful as the Baroda Sun, we hope to communicate both.

BANK OF INDIA

http://www.bankofindia.com


Bank of India was founded on 7th September, 1906 by a group of eminent businessmen from Mumbai. The Bank was under private ownership and control till July 1969 when it was nationalised along with 13 other banks.

Beginning with one office in Mumbai, with a paid-up capital of Rs.50 lakh and 50 employees, the Bank has made a rapid growth over the years and blossomed into a mighty institution with a strong national presence and sizable international operations. In business volume, the Bank occupies a premier position among the nationalised banks.

The Bank has 2884 branches in India spread over all states/ union territories including 155 specialised branches. These branches are controlled through 48 Zonal Offices . There are 27 branches/ offices (including three representative offices) abroad.

The Bank came out with its maiden public issue in 1997 and follow on Qualified Institutions Placement in February 2008. . Total number of shareholders as on 30/06/2008 is 2,29,000.

While firmly adhering to a policy of prudence and caution, the Bank has been in the forefront of introducing various innovative services and systems. Business has been conducted with the successful blend of traditional values and ethics and the most modern infrastructure. The Bank has been the first among the nationalised banks to establish a fully computerised branch and ATM facility at the Mahalaxmi Branch at Mumbai way back in 1989. The Bank is also a Founder Member of SWIFT in India. It pioneered the introduction of the Health Code System in 1982, for evaluating/ rating its credit portfolio.

The Bank's association with the capital market goes back to 1921 when it entered into an agreement with the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) to manage the BSE Clearing House. It is an association that has blossomed into a joint venture with BSE, called the BOI Shareholding Ltd. to extend depository services to the stock broking community. Bank of India was the first Indian Bank to open a branch outside the country, at London, in 1946, and also the first to open a branch in Europe, Paris in 1974. The Bank has sizable presence abroad, with a network of 27 branches (including three representative office ) at key banking and financial centres viz. London, Newyork,Paris,Tokyo,Hong-Kong,and Singapore. The international business accounts for around 20.10% of Bank's total business

CENTRAL BANK OF INDIA


http://www.centralbankofindia.co.in

Established in 1911, Central Bank of India was the first Indian commercial bank which was wholly owned and managed by Indians. The establishment of the Bank was the ultimate realisation of the dream of Sir Sorabji Pochkhanawala, founder of the Bank. Sir Pherozesha Mehta was the first Chairman of a truly 'Swadeshi Bank'. In fact, such was the extent of pride felt by Sir Sorabji Pochkhanawala that he proclaimed Central Bank as the 'property of the nation and the country's asset'. He also added that 'Central Bank lives on people's faith and regards itself as the people's own bank'.

During the past 95 years of history the Bank has weathered many storms and faced many challenges. The Bank could successfully transform every threat into business opportunity and excelled over its peers in the Banking industry.

A number of innovative and unique banking activities have been launched by Central Bank of India and a brief mention of some of its pioneering services are as under:

1921	Introduction to the Home Savings Safe Deposit Scheme to build saving/thrift habits in all sections of the society.
1924	An Exclusive Ladies Department to cater to the Bank's women clientele.
1926	Safe Deposit Locker facility and Rupee Travellers' Cheques.
1929	Setting up of the Executor and Trustee Department.
1932	Deposit Insurance Benefit Scheme.
1962	Recurring Deposit Scheme.

Subsequently, even after the nationalisation of the Bank in the year 1969, Central Bank continued to introduce a number of innovative banking services as under:

1976	The Merchant Banking Cell was established.
1980	Centralcard, the credit card of the Bank was introduced.
1986	'Plantinum Jubilee Money Back Deposit Scheme' was launched.
1989	The housing subsidiary Cent Bank Home Finance Ltd. was started with its headquarters at Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.
1994	Quick Cheque Collection Service (QCC) & Express Service was set up to enable speedy collection of outstation cheques.

Further in line with the guidelines from Reserve Bank of India as also the Government of India, Central Bank has been playing an increasingly active role in promoting the key thrust areas of agriculture, small scale industries as also medium and large industries. The Bank also introduced a number of Self Employment Schemes to promote employment among the educated youth.

Among the Public Sector Banks, Central Bank of India can be truly described as an All India Bank, due to distribution of its large network in 27 out of 28 States as also in 4 out of 7 Union Territories in India. Central Bank of India holds a very prominent place among the Public Sector Banks on account of its network of 3356 branches and 237 extension counters at various centres throughout the length and breadth of the country.

In view of its large network of branches as also number of savings and other innovative services offered, the total customer base of the Bank at over 25 million account holders is one of the largest in the banking industry.

Customers' confidence in Central Bank of India's wide ranging services can very well be judged from the list of major corporate clients such as ICICI, IDBI, UTI, LIC, HDFC as also almost all major corporate houses in the country.

SyndicateBank

http://syndicatebank.in

BRIEF HISTORY

Syndicate Bank was established in 1925 in Udupi, the abode of Lord Krishna in coastal Karnataka with a capital of Rs.8000/- by three visionaries - Sri Upendra Ananth Pai, a businessman, Sri Vaman Kudva, an engineer and Dr.T M A Pai, a physician - who shared a strong commitment to social welfare. Their objective was primarily to extend financial assistance to the local weavers who were crippled by a crisis in the handloom industry through mobilising small savings from the community. The bank collected as low as 2 annas daily at the doorsteps of the depositors through its Agents under its Pigmy Deposit Scheme started in 1928. This scheme is the Bank's brand equity today and the Bank collects around Rs. 2 crore per day under the scheme. The progress of Syndicate Bank has been synonymous with the phase of progressive banking in India. Spanning over 80 years of pioneering expertise, the Bank has created for itself a solid customer base comprising customers of two or three generations. Being firmly rooted in rural India and understanding the grassroot realities, the Bank's perception had vision of future India. It has been propagating innovations in Banking and also has been receptive to new ideas, without however getting uprooted from its distinctive socio-economic and cultural ethos. Its philosophy of growth by mutual sustenance of both the Bank and the people has paid rich dividends. The Bank has been operating as a catalyst of development across the country with particular reference to the common man at the individual level and in rural/semi urban centres at the area level. The Bank is well equipped to meet the challenges of the 21st century in the areas of information technology, knowledge and competition. A comprehensive IT plan is being put in place and the skills and knowledge of the Bank's personnel are being upgraded through a variety of training programmes to promote customer delight in every sphere of its activity. The Bank has launched an ambitious technology plan called Centralised Banking Solution (CBS) whereby 500 of our strategic branches with their ATMs are being networked nationwide over a 4 year period.

MEMORABLE MILESTONES IN A 82-YEAR JOURNEY

Growing Far And Wide

1925 On 10.11.1925, the business of the Bank commenced in Udupi with the name "Canara Industrial and Banking Syndicate Ltd.," a joint Stock Company with just one employee. 1928 First branch of the Bank opened at Brahmavar in Dakshina Kannada District 1937 Bank became a member of the Clearing House for the first time at Bombay. 1946 29 branches opened in a single day in rural areas. 1953 Took over the assets and liabilities of 2 Local Banks viz. Maharashtra Apex Bank Ltd. and Southern India Apex Bank Ltd. 20 Banks merged with the Bank during the period 1953-1964. 1957 100th branch opened at Ilkal in Karnataka 1962 Entered Foreign Exchange business by opening Foreign Exchange Department at Bombay. 1963 Name of the Bank changed from "Canara Industrial & Banking Syndicate Ltd." to "Syndicate Bank Limited". Head Office was shifted to Manipal on 19.4.1964. 1966 Economic Research Department set up. One of the first few Banks to emphasise on research in Banking even before nationalisation. 1969 Bank had 306 branches at the time of nationalisation of which 66% were in Rural and Semi Urban centres. Opened a branch at Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar islands 1970 First Staff Training College started at Head Office 1971 First specialised branch in Foreign Exchange opened at Delhi. 1972 Opened a branch at Lakshadweep islands 1976 First overseas branch opened at London on 17.8.76. 1983 Took up management of Al Shabei Finance and Exchange Co. in Doha 1984 Took up management of Musandam Exchange Co. in Muscat 1984 1000th branch opened at Delhi Hauz Khas 1989 1500th branch opened at Kanakumbi 1991 First Specialised Industrial Finance Branch opened at Mumbai. 1995 First Specialised Housing Finance Branch opened at Mangalore 1999 Bank raised Capital of Rs.125 Crore in Oct.1999 from more than 4 lakh shareholders 2000 First Specialised Capital Market Services branch opened at Mumbai 2001 First branch under CBS (Core Banking Solution) started operation at Bangalore. 2002 Centralised Banking Solution under the brand name "Syndicate-e-banking" launched at Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Manipal. 2003 Bank enters into MOU with Bajaj Allianz for distribution of Life Insurance products. 2003 Toll Free Voice Mail System for redressal of grievances introduced. 2004 Bank ties up with United India Insurance Co. Ltd. for distribution of Non-Life Insurance products 2004 Utility bill payment services through Internet banking introduced. 2005 Introduced On-line reservation of Railway Tickets through Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC) for Internet banking customers of our Bank. 2005 Bank approached the Capital Market with Rs.5 Crore equity shares at a premium of Rs.40 through Book building route Bank collected Rs.250 Crore and the issue was oversubscribed by 29.275 times. 2005 Amalgamation of 4 Regional Rural Banks of Karnataka to form Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank with Head Office at Dharwad. 2005 Implementation of Venture Capital Scheme of SMALL FARMERS AGRI-BUSINESS CONSORTIUM (SFAC) Entered into MOU with SFAC for promoting of investments in Agri-business products. 2006 Bank signs MOU with M/s.CMC Ltd., for making Syndicate Institute of Bank Management (SIBM) a center of excellence of global standards and provide quality management education. 2006 500th Branch of SyndicateBank in Karnataka opened at Navnagar, Bagalkot. 2006 2000th Branch of SyndicateBank opened at Tondiarpet, Chennai on 23.03.2006. 2006 Inauguration of SyndBank Services Limited, the 1st BPO outfit of a Nationalised Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of SyndicateBank & 525th CBS Branch by Hon'ble Union Minister of Finance, Sri P Chidambaram on 24.03.2006 at Bangalore. 2006 2006th Branch of SyndicateBank opened at Gangtok, Sikkim on 27.03.2006 2006 First Branch opened in Arunachal Pradesh at Ita Nagar on 16th October 2006 2006 Branches opened for the first time in 19 additional districts 2007 First Branch opened in Nagaland at Dimapur on 17.03.2007 2007 First Branch opened in Mizoram in Aizawl on 29.03.2007 2007 Branches opened for the first time in 13 additional districts 2008 First Branch opened in Tripura at Agarthala on 11.01.2008 2008 Branch network expanded to all States and UTs except Manipur & Daman Diu 2008 Branches opened for the first time in 6 new districts

CANARA BANK: http://www.canarabank.com Late Sri. Ammembal Subba Rao Pai
Our beloved Founder
	Founded as 'Canara Bank Hindu Permanent Fund' in 1906, by late Sri. Ammembal Subba Rao Pai, a philanthropist, this small seed blossomed into a limited company as 'Canara Bank Ltd.' in 1910 and became Canara Bank in 1969 after nationalisation..
"A good bank is not only the financial heart of the community, but also one with an obligation of helping in every possible manner to improve the economic conditions of the common people" - A. Subba Rao Pai. Founding Principles To remove Superstition and ignorance. To spread education among all to sub-serve the first principle. To inculcate the habit of thrift and savings. To transform the financial institution not only as the financial heart of the community but the social heart as well. To assist the needy. To work with sense of service and dedication. To develop a concern for fellow human being and sensitivity to the surroundings with a view to make changes/remove hardships and sufferings. Sound founding principles, enlightened leadership, unique work culture and remarkable adaptability to changing banking environment have enabled Canara Bank to be a frontline banking institution of global standards. Significant Milestones Year 1st July 1906 Canara Hindu Permanent Fund Ltd. formally registered with a capital of 2000 shares of Rs.50/- each, with 4 employees. 1910 Canara Hindu Permanent Fund renamed as Canara Bank Limited 1969 14 major banks in the country, including Canara Bank, nationalized on July 19 1976 1000th branch inaugurated 1983 Overseas branch at London inaugurated Cancard (the Bank’s credit card) launched 1984 Merger with the Laksmi Commercial Bank Limited 1985 Commissioning of Indo Hong Kong International Finance Limited 1987 Canbank Mutual Fund & Canfin Homes, launched 1989 Canbank Venture Capital Fund started 1989-90 Canbank Factors Limited, the factoring subsidiary launched 1992-93 Became the first Bank to articulate and adopt the directive principles of “Good Banking”. 1995-96 Became the first Bank to be conferred with ISO 9002 certification for one of its branches in Bangalore 2001-02 Opened a 'Mahila Banking Branch', first of its kind at Bangalore, for catering exclusively to the financial requirements of women clientele. 2002-03 Maiden IPO of the Bank 2003-04 Launched Internet & Mobile Banking Services 2004-05 100% Branch computerization 2005-06 Entered 100th Year in Banking Service Launched Core Banking Solution in select branches Number One Position in Aggregate Business among Nationalized Banks 2006-07 Notched up the highest ever net profit since its inception Retained Number One Position in Aggregate Business among Nationalized Banks Singed MoUs for Commissioning Two JVs in Insurance and Asset Management with international majors. As at march 2007 the total business of the bank was over Rs.2,40,000 crores.

UNION BANK OF INDIA:

http://www.unionbankofindia.co.in

The dawn of twentieth century witnesses the birth of a banking enterprise par excellence- UNION BANK OF INDIA- that was flagged off by none other than the Father of the Nation, Mahatama Gandhi. Since that the golden moment, Union Bank of India has this far unflinchingly traveled the arduous road to sucessful banking........ a journey that spans 88 years. We at Union Bank of India, reiterate the objectiv of our inception to the profound thoughts of the great Mahatama... "We should have the ability to carry on a big bank, to manage efficiently crores of rupees in the course of our national activities. Though we have not many banks amongs us, it does not follow that we are not capable of efficiently managing crores and tens of crores of rupees."

Union Bank of India is firmly committed to consolidating and maintaining its identity as a leading, innovative commercial Bank, with a proactive approach to the changing needs of the society. This has resulted in a wide gamut of products and services, made available to its valuable clientele in catering to the smallest of their needs. Today, with its effecient, vlaue-added services, sustained growth, consistent profitability and development of new technologies, Union Bank has ensured complete customer delight, living up to its image of, “GOOD PEOPLE TO BANK WITH”. Anticipative banking- the ability to gauge the customer's needs well ahead of real-time - forms the vital ingredient in value-based services to effectively reduce the gap between expectations and deliverables.

The key to the success of any organisation liew with its people. No wonder, Union Bank's unique family of about 26,000 qualified / skilled employees is and ever will be dedicated and delighted to serve the discerning customer with professionalism and wholeheartedness.


Union Bank is a Public Sector Unit with 55.43% Share Capital held by the Government of India. The Bank came out with its Initial Public Offer (IPO) in August 20, 2002 and Follow on Public Offer in February 2006. Presently 44.57 % of Share Capital is presently held by Institutions, Individuals and Others.

Over the years, the Bank has earned the reputation of being a techno-savvy and is a front runner among public sector banks in modern-day banking trends. It is one of the pioneer public sector banks, which launched Core Banking Solution in 2002. Under this solution umbrella, All Branches of the Bank have been 1135 networked ATMs, with online Telebanking facility made available to all its Core Banking Customers - individual as well as corporate. In addition to this, the versatile Internet Banking provides extensive information pertainning to accounts and facets of banking. Regular banking services apart, the customer can also avail of a variety of other value-added services like Cash Management Service, Insurance, Mutual Funds and Demat.

The Bank will ever strive in its endeavour to provide services to its customer and enhance its businesses thereby fulfilling its vision of becoming “THE BANK OF FIRST CHOICE IN OUR CHOSEN AREA BY BUILDING BENEFICIAL AND LASTING RELATIONSHIP WITH CUSTOMERS THROUGH A PROCESS OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT”