Andhra Pradesh is India’s 4th largest state on the south-eastern coast. Andhra Pradesh is an ancient state which is well-known in various famous Sanskrit classics including Aitareya, Brahmana, and Mahabharata since 800 BC. ‘Telugu’ is the main spoken language that is often associated with the early Cholas.
Andhra also covers most of the eastern part of the Deccan plateau, as well as the eastern plains of the Eastern Ghats in geography. This state also ruled over the Maurya Empire, the Ikshvaku Dynasty, Pallava, Rashtrakutas, Chalukyas, and Later Cholas.
The Eastern Ghats is an area that is rich in minerals and surrounded by dense greenery. Both the regions are connected by split vegetation. The state of Andhra Pradesh is well known for its rich natural resources, temples, rivers, and is also famous for its tourist operation. Andhra is also a state that shares most of Bengal’s coastal regions.
Andhra Pradesh is one of India’s biggest tourism destinations due to its rich cultural heritage, ancient architecture, and historical significance. Scroll down to know more about the best places to visit in Andhra Pradesh.
Best places to visit in Andhra Pradesh
- Vishakhapatnam
Vishakhapatnam was Andhra Pradesh’s second-largest city and India’s biggest sea harbor. But Vishakhapatnam is now known to be the largest town of Andhra Pradesh and likely the capital city of future Andhra Pradesh with the newly declared Telangana State. It has a tropical atmosphere with rainfall all year long. The town has all the amenities and services requires to make it one of India’s best tourism destinations.
People can reach the city through air, railway, or road transport. The Airport of Vishakhapatnam is the main international and domestic flight airport, situated approximately 12 km from the city center. The city’s railway station has access to the majority of Indian cities. Vishakhapatnam is connected to all the towns of Andhra Pradesh through Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC).
It also has Interstate buses from Vishakhapatnam’s Dwaraka bus station. NH16 and NH65 are the national highways through this area. You can take a taxi to any part of the city from the airport, railway or bus station.
A big tourist crowd gets attracted to its several beaches, highlands, and wildlife sanctuary. The location is the Indian Army’s largest port and is India’s deepest harbor. The Awake valley is a spectacular location for picnics and a hill resort that has some truly great hiking points. The different beaches such as Yarada and Rishikonda are some of the scenic places and are comparatively tidy.
Major Attractions: Borra Caves, Araku Valley, Yarada Beach, Rishikonda Beach, Katiki Waterfalls, Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Kailasagiri Hill Park, and VUDA Park.
- Vijayawada
Vijayawada is one of the biggest city in Andhra Pradesh. The town has rich agriculture and is known by McKinsey as the global city of the future. The first name of the city was Bezwada, and it was ruled by separate ancient kingdoms of the south and is one of the locations where a Chinese pilgrim Hieun Tsang lived. The Krishna River passes through the town and is on the hills of Eastern Ghats.
You can reach the city through the air, railway, and road transport. Vijayawada Airport is the city’s main airport and connects all major cities. The city’s railway station is connected to the majority of India’s cities. APSRTC regularly runs intra-state and inter-state bus services. NH16 and NH44 are the national highways that pass through Vijayawada. You can take a taxi to any part of the city from the airport, railway or bus station.
The dense jungles of the Kondapalli reserve forests, regarded as the home of leopards, jackals, bears, wild boars, and wild dogs, are unique to the city’s west. The city itself is a cultural and religious center with its numerous temples, religious sites, ponds, ancient caves, and much more. Don’t forget to buy Kondapalli toys as a memory.
Major Attractions: Undavalli Caves, Mogalarajapuram Caves, Prakasam Barage, Bhavani Island, Victoria Museum, Kondapalli Fort, Kolleru Lake, Gandhi Hill.
- Tirupati
Tirupati is one of India’s leading cultural and religious places. It is situated at the foot of East Ghats in Chittoor district on the southern side of Andhra Pradesh. Even though the most important language spoken here is Telugu, Tirupati is the Tamil word as St. Ramanujacharya, who was a saint of Tamil Vaisnava was the founder of the city.
The city gives its visitors access to air, railway, and road transport. Tirupati Airport is the closest domestic airport to all of India’s largest cities. You can take a taxi from the airport to any place in the city. Tirupati railway station is linked to many major cities in India. Take a taxi from the station to any part of the city. Tirupati is India’s most reserved train station and hence make sure your tickets are booked well in advance. APSRTC links Tirupati to all the cities of Andhra Pradesh. It runs interstate buses to Tirupati daily. NH140 and NH716 are the national highways that pass through Tirupati.
The city has a prominent temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, a form of ‘Balaji”. The foundation history of the temple is uncertain and was extended over the ages to include the Chola, Pallava, and the Vijaynagar Empire. The temple is one of the main sites of pilgrimage in India and especially in Southern India. Some attractions include parks and zoos aside from the temples.
Major Attractions: Sri Venkateswara Temple, Talakona Waterfalls, TTD Gardens, Deer Park, Sri Vari Museum, Sri Govindarajaswami Temple, Srikalahasti, Kanipakam.
- Nellore
The word ‘Nellore’ literally means ‘Paddy place’ and hence is one of Andhra Pradesh’s most important farming towns. The huge Damaramadugu paddy fields are one of the country’s main sources of rice. The city is situated at the banks of the river, divided into two by the river Pennar. Nellore is a special geographical position with the Bay of Bengal to the east of the town.
The Tirupati Airport is the closest major airport which links all the major Indian cities. It takes about 2 hours and 29 minutes to move from the Airport to Nellore. The city’s railway station is connected with most of the towns in India. Take a cab from the station to anywhere in the city. APSRTC is the organization that links Nellore to all the cities of Andhra Pradesh. NH16 is the main highway that passes through Nellore.
The town has encountered many ancient dynasties such as Mauryas, Chola, Pallava, and Vijaynagar, etc. Nellore is well-known for its ancient temples, which are impressive because of their wonderful architecture and the related cultural past. Nellore also has the bird sanctuary of Nelapattu which is an ideal location both for professionals and photographers. You will be fascinated by the different lakes, temples, and forts in the old agricultural town of Nellore.
Major Attractions: Venkatagiri Fort, Nellapattu Bird Sanctuary, Sri Raganathaswamy temple, Penchalakona, Jonnawada, Mypad Beach, Pulicat Lake.
- Anantapur
Anantapur is the biggest of all the districts of Andhra Pradesh and is renowned for diamonds and agricultural goods, such as rice, cotton, corn, chillies, etc. The town is situated near Karnataka and the district is surrounded by 6 flowing rivers. The city is an unknown touristic site and is famous for its ancient temples and numerous monuments that are an example of the ancient kingdom of Vijaynagar.
The closest major airport is the International airport of Bengaluru with access from all of India’s largest cities. It takes about 2 hours and 41 minutes to drive to Chittoor from the airport. The Anantapur railway station is linked to the major cities of Andhra Pradesh. Take a taxi to any part of the city from the railway station. The Bangalore railway station is the closest station with the best connectivity approximately two hours away.
Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) links Anantapur to all the cities in Andhra Pradesh. It runs inter-state buses as well. NH7 and NH205 are the various national highways that cross the city. The historic remains of the mountain forts and their secret waterfalls make it a great attraction for visitors.
Anantapur is also renowned for the famous banyan tree ‘Thimmamma Marrimanu’ that is amongst the largest trees in the world. Its branches extend over an area of about 2.5 hectares and a canopy of around 19,107 square meters. Anantapur is a decisive step for a tourist who visits Andhra Pradesh.
Major Attractions: Thimmamma Marrimanu, Dharmavaram, Hemavathi, Aluru Kona, Lepakshi, Raidurga Fort.
- Chittoor
Chittoor is a major farming town on the banks of the Pai River in Andhra Pradesh. Its crops and agricultural products such as rice, sugarcane, mango, and peanuts are the main economic source of the city. The city has a special atmosphere that is high in the east and low in the west due to variation in altitude.
The Tirupati Airport is the closest major airport and links all major Indian cities. It takes about 1 hour and 28 minutes to travel through a taxi from Airport to Chittoor. The city’s railway station is connected to all the major cities in the district. Take a cab to move to any part of the city from the railway station. Tirupati railway station is the closest station which is roughly 70.5 kilometers from the city.
Chittoor is connected to all the cities of Andhra Pradesh through APSRTC. It runs interstate buses as well. NH40 and NH69 are the national highways that run along with the city. The city is perceived to be an economically backward district, but it is an excellent place to visit for people who are unfamiliar with the city. It is a must-visit city with its varied hills, rivers, temples, forts, and a rich array of flora and fauna.
It will be a personal suggestion to spend more time in the west section of Horsley hills. Though most of the attractions in Chittoor can be covered in a day, it is a place to rest and reenergize.
Major Attractions: Horsley Hills, Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalavagunta, Gurramkonda Fort, Nagari Hills, Sri Venkateswara Temple, Mogili, Ramagiri.
- Kurnool
Kurnool is the former capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh. The city is one of the oldest cities and has seen civilization since the paleolithic period based on the Ketavaram rock paintings. The ancient caves and fortified ruins of Kurnool are beautiful to see and are very historically old. The city is surrounded by mountains from north to south.
Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is the closest major and linked airport from all the major Indian cities. It takes around 3 hours and 28 minutes to move from the airport to Kurnool. The city’s railway station is connected to many major cities in India. Take a taxi to move to every other part of the city from the station.
Anantapur links to all the cities in Andhra Pradesh through APSRTC. It runs interstate buses as well. NH44 and NH40 are the various national highways that cross the city. The different temples and pilgrimage sites in this ancient town are significant in the cultural and architectural history of the region. Rollapadu Bird Sanctuary is one of the reasons why you should visit this city, as it is a perfect destination for nature lovers and shuttle services.
Major Attractions: Kurnool Fort, Belum Caves, Nallamala Forest, Rollapadu Bird Sanctuary, Adoni Fort, Mahanandi, Kurnool Museum, Mantralayam.
- Rajahmundry
The city is known as Andhra Pradesh’s cultural capital and is renowned for its ancient Vedic history. The city was reportedly established in the 11th century by the Chalukyas. However, many historians and archaeologists, have proposed that the city flourished before the Chalukyas reign. Rajahmundry is also well-known as the homeland of the Telugu language.
Rajahmundry Airport is the closest airport to various cities such as Bangalore, Chennai, and Hyderabad. Take a cab to move to any part of the city from the airport. The city’s railway station is connected with the majority of India’s cities such as Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Mumbai, New Delhi, and Kolkata. APSRTC links Rajahmundry with many cities of Andhra Pradesh. NH42 and NH71 are the various highways that pass through the city.
The Godavari River is the biggest attraction in this city and its banks are surrounded by parks and Ghats. The Boat cruises on the river are also a must-see experience. The old town is renowned for its old Dravidian Hindu temples, which are frequently visited by visitors from all over the world.
Major Attractions: Godavari Boat Travels, Kotilingeswara TempleRallaBandi Subbarao Government Museum, Pattiseema, Markandeya Temple, Dowleswaram Barrage.
- Srikalahasti
Srikalahasti is situated near Tirupati pilgrim city on the banks of the Swarnamukhi Canal. The name of the city derives from the native names of three animals who have received salvation because of their worship of Lord Shiva. Several different places of this holy town are mentioned in ancient texts and epics including Mahabharata.
The Tirupati airport is the nearest airport from Srikalahasti which links all the major Indian cities. It takes about 57 minutes to move from the airport to the city in a cab. The city’s railway station is connected to many major cities in India. Take a taxi to move to any part of the city from the station. The Tirupati railway station is about 57 minutes away from the city.
Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) connects Srikalahasti to all the cities of Andhra Pradesh. It runs interstate buses as well. NH71 and NH140 are the various national highways connecting the city. A city is a holy place that boasts its different temples for the Hindu pilgrims. The temples are architectural wonders and are situated in the most beautiful places between the surrounding hills. Agriculture and tourism are the key economic sources in the region, so tourists can expect good food and entertainment.
Major Attractions: Sri Kalahasti Temple, Talakona Waterfalls, Ubbalamadugu Falls, Gudimallam, Sahasra Linga Temple, Bharadwaja Tirtham, Durgambika Temple.
- Ongole
Ongole is an old town that was ruled by the old South American kingdoms such as Mauryas, Sathavahanas, and the Pallava Emperor Krishna Deva Raya. It is renowned for its Hindu Temples dating from the 17th century because of this ancestral past behind the origin of the region. The city’s major production is tobacco and is famous for its diverse small industries.
Vijayawada airport is the nearest airport to this city which has access from all major cities in India. The airport is just 2 hours and 15 minutes away from Ongole. The city’s railway station connects the city to many major cities in India. Take a taxi to move to every other part of the city from the station.
APSRTC connects Andhra Pradesh to many cities in Andhra Pradesh. It runs interstate buses as well. NH16 and NH216 are the various highways that pass through the city. Ongole is renowned for its small beaches, often without huge crowds, and with various facilities for water sports. The sands are golden and grainy, while the water is clean. The hidden waterfalls of Bhairavakona should also be remembered and you will certainly be lost in the amazing and relaxed environment.
Major Attractions: Kothapatnam Beach, Chennakesava Swamy Temple, Kashi Visweswara Swamy Temple,Tangutur, Chandavaram, Bhairavakona.
Conclusion
Andhra Pradesh is one of the greatest sources of Dravidian culture and history and is one of the ancient kingdoms of southern India. Andhra Pradesh is a great place to look into history books with its many tourist sites, immense natural resources, various climate conditions, and numerous ancient temples. Hence, we hope the above article will help you to know everything about the different places to visit in Andhra Pradesh.
