Andhra Pradesh

About Warrangal

The historic city of Warangal in the state of Andhra Pradesh, 160 kms from Hyderabad, is known for its beautiful turquoise lakes, spectacular temples and rich flora and fauna. The Capital of Kakatiya Kingdom, Warrangal is a place for those interested in Hindu temple architecture. Here in specimen of Kakatiya architecture-the star-shaped thousand pillars temple. This triple shrined temple dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Surya is noteworthy for its delicately carved pillars screens and exquisite icons. The rock cut elephants and the Nandi bull (1.8mts) are very impressive. The Bhadrakali temple atop a hill near Warrangal, which is noted for the eight armed stone image of the Goddess and the Warangal Fort are the places worth a visit.

Major Tourist Attractions in Warangal Warangal Fort Warangal fort is 12-km from Hanamakonda, which dates back to the 13th century. This is a must see sight in Warrangal.

Thousand Pillar Temple This temple is one of the finest examples of Kakatiya architecture and sculpture. Rudra Deva built it in 1163 AD in the style of Chalukyan temples, star shaped and triple shrined.

Bhadra Kali Temple Situated on a hilltop between Hanamkonda and Warangal, it is noted for its stone image of the Goddess Kali.

Jain Temple The 2,000-year-old Jain temple of Mahaveer is a famous place of worship for Jains in the country. The temple is embellished with beautiful images of Thirthankaras. The 5ft high image of Mahavira is entirely carved of Jade.

Kolanupaka, 80-km from Hyderabad, is situated between Hyderabad and Warangal. This was the second capital town of Kalyani Chalukyas during the 11th century AD. During this period the village was a religious centre of Jains, and ranks among other great Jain centers in the south.

Sri Veeranarayana Temple The temple is raised in the Chalukyan style around 1104 AD.

Pakhal Lake A man-made lake built in 1213 AD by the Kakatiya king, Ganapathidev, by harnessing a small tributary of the Krishna River. It is located 50-km from Warangal and spreads over an area of 30-sq-km.

Ramappa Temple Ramappa Temple or Ramalingeswara temple, is situated in Palampet village, which is 70-km form Warangal. This is a beautiful monument dating back to 1213 AD. It displays the glory and richness of the Kakatiya kingdom.

Kolanupaka Museum Kolanupaka came into influence when it was made the alternate capital of the Kalyani Chalukyas in the 11th century AD. The State Department of Archaeology and Museums established a sculptural gallery, which exhibits exquisite artifacts from the numerous historical monuments in Kolanupaka.

Getting There

Air : The nearest Airport is at Hyderabad (140-km) connected by Indian Airlines flights to all the major cities of India.

Rail : Warangal is well connected to all the major cities in India by rail.

Road : Regular bus services are available (APSRTC) from Hyderabad, Yadagirigutta, Vijayawada, Armur, Kolanupaka, Jangaon, Kodad, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, Adilabad, Suryapet, Palampet, Jagtial, Khammam, Bhadrachalam, Basara, Bangalore, Mysore and Tirupati.

About VishakaPtanam [Vizag]

About the place This coast-city is on the Chennai-Howrah broad-gauge line of South Eastern Railway and is a big railhead. The city has grown in importance educationally, commercially and industrially. It is the seat of the Andhra University. The places of interest in the city include harbour, Dolphin's Nose, a light-house, Hindustan Ship Building Yard, Caltex Oil Refinery, Coromandal Fertilisers Factory, Steel Plant, Circuit House on the Hill, a beautiful beach and an airport.Visakhapatnam harbour is considered to be one of the best natural harbours in the world, and the Shipbuilding Yard has a nation-wide importance. The city is worth visiting for both the internal and foreign tourists. Bheemunipatnam beach, nearer to the city, is a place for a short holiday and recreation.Vishakhapatnam is an amalgamation of old and new, a bustling city that encompasses blue sea, green-capped hills, breathtaking valleys, dense jungles and crystal clear cascades, ancient Buddhist sites, the only submarine museum of the subcontinent, lush green parks, and more profoundly its salubrious climate.

Kailasgiri This picturesque forested hill is located towards the north of Vishakhapatnam city, just beyond Lawson’s Bay. The site offers breathtaking view of the city and harbour, especially towards Bheemunipatnam.

Rishikonda Beach
Just 8 km away from Vishakhapatnam city is a golden sandy beach now being developed as a tourist resort by the Andhra Tourism Department. The beach considered to be one of the loveliest beaches of Andhra Pradesh, is widely visited by tourists who come to Vishakhapatnam.

Indira Gandhi Zoological Park The park named after the former Prime Minister of India, Smt. Indira Gandhi is set amidst the scenic eastern ghats of India, flanked by hills on either sides and Bay of Bengal on the east.

Dolphin’s Nose Along the southern coastline is Dolphin’s Nose, a 358-m long rocky outcrop that rises 175 m above the sea. This famous landmark is shaped like a Dolphin’s nose and attracts large tourists from India and abroad. On it stands a lighthouse with a beam that can be seen 64 kms out at sea.

Venkateshwara Konda The hilly ridge of Vishakhapatnam has three crests each with a religious shrine dedicated to Gods of various religions. On the southernmost one Venkateshwa Konda, is a temple dedicated to Balaji or Lord Krishna; in the middle is Ross Hill with a mid 19th century church and the third, Daragh Konda, has a shrine dedicated to a Muslim saint Ishaque Madina.

Bheemunipatnam
The Beach is situated at a distance of 24 km. from Visakhapatnam and is located at the mouth of the river Gosthani. Once a Dutch settlement, the ruins of a fort and cemetery are still intact. The beach provides a very safe swimming experience to the swimmers. The journey between Visakhapatnam and Bheemunipatnam is exhilarating. There are many beaches on its way, including Lawsons Bay, Rushikonda and Bhimili, a 17th century Dutch town and the second oldest municipality in the country.

Simhachalam 16 km from Visakhapatnam, Simhachalam is an important pilgrim centre owing to the existence of the Varaha Lakshmi Narasimhaswami temple on a hill, which is 800 feet above the sea level.

Araku
Araku is the only hill station close to Vishakhapatnam, some 110 kms away. The site is rapidly being developed by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department. The thick forests of Eastern Ghats, beautiful green valleys, picturesque landscapes and waterfalls altogether make the surrounding vivacious. There are huge coffee plantations here which also add to the beauty.Out of several attractions in Araku one that is worth seeing is the Tribal Museum, which offers a glimpse of the traditional lifestyle and cultural and social features of the tribal people. The display objects include some hunting tools and artifacts dating back to 18th century. Padmapuram Gardens is a popular leisure centre in Araku. The 26-acre (10.4 hectare) location has tree-top cottages, which have become popular among tourists. The Jungle Bells Nature Camp is in a sleepy village, amidst pristine environs. You can have rare experiences like trekking, rock climbing and bird watching, and can also enjoy the stay in log-huts.

How to Reach

By Air: Vishakhapatnam has an airport just 16 kms from the city centre. Indian Airlines operates flights from Hyderabad, Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.

By Rail: Vishakhapatnam is an important railhead of the east coast railway line. It is on the main Kolkata Chennai railway line connected by several express and super-fast trains on regular basis.

By Road: Vishakhapatnam is located on the National Highway No. 5 (Howrah to Chennai), well connected by private and state owned buses of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. The road comes under the Golden Quadrilateral project and transport is smooth and comfortable. The distance between Vishakhapatnam and Hyderabad is 650 kms.

Thirupathi

About the place

Tirumala, the abode of Lord Venkateswara is a widely visited Hindu pilgrimage in India. The temple town of Tirupati is situated amidst the thickly wooded hills and deep forests of Chittoor district. Lord Venkateswara, the presiding deity who is worshiped as “Balaji” by north Indians is a living God for all south Indians.This temple town is among the busiest pilgrimages of the world with 40, 000 pilgrims visiting the site everyday. As Tirupati and Tirumala are used concurrently but the difference is that – the hill on which the temple is located is called Tirumala and the town at the foot of the hill is Tirumala.Tirumala is one of the seven peaks of Seshachalam hill range and is a symbolic representation of the seven headed serpent God Adisesha, the snake on which Lord Vishnu reclines.Major Attractions
Shri Venkateshwara TempleThe temple of Venkateshwara is one of the richest and widely visited temple complexes in the world. The temple dated back to 9th century but renovated from 15th century onwards. The gold Vimana and flagpole and the gold plated doorway into the inner sanctum proclaims the temple’s wealth. The jet-black stone image (2 m high) stands on a lotus and is adorned with rubies, diamonds and gold witnessing its wealth. The deity also wears a diamond crown, believed to be the single most precious ornament in the world.The entire complex is built in such a way to accommodate large pilgrims who rush to the place to have Lord’s grace. This is one of the few temples in India where non Hindus are allowed into the inner sanctum. Devotees irrespective of religion stand in long queues for special darshans and offer money, gold and valuables of their choice. During festivals the numbers of devotees exceed 1, 00,000. The temple complex includes a ritual bathing tank, and a small Art Museum with images of deities, musical instruments and votive objects. The temple is surrounded by green valleys and the Akash Ganga waterfall which is the source of water for bathing the deity.Govindarajaswami Temple
The second most important temple in Tirupati is Sri Govindarajaswami temple. The temple was created in 1130 by a Saint namely Ramanujacharya. The main attraction is the imposing gopuram that can be seen from a short distance.During festivals and functions the temple premise is full with large visitors. One such festival is the Brahmotsavam celebrated in the month of Vaishakha every year that attracts large crowds. The annual float festival is also celebrated here with great enthusiasm.Sites NearbyChandragiri
Chandragiri was once the former capital of Vijayanagar Empire, located just 12 kms away from the temple city of Tirupati. The site has magnificent forts and mahals which are attracting and fascinating. Chandragiri signifies the “Hill of the Moon” is traditionally associated with the Moon God who is said to have performed penance at this place to please Lord Shiva. The temple complex includes religious structures like temples of Venugopala, Karttikeya, Siva and Hanuman at the entrance of the fort as guardian deity; ponds, tanks and many sculptured mandapas.Chandragiri’s glorious past can also be seen in its fortress dating back to 16th century. The most important palace inside the fort is the Raja Mahal where Francis Day of the East India Company granted land in 1639. Close to this monument is another magnificent edifice called Rani Mahal with tall pyramidal towers and façade decorated with foliate and geometric motifs.Sri Kalahasti
Srikalahasti is a town located between two steep hills on the southern banks of the river Swarnamukhi, a tributary of river Pennar. The town is famous for its temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and the art of Kalamkari fabrics. This is one of the most important pilgrimages of India.On one end of the main street of the town lies the 36.5 m high gopura erected in 1516 by the emperor Krishna Deva Raya of Vijayanagara. Nearby the town, a similar but smaller gopuras provide access to the Kalahastishwara temple, the prime attraction of the town. The temple has one lingam in the form of Kalahasti is believed to have been worshipped by a spider, a snake and an elephant. The word Srikalahasti consists of three words sri, kala, and hasti signifying the name of spider, serpent and elephant respectively. The main lingam in the temple forms the shape of the trunk of an elephant with tusks on either side and a figure of a spider at the bottom.How to ReachBy Air: Tirupati has an airport (14 kms from downtown) connecting to Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore. It takes only around 30 minutes from Hyderabad and 1 hour from Bangalore/Chennai to reach Tirupati by air.By Rail: Tirupati is an important railhead of south India connecting several destinations of the country. There are regular express and super-fast trains running from Chennai, Bangalore, Vishkhapatnam and other destinations.By Road: Tirupati is well connected by roads to/from cities like Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore. Regular buses ply between Tirupati and Tirumala. Private and state owned buses connect almost all parts of the state with a well maintained network of roads.

Andhra Pradesh

Charminar – the principal landmark of the city is among the wonders of India. It was built by the ruler Quli Qutab Shah in honour of his Hindu wife Bhagmati.
CharminarAccording to legends, this is the place where the king first saw his lover and was attracted by her beauty. The monument is surrounded by a very busy market place and is located in a prominent area of the old city. This magnificent edifice has four huge minars or pillars, hence called Charminar. Built to a height of 56.7meters (186 feet) and on a square base of 31.5 meters (100 feet), Charminar is said to be a prototype of Tazia, a representation of the tomb of Imam Husain. The monument has the same importance as that of Statue of Liberty in USA and the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Charminar is one of the most famous buildings representing the historical remains of not only Hyderabad and Deccan region but the whole India.

Golconda Fort This fort, originally built by the Kakatiyas, the rulers of the neighboring state, was made with mud. Later, the Shahis Golconda Fort converted it into a marvelous piece of architecture using advanced acoustics wherein sound signals could pass from the entrance of the fort to the top without the use of any electric gadgets. There is a sound and light show in the evening which is quiet popular. The grand fortress is protected by three formidable lines of defense. The first, an outer fortification made up of granite blocks. The middle wall surrounds the base of the hill and the innermost one follows the contours of the highest ridge. The fort was famous for its great hoard of diamonds, mined nearby. The Kohinoor diamond was a celebrated jewel of the fort, now a part of the British Crown Jewels.

Legislative Assembly Formerly known as the Hyderabad Town hall, the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly legislative assembly is the seat of administration in the state. It was built in the year 1913. The architecture of the building represents a fusion of Rajasthani and Persian styles, with an all white, aesthetic look. The Citizens of Princely state of Hyderabad raised money to build it to mark the 40th birthday of Nizam Mahboob Ali Khan in 1905. A large public garden surrounds the assembly building which offers panorama to the environment. A massive statue of Mahatma Gandhi in a sitting posture is erected at the entrance park to the Assembly.

Qutb Shahi TombsThe Hyderabad Palace is a worth exploring monument situated at Palace Guttahalli in Hyderabad. Qutb Shahi TombsIt was built by Chamaraja Wodeyar, Maharaja of Mysore in 1887. The Palace has turreted parapets, battlements, fortified towers and arches. The palace was constructed at a price of Rs. One lakh.The king Chamaraja Wodeyar, during his visit to England had seen several structures of architectural importance but was greatly inspired by the Windsor Castle in London; hence he decided to build a palace in Tudor style.The entire palace is spread over an area of about 430 acres; the Palace is famous for its elegantly carved woodwork. It is surrounded by a garden all around, almost giving it a fairytale setting. The structure has fortified towers decorated with Gothic windows, battlements and turrets. Thanks to the king for his endeavor in bringing such a beautiful palace.

Falaknuma PalaceSituated on a hillock 2000 ft above the ground level, Falaknuma palace is one among the most opulent palaces in Hyderabad. It was built in the year 1872 by Nawab Vikarul-Umra Bahadur, a baron of Paigah and the Prime Minister of Hyderabad. A huge amount of money was spent for the interior decoration, with tooled leather ceilings created by Florentine craftsman, furniture brought from France and marble imported from Italy. The palace offers a panoramic view of the city and boasts a well laid garden in front of it. The imperial building is built in a classical style with a two-storeyed deep and colonnaded verandah carrying a pediment. The facade elements are notably European as the main palace was designed by English architects. The palace is now being converted into a luxurious hotel. The palace is just 4 km south of Charminar

Birla Mandir The Venkateswara Temple in Hyderabad, popularly known as Birla Mandir is a magnificent structure which is built entirely out of Marble brought from Rajasthan. The presiding deity in this temple is Lord Venkateswara. The temple was built by Birla, Birla Mandir Foundation and it took ten years for workers to complete this magnificent structure. The architecture of the temple shows resemblance with the temples of Southern and Northern India. The intricately carved gopurams (tower) at the base are in typical South Indian style, while the smooth sikhara (dome) at the top is in the North Indian Rajasthani style. The temple has beautiful marble carvings and some of them illustrate verses from the Ramayana. The tower of the main temple called the Jagadananda vimanam has a close resemblance to the architecture of the Lingaraj temple at Bhubaneswar. At night the temple gets illuminated with light of various colors which offers a spectacular look of the surrounding.

MosquesMecca Masjid Mecca Masjid is one of the world’s largest mosques and can accommodate 10,000 people at a time. The mosque was constructed in 1617 by Sultan Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah and Mecca Masjid completed by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1693. This huge mosque has bricks from Mecca embedded in its central arch. Several Nizams were buried here. This mosque got its name from the Grand Mosque at Mecca on which it is patterned. The hall measures 67 mt. by 54 mt. and is 23 mt. in height. Fifteen arches, five on each of the three sides, support the roof. A high wall to provide the Mehrab blocks the western side. Each of the two octagonal columns on either side is made out of a single piece of granite. It took about 8000 Masons and laborers and 77 years to complete its construction. At each end you will find two huge octagonal columns made out of a single piece of granite each topped by an arched gallery that is crowned by a dome.

Salar Jung Museum The museum has one of the biggest collections of over 40,000 objects which once belonged to Mir Yousuf Ali Khan Salar Jung III, Prime Minister of Hyderabad between 1899 and 1949. Salar Jung Museum The most precious objects in the museum include Mughal jade collection, miniature paintings, bronze sculpture, inlaid ivory objects and medieval Islamic manuscripts. Famous sculptures including the Veiled Rebecca and Marguerite and Mephistopheles, a superb collection of daggers belonging to Queen Noor Jahan and the Emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb's sword and many other fabulous items are also included in the museum for display.

AP State MuseumThe Andhra Pradesh state Archeological Museum is located on the Assembly Road, north of the Railway station. It has a large collection of Buddhist art, some chola bronzes, Roman coins, and even an Egyptian mummy. You can also find replicas of murals and sculptures from the Ajanta and Ellora caves. Some sculptures date back to Satavahana and Ikshvaku periods in ancient Andhra. The museum also has a unique collection of paintings and sculptures of contemporary artists. Location: Near Public Gardens, Hyderabad

Nizam's Jubilee Pavilion Museum One of the most important places of tourist delight in Hyderabad is Nizam's Jubilee Pavilion Museum. It is situated near Purani Haveli, a place acquired by Nizam II around 1750. The museum has a vast collection of objects including gifts and mementos presented to the last Nizam on the occasion of the silver jubilee celebrations in 1936. There are also models made in silver of all the prominent buildings of the city and citations in Urdu about H.E.H. Mir Osman Ali Khan, gold burnished wooden throne used for the silver jubilee celebrations, gold tiffin box inlaid with diamonds, gold model of Jubilee Pavilion, silver coffee cups studded with diamonds.

Hussainsagar Lake Hussain Sagar is a silent witness to the history of Hyderabad, a continuum between the past and the present which bisects the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The lake was Hussainsagar Lake, originally excavated by Hussain Shah Wali during the time of Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah in 1562 A.D. Today it is one of the seven wonders of Hyderabad. Boating and water sports are a regular feature in the Hussainsagar. One of the World’s tallest monolithic statues of the Buddha stands on the ‘Rock of Gibraltar’, in the middle of the lake. The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) provides boating facilities like speed boats, motor boats, 48-seater launch etc. Starlit dinner on-board and private parties also can be arranged on the Launch. The lake is a popular promenade in the city.

Osman Sagar is an artificial lake, better known as Gandipet, situated on the outskirts of the city. It is an excellent picnic spot and an ideal lake for boating. Osman Sagar is one of the two lakes on the city’s periphery that supplies drinking water to the great metropolis. The lake is a reservoir created by a dam across the Isa, a tributary of the River Musi. Abutting the lake and the bund are lush gardens that provide the ideal ambience for an outing. Overlooking the lake is the heritage building, Sagar Mahal, built as a resort by the Nizam of Hyderabad and converted now into a lake resort managed by AP TourismShamirpetShamirpet is an artificial lake, located about 27 km from Secunderabad. The lake was dug by local Jagirdars almost 50 years ago. Shamirpet provides a contrasting scene with large gatherings of families on weekends and holidays. The otherwise peaceful Shamirpet echoes with voices of boisterous youngsters and kids having their own fun time. Its peaceful environs make it a great picnic spot. AP Tourism offers comfortable cottage facilities for accommodation, while the forest lodges can be booked with the AP Forest Department office at Saifabad.

Durgam Cheruvu (Secret Lake) This lake is situated near the Hi-tech city in Hyderabad. Being in concealed, picturesque location the lake is also called the “Secret Lake”. The lake spreads over an area of 63 acres including hills of interesting rocky formations. The facilities like Pedal-Boat, Shikaras, and angling available for interested visitors at nominal fees.

Laad Bazaar
Bangles at Laad Bazar This is a colorful bazaar located on one of the four main roads that branch out from the Charminar; it is located in a very old area of the city. The place offers bangles, tinsel, embroidery, brocade turbans for bride grooms, henna, herbal potions and everything else needed for a bride’s trousseau. All stores present in the bazaar are well furnished with a clean and softly-padded floor. The customer sits down on the soft floor having removed his/her shoes, leans against a wall against a pillow and the employee presents different items on the floor.

Shilparamam It is an arts and crafts village showcasing various art forms and handicrafts made by artisans coming from across the state. The annual All India Festival of Arts and Crafts is held here in February where artists from the whole country participate to showcase their masterpieces. At Shilparamam, every season brings with it the mood of festivity and an occasion to celebrate. Here Indian festivals are celebrated in the most traditional way and unique festivals bring together talents from the world over. It is about 25 km from Hyderabad Railway station and is easily accessible by bus and taxi.

Ramoji Film Citythe seven wonders of Hyderabad. The Film city spreads over an area of 2000 acres which is studded with hills, vales and lakes. This is the foremost destination of the tourists. Here you can see every thing from the streets of London to New York and can have full fun with the fundoostan – the place for child’s fantasy. The major attractions in RFC include Dadajinn's Ark, Planet Food, Presto, Corolla, Ballerina Fount, Deli Express and Timberland etc. Shangri-La called as the veritable paradise has a huge collection of flowers plants and shrubs which attract the visitors to engulf the natural beauty. The huge gardens, dancing fountains and the natural scenes of the mountains and lakes take visitors to a world of surprises, scares and delights. . The film city is only 16 miles from the state capital. Hyderabad is well connected by air, rail and bus. The extension counter at the airport will assist you in giving preliminary information regarding the complex. If you are traveling by bus then take the route numbers 207, 204A, 205, 205A, 205B, 206, 299 from the Koti Women’s College bus stop.

Karnataka