Andhra Pradesh’s capital city, Hyderabad has the atmosphere of an Arabian Nights fairy tale. Whimsical palaces, erstwhile stately homes and crowded bazaars filled with shops selling Hyderabadi pearls, incense and copper utensils characterise the city, while in the distance looms Golconda Fort. The city’s historical connection traces itself to the rulers or Nizams whose wealth was legendary. Rooms full of jewels and currency notes, a garage full of gleaming Rolls Royce’s are all now part of history, but a unique culture lives on, colouring the city with its distinctive charm. The Epicurean tastes of this most exalted royal house of princely India gave rise to a fabled cuisine based on painstaking preparations and slow cooking. Much of Hyderabad’s old town can be covered on foot. The city’s important landmarks include Charminar, a 16th century gateway; the Salar Jung Museum which exhibits priceless treasures alongside trivia that made up the personal collection of the owner; Mecca Mosque and Golconda Fort. Nagarjunakonda is the site of ongoing excavations which have revealed Buddhist temples, stupas and monasteries.

HYDERABAD

Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh was founded in the late 6th century by Qutab Shahi dynasty line of Kings known for their beautiful monuments and mosques, Medieval Indian, Saracenic, Mughal and Colonial architecture which, create an architectural richness rarely found in other parts of the country. 

PLACES OF INTEREST
Birla Temple 1 km, Hussain Sagar 1 km, Indira Park 1 km, Charminar 7 km, Mecca masjid 7 km, Osmania University 6 km, Qutub Shahi Tombs & Golconda Fort 13 km, Nehru-Zoological Park 8 km, High Court 7 km, Public Gardens 1.5 km, Race Course 9 km, State Central Library 7 km, Tank Bund 1 km,Asmongarh 9.5 km, Khajana Museum 12 km, Planetarium 1 km, State Archaeological Museum 1.5 km, Salar Jung Museum.

EXCURSIONS
Mir Alam Tank 8 km, Raymond's Tomb 12 km, Himayat Sagar 22 km, Osman Sagar 22 km, Yalagirigutta 69 km, Kolanupak 80 km, Bidar 136 km. Nagarjunasagar and Nagarjunakonda 149 km: Nagarjunasagar is the tallest masonary dam in the world across river Krishna. The Nagarjunakonda is an island formed in the man made lake. Launch services are available from Nagarjunasagar to Nagarjunakonda.
Places of Interest on the island are: Archaeological Museum, Mahastupa, Bodhisri, Chaitya, Simhala Vihara, Mahsik Vihara, Brahusutya Vihara and Royal Bath.

Rising above the forest of the Nallamalai forest the Bharamarambha Mallikarjuna Swamy temple on a 457 mt. high has one of the twelve Jyothir lingas. It is the seat of one of the 18 leading Saktis Mahakali in her manifestation as Bharamarambha. The temple sculptures narrate in stone, episodes from the great Hindu epics - Ramayana & Mahabharata.

GENERAL INFORMATION
Climate (deg C): Summer- Max 42, Min 22; Winter- Max 22, Min 11.
Best Season : June to February.

VIJAYAWADA

Vijayawada or the "City of Victory" as it literally translates is called so as it was here or so it is believed that Arjuna, the Pandava Prince was rewarded for his penance, which he did on Indrakiladri Hill. Today, with excellent communications, perhaps the best in the South where railways are concerned, Vijayawada is looking forward to an exciting future. A predominantly business city of the Coastal Anthra, Vijayawada on the banks of the holy river krishna attracts many piligrims as well for its temple dedicated to Durge. The city is also a base for visiting the Buddhist excavations at Amaravati, which is less than 70 km away. Also accessible from Vijayawada are the towns of Kuchipudi, Mangalagiri and Kondapalli which are famous for dance, temple and handicrafts respectively. So altogether Vijayawada presents a colourful and varied picture and can be termed as a business cum pilgrim cum tourist centre.

PLACES OF INTEREST
Akkana & Madanna Caves, Gandhi Hill, Haxrathbal Mosque, Kanakadurga temple, Mary's Temple, Milk Powder Factory, Mogalrajapuram Caves, Prakasam Barrage.
MUSEUMS & ART GALLERIES: Victoria Jubilee Regional Museum, Bunder Road.

Agripalli (40 km.), Amaravati (66km.), Chilkalapudi (71 km.), Gudivada (45 km.) Hamsala Deevi (85 km.), Kandapalli (16 km.), Kuchipudi (60 km.), Mangalagiri (12 km.), Manginapuri (83 km.)

GENERAL INFORMATION
Temparature (deg C): Summer- Max 45, Min 28; Winter- Max 32, Min 18.
Best Season : September to February.

WARANGAL

Warangal was the ancient capital of the Kakatiya rulers. It was here that the fort was constructed by king Ganapathi in 1199 A.D and completed by Rudramadevi in the year 1261. The thousand pillard temple with its star shaped shrines dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Surya, the famous Ramappa temple & lake, the Pakhal lake are worth visiting.

PLACES OF INTEREST
Thousand Pillar Temple
A fine specimen of Kakatiya architecture and sculpture, the Thousand Pillar temple as the name implies has many pillars, all efficient carved. The temple is built in Chalukyan Style. The Nandi here has beautiful finishing.

Fort-Warangal
Constructed by King Ganapathi in 1199 A.D. and completed by his daughter Rudrama in 1261 A.D., the fort has two walls, with the traces of the third. Places of interest in the fort are a temple, and four thoranas or gateways, similar to those at Sanchi, signifying the Buddhist influence.

Bhadrakali Temple
The important attraction in this temple is the idol of the deity in sitting posture with her eight hands filled with weapons. The head of the idol is adorned by a crown.

Planetarium
Hear regular shows are held showing the mysteries of the University.

Laknavaram Lake, Pakhal Lake and Wildlife Sanctuary (60 km.), Ramappa Lake (65 km), Yadagirigutta (64 km), Yadagirigutta (72 km).

GENERAL INFORMATION
Temparature (deg C): Summer- Max 39.6, Min 23.2; Winter- Max 30, Min 13.5.
Rainfall : 82.5 cms ( June to September ).
Best Season : September to February.

VISHAKAPATNAM (VIZAG)

Lapped by the Bay of Bengal, on the eastern part of Andhra Pradesh lies the beach city, Vishakapatnam. Ages ago there stood a temple on the shores dedicated to Vaisaka, the God of Valour in the Hindu pantheon. The mighty sea has since swept away the shrine, but the name survived for identifying the now sprawling City of Visakhapatnam.

PLACES OF INTEREST
Andhra University Building- 4 kms, Dolphin's Nose, Sri Venkateswara

Konda, Hindusthan Shipyard- 6.4 kms, Simachalam Temple (The temple is dedicated to Lord Narashimha)- 16 kms, The Three Hillocks- 5 kms, Indira Gandhi Zoological Gardens, Port- 6.4 kms, Visakha refinery.

Anantagiri (88 km.), Araku Valley (120 km.), Arasavalli (110 km.), Bheemunipatnam (29 km.), Borra Caves (90 km.), Chintapalli (165 km.), Coringa (177 km.), Draksharama (176 km.), Kakinada (165 km.), Kalingapatnam (143 km.), Kondakarla Ava (48 km.), Sankaram (45 km.), Vizianagaram (60 km.), Yanam (213 km).

GENERAL INFORMATION
Temparature (deg C): Summer- Max.39, Min.28; Winter- Max.29, min.19.
Rainfall: 89 cms.
Season: All round the year.

TIRUPATI TIRUMALA

Tirupati is one of the important pilgrim centres in India. It is famous for the shrine of the seven hills, dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara, alsoknown as Balaji the temple of Tirumala (13 km).

PLACES OF INTEREST
At Tirumala Lord Venkateswaram Temple :
The principal deity of this temple is Lord Venkateswara also known as Balaji. The temple is a masterpiece of Dravidian architecture with its gopuram facing east. The vimana is completely covered with gold plate and this is known as Ananda Nilayam. The statues of Krishnadevaraya and his consort can be seen in the temple. The Brahmostavam or annual festival is celebrated in September. Akasaganga Waterfalls,Papanasam Waterfalls, Varahaswamy Temple, Perumallapalli

Govindarajaswamy Temple, Kapilathiraham, Kodandaraswamy Temple, Padmavati temple.

Chandragiri (11 km), Kalahasthi (37 km), Kalyani Dam (18 km), Narayana Vanam (36 km), Kailesanathakona ( 43 km), Nagalapuram (65 km), Horsley hills (145 km), Kanchipuram (112 km), Perumallapalli (8 km).

GENERAL INFORMATION
Temparature (deg C):
Summer : Max. 43 Deg.C. Min 22.3 Deg.C.
Winter : Max. 32 Deg.C. Min 14.9 Deg.C.
Season : Throughout the Year Throughout the Year

NAGARJUNASAGAR (Nagarjund Konda)

Nagarjunasagar - the tallest and biggest masonry dam in the world accross the river Krishna, is about 150 km away from the metropolitan city of Hyderabad. It creates the third largest man-made lake in the world. Nearby Nagarjunakonda is known for its extensive ruins of Buddhist Stupas, Viharas and a university that flourished under Acharya Nagarjuna, the great Buddhist savant, scholar and philosopher who migrated to Nagarjunakonda from Amaravati to spread the message of the Buddha. Interestingly excavations conducted here have also revealed Brahmanical temples, which reveal the friendship that existed here centuries ago between the two faiths. Now though the actual site of the excavations have been flooded with the waters of the migty river, the relies of the ruins have been reconstructed and kept in an Island Museum, the largest of its kind in the world and are in an excellent state of preservation-thanks to the efforts of the Archaelogical Survey of India. Today Nagarjunakonda along with Nagarjunasagar attracts many tourists from South East Asian Countries and also from all over India.

PLACES OF INTEREST
At Nagarjunasagar
Left Canal (Lal Bahadur Canal) (9.5 km.), Model Dam (8 km.), Pylon, Right Bank Tunnel (Jawahar Tunnel) (13 km.), View Point (4 km.)

At Nargarjunakonda :
Archaelogical Museum, Mahastupa, Bodhisri Chaitya, Simhala Vihara, Mahisaka Vihara, Brahusutiya, Vihara, Ashwamedha and Royal Bath.

Ethipothala Waterfalls 11 kms. downstream of dam site. The water falls from a height of 70 feet into the gorge. Very good picnic spot with deep valleys and cave temples

GENERAL INFORMATION
Temparature (deg C): Summer- Max 39.4, Min 20; Winter- Max 22, Min 13.8.
Rainfall : 89 cms.
Best Season : July to March.

SRISAILAM

The temple at Srisailam is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is considered as one of his twelve Jyotirlingas. Srisailam, also known as Sriparvata is situated in the Rishabgiri Hills on the Southern banks of the river Krishna in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. Mention of Srisailam as Sriparvata has been made in the immortal epic of the Hindus - the "Mahabharata".

PLACES OF INTEREST
Damsite, Hatekeswaram, Pathalaganga, Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple,Sakshi Ganapathi Sikharam

Alampur (27 km), Dindi Reservoir (64 km), Kurnool (180 km), Nagarjunasagar (180 km), Papanasam (2 km), Sangameswar (18 km).

GENERAL INFORMATION
Temparature (deg C): Summer- Max 39.6, Min 23.2; Winter- Max 30, Min 13.5.
Rainfall : Seasonal.
Season : September to February