Andhra Pradesh Tourist Attractions

Andhra Pradesh has all kinds of tourist attractions - from bustling cities, ancient monuments, long beaches, dense forests, temples, mosques, jungles, waterfalls - you name it! Below, you can find a short review of the top tourist places of Andhra.

Hyderabad, a well developed and a metropolitan city, is the capital of Andhra Pradesh and has several prominent places in and around it. Due to the prolonged exposure to Muslim dynastic administration in the past, Hyderabad has fusion of Hindu-Muslim culture with a number of monuments of historical importance like Charminar, Golconda, Salarjung Museum, Mecca Masjid, Osman Sagar and Osmania University.

Though Hyderabad is the State Capital, in effect the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad are the real capital city and they are linded together by the Hussain Sagar Lake.

There are several sites of historical importance and tourist interest such as Warangal, Palampet, Vemulavada, Bhadrachalam, and Lepakshi. The State has a rich heritage of temples, mosques, churches and viharas.

The state is known for the famous Sri Venkateswara temple at Tirupati, Birla Mandir at Hyderabad and Bhadra Kali Temple at Warangal, Srisailam, Basara, and Srikalahasti, Mecca Masjid at Hyderabad, the Buddhist Viharas at Nagarjunasagar, and the Sai Baba Ashram at Puttaparthi.

The state was once the site of a flowering Buddhist culture. The Satavahanas, the Salivahanas were Buddhists. Therefore, several Buddhist stupas and viharas were built during their reign, and Buddhist centers flourished at Nagarjunakonda, Amaravati, Sankara, Bhattiprolu, Guntupalli, Gantasala, Salihunda, Panigiri, Nelakondapalli, and Bahvikonda.

There are waterfalls at Ettipothala, Kuntala, and Gandipet. The caves at Undavalli and Borra are also major tourist attractions. Two large and world famous dams are located at Nagarjunasagar and Nizamsagar.

Wildlife Sanctuaries

There are many wild life sanctuaries in  AP.

Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary; Pranahita Wildlife Sanctuary; Sivaram Wildlife Sanctuary;  Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary;  Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary; Kinnera sani Wildlife Sanctuary;  Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuary; Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary; Kolleru Bird Sanctuary; Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary; Pocharam Wildlife Sanctuary;  Manjira Bird Sanctuary; Nagarjunasagar Srisailam (Project tiger) Wildlife Sanctuary;  Rolla Padu Bird Sanctuary; Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary; Sri Lanka Malleshwaram Wildlife Sanctuary; Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary Pulicat Wildlife Sanctuary; Kaundinya (project elephant) Wildlife Sanctuary; Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary.

National Parks

Sri Venkateshwara Sanctuary and National Park;  Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park;  Mrugavani National Park;  Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park.

Zoological Parks

Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad;  Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park, Tirupati

Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Visakhapatnam

Beaches of Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh has nearly 1000 km. of coastline with 8 of its 23 districts are coastal regions. The coastline begins from Bheemunipatnam near Vishakhapatnam and goes down to Mypad in Nellore district. Apart from Vishakhapatnam and Bheemunipatnam Beaches, there are other famous beaches such as Manginapudi, Kakinada, Chirala, Kalingapatnam and Mypad.

The State has nearly 1000 km of coastline, with 8 of its 23 districts having direct access to the sea with azure water caressing golden sands, which accounts for the presence of so many beaches. Starting from Bheemunipatnam near Visakhapatnam down to Mypad in Nellore district, the coastline of Andhra Pradesh offers unalloyed joy to the sun worshippers and sea bathers. Apart from the Ramakrishna beach, Lawson's bay and Rishikonda beach at Vishakapatnam and Bheemunipatnam beaches there are other famous beaches such as Manginapudi, near Machilipatnam, Kakinada, Chirala, Kalingapatnam and Mypad.

Go see the top holiday destinations in AP or go back to Andhra Pradesh tourism guide