Andhra Pradesh (275,00 sq. km) stands on the high Deccan plateau, sloping down to the low-lying coastal region to the east where the mighty Godavari and Krishna rivers meet the Bay of Bengal. Once a major Buddhist centre and part of Ashok's large empire; it was in the hands of Chalukyas from 7th to 10th century and was ruled by Cholas till the 13th century. The seat was annexed by the Muslims and conquered by Vijaynagar rulers. Finally in the 16th century, the Qutab Shahi dynasty was established at Hyderabad. During this period, fortresses of Golconda. Their regime came to an end in 1687 when the kingdom was taken over by a general of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The general's successor, the Nizams of Hyderabad ruled the state thereafter till the Independence.