Tourist Attractions In Andhra Pradesh:

Discerning traveler finds a wide range of tourist attractions in Andhra Pradesh. The history of the region dates back to some 300 B.C.The numerous monuments, located all over the region, bear the legacy of the Mauryas, the Pallavas, the Cholas, the Satavahanas, the Chalukyas and the Vijayanagar - the several dynasties that ruled. Along with that, pilgrimage centers, natural caves and age-old delicacies add variety to the tourist attractions in Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Pradesh Tour Guide:
Andhra Pradesh is a symbol of the true spirit of Indian secularism where people of all faiths -Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu form a symphony of religions.Once among the poorest states of the Indian Union, it`s transformation to one of the most industialized states has been slow but steady. The state stands on the high Deccan plateau, sloping down to the low-lying coastal regions in the the east where the Godavri and Krishna meet the Bay of Bengal.The capital Hyderabad, was built by the Qutb Shahi Kings in 1590. Once here visit the Char Minar literally meaning the Four Quartets was built in 1591 to commemorate the end of a plague in Hyderabad. At the Safdar Gunj Museum are on display art , artifacts and trinkets of a wide variety.Also worth visiting are the Golconda Forts and the Qutb Shahi Tombs and the Mecca Masjd Mosque.

Hyderabad`s answer to Victoria and Albert Museum is the Salar Jung Museum ,built by Mir Yusaf Ali. It has more than 35,000 exhibits including works of sculpture, wooddrawing, religious objects , armoury and weaponry.The Nehru Zoological Park is on an area of more than 1.2 square k.m and is home to many exotic ,rare species.The Hussain Sagar Lake separates Hyderabad from its twin city of Secunderabad. Vishakapatnam is one of the fastest growing port cities in India Its best known sight is the Dolphin`s Nose which is a rocky promontory jutting out into the harbor. At Nagarjunasagar is Nagarjunakonda where Buddhist ruins have been found from the waters of the dam and re-sited from the island.

Monuments in Andhra Pradesh:

Charminar, Hyderabad The Charminar is the one of the biggest tourist attractions in Andhra Pradesh. The legend says Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah, the founder of the city built this magnificent square shaped edifice to ward of ward off the break out of an epidemic at the center of the original city in his time. Four 48.7metre high minarets built of Granite flanking four grand arches explains the name Char (four) minar. A lotus leaf structure, which was a special recurrent motif in Qutub Shahi buildings, supports the base of each minar. The arches support two floors and gallery of archways. The first floor housed a madarasa (college) during the Qutub Shahi period. The second floor houses a mosque on the western side. It requires a special permission from the Archaeological Survey of India to go to the top of the minarets, which offers a spectacular view of the city. The monument is open all the days.

Golconda Fort, Hyderabad It is one of the famous forts of India and derives its name from the Telugu words "Golla Konda" meaning "Shepherd`s Hill". Golconda was originally a mud fort and the origin dates back to the Kakatiya period. Later in course of history it passed to the Qutb Shahis (1518 to 1687 A.D). First three Qutb Shahi kings rebuilt Golconda, over a span of 62 years. The fort is famous for its acoustics, palaces, factories, ingenious water supply system and the famous Fateh Rahben gun, one of the cannons used in the last siege of Golconda by Aurangzeb, to whom the fort ultimately fell. An evening light and sound show brings alive the history of the Golconda Fort.

Qutb Shahi Tombs, Hyderabad The tombs of the Qutb Shahi kings are the oldest historical monuments in Hyderabad. The uniqueness lies in the fact that this is a graveyard where an entire dynasty has been buried at one place. Located close to the Golconda Fort, the tombs, built of gray Granite with with stucco ornamentation, reflect a unique blending of Persian, Pathan and Hindu architectural styles.

Osmania University, Hyderabad This is one of the oldest universities in India established in 1918. it derives its name from Mir Osman Ali Khan, the Nizam of Hyderabad. The splendid building, especially the Arts College building, display a perfect example of example of Indo-Saracenic architecture.

Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad Located at the outskirts of Hyderabad, sprawling over nearly 1000 acres, Ramoji Film City is largest, most comprehensive and professionally planned film production centre in the world. It is open everyday from 0900 AM - 0530 PM and the visitors can take a conducted tour organized by the authority.

Other monuments of Andhra Pradesh - Asman Garh Palace, Falaknuma Palace, Purani Haveli, Legislative Assembly in Hyderabad, Chandragiri Fort, Chandragiri are also worth a visit.

Museums of Andhra Pradesh

The Salar Jung Museum, HyderabadThis one-man collection of antiques by Mir Yousuf Ali Khan Salar Jung III is the biggest in the world. The museum houses a superb collection of : - Persian carpets, Moghal miniatures, Chinese porcelain, Japanese lacquer ware - sculptures including the Veiled Rebecca and Marguerite and Mephistopheles - daggers belonging to Queen Noor Jahan and the Emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan, the sword of Aurangzeb and many other antiques

The Nizam`s Museum, HyderabadThe stately palace of Purani Haveli, which was acquired by the second Nizam in the year 1750, is now converted to a museum. The museum showcases the gifts & mementos presented to the last Nizam on the occasion of Silver Jubilee Celebration in 1937. The fabulous collection includes a 1930 Rolls Royce, Packard & a Mark V Jaguar are among the vintage cars displayed. There is an interesting collection of models made in silver of all the prominent buildings of the city & 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 and a silver filigree elephant with mahout to name only a few. The museum is open on all days except Friday from 10.30 am to 05.00 pm.

Place to Visit:

Major Destinations

•      Hyderabad
•      Tirupati
•      Vishakapatnam
•      Nagarjuna Sagar
•     Warangal
•      Vijayawada

Hyderabad:

The name itself brings up vision of a vibrant city of minarets and modern high - rise buildings. A natural and sophisticated blend of old and new - an old `Nawabi` culture with a new pro-active approach and hospitality.

The Teeming bazaars of the old city, in the midst of which stands the 400-year-old Charminar, the modern shopping complexes and ultra-modern malls in the newer areas of the city add to the charm of Hyderabad.

The Golconda fort, capital of the kingdom by that name, is today very much part of the city, as is Cyberabd, a new local area created to keep pace with the zooming Information Technology sector.

Pearls, bangles, silks, computer software, handicrafts and above all a delectgable cuisine add to the splendour of this great city.