Andhra Pradesh has immensely advertised as the “Kohinoor of India” by the tourism department of India because it is the most visited state of India. Andhra Pradesh tourism is famous for various things like Tirupati, the most visited temple, its culture and coastal areas. Blessed with two beautiful rivers, Krishna and Godavari, Andhra Pradesh has the Bay of Bengal to its west, and it boasts of a coastline of 972km, the longest in the country.

Best time to visit Andhra Pradesh is during the winter season, i.e. between November and February when the weather is pleasant and comfortable for the tourists to visit all the tourist attractions. Andhra Pradesh is least recommended during summer as the temperature can hit a maximum of 45°C, making it an incredibly inconvenient option to travel to the state. Heavy rainfall and high humidity levels are experienced during the monsoons which may not be what most tourists are looking for.

The cuisine of the Andhra Pradesh is known for its hot, spicy and delicious dishes and diverse culinary culture. Andhra Pradesh is famous for Pesarattu, Andhra Chicken Curry, Andhra Eggplant Curry, Gongura Mutton, Mudda Pappu, Kodi Pulao etc.

The exclusive jewellery, the handicrafts, the silver artwork, exquisite weaving, wooden as well as brass carvings are specialities of Andhra Pradesh. Also, pick up a few needle-work pieces. Banjara needle art can be found in local shops and emporiums.

Telugu is the official and most widely spoken language in the state. Most of the remaining groups speak border-area languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, Marathi, and Oriya.

1. VISAKHAPATNAM

Visakhapatnam, also commonly known as Vizag, is one of the oldest port cities in the country. Situated in the heart of Andhra Pradesh, Visakhapatnam is known for its picturesque beaches and serene landscape, as well as a rich cultural past. The port of Visakhapatnam is renowned for being home to the oldest shipyard in all of India. Located a short distance away from Visakhapatnam is Araku Valley, one of the prime attractions of Vizag. Situated at a lofty 910 metres above sea level, Araku Valley is a hill station replete with gushing waterfalls, crystal clear streams, lush green gardens and some challenging trekking trails.

Places to visit in Visakhapatnam: Submarine Museum, Borra Caves, Kailash Giri (a beautiful hilltop park), Rishikonda Beach, Dolphin’s nose, Katiki Waterfalls, Simhachalam Temple, Yarada beach, The Indira Gandhi Zoological Park

2. ARAKU VALLEY

Araku Valley is located in Vishakhapatnam district, Andhra Pradesh and being surrounded by the magnificent Eastern Ghats the place hosts refreshing breaks for nature lovers. The valley is known for its exquisite biodiversity and features lush green tea and coffee plantations.

Places to visit in Araku Valley: Borra Caves or Borra Guhalu, Katiki Waterfalls, Chaparai Waterfalls, Padmapuram Gardens, Tadimada Waterfalls, Araku Tribal Museum

3. TIRUPATI

Situated in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, Tirupati is known for Lord Venkateshwara Temple, one of the most visited pilgrimage centres in the country. Tirumala is one of the seven hills in Tirupati, where the main temple is located. The temple is believed to be placed where Lord Venkateshwara took the form of an idol and is hence home to the diety Govinda. Tirupati is one of the oldest cities of India and finds mention in plenty of ancient Vedas and Puranas.

Places to visit in Tirupati: Sri Venkateshwara Temple, Akasaganga Teertham, Silathoranam, Swami Pushkarini Lake

4. SRISAILAM

Srisailam, a hill town in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh is home to the holy Malikarjuna Jyotirlinga and also as one of the eighteen Shakti Peethas of goddess Parvati. Situated on the banks of river Krishna, Srisailam is identified with a wildlife sanctuary and a dam.

You could seek the blessings of the almighty by visiting the many majestic temples in the city such as the one dedicated to Lord Shiva (it is renowned as Sikhareswara Swamy temple) or the famous Bhramaramba Mallikarjunaswamy Temple which is located at a height of around 457m from sea level.

Places to visit in Srisailam: Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, Akkamahadevi Caves, Srisailam Tiger Reserve, Patala Ganga

5. PUTTAPARTHI

The holy abode of the legendary figure, Sathya Sai Baba, Puttaparthi is a town which takes you back to the days of ashrams and the ways of living in those times with an equal influence of the present.

A tiny town in Andhra Pradesh, Puttaparthi has gained global fame as a centre of religious brilliance. It is a town which offers modern approaches of religion, settlements and even urbanization, being a unique village with urban facilities.

Places to visit in Puttaparthi: Sathya Sai Ashram, Chaitanya Jyoti Museum, Wish Fullfilling Tree, Sri Sathya Sai Space Theatre (Planetarium)

6. KURNOOL

A place of much historical value with beautiful surrounding areas, Kurnool, is a small town in Andhra Pradesh where much of history left its imprints. The city also is known as The Gateway of Rayalaseema.

Kurnool has in its domain remains of the palace of Gopal Raju (the last Hindu king), ruins of a medieval fort built by Vijaynagar Empire having ancient Persian and Arabic inscriptions and the summer palace built by Kurnool rulers during the 16th century.

Places to visit in Kurnool: Sri Yagantiswamy Temple (also known as the Uma Maheshwara Temple), Belum Caves, Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary, Oravakallu Rock Garden, Konda Reddy Fort Or Kondareddy Buruju

7. AMARAVATHI

Amaravathi, a small town that was established on the banks of the river Krishna, lies in the Guntur district of the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The place has gathered attention from all over the world because of the Amareswara Temple that is situated here. Amaravathi is also famous for being the site of the one of the greatest Buddhist Stupas ever built. This stupa is believed to have been built before the establishment of the Mauryan Empire. Today the town is a popular tourist destination because of attractions like the famous Amaravati Stupa and the archaeological museum.

Places to visit in Amaravathi: Amareswara Temple, Dhyana Buddha Statue, Amaravati Museum, Amaravathi Mahachaitya

8. GANDIKOTA

Endearingly known as the ‘Grand Canyon of India’, Gandikota is a small and quaint village in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. Flanked by River Pennar on the right side, the village is famous for the spectacular gorges formed by the river cutting through Erramala Hills. The narrow valleys with streams running between them and the steep rocky walls are reminiscent of the renowned Grand Canyon in Arizona. It requires a walk of almost a kilometre from the main gate to reach the boulder from where you can observe the mesmerising view from the viewpoint near the fort.

Located 1.5 hours away from Belum Caves, the highlight of the village of Gandikota is the ruins of Gandikota Fort, which was built in the 13th Century.

Places to visit in Gandikota: Gandikota fort, Pennar Gorge viewpoint, Raghunathaswamy Temple, Jamia Masjid

9. VIJAYAWADA

Nestled on the banks of River Krishna in the state of Andhra Pradesh, Vijayawada is the second-largest populated city in the state. Known as the ‘commercial, political and media capital of Andhra Pradesh’, the city is one of the most rapidly growing urban cities in India. Covered by hills and canals, Vijayawada is also home to numerous caves and rock-cut temples carved out of these caves.

Places to visit in Vijayawada: Kanaka Durga Temple, Bhavani Island, Undavalli Caves, Kondapalli Fort, Subramanya Swamy Temple

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