1. Lord Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala (Tirupati)
Lord Venkateswara Temple (also known as Tirupati Balaji) is located at Tirumala, which is on the seven hills of the Eastern Ghats mountain ranges near Tirupati city in Andhra Pradesh. The temple is visited by millions of devotees throughout the year who have deep belief in Lord Venkateswara. Though the temple is on top of the seven hills, it’s easily accessible by road and pedestrian paths. Tirumala is a well-maintained small city on top of the seven hills where the Sri Vari temple is located. Devotees get all the amenities like washrooms, toilets, shops, free accommodation etc. at Tirumala itself. Free food is served daily to more than 60,000 devotees through the several Annaprasadam Centers, which are at Tirumala. Devotees can have a holy dip in Sri Vari Pushkarini, which is near Sri Vari Temple.
Tirumala is 27 km away from Tirupati city by road and 9 km by pedestrian path. Frequent buses are operated from Tirupati Bus Stand & Tirupati Railway Station to Tirumala. TTD (Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam) hosts several annual festivals in Tirumala; one of them is Bramhostav. The best time to visit Sri Vari Temple is throughout the year, on special occasions like Bramhostav, the crowd reaches a significant number.
Nearest City: Tirupati (27 km by road)
Nearest Railway Station: Tirupati Railway Station (27 km by road)
Nearest Airport: Tirupati International Airport
2. INS Kurusura Submarine Museum
INS Kurusura Submarine Museum is the first submarine museum in Asia and the 2nd in the world. Before converting it to a museum, the submarine served 31 years for the Indian Navy. It has played several roles in naval operations, including the Indo-Pakistan War (1971).
In 2002, it underwent a transformation into a submarine museum, which was inaugurated on 24 August 2002. This museum showcases control rooms, radar rooms, sonar rooms, war weapons, etc. Guided tours are also available by the retired Navy personnel.
There is an entry fee of ₹40 for adults and ₹20 for children below age 12 years. Visitors are required to pay a separate charge of ₹500 for video recording & ₹50 for still photos if they wish to do photography inside the museum. The museum welcomes visitors from Tuesday to Sunday, from 2:00 PM to 8:30 PM, with the exception of Monday.
Nearest City: The museum is located in Vishakhapatnam city itself on the road to RK Beach.
Nearest Railway Station: Vishakhapatnam (5 km away)
Nearest Airport: Vishakhapatnam International Airport (18 km away)
3. Kailasagiri
Kailasagiri is a park located in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It is famous for stunning panoramic views of the Bay of Bengal and Western Ghats. Park is spread over 380 acres and situated at an altitude of 360 feet above sea level. Main attraction of this Hilltop Park is 40 feet tall statues of Lord Shiva & Parvati, apart from this there is floral clock with 10 feet diameter which adds charm to the park. A ropeway facility is also available, which connects the base to the hilltop and provides visitors with a cable car ride with breathtaking views.
Kailasagiri Park is having several viewpoints such as Titanic Viewpoint, Gliding Point, Shanti Ashram, etc. Park is also having a toy train, which is a major attraction for the children. The entry fee is around ₹50 (please check for the recent fee amount). The park is open from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, and 2-3 hours are required to explore the whole park.
Nearest City: Vishakhapatnam [ 10 Most Visited Places in Andhra Pradesh ]
Nearest Railway Station: Vishakhapatnam Railway Station (10 km away)
Nearest Airport: Vishakhapatnam International Airport (23 km away)
4. Borra Caves
Borra caves are million years old limestone caves located in Ananthgiri Hills of Araku Vally of Andhra Pradesh spread over one square kilometer of area. They are situated at an elevation of approximately 2313 feet & are a major attraction for the tourists. Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation has installed light lamps inside the caves, and it takes 2-3 hours to explore these magnificent caves formed by limestone.
There is an entry fee for adults of ₹60 per person & ₹45 per child (up to 12 years). For the photography, there are separate charges: ₹25 for photos and ₹100 for video recording. Additionally, there is a parking fee of ₹10 for two-wheelers and ₹30 for cars. Caves are open daily for visitors from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except for the lunch break from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. [ 10 Most Visited Places in Andhra Pradesh ]
Nearest City: Vishakhapatnam (90 km away)
Nearest Railway Station: Borra Guhalu Railway Station (2 km away)
Nearest Airport: Vishakhapatnam International Airport (78 km away)
5. Ramkrishna Beach (R K Beach)
Ramkrishna Beach is a prominent coastal destination that is located in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The beach is situated along the eastern coast of the Bay of Bengal and is famous for its scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere. Visitors can enjoy several activities on the beach, like swimming, sunbathing, surfing, and beach volleyball. Boat rides and camel rides are also available. The beach becomes lively, particularly in the evening; numerous food stalls are set up to serve delicious local and seafood. Visitors can enjoy food and relax themselves in such a vibrant atmosphere.
Nearest City: Vishakhapatnam [ 10 Most Visited Places in Andhra Pradesh ]
Nearest Railway Station: Vishakhapatnam Railway Station (5 km away)
Nearest Airport: Vishakhapatnam International Airport (15 km away)
6. Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Temple
Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, also known as Simhachalam Temple, is a prominent Hindu temple located in Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It is situated on the Simhachalam Hill range at an elevation of approximately 300 meters. Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnus Narsimha Avtar & visited by lacks of devotees throughout the year. Simhachalam Temple is one of the 32 temples of Narsimha Temples in Andhra Pradesh, and it is the second largest revenue-gathering temple after Sri Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala.
The temple showcases a blend of Kalinga and Dravidan architectural styles with a spiritual ambiance and cultural diversity, attracting visitors from various backgrounds. The temple is open for devotees daily from 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Nearest City: Vishakhapatnam [ 10 Most Visited Places in Andhra Pradesh ]
Nearest Railway Station: Vishakhapatnam Railway Station (18 km away)
Nearest Airport: Vishakhapatnam International Airport (23 km away)
7. Araku Valley
Araku Valley is a picturesque hill station which is located approximately 115 km away from Vishakhapatnam city of Andhra Pradesh. Araku Valley is famous for stunning landscapes, lush greenery, and pleasant climate; often it is referred to as the “Ooty of Andhra Pradesh.” Araku Valley is spread across 36 square kilometers of area & is rich in biodiversity. The highest peak of the Eastern Ghats is situated in Araku Valley, which is Jindhagada at an elevation of 1,690 meters and also known by the names Sitamma Konda and Arma Konda.
Tourists can enjoy activities like hiking and night camping & have delicious food prepared by the locals. Major attractions of Araku Valley are Borra Caves, Tribal Museum, Katiki Falls, Coffee Plantations, Padmapuram Botanical Gardens, etc. The best time to visit Araku Valley is between September and May, and the peak tourist season is from September to March.
Nearest City: Vishakhapatnam (115 km away)
Nearest Railway Station: Araku Railway Station (1.7 km away)
Nearest Airport: Vishakhapatnam International Airport (115 km away)
8. Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple
Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple is a prominent Hindu temple that is located in Tiruchanur near Tirupati city in Andhra Pradesh. The temple is dedicated to the goddess Sri Padmavathi Ammavari & visited by millions of devotees throughout the year. It is believed that devotees who came to visit Sri Vekateswara Temple, which is in Tirumala, should visit this & Sri Kalahasthi Temple also, which is located at Srikalahasthi town of Andhra Pradesh.
The temple showcases a blend of Dravidan and Vijayanagara architectural styles and is famous for its design and sculptures. The temple is open for devotees daily from 4:30 AM to 9:30 AM; however, there are specific time slots for darshanam.
Nearest City: Located in Tiruchanur, near Tirupati.
Nearest Railway Station: Tirupati Railway Station (5 km away)
Nearest Airport: Tirupati International Airport (15 km away)
9. Srikalahasthi Temple
Srikalahasthi Temple is a prominent Hindu temple that is located in Srikalahasthi town in Chittur district of Andhra Pradesh. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and it’s one of the five Panch Bhoota Sthalam, representing the Vayu (Air) element. It is considered that devotees who come to visit Sri Venkateswara temple which is in Tirumala should also visit this and Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple which is in Tiruchanur.
The temple showcases a blend of Dravidan architectural styles and its famous design and sculptures. Temple is referred to for its spiritual significance, especially for sacred activities such as the Rahu-Ketu pooja, performed by visitors to remove obstacles from their progressing lives. The temple is open for devotees daily from 5:00 AM to 9:30 PM; it remains open on solar and lunar eclipses, unlike many other temples in India that close during this period. [ 10 Most Visited Places in Andhra Pradesh ]
Nearest City: Located in Srikalhasthi town, near Tirupati city, which is 37 km away from it.
Nearest Railway Station: Srikalahasthi Railway Station (2.2 km away)
Nearest Airport: Tirupati International Airport (23 km away)
10. Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple
Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple is also known as Srisailam Temple, which is located in Srisailam of Andhra Pradesh. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, worshipped here as a Mallikarjuna, and his consort Goddess Parvati, represented as Bhramaramba. This temple has immense importance as it is one of the 12 jyotirlingas and among 18 shaktipeethas. The temple is situated in the Nallamalla forest along the banks of the River Krishna. A small ropeway is also there, which provides stunning views of the Nallamalla hills and Krishna River during its cable car ride. Throughout the year, millions of devotees visit this temple to seek blessings of Lord Shiva, especially on the occasion of Mahashivaratri. The temple is open daily from 4:30 AM to 3:30 PM and 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. As the temple is situated in the Nallamalla forest, there aren’t many food options available around the temple, so carry snacks along with you if possible.
Nearest City: Kurnool (180 km away) [ 10 Most Visited Places in Andhra Pradesh ]
Nearest Railway Station: Markapur Road Railway Station (80 km away)
Nearest Airport: Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad (215 km away)
