Rice bowl of India doles out heritage galore

By Akash Shukla

Andhra Pradesh has always been the front-runner in attracting maximum visitors, inland, and foreign.

Not just naturally and culturally, but ecologically and religiously rich tourist destinations open doors to visitors in Andhra Pradesh. With treasures of visual treat in stock, the state allows multiple vents of delightful experiences for visitor gratification.

The state of Andhra Pradesh is a symbolic evidence of abundantly visible natural resources. With longest eastern coastline and a strong trail of Buddha's glory, the state speaks volumes with pristine splendor, citadels, forts, and architectural masterpieces.

The late emperors built monuments, tombs, palaces and memorials. All of this reflects the craftsmanship and the architecture that found its inception on this land.
The tourism here opens up to hills, ridges and valleys. If that's not all, it also offers meadows, beach waves, hill stations, virgin forests, and caves.

Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala

The temple is a Vaishnavite temple located in the hill town of Tirumala at Tirupati in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The temple is dedicated to god Venkateswara, an incarnation of Vishnu.

It is believed that he appeared here to save mankind from trials and troubles of Kaliyuga, therefore, the spot is also known as Kaliyuga Vaikuntham and the deity here is alluded to as Kaliyuga Prathyaksha Daivam.

The temple is also known by many other names, namely, Tirumala temple, Tirupati Balaji temple and Tirupati temple.

Kanaka Durga Temple

The temple is a well-known Hindu holy space of Goddess Durga. It is situated in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. The temple is located on the Indrakeeladri hill, on the banks of river Krishna. Durgaa Sapthashati, Kaalika puraana, and other Vedic literature speak of goddess Kanaka Durga on the Indrakeelaadri and they have described the deity as Swayambhu, (self-manifested) in Triteeya kalpa.

In accordance with the legend, the now verdant Vijayawada was once upon a time a rocky-hilly region that obstructed the flow of River Krishna. Consequently, the land was rendered unfit for habitation or cultivation. Lord Shiva was invoked for divine intervention so that the passage for the river could be managed. With Shiva's blessings, the river started flowing unimpeded with all its might, through the tunnels or 'Bejjam'. This is how the place got its name Bezawada.

Simhachalam Temple

Simhadri or Simhachalam is a Hindu temple located in Visakhapatnam. It is dedicated to Narasimha (the man-lion god), a lord Vishnu incarnation. The architectural style of the central shrine is Kalinga.

In Odia, Simha means lion and Anchala means hill. The temple is situated at the top of a hill; hence the temple is called Simhachalam. Lion-man incarnation Sri Varahalakshmi Narasimha Swamy is the temple's presiding deity. The temple is one of the 18 Narasimha Kshetras in India.

Kailasagiri

It is a hilltop park in Visakhapatnam which was developed by Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA) comprising of 380 acres of land. The area is covered with a lot of flora. At a height of 360 feet, it also witnesses beaches and forests. On an average, around three lakh Indian and foreign tourists visit this place annually.

Golkonda

Also known as Golla konda (shepherd's hill), it is a fort of Southern India and capital of the medieval sultanate of the Qutb Shahi dynasty. The site is located 11 km west of Hyderabad. The place is known for the mines that have produced some of the world's most famous gems, including the Koh-i-Noor, the Hope Diamond and the Nassak Diamond.

In Incredible Andhra, temples and shrines are important destinations that draw tourist traffic and act as a big source of revenue flow.

With museums, archaeological treasures, weaponry and an array of objects that symbolize the culture and marvels of the territory, the city never turns a blind eye towards culture aficionados.

(Images are for representation purpose only)