Andhra Pradesh travel guide explores various travel and tourism destinations in Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Pradesh Tourism

Pilgrimages in Andhra Pradesh The world-renowned Sri Venkateshwara Temple at Tirupati is said to be the richest temple the world over and is the most prominent pilgrimage attraction of Andhra Pradesh. Amaravati \| Tirupati Balaji	Monuments of Andhra Pradesh A land of a rich past and glorious architectural monuments, Andhra Pradesh cherishes its legacy from the successive dynasties of Ikshvakus, Pallavas, Charminar \| Golconda Fort
Temples of Andhra Pradesh The oldest temples of Andhra Pradesh are Tirupati Venkateswara Temple and the Kalahasteeswara Temple that date back to the pre-Christian times. The Chalukyas of Badami built the 6th century Alampur Bhrama temples that are excellent examples of Chalukyan art and sculpture. The Kakatiyas ruling from Warangal succeeded the later Chalukyas and constructed several beautiful temples during their reign from 11th to 14th centuries. Saneeswara Temple \| Sree Sailam Temple \| Tirupati Temple

Guntur Located in the northeastern part of the Andhra Pradesh State, in the Krishna River delta, Guntur lies on the Vijayawada-Madras trunk road, about 9-km to the east of the picturesque Kondaveedu range of hills. How to Reach \| Tourist Attractions	Kurnool Kurnool, situated on the southern banks of the Tungabhadra and Handri rivers, has been the capital of Andhra Pradesh for three years from 1953 until 1956. How to Reach \| Tourist Attractions
Visakhapatnam Situated on the shores of Bay of Bengal, Vishakhapatnam is bounded by the rocky outcrop known as Dolphin's Nose boasting a beautiful beach with a long beach road. How to Reach \| Tourist Attractions	Hyderabad Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh, is more than 400 years old. A bustling metropolitan city situated at an altitude of 650 m above sea level, hills, tanks, How to Reach \| Prime Attractions
Nellore Situated on the north bank of Pennar River, Nellore is believed to have derived its name after the paddy fields in and around Nellore, where 'Nellu' means paddy How to Reach \| Tourist Attractions	Vijaywada Vijayawada or Bezawada is situated on the shores of the Krishna River and is bounded by the Indrakiladri hills on its West. The largest railway junction of the South Central Railway, How to Reach \| Tourist Attractions
Tirupati Tirupati is known as the abode of the Hindu god Venkateshwara, Lord of Seven Hills. The Tirumala Hills, where the temple of Tirupati Balaji dedicated to Him is said to be so sacred that till 1870 How to Reach \| Tirupati Vacations	Warangal The ancient capital of the Kakatiyas, a 12th century Andhra dynasty, Warangal has beautiful lakes and temples rich in antiques and relics and is teeming with wildlife. How to Reach \| Tourist Attractions

State Capital:	Hyderabad
Location:	Stretches from 12.41o N to 22 o N and 77o E and 84.40o E longitude.
Neighboring States:	Maharashtra, Chhatisgarh and Orissa to the North, Karnataka to the West, Tamil Nadu to the South, and Bay Of Bengal to the East.
Area:	21,75,000 sq. km.
Population:	75,727,541 (according to the 2001 census)
Regional Language:	Telugu
Climate:	Hot and humid.
Seasons:	Summer - March to May, Winter - December to March, and Monsoon - (South-West) June to August, (North-East) October to December.
Physiography:	Coastal rich alluvial Plains, Eastern Ghats with forests, rivers and rocky hills, and Peninsular Plateau with coal beds, gneiss, granites and basaltic lava.

Andhra Pradesh embodies the true sense of secularism in India as people of all faiths, mainly, Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus live here is perfect harmony. Ruled by the various dynasties since 300 BC such as Mauryas, Pallavas, Cholas, Satavahanas, Chalukyas and Vijayanagar, Andhra Pradesh has got a rich historical and architectural legacy in the form of edifices, monuments and architectural ruins that can be seen today. Situated towards the south of the Vindhyas, it was created by blending the old princely state of Hyderabad, which is now its capital, with the Telegu-speaking portions of the former Madras. It passed on from Chalukyas to Cholas in the 10th century, from Cholas to the Muslim power in the 14th century and finally, to the General of the Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb whose descendents ruled the princely state till Independence and were called Nizams.

Fabulous and splendid handicrafts, vibrant religious festivals, distinct famous cuisines and the mother tongue, Telugu, are some of the important constituents of its unique identity. The classical dance of Kuchipudi, tribal dances and the folk art of Tholubommalaata, a shadow puppetry theatre, lend their charm to the uniqueness of the state. The people here are friendly and warm and take keen interest in arts, crafts and dance. The Tirupati Temple is the main tourist and pilgrim attraction of Andhra Pradesh and attracts people from all over India and the world. The donations here alone have been enough for the establishment and running of a university, several hospitals and schools. The third largest state in India, the Krishna and Godavari are the major rivers of Andhra Pradesh.

Spotlights:
The most popular of the temples and historical monuments of Andhra Pradesh include the Tirupati Temple in Chittoor district dedicated to the Lord Venkateswara, situated atop the Tirumalai hill. It is a masterpiece of Deccan Indian architecture. The capital of the state, Hyderabad and its twin city Secunderabad are linked together by the Hussain Sagar Lake. The chief attractions of these cities are the 16th century Char Minar, Osmania University, State Museum and Art gallery, Salarjung Museum, Health Museum, Public Gardens, Birla Mandir, Macca Masjid and the first lion safari park of South Asia, Nehru Zoological Park. The major wildlife sanctuaries of the state are the Pakkal, Tadvai and Ethurnagaram sanctuaries, Kawak Wildlife Sanctuary and India's largest Tiger Reserve, the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Sanctuary.

The famous Golconda fort at Golconda, which was famous as a rich diamond mine all over the world in the medieval times that have been reputed to produce well known diamonds of Kohinoor and Pitt is another highlight of the state. The charming little hill resorts in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh are Anantagiri and Araku with their picturesque coffee plantations, mango groves, waterfalls, number of tribes and a distinctive culture. The Horsley Hills are also a popular tourist destination. The beaches and harbor of Visakhapatnam, Rishikonda, Bhimli, Bhimunipatnam, Bapatla, Kalingapatnam, Maipad and Manginapudi are not only beautiful but also offer facilities for pleasurable aquatic sport activities.