Top 5 Must See Tourist Places in Andhra, India

Andhra Pradesh - replete withpristine beaches, serene lakes, green hill tops, wildlife jungles, rich forestry, green paddy fields, majestic hills, dynastic forts, amazing museums, and several historic monuments –is verily a tourist’s dream destination.The entire Andhra Pradesh reflects a true secular spirit with people belonging to different faiths living together in total harmony. This might as well be the reason why temples, mosques and churches abound in Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Pradesh is known throughout India and beyond for her textile industries, pearl jewelry, refreshing perfumes, exquisite silk saris, colorful lac bangles, rich antiques and relics, spicy food and more. The cities of Andhra hold irresistible charm to sway the visitors. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Orissa shares their borders with Andhra.

It is difficult even for the most versatile vocabularist to do justice to the grandeur of this royal city by merely explaining in words. It is for the visitors to personally experience the exotic enchantment of this historic city - the soul-stirring sounds emanating from the minarets of mosques, the tolling of temple bells, the fascinating fragrance of the local perfumes (Attars), the inviting aromas from the roadside Biriyani eateries, and the undying popularity of Irani restaurants.

Hyderabad - the erstwhile kingdom the incredibly wealthy Nizam and the fifth largest city in India - is rich in arts, architecture and culture. Lovingly called by many as the City of Pearls, Hyderabad is today recognized as a global IT hub. Bustling with activities with surging crowds passing through the winding, narrow lanes and bye-lanes, Hyderabad presents a rare picture where modernity is so remarkably in fusion with ancient tradition.

Some of the other famous tourist spots of Hyderabad include the Golconda Fort, the Salarjung Museum, Mecca Masjid, Qutub Shahi Tombs, The Nizam's Museum and the Char Minar. There are many other historical monuments within and around Hyderabad.

Situated at the southern edge of the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh, Tirupati, is the city of seven picturesque hills, with perennial water falls, dense forests and exquisite green valleys. While Tirupati, with a cluster of temples, is the town at the foot of the seven hills, Tirumala is the temple township situated on top of the hills where the time-honored temple of Lord Sri Venkateswara is located.

This is one of the richest temples in the whole world. The outer walls of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple are covered with sheets of pure glittering gold and this is indeed a heavenly sight to behold! Tirupati is both a great holiday destination and pilgrimage center, thanks to its serene ambience, godly atmosphere and the all-pervading divine presence.

Horsley Hills is a less-known but enchanting hill-station, situated at about 150 km from Tirupati, where you can forget the physical world and spend quality time becoming one with nature. Make a trip to Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park and wildlife sanctuary and if you enjoy adventure sports, opt for trekking at Mamanduru, a truly refreshing experience. Miss not the historic Chandragiri Fort to marvel at the architectural genius of the Vijayanagar Dynasty.

End of Part 1 --- Click HERE to go to Part 2 of Must See Places in Andhra Pradesh, India