TOP 10 PLACES TO VISIT IN ANDHRA PRADESH

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• published: 01 Aug 2015
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1) Tirumala Venkateswara Temple It is the richest temple in terms of donations received and most-visited place of worship in the world. For men the dress code is dhoti or pyjamas with upper cloth and for women the preferred dress code is saree or half-saree with blouse or churidar with pyjama and upper cloth. This place is a must visit. 2) Undavalli caves It is a monolithic example of Indian rock-cut architecture and is one of the finest testimonials to ancient vishwakarma sthapathis. These caves were carved out of solid sandstone on a hillside in the 4th to 5th centuries A.D. There are several caves and the best known largest one has four stories with a huge recreated statue of Vishnu in a reclining posture, sculpted from a single block of granite inside the second floor. Undavalli caves are an example of how many Buddhist artifacts and stupas in Andhra were converted into Hindu temples and deities. 3) Srikalahasti Temple The unique Shiva Linga here is located in picturesque surroundings with the Dakshina Kailasa mountain at the back and the north flowing river Swarnamukhi in front. It is one of the most famous Shiva temples in South India, and is said to be the site where Kannappa was ready to offer both his eyes to cover blood flowing from the Siva linga before Lord Siva stopped him and granted him mukti. 4) Kondaveedu Fort It was built by Anapotha Reddy in the 1250 A.D and later developed by Ana Venkata Reddy. Both of them were prominent rulers of the Reddy dynasty known to be benevolent patrons of the art and culture. Apart from this main fort, there are two other forts. All three forts are now in ruins. The department of Archeology and Museums (Andhra Pradesh) has decided to carry out major development and restoration works to bring out the past glory of the forts. 5) Kanaka Durga Temple The temple is located on the Indrakeeladri hill, on the banks of Krishna River. One of the many mythologies associated with this place is that Arjuna prayed to Lord Shiva on top of Indrakeela hill to win His blessings and the city derived its name "Vijayawada". Special poojas are performed during Dashara and most significant among them is the Saraswati and Theppotsava pooja. 6) Indira Gandhi Zoological Park It is located amidst Kambalakonda Reserve Forest in Visakhapatnam. It is named after The Former Prime Minister Of India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi. It was declared open to the public on 19 May 1977. It covers an area of 625 acres and nearly eighty species of animals numbering to about eight hundred are present in the zoo. The Zoo Park has different sections for primates, carnivores, lesser carnivores, small mammals, reptiles, ungulates and birds caged in their natural ambiance. 7) Prasanthi Nilayam It is the main ashram of Sathya Sai Baba located in the village of Puttaparthi in Anantapur district. "Prasanthi Nilayam" means literally "Abode of the Highest Peace". Sathya Sai Baba was usually present in Prasanthi Nilayam from early June to the middle of March. The Prasanti Nilayam ashram hosts many mandirs including a Ganesha Mandir, Subramanya Mandir, Gayatri Mandir,a meditation tree planted by Sai Baba in 1950,an eternal heritage museum, Chaitanya Jyothi museum, multiple canteens, cricket ground, indoor sports stadium, super specialty hospital, educational institutions, shopping complex, administration buildings, devotee quarters, accommodation rooms and halls. 8) Visakha Museum It houses the historical treasures and artifacts of the Kalingandhra region. Collections available for viewing in the museum includes ancient armory, crockery, coins, silk costumes, jewelry, stuffed animals, portraits, manuscripts, letters, diaries, scrapbooks, periodicals, and maps. All of these were used by the early settlers in the region. There are many models of warships, planes and submarines. There are many historical items presented by different countries too. 9) Kailasagiri It is a hilltop park in the city of Visakhapatnam. The Rope Way offers a cable car route to the top of the hill, the first of its kind in Andhra Pradesh. One can view the entire city of Visakhapatnam from the top of this Eco-Rich hill. 10) Rushi Konda Beach It is located just 8 kilometers from the city of Visakhapatnam, RushiKonda Beach is known as the Jewel of the East Coast. The unspoiled beauty of the beach is its main attraction and offers a unique opportunity to relax. The day the city celebrates the festival of colors, Holi, the beach gets transformed to a hue of vibrant colors, with people splashing color and water on each other.