Amaravati in the context of "Andhra Pradesh"

The period of the imperial Cholas (c. 850 CE – 1250 CE) in South India was an age of continuous improvement and refinement of Chola art and architecture. They utilised the wealth earned through their extensive conquests in building long-lasting stone temples and exquisite bronze sculptures, in an almost exclusively Dravidian cultural setting.

The Cholas built their temples in the traditional way of the Pallava dynasty, who were themselves influenced by the Amaravati school of architecture. The Chola artists and artisans further drew their influences from other contemporary art and architectural schools and elevated the Chola temple design to greater heights. The Chola kings built numerous temples throughout their kingdom, which normally comprised the plains, Central and Northern Tamil Nadu and at times the entire state of Tamil Nadu as also adjoining parts of modern Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. In the evolution of the Chola temple architecture we can roughly see three major phases, beginning with the early phase, starting with Vijayalaya Chola and continuing till Sundara Chola, the middle phase of Rajaraja Chola and Rajendra Chola when the achievements scaled heights never reached before or since and the final phase during the Chalukya Chola period of Kulottunga I till the demise of the Chola empire.

Amaravathi or Amaravati is a village located on the banks of the Krishna River in the Palnadu district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It was built by zamindar Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu in late 18th century on the site of the ancient Saatavahana capital Dhanyakataka. Amaravathi serves as the administrative centre of Amaravathi mandal and lies within the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region. Known for its cultural heritage, Amaravathi lends its name to the state's newly planned capital, Amaravati, located 35 kilometres to the east in Guntur district. Amaravathi is notable for its prominent place in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions.

The place is named after the Amareswara Temple, one of the Pancharama Kshetras, significant Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Siva. It is also home to the ancient Amaravati Stupa, a Buddhist monument from the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century CE. This stupa, now under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India, exemplifies the Amaravati School of Art, a style that had a lasting influence on Buddhist art throughout South and Southeast Asia. Designated as one of India's centrally protected Monuments of National Importance, the stupa and its surrounding ruins hold great cultural value.

Coastal Andhra, also known as Kosta Andhra (IAST: Kōstā Āndhra), is a geographic region in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, comprising the coastal districts of the state between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal, from the northern border with Orissa to Rayalaseema in the south. It includes major cities Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Guntur City as well as the state capital Amaravati and is recognized for its fertile lands, rich cultural heritage, and economic importance. Coastal Andhra plays a significant role in the state's agricultural output, particularly in rice and tobacco production, supported by abundant water resources from the Godavari, Krishna, and Penna rivers.

While Coastal Andhra generally includes the districts along the Bay of Bengal, the Uttarandhra (Northern Andhra) area is sometimes regarded as distinct due to its unique cultural and historical background. Coastal Andhra shares borders with the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh and the state of Telangana. Covering an area of 91,915 square kilometres (35,489 sq mi), Coastal Andhra accounts for 58% of Andhra Pradesh's total area and, as per the 2011 Census of India, hosts a population of over 3.4 crore, constituting 69.20% of the state's population. Coastal Andhra was formerly part of the Madras State until 1953 and then became part of Andhra State from 1953 to 1956.