Andhra Pradesh
South-east coastal state with a long Bay of Bengal shoreline, the Eastern Ghats, the Tirumala temple and Buddhist heritage along the Krishna river.
A large coastal state combining pilgrimage (Tirumala, Srisailam, Srikalahasti), beaches and the port city of Visakhapatnam, Eastern Ghats hill country (Araku, Horsley Hills), canyons and forts (Gandikota) and ancient Buddhist sites (Amaravati, Nagarjunakonda region, Thotlakonda).
Highlights: Sri Venkateswara temple, Tirumala · Visakhapatnam beaches and Kailasagiri · Araku Valley and Borra Caves · Gandikota gorge on the Pennar river · Lepakshi Veerabhadra temple · Srisailam Mallikarjuna temple · Undavalli caves and Kanaka Durga temple, Vijayawada
When to go
Green best · blue good · red avoid · this month outlinedDestinations
Towns, valleys and cities worth the trip, with how they rate this month.
Visakhapatnam
Port city with long beaches, hills and the gateway to the Araku Valley.
Vijayawada
Riverside city on the Krishna, known for the Kanaka Durga temple, Prakasam Barrage and the Undavalli caves.
Tirupati
Temple town at the foot of the Tirumala hills, home to the Sri Venkateswara temple, one of the most visited shrines in the world.
Srisailam
Hill temple town in the Nallamala forest with the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga and a Krishna river dam.
Lepakshi
Village with the 16th-century Veerabhadra temple, famous for its hanging pillar and large monolithic Nandi.
Gandikota
Fort village above a dramatic gorge of the Pennar river, often called a canyon of India.
Amaravathi
Ancient Buddhist centre on the Krishna river with the Amaravati Stupa remains and the Amareswara temple.
Araku Valley
Eastern Ghats valley of coffee estates and tribal villages, reached by a scenic railway from Visakhapatnam.
Horsley Hills
Small hill station at about 1,265 m with forest views and eucalyptus groves.
Top sights
Araku Valley
Hill station in Andhra pradesh
Katiki falls
waterfall in Andhra Pradesh, India
Devipuram
building in India
Sri Sri Nookambika Ammavari Temple
building in India
Mounagiri Hanuman Temple
building in India
Chintala Venkataramana Temple, Tadipatri
a Vijayanagara era temple in Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh
Bugga Ramalingeswara temple
Shiva and Rama temples complex in Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh
Sri Sunama Jakini Matha
Hindu temple in India
Nature and outdoors
Kondakarla Ava Lake
lagoon in India
Raiwada Reservoir
Reservoir and dam in Andhra Pradesh, India
Jeedipalli reservoir
reservoir in Beluguppa mandal, Anantpur district, Andhra Pradesh, India
Veligallu Dam
dam in Galiveedu
Dowleswaram Barrage
dam in Rajahmundry, East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh
Satyanarayana UDA Lake Park
park in Tenali, India
Orvakal Rock Garden, Kurnool
park in Kurnool, India
Pothireddypadu Reservoir
reservoir in India