Araku Valley
Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days
Base Station: Araku Valley
Nearest City to Araku Valley: Vizag (112 Kms)
Best Time to Visit Araku Valley: September to Maeak Season: September & March to May
State: Andhra Pradesh | District: Vizag
Araku Valley Weather: Summer: Maximum – 26°C & Minimum – 22°C
Winter: Maximum – 11°C & Minimum – 8°C
At a distance of 112 km from Vizag, 432 km from Vijayawada, 85 km from Vizianagaram, 26 km from Anantagiri and 635 km from Hyderabad, Araku Valley, popularly known as Araku, is a scenic hill station in the Vishakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh. Often referred to as Andhra Ooty, it is one of the most famous places to experince Andhra Pradesh tourism and is one of the top attractions you must include in Vizag tour packages.
Located on the Eastern Ghats at an altitude range of 900 to 1400 meters above sea level, Araku Valley is home to a number of tribal communities. Spread over an area of 36 sq. km, Araku is a perfect tourist destination with pleasant climate, lush greenery, waterfalls and streams. It is popular for its famous coffee plantations.
Araku has some interesting places to visit including Borra caves, Tyda, Katiki Falls, Tribal Museum & Padmapuram Botanical Gardens. Besides, these the coffee plantations are a must visit for those who want to indulge themselves in the flavors of nature. The tourists can see tribal folk dances like Dhimsa and Mayuri. The Araku Tribal Museum houses rich tribal tradition and number of artifacts and displays related to Eastern Ghat Tribal Culture.
The Anantagiri Reserved Forest and Sunkarimetta Reserved Forest are part of the Araku Valley. This valley is surrounded by mountains like Galikonda, Raktakonda, Sunkarimetta and Chitamogondi. Jindhagada Peak, the tallest peak in Eastern Ghats and the tallest in Andhra Pradesh is situated near Araku. The Anantagiri hills on the way to Araku Valley are famous for coffee plantations. The hill is also popular for its forests, lovely orchards and the serene environment. The valley is also a perfect place for trekking and it offers several interesting trails. Most known and popular trekking trails go through dense forests to the summit but a few adventurous trails go through many streams and are ideal to view breathtaking waterfalls like the Katiki waterfall.
The train journey from Vizag to Araku is a memorable experience with 46 tunnels, several bridges through lush green valleys. Araku is famous for the mustard flowers that change the landscape of the valley from green to yellow in the months of November & December. Several accommodation facilities are available here. AP Tourism runs very good resorts in Araku, called Valley Resort (also called Yatri Nivas).
Vizag airport is the nearest airport, which is about 107 km from Araku. Araku valley is connected through both rail and road to the city of Visakhapatnam. There are two railway stations at Araku on the Kothavalasa-Kirandul railway line of Visakhapatnam division of the East Coast Railway. Shimiliguda railway station is located at an altitude of 996 m above mean sea level. It is well connected to Vizag and Kirandul. Araku has frequent buses from Vizag and Vizianagaram.
The best time to visit Araku Valley is from September to May while the peak season is September & March to May. Usually it takes 1-2 days to visit all the places in and around Araku Valley.
Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days
Base Station: Araku Valley
Nearest City to Araku Valley: Vizag (112 Kms)
Best Time to Visit Araku Valley: September to May
Peak Season: September & March to May
State: Andhra Pradesh | District: Vizag
Araku Valley Weather: Summer: Maximum – 26°C & Minimum – 22°C
Winter: Maximum – 11°C & Minimum – 8°C
At a distance of 112 km from Vizag, 432 km from Vijayawada, 85 km from Vizianagaram, 26 km from Anantagiri and 635 km from Hyderabad, Araku Valley, popularly known as Araku, is a scenic hill station in the Vishakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh. Often referred to as Andhra Ooty, it is one of the most famous places to experince Andhra Pradesh tourism and is one of the top attractions you must include in Vizag tour packages.
Located on the Eastern Ghats at an altitude range of 900 to 1400 meters above sea level, Araku Valley is home to a number of tribal communities. Spread over an area of 36 sq. km, Araku is a perfect tourist destination with pleasant climate, lush greenery, waterfalls and streams. It is popular for its famous coffee plantations.
Araku has some interesting places to visit including Borra caves, Tyda, Katiki Falls, Tribal Museum & Padmapuram Botanical Gardens. Besides, these the coffee plantations are a must visit for those who want to indulge themselves in the flavors of nature. The tourists can see tribal folk dances like Dhimsa and Mayuri. The Araku Tribal Museum houses rich tribal tradition and number of artifacts and displays related to Eastern Ghat Tribal Culture.
The Anantagiri Reserved Forest and Sunkarimetta Reserved Forest are part of the Araku Valley. This valley is surrounded by mountains like Galikonda, Raktakonda, Sunkarimetta and Chitamogondi. Jindhagada Peak, the tallest peak in Eastern Ghats and the tallest in Andhra Pradesh is situated near Araku. The Anantagiri hills on the way to Araku Valley are famous for coffee plantations. The hill is also popular for its forests, lovely orchards and the serene environment. The valley is also a perfect place for trekking and it offers several interesting trails. Most known and popular trekking trails go through dense forests to the summit but a few adventurous trails go through many streams and are ideal to view breathtaking waterfalls like the Katiki waterfall.
The train journey from Vizag to Araku is a memorable experience with 46 tunnels, several bridges through lush green valleys. Araku is famous for the mustard flowers that change the landscape of the valley from green to yellow in the months of November & December. Several accommodation facilities are available here. AP Tourism runs very good resorts in Araku, called Valley Resort (also called Yatri Nivas).
Vizag airport is the nearest airport, which is about 107 km from Araku. Araku valley is connected through both rail and road to the city of Visakhapatnam. There are two railway stations at Araku on the Kothavalasa-Kirandul railway line of Visakhapatnam division of the East Coast Railway. Shimiliguda railway station is located at an altitude of 996 m above mean sea level. It is well connected to Vizag and Kirandul. Araku has frequent buses from Vizag and Vizianagaram.
The best time to visit Araku Valley is from September to May while the peak season is September & March to May. Usually it takes 1-2 days to visit all the places in and around Araku Valley.
Srisailam
Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days
Base Station: Srisailam
Nearest City to Srisailam: Hyderabad (229 Kms), Kurnool (181 Kms)
Best Time to Visit Srisailam: September to March
Peak Season: September to December & February to May
State: Andhra Pradesh | District: Kurnool
Srisailam Weather: Summer: Maximum – 41°C & Minimum – 22°C
Winter: Maximum – 30°C & Minimum – 15°C
At a distance of 160 km from Nandyal, 181 km from Kurnool, 229 km from Hyderabad, 263 km from Vijayawada and 527 km from Bangalore, Srisailam is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva situated on the banks of River Krishna in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the most important pilgrimage centers of Lord Shiva in India and also one of the top Places to visit in Andhra. Srisailam is also one of the most popular weekend getaways from Hyderabad.
Srisailam is famous for Srisailam Dam & Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The sanctum enshrines Lord Mallikarjuna in the form of a linga protected by a three-hooded cobra. This ancient temple built in the Dravidian style with lofty towers and sprawling courtyards is one of the finest specimens of Vijayanagara architecture. Though the exact origins of the temple are not available, the Satavahanas of the 2nd century AD have referred to it. The Kakatiyas and the Vijayanagara kings have made several endowments here.
The unique feature of this kshetram is the combination of Jyothirlingam and Mahasakthi (in the form of Bhramarambika) in one campus, which is very rare and only one of its kind. The great religious leader Aadi Sankara is said to have visited this shrine and composed his immortal Sivananda Lahiri here.
Srisailam is a perfect combination of temples and scenic spots. Srisailam Dam built over River Krishna is one of the largest dams in South India. Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, Bhramaramba Devi Temple, Akka Mahadevi Caves, Pathala Ganga, Shikaresvara Temple, Sakshi Ganapathi Temple and Mallela Theertham are the other attractions here.
Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Sanctuary, India’s largest tiger reserve is spread over 3500 Sq. km. This Sanctuary is a natural habitat of diverse species of flora and fauna. The lush and dense Nallamala forest range is a popular destination for trekking, hill climbing, forest exploration and research, to which Srisailam town acts as a base camp.
The Mahasivarathri festival in the month of February/March is celebrated as Brahmothsavam (annual festival).
Srisailam offers a vast array of moderately expensive to budget hotels run by Temple Board, AP Tourism and private operators. Advanced reservation is recommended during peak season, festivals and long weekend.
Hyderabad Airport is the nearest airport, 202 km from Srisailam. The nearest railway station to reach Srisailam is the Markapur Railway Station which is 87 km away. Markapur station is well connected to all major cities like Bhubaneswar, Puri, Bangalore, Kolkata, Machilipatnam, Vasco da Gama, Guntur and Hyderabad. Srisailam is most easily accessible by road. Buses connect Srisailam with Hyderabad, Tirupati, Bangalore, Vijayawada, Kakinada, Vizag, Kurnool, Guntur, Kadapa and Nellore.
The best time to visit Srisailam is from September to March while the peak season is September to December & February to May. Usually it takes 1-2 days to visit major places in Srisailam.
Temple Timings: 5 AM to 3:30 PM & 6 PM to 10 PM
Tirupati
Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days
Base Station: Tirupati
Nearest City to Tirupati: Tirupati, Chennai (134 Kms)
Best Time to Visit Tirupati: October to March
Peak Season: April to May & September to December
State: Andhra Pradesh | District: Chittoor
Tirupati Weather: Summer: Maximum – 45°C & Minimum – 22°C
Winter: Maximum – 28°C & Minimum – 15°C
At a distance of 71 km from Chittoor, 413 km from Vijayawada, 556 km from Hyderabad, 763 km from Vizag, 134 km from Chennai and 259 km from Bangalore, Tirupati is a pilgrimage city in the extreme southeast of Andhra Pradesh in Chittoor district. It is often referred as a synonym to Tirumala (called as Tirumala Tirupati), which is a sacred temple town famous for Sri Venkateswara Temple also known as Tirumala Tirupati Balaji Temple. Tirupati along with Chandragiri is an ideal Chennai getaways for a two day trip and also one of the top Andhra Pradesh tourist places.
Tirupati is one of the most ancient and sacred pilgrimage sites in India. Tirumala, the home of Lord Venkateswara is at a distance of 22 km from Tirupati. However, Tirupati is the town and transport hub to Tirumala at the bottom of the hill. The initial temple at Tirumala was built by the Tamil king Thondaimaan. The Pallavas of Kanchipuram (9th century), Cholas of Tanjore (10th century), Pandyas of Mathura and Vijayanagara Kings (14th & 15th centuries) regularly visited the temple and contributed largely to the temple. Especially, Sri Krishna Devaraya of Vijayanagara Empire contributed a lot to the temple. Now the temple is under the maintenance of TTD.
Spread over an area of 450 sq. km, Tirupati offers a magnificent religious and natural delight to devotees as well as tourists. Apart from Lord Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala, Varahaswami temple, Tiruchanur temple of Goddess Padmavati, Govindaraja temple, Srinivasa Mangapuram, Avanakshamma temple, ISKCON Lord Krishna Temple etc. are the important temples in Tirupati. Kapila Theertham, Parasurameswara Temple in Gudimallam, Kodanda Rama Swamy Temple, Chandragiri Fort, Kanipakam, Srikalahasti and Talakona Falls are the famous Tirupati tourist places.
Tirupati is also known for its fairs and festivals. The biggest festival though is Tirumala temple Brahmotsavam, the Vijayanagara Festival held at Chandragiri Fort and the Rayalaseema Food and Dance Festival are some other attractions of the temple town. The Gangamma Jatra held for a week in May is another important festival here. It is held at the Tataiah Gunta Gangamma temple in Tirupati and is known for its unusual rituals.
Renigunta is the nearest airport (15 km Tirupati) which serves direct flights from Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai as well as Bangalore. Tirupati Railway Station is well connected with Hyderabad, Chennai, Trivandrum, Kanyakumari, Kakinada, Nagercoil, Kolkata, Pondicherry, Jammu, Bangalore, Mumbai, Bhubaneswar, New Delhi, Vizag, Mangalore, Gujarat, Kochi and Jharkhand. Buses are available from Tirupati to the adjacent cities like Chennai, Kanchipuram, Vellore, Vizag, Bangalore, Vijayawada, Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy, Mysore and Hyderabad.
The best time to visit Tirupati is from October to March while the Peak Season is April to May & September to December. Usually it takes 1-2 days to visit major places in and around Tirupati
Lepakshi
Base Station: Hindupur (14 Kms)
Ideal Trip Duration: 2-3 Hours
Nearest City to Lepakshi: Bangalore (124 Kms)
Best Time to Visit Lepakshi: October to March
Peak Season: January & April to May
State: Andhra Pradesh | District: Anantapur
Lepakshi Weather: Summer: Maximum – 38°C & Minimum – 20°C
Winter: Maximum – 30°C & Minimum – 13°C
At a distance of 125 km from Anantapur, 124 km from Bangalore City Junction, 225 km from Tirupati, 478 km from Hyderabad & 569 km from Vijayawada, Lepakshi is a small village which lies 14 km east of Hindupur in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. It is the one of the important heritage sites in Andhra Pradesh highlighting the legacy of Vijayanagara Dynasty. It is one of the famous Tourist places in Andhra Pradesh and also one of the popular one day trip from Bangalore.
Lepakshi was founded in the 16th century during the reign of the Vijayanagara king, Aliiya Rama Raya. Virupanna, the royal treasurer was accused of drawing funds without the king’s permission from the state treasury to build the Veerabhadra temple at Lepakshi. However, he blinded himself to avoid the king’s punishment. Even today one can see two dark stains upon the wall near the Kalyana Mandapa, which are said to be the marks made by his eyes. Hence the village is called ‘Lepa-akshi’, means a village of the blinded eye.
Lepakshi is the centre of some of the finest temple architecture and paintings. Lepakshi consists of three important shrines dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Veerabhadra, of which Veerabhadra temple is the most important place to visit in Lepakshi (this is also referred as Lepakshi Temple). The temples of Papanatheswara, Raghunatha, Srirama, Veerabhadra and Durga are located in the same complex on a hillock named as Kurma Saila (tortoise shaped hill).
The Vijayanagar styled temple has several wonderful paintings on the ceiling. The hanging pillar supported from the top is a surprise for the visitors. To the south of the main shrine is a huge Nagalingam, standing on a granite block, shrouded by a seven-headed cobra, magnificently carved out of single rock. The monolithic Nandi in Lepakshi village is another remarkable feature.
The handicrafts of Lepakshi are also quite popular among women all over the country.
Mantralayam
Ideal Trip Duration: Full Day
Base Station: Mantralayam, Kurnool (74 Kms)
Nearest City to Mantralayam: Kurnool (74 Kms), Hyderabad (253 Kms)
Best Time to Visit Mantralayam: August to March
Peak Season: August to September
State: Andhra Pradesh | District: Kurnool
Mantralayam Weather: Summer: Maximum – 41°C & Minimum – 22°C
Winter: Maximum – 30°C & Minimum – 15°C
At a distance of 74 km from Kurnool, 148 km from Nandyal, 49 km from Adoni, 43 km from Raichur, 253 km from Hyderabad, 301 km from Hubli, 402 km from Bangalore and 416 km from Vijayawada, Mantralayam, also known as Manchale or Mantralaya is situated in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. This is the place where the Vaishnava saint Sri Guru Raghavendra took Jeeva Samadhi (tomb) and is also one of the popular Places to visit in Andhra. Mantralayam is situated near the border of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh along the banks of River Tungabhadra, a chief tributary of River Krishna.
Mantralayam is associated with the famous saint Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy, renowned Hindu saint and philosopher. Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy, lived between 1595 and 1671 was an influential saint in Hinduism. Followers of the saint consider him to be an incarnation of Bhakta Prahallada, who was saved by Vishnu in the avatar of Narasimha. Sri Raghavendra Swamy is said to have performed many miracles during his lifetime and has a large following even today. Mantralayam is a small and peaceful town situated on the banks of the River Tungabhadra and gets thousands of devotees from all over the country. He also served as the head of Sri Mutt of Kumbakonam from 1621 to 1671.
Mantralayam is also popular for Manchalamma Temple located near the Samadhi Temple, inside the Mantralayam Mutt complex. It is a custom at Mantralayam that the devotees offer prayers at the Manchalamma Temple before visiting the Samadhi Temple. As per records, the barren land around Mantralayam along the river banks of Tungabhadra was handed over to the Mutt of Sri Raghavendra Swamy by Nawab Siddi Masud Khan of Adoni. Panchamukhi Anjaneya Temple, Chinna Tumbalam, Bichchali and Alampur are the nearby attractions to Mantralayam.
The male devotees who want to perform Pooja themselves have to wear dhoti. While male devotees paying normal visit have to remove their shirt and female devotees have to wear Sarees or other traditional cloths.
Papikondalu
Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days
Base Station: Rajahmundry (60 Kms)
Nearest City to Papikondalu: Vijayawada (180 Kms), Vizag (260 Kms)
Best Time to Visit Papikondalu: October to January
Peak Season: October to December
State: Andhra Pradesh | District: East Godavari
Papikondalu Weather: Summer: Maximum – 42°C & Minimum – 21°C
Winter: Maximum – 30°C & Minimum – 15°C
At a distance of 60 km from Rajahmundry, 180 km from Vijayawada, 20 km from Polavaram, 260 km from Vizag & 410 km from Hyderabad, Papi Kondalu is a breathtakingly beautiful hill range bounded by River Godavari in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Papi hills are a set of three hills which form a beautiful gorge on the Godavari River spread across East Godavari and West Godavari districts. Entire area of Papi Kondalu is covered by tropical rain forests and it was recently declared as a protected National Park and is one of the top places to experience the Tourism in Andhra Pradesh. Papikondalu is one of the top attractions you must include in Vizag tour packages.
The original name for this hill range was ‘Papidi Kondalu’. Papidi is a rough translation for partition in Telugu. It is believed that the place was visited by Lord Rama and goddess Sita during their exile. Papi Kondalu has to be reached by boat from Rajahmundry, Pattisam (35 km from Rajahmundry), Polavaram (40 km from Rajahmundry), Kunavaram (50 km from Bhadrachalam) or Sriram Giri (60 km from Bhadrachalam). The boat service from Rajahmundry to Bhadrachalam is a wonderful experience and it is operated in post monsoon season.
Apart from enjoying the view of the hills, valley and waterfalls, tourists can engage in activities like camping and trekking. There are several sights that fall on the way like Perantallapalli, Gandipochamma Temple and Pattiseema. Several tribal communities have made their dwellings on these hills whose main occupation is agriculture, fishing and making handicrafts. There is a waterfall at Munivaatam that is a popular tourist attraction.
The boat rides usually include full-day trips starting from Rajahmundry/ Pattisam / Polavaram / Kunavaram / Sriram Giri with break at Perantallapalli and back. Both AP Tourism and Private operators offer these tours from Rajahmundry. There are also one-way trips between Rajahmundry/ Pattisam/Polavaram and Kunavaram/Sriram Giri. There are few private operators who offer 2 day trips from Rajahmundry with overnight stay at Kollur Bamboo Resort. Trips usually start early morning between 6 to 9 AM. One has to book the boat and the huts in advance through tourist agencies or AP Tourism.
Rajahmundry
Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days
Base Station: Rajahmundry
Nearest City to Rajahmundry: Rajahmundry, Vijayawada (154 Kms)
Best Time to Visit Rajahmundry: October to FebruaryPeak Season: October to December
State: Andhra Pradesh | District: East GodavariRajahmundry Weather: Summer: Maximum – 42°C and Minimum – 24°C
Winter: Maximum – 34°C and Minimum – 16°C
At a distance of 154 km from Vijayawada, 207 km from Vizag, 186 km from Guntur, 64 km from Kakinada, 151 km from Machilipatnam and 430 km from Hyderabad, Rajahmundry, formerly called as Rajamahendravaram, is a beautiful city located on the banks of Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh. It is also known as the ‘cultural capital’ of Andhra Pradesh and is one of the popular Tourist places in Andhra Pradesh. It is the birth place of Adikavi Nannayya who developed script for Telugu language. Rajamundry is one of the top attractions you must include in Vizag tour.
Rajahmundry is ranked amongst the oldest cities in the Indian subcontinent. The earliest rulers of the region were the Eastern Chalukyas. It was built by Chalukya king Rajaraja Narendra during 11th century. It was part of the Madras Presidency and was made into the District of Rajahmundry in the year 1823, during the British rule.
Rajahmundry is a blend of various qualities like picturesque landscapes, monuments of cultural importance, ancient temples and adventurous tourist spots that make the place unique, interesting and suitable for tourism for all ages. This is one of the major Pushkara Ghats on Godavari River. Pushkaras, held once every 12 years, is a holy congregation which sees millions of devotees taking a dip in the River Godavari. The last Pushkara was held in 2015. Godavari Bridge, Sir Arthur Cotton Museum, Dowleswaram Barrage, Kadiam Flower Nurseries, Papikondalu, Maredumilli Eco Tourism, Dindi and Pattiseema are some of the tourist places around Rajahmundry. Apart from the temples and film shootings around Godavari, this place is also known for Pulasa Fish, found only during monsoon season.
Rajahmundry is primarily a pilgrimage center due to the presence of a large number of temples in the city. Iskcon Temple / Gowthami Ghat, Sri Bala Tripura Sundari Temple, Kotilingeswara Temple, Draksharamam Temple and Markandeya Temple are the important pilgrimage centers around Rajahmundry. It is also famous for boat trips. The cruise on river Godavari from Rajahmundry to Rajahmundry (via Papikondalu) is one of the best tourist attractions in Andhra Pradesh.
Vijayawada
Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days
Base Station: Vijayawada
Nearest City to Vijayawada: Vijayawada
Best Time to Visit Vijayawada: November to February
Peak Season: November to February
State: Andhra Pradesh | District: Krishna
Vijayawada Weather: Summer: Maximum – 44°C & Minimum – 22°C
Winter: Maximum – 30°C & Minimum – 15°C
At a distance of 37 km from Guntur, 273 km from Hyderabad, 354 km from Vizag, 453 km from Chennai and 643 km from Bangalore, Vijayawada, also known as Bezawada, is the second largest city in Andhra Pradesh State and also one of the top Places to visit in Andhra Pradesh. It is located on the banks of the Krishna River to the South, Budameru River on the north and the Indrakiladri Hills on the west. This is the largest railway junction of the South Central Railway, situated along the Chennai-Howrah and Chennai-Delhi rail route.
Legend says that Goddess Durga took rest in this sacred place after destroying a Rakshasa and since then the name ‘Land of Victory’ or Vijayawada came into existence. The discovery of Stone Age artifacts along the banks of River Krishna from Machilipatnam to Nagarjuna Sagar indicates that this area was inhabited long before. The Chalukyas once conquered this place and it was later part of Vengi Kindom, Eastern Gangas, Vijayanagaras and Reddy Dynasty. Finally it came under British Madras presidency.
The major attractions of Vijayawada are Kanaka Durga temple and Mangalagiri temple. Apart from these, other tourist attractions include Prakasham Barrage, Gandhi Hill, Mogalarajapuram Caves, Victoria Museum, Hazarat Bal Mosque, Rajiv Gandhi Park and Bhavani Island. The Kondapalli Reserve Forest in the western outskirts that sprawls over an area of 121.5 sq. km is also another attraction. This forest is a source of soft wood that is used for making Kondapalli Toys. There are popular Buddhist sites such as Amravati, Gudivada, Ghantasala, etc.
The Krishna Pushkaram is a popular festival here that is held once in every twelve years. Apart from this the other common festivals celebrated here includes Diwali, Dussehra and Makara Sankranthi.
The Vijayawada airport is located at a distance of around 20 km from the city, at Gannavaram. It has flight to Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Bangalore, Coimbatore and Delhi. The Vijayawada railway station is connected to several major cities of India like Chennai, Trivandrum, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kochi, Bhubaneswar, Mumbai, Gandhinagar, Jaipur, Bhopal, Luknow, Jammu, Bilaspur, Pondicherry, New Delhi, Kolkata, Varanasi, Patna and Chandigarh. Vijayawada is also well connected by all the major towns and cities in Andhra Pradesh. It has regular buses from Chennai, Tirupati, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Vizag.
The best time to visit Vijayawada is from November to February while the peak season is from November to February. Usually it takes 1-2 days to visit places in and around Vijayawada. This is very humid place and summer is usually very hot and humid.
Temple Timings: 4 am to 10 pm.
Vizag
Ideal Trip Duration: 2-3 Days
Base Station: Vizag
Nearest City to Vizag: Vizag
Best Time to Visit Vizag: November to February
Peak Season: November to February
State: Andhra Pradesh | District: Vizag
Vizag Weather: Summer: Maximum – 36°C & Minimum – 26°C
Winter: Maximum – 32°C & Minimum – 21°C
At a distance of 602 km from Hyderabad, 355 km from Vijayawada, 168 km from Kakinada, 203 km from Rajahmundry and 444 km from Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam (also called Vizag) is a coastal & port city in the state of Andhra Pradesh, located on the shores of Bay of Bengal. It is the headquarters of Visakhapatnam district and is the base for Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy. Vizag is also one of the top places to experience Andhra Pradesh tourism.
The city of Vizag, as Visakhapatnam is popularly called, derives its name from the Hindu God of valour, Visakha. The city is located beautifully among the hills of the Eastern Ghats with facing towards the Bay of Bengal. According to the Archaeological records, Visakhapatnam was built by Kulotunga Chola between the 11th and 12th centuries AD. Kailasagiri, Rama Krishna Beach and Rishikonda Beach are among the must include places in your Vizag tour packages.
The religious Hindu texts mention that the region of Visakhapatnam in the 5th century BC was part of the vast Kalinga territory which extended up to River Godavari. The relics found in the area also prove the existence of a Buddhist empire in the region. Kalinga later lost the territory to King Ashoka in the bloodiest battle of the time which prompted him to embrace Buddhism. The city was also under the rulers of Chalukya, Pallava,Vengi, Chola and the Gajapathi dynasty. The Mughals ruled this area under the Hyderabad Nizam in the late 15th and early 16th century. The port of Vizag played a very crucial role for the East India Company during the rule of the British.
Visakhapatnam is the largest city of Andhra Pradesh with around 2 million population and spread over 550 sq. km. It is an industrial city and one of the major tourist destinations in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The city is home to several state owned heavy industries; one of the most advanced steel plants and one of the country’s largest ports & shipyard are located here. It is the only natural harbor on the eastern coast of India.
The city is home for several beaches along the Bay of Bengal coast, scenic hills, valleys and caves. Rushikonda Beach, Ramakrishna Mission Beach, Yarada Beach, Submarine Museum, Lighthouse, Kailasagiri hill park, Venkateswara Temple, VUDA Park and Bheemili Beach are important tourist places. Simhachalam, ISKON temple, Araku Valley, Anantagiri Hills and Borra Caves are the nearby attractions to Vizag.
Vizag airport is the nearest airport, which is about 10 km from the city. It is well connected by flights with major international destinations like Dubai, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, USA, Europe and domestic destinations including Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Bhubaneswar and Andaman Islands. Visakhapatnam is situated on the Kolkata-Chennai main railway line and is connected to the cities like Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mysore, Puri, Kanyakumari, Kollam, Tirupati, Howrah, Ahmedabad, Mangalore, Jamshedpur, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Trichy, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jodhpur, Pondicherry, Goa and New Delhi. Vizag is well connected by bus with Hyderabad, Vizianagaram, Vijayawada, Bangalore and Chennai.
The best time to visit Vizag is from November to February. Usually it takes 2-3 days to visit all the places in and around Vizag.
Ahobilam
Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days
Base Station: Ahobilam, Nandyal (66 Kms)
Nearest City to Ahobilam: Kurnool (137 Kms), Hyderabad (350 Kms)
Best Time to Visit Ahobilam: October to March
Peak Season: February to May
State: Andhra Pradesh | District: Kurnool
Ahobilam Weather: Summer: Maximum – 41°C & Minimum – 22°C
Winter: Maximum – 30°C & Minimum – 15°C
At a distance of 66 km from Nandyal, 137 km from Kurnool, 114 km from Kadapa, 348 km from Vijayawada, 350 km from Hyderabad and 407 km from Bangalore, Ahobilam or Ahobalam is an important pilgrimage center located in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. Ahobilam is one of the most famous pilgrimage sites in Andhra Pradesh and also one of the best Places to visit in Andhra Pradesh.
Ahobilam is the holy abode of Lord Narasimha, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu in man-lion form. According to legend, this is the place where Lord Narasimha killed Hiranyakasipu and saved Prahalada. Though the initial temples were built by Chalukyas in 8th century, most of the current structures were rebuilt by Vijayanagara kings around 15th century.
Situated amidst dense Nallamala Forest, Ahobilam is one of the 108 Divya Desams. This place is also called as Nava Narasimha Kshetra since Lord Narasimha is worshipped in 9 different forms and separate temples exist for all the forms within a radius of 5 km from the main temple. Jwala Narasimha, Ahobila Narasimha, Malola Narasimha, Kroda Narasimha, Kaaranja Narasimha, Bhargava Narasimha, Yaogananda Narasimha, Chathravata Narasimha and Paavana Narasimha are the nine forms of Lord Narasimha in Ahobilam. Few of these temples have easy access, but most of them have to be reached by difficult treks through thick forest and rocky paths.
The town is divided into two parts, Lower Ahobilam and Upper Ahobilam. Of these nine shrines, Yogananda, Chathravata and Bhargava Narasimha swami shrines are situated in Lower Ahobilam and the remaining six are in upper Ahobilam. There is also another temple of Lord Narasimha Swami in the lower Ahobilam where the idol of the Lord is believed to be installed by Lord Venkateshwara of Tirupati.
Ahobilam is a small town and food is available at small hotels and canteens. There is a Brahmana Nitya Annadana Satram in the Upper Ahobilam where food is provided daily for nearly 400 people. In addition, Sri Ahobila Matham has established a trust called Annamacharya Nitya Annadana Trust. Food is provided free of cost to the devotees of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy.
Brahmothsavam is celebrated in the month of February to mid-March. All the 9 shrines can be visited in 2 days with help of guide.
Hyderabad Airport is the nearest airport, 333 km from Ahobilam. Nandyal Railway Station is the nearest railway station, located 66 km away from Ahobilam. It is connected to major cities like Howrah, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Goa, Machelipatnam, Vijayawada, Hubli, Puri, Vizag and Bhubaneswar. Ahobilam is very well connected by bus with nearest town Allagadda (25 km). There are state buses available from Chittoor, Nandyal, Kadapa, Hyderabad, Tirupati, Nellore, Chennai and Kurnool for Allagadda.
The best time to visit Ahobilam is from October to March while the peak season is from February to May. Usually it takes 1 day to visit Ahobilam.
Temple Timings:
Lower Ahobilam: 6 AM – 2:30 PM and 5 PM – 8 PM
Other Temples: 6 AM – 1 PM and 3 PM – 5:30 PM
Talakona Waterfalls
Ideal Trip Duration: Half Day to Full Day
Base Station: Talakona Waterfalls, Tirupati (65 Kms)
Nearest City to Talakona Waterfalls: Tirupati (65 Kms)
Best Time to Visit Talakona Waterfalls: September to January
Peak Season: September to December
State: Andhra Pradesh | District: Chittoor
Talakona Waterfalls Weather: Summer: Maximum – 35°C & Minimum – 22°C
Winter: Maximum – 28°C & Minimum – 15°C
At a distance of 49 km from Bakarapet, 64 km from Tirupati, 120 km from Horsley Hills, 192 km from Chennai, 241 km from Bangalore and 89 km from Chittoor, Talakona Falls are situated in Sri Venkateswara National Park near Nerabailu Village of Yerravari Mandal of Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh. The gorgeous waterfall falling deep into a valley from a height of around 270 feet makes it the highest waterfall in Andhra Pradesh and also one of the top Tourist places in Andhra Pradesh. It is also one of the popular waterfalls near Bangalore.
The waterfalls are placed amidst dense forest surrounded by natural beauty and greenery. It is believed that the water of Talakona Falls is enriched with herbs with healing powers. Talakona was declared as Bio-Sphere Reserve in 1990 because of wide variety of plant species present in the region. In this forest, one can find variety of endangered species like sambar, porcupine, cheetal, golden gecko, Indian giant squirrel, slender loris, panther and mouse deer etc. Talakona means ‘head hill’ in Telugu. This place is believed to be the starting point of Seshachalam Hills which are extended till Tirumala.
There is a 240 m long canopy rope walk, about 35 to 40 feet in height, giving a thrilling experience to the visitors while walking. There are mighty trees around with birds and monkeys during the canopy walk. There are number of trek routes in different categories of difficulty, giving an option for the visitor to choose their route. There are also several caves dotted over the mountains where it is believed that sages meditate eternally.
Situated close to this waterfall is a small temple dedicated to Lord Siddeswara Swamy. This temple is believed to be built by a devotee named Appa Swamy in 1811 AD. The temple is usually crowded by devotees during the festival of Shivaratri, which is a very popular event in this region. The falls have to be reached by 2 km trek from Siddeswara Swamy Temple which is the nearest motorable road to the falls. The duration of the trek is about 30 minutes (one way) through dense forest and slippery road.
Accommodation is also available in this dense forest; it gives immense pleasure for visitors to spend time during nights. One can find two different Guesthouses – Forest Guest House and TTD Guest House. The forest guest house is maintained by Forest Department of AP, where you have 6 Suites (rooms) and 2 Dormitories with attached toilets and cost is also very minimal, Room costs around Rs 600/- per day and Dormitory costs around Rs 1000/- per day. Visitors can avail the facility of advance booking from the forest department website http://www.seshachalavanadarshini.com.
TTD Guest House at Talakona is for pilgrims. There are 12 rooms and each room has two beds with attached toilets costing Rs 250/- per day. There is no advance or online booking for TTD rooms.
October to January is the best season to visit. Usually it takes one full day. There are several private transport facilities to Talakona Falls from Bakarapet, which has direct bus services from Tirupati and Chittoor.
Gandikota
Ideal Trip Duration: 1-2 Days
Base Station: Gandikota
Nearest City to Gandikota: Bangalore (280 Kms), Tirupati ( Kms)
Best Time to Visit Gandikota: September to March
Peak Season: November to February
State: Andhra Pradesh | District: Kadapa
Gandikota Weather: Details Not Available
At a distance of 15 km from Jammalamadugu, 94 km from Kadapa, 155 km from Kurnool, 233 km from Tirupati, 280 km from Bangalore, 386 km from Hyderabad and 391 km from Chennai, Gandikota is a small village in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. Situated on the banks of Pennar River, it is one of the popular historical places to visit in Andhra Pradesh and among the weekend gateways from Hyderabad as well as from Bangalore.
Gandikota is a small village spread in and around the historical Gandikota Fort. According to history, Gandikota area was first identified and made Sand fort in 1123 CE by Kapa Raja of nearby Bommanapalle village and a subordinate of Ahavamalla Someswara I, the Western Chalukyan king of Kalyana. The village transformed into major fort after the emergence of the Kamma kings, who ruled Gandikota more than 200 years. The fort fell into hands of Qutub Shahis of Golconda in 1650 CE. The medieval fort of Gandikota is named after the adjoining gorge which means gandi in Telugu. It is also believed that Vemana, the Telugu poet lived in Gandikota area for a short period.
Known to few ardent travelers, Gandikota is not the usual tourist hub as it is neither a world heritage site, nor is it marketed well by state tourism agencies. This untouched and unexplored place is worth a visit for history buffs as well as nature lovers. A frozen in time village in the middle of centuries old structures such as forts and temples is known for its spectacular gorge formed by river Pennar that cuts through the Erramala hills, also known as Gandikota hills. This stunning piece of Nature’s architecture has come to be known as the Hidden Grand Canyon of India by travelers who visit and get bewitched by its beauty.
Apart from the unparalleled beauty of the gorge, there are several other attractions in and around the village that allure visitors, the most special being the ancient Gandikota Fort. The magnificent Gandikota Fort, one of the most impregnable strongholds of its time, has remains of temples, a granary, a royal pond and a mosque and is today scattered with ruins. The fort is built in such a way that the gorge provides a natural defence on its west and north sides. One can also visit Mylavaram Dam nearby and do some boating in the serene waters of the reservoir. The sight of distant windmills with small stretches of visible roads along with pretty hues painted in the sky during the sunset is worth experience during your Gandikota trip. One can also visit Belum Caves, Owk Reservoir, Lepakshi and Banaganapalle along with Gandikota.
The government run Haritha Resort is the only option for overnight stay in Gandikota. It has just 10 rooms so better to book in advance on weekends. There are multiple camping areas outside the Fort and on the banks of the Pennar River for those who are looking for quirky stay options and wish to sleep under the stars with the river gushing beside you.
Tirupati Airport at Renigunta (226 km) and Bengaluru International Airport (255 km) are the nearest airports to Gandikota. Jammalamadugu Railway Station is the nearest railhead which is about 17 km from Gandikota and is well connected by trains with Kadapa, Nandyal, Dharmavaram and Vijayawada while Kadapa is the nearest major railway station to Gandikota. Jammalamadugu Bus Stand (15 km) is the nearest bus station to Gandikota and has well bus connectivity with Kadapa, Kurnool, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Proddatur, Tadipatri, Anantapur, Vijayawada, and Tirupati. There are buses available from Jammalamadugu Old Bus Stand (Gandhi Statue Junction) to Gandikota.
September to March is the best time to visit Gandikota as the weather is pleasant and comfortable for sightseeing while the summer months are hot and humid with soaring temperatures.
Tourist Places 