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encyclopedia
A GREAT DESTINATION
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
ANDHRA PRADESH
The fifth largest state in India both in area and population.
Andhra Pradesh is the first state in India to be formed (on Oct 1,
1953) on a linguistic basis from 11 districts of Madras state. On
November 1, 1956 the state was enlarged with the addition of
Hyderabad state.
Hyderabad:
Capital of Andhra Pradesh. Along with Secundera-
bad forms twin city. 6th largest city in India. Was founded in the
late 16th Century and celebrated its fourth centenary in 1991. Till
recently it was the seat of the fabled Nizams.
Charminar:
Neo-Saracenic structure. Square graceful hall open on
all four sides, four 55 metre towers, built as thanksgiving after the
end of plague epidemic in 1591.
Jama Masjid
: Oldest mosque in Hyderabad built in 1598.
Mecca Masjid
: Most impressive mosque in South India can ac-
commodate a congregation of 10000.
Falaknuma Palace
: Private property of Nizam's family. Prior per-
mission required to visit.
Golconda Fort:
Historic fort built during the period of Kakatiya
dynasty. Passed into the hands of Bahmani sultans from 1346-
1516. Circumference of fort is 1 lkms. Built on summit of granite
hill, wall has 8 gates & 70 bastions, extraordinary acoustics. Re-
quires half a day to explore thoroughly. Biggest fort in South
India.
Osman Sagar
: 45 sq.km lake. Supplies drinking water to city.
Himayat Sagar
: 85 sq.km lake, picnic spot.
Salarjung museum
: Created by Salar Jung III, Prime Minister of
the Nizam, contains 35,000 exhibits from all over the world. One
of the finest museums in the world, third national museum of
Indian art treasures, finest crystal & porcelain, rare statues,
miniature paintings, illuminated manuscripts, bejewelled weap-
ons, jade bronze & Ivory objects .
Birla Mandir.
Beautiful white temple dedicated to Lord Ve-
nkateswara. Lavishly decorated.
Secunderabad_:
Race course & polo grounds, Hussain Sagar
lake, house of Sir Ronald Ross, famous bacteriologist who iso-
lated the malaria parasite.
Nehru Zoological Park
: Biggest Zoological park in India, animals
& birds in their natural habitat. Lion Safari Park.
320 - tonne, 57.6 ft. high Buddha statue in Hussain Sagar lake. It
is the tallest monolith in India and the world, higher than the Go-
mateswara Statue (57 ft) at Sravanabelagola in Karnataka. The
statue was installed in 1993. The first attempt in 1990 ended in
an accident when the statue slipped into the lake killing eight
people.
Nagarjunakonda
: 149 km from Hyderabad, home of famous
Buddhist savant Nagarjuna who lived 2000 years ago, great Bud-
dhist centre. Stupas, monasteries & University. Maha Stupa
containing sacred relics of Buddha. Also, Nagarjuna Sagar multi-
purpose project, tallest masonry dam in the world.
Vijayawada
: 359 km by rail, 264km by road from Hyderabad. Sur-
rounded by hills on banks of river Krishna. Great centre of
Buddhism in ancient days.
Visakhapatnam
: 667km from Hyderabad, beautiful landscape
and equable climate. Many factories and refineries, country's
major ship building yard & naval base. Seaside resort, excellent
beach.
Waltair
: Waltair & Visakhapatnam form twin cities. Simhacha-
lam hills 10 km north of Waltair has a 11th century Vishnu temple.
Amaravathi
: 64 kms from Vijayawada on the banks of Krishna
river. Famous centre of Mahayana Buddhism, museum has pan-
els depicting the Jataka tales. Beautiful images of Buddha, an-
cient temple of Amasa Lingeshwara (Shiva).
Tirupati
: Holiest place in Andhra Pradesh. Town (Tirupathi) at
the foot of 7 hills and temple at an altitude of 2800 feet, on the holy
hill of Tirumala. One of the richest temples in South India,
masterpiece of South Indian architecture. 25km ghat road to reach
temple. Temple trust runs a number of educational, medical &
other useful institutions.
Bhadrachalam
: On Godavari river, famous for temple dedicated
to Lord Rama. Surrounded by 24 smaller shrines. Ramnavami day
in March - April is famous. Saint and devotee Gopanna lived
here. 207 kms from Vijayawada.
KaLahasti
: Temple of Kalahastiswara. Magnificent shrine only 36
km from Tirupati.
Srisailam
: Place of hoary antiquity, in the Nallamalai hills in
Kurnool district. Temple of Mallikarjunaswamy. One of the 12
jyotirlingas of India lies here. Engraved sequences from the
Ma-
habharatha & Ramayana
on the walls. 50 kms from Dornala on
the Guntur - Kurnool Road.
Yodagirigutta
: Famous temple of Lord Narasimha - third incar-
nation of Lord Vishnu.
Simhachalam:
Another temple for Lord Narasimha situated on a
hill at a height of 800 feet. Body of deity is covered with sandal-
wood paste. 11 kms from Visakhapatnam.
Lepakshi
: Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. 16th century superb
murals. Particularly impressive is the 4.57 x 8.23 metre monolithic
Nandi. Situated in a village of Anantapur district, 16 km from
Hindupur railway station.
Konai Waterfalls
: 90km north west of Madras. Quiet and
unspoilt falls, October to January after monsoon is the best time to
visit.
Puttaparthi
(Anantapur): Prashanti Nilayam or Abode of highest
peace, ashram of Shri Satya Sai Baba, 150km from Bangalore.
Kurnool
: 240 km south of Hyderabad, old fortress, mosque &
mausoleums, Mallikarjuna temple.
Tadpatri
: Remains of 2 temples built by Vijayanagar rulers. 50 km
south east of Gooty railway junction.
Horsley Hills:
151 kms from Tirupathi, 165 kms from Bangalore.
Only hill station of Andhra Pradesh. Altitude 1265m, Founded in
1870 by W.P Horsley and developed into a summer resort.
Eternal India