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Termed the ‘Rice Bowl of India,’ Andhra Pradesh is a top tourist place in the country. Known for its rich heritage, many places here testify to this region’s cultural and historical evolution. A coastal state, Andhra Pradesh, is located in the southeastern part of India. From Tirupati to Tirumala, Ahobilam, Srikalahasti, and Mahanandi, we have covered the top pilgrimage sites of Andhra Pradesh that should be a part of your must-visit list.
Top tourist attractions in Andhra Pradesh that are visited by hundreds of worshippers every year:
One of the best tourist places in India, Tirupati occupies a special place for devoted pilgrims to India. While its proximity to the holy town of Tirumala is one of the key reasons why the city attracts hundreds and thousands of pilgrims each year, the site itself is home to multiple temple sites. Some of these include Varshaswami Temple, Govindaraja Temple, ISKCON Lord Krishna Temple, Avanakshamma Temple, Govindaraja Temple, Goddess Padmavati, KodandaRama Swamy Temple, Parasurameswara Temple, Kapila Theertham, and Srinivasa Mangapuram are sites of religious importance.
The nearby tourist spots at Tirupati are the Talakona Falls, Chandragiri Fort, Srikalahasti, and Kanipakam. Besides the temples, Tirupati also attracts visitors and pilgrims during the Vijayanagar Festival, Gangamma Jatra, and the Rayalaseema Food and Dance Festival.
How to reach via air: When traveling by air, you can fly to Renigunta, the nearest airport. It is about 15km from the city centre of Tirupati.
Best hotels: Marasa Sarovar Premiere, Pai Viceroy, Taj Tirupati, Treebo Trend, etc.
Located in the Chittoor district, Tirumala is about 22km from Tirupati. Pilgrims can easily combine the two places as part of their itinerary. The site is the location of the popular Balaji Temple or the Tirumala Temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, who is believed to be the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The site is located about 3,200 feet above sea level on the Sapthagiri hills. Mythological stories portray the seven peaks of the Sapthagiri as the seven hoods of the serpent, Lord Vishnu’s resting abode.
The Balaji Temple dates back to the early 9th century, built by King Thondaimaan. In the later years, the statue of King Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire and his wife was erected at the temple site. One of the most frequently visited pilgrimage sites in Andhra Pradesh, the Balaji Temple features a 2-metre-high black idol of the Lord adorned with a diamond crown standing on a lotus. Showing the Dravidian style of architecture, the Ananda Nilayam Sanctorum has ornaments in gold. The best time to visit the Balaji Temple is during the Tirumala Temple Brahmotsavam.
The nearby tourist spots at Tirumala are Shilatoranam, Akasa Ganga, Chakra Theertham, etc.
How to reach via air: The closest airport to Tirumala is Renigunta. It is about 38 km from the Tirumala city centre. The airport has regular flights from major cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Delhi.
Best hotels: There are no private hotels or guest houses in Tirumala. Pilgrims can book accommodations offered by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.
Located in the Kurnool district, Ahobilam is another interesting pilgrimage site in Andhra Pradesh. About 350km from Hyderabad, this site is home to Lord Narasimha amidst the thick forested cover of Nallamala Forest. The site is extremely holy as it is part of the 108 Divya Desams per Hindu scriptures.
The man-lion form of Lord Vishnu is the key god worshipped here, along with eight other forms. The temple was constructed in the eighth century while it was renovated in the 15th century by the rulers of the Vijayanagara kingdom. Besides the main temple, other sites are dedicated to the eight different forms of Lord Narasimha. These are Ahobila Narasimha, Chathravata Narasimha, Jwala Narasimha, Kroda Narasimba, and more.
How to reach via air: The nearest airport is Hyderabad Airport at about 331 km. Some cabs and buses ply between Hyderabad and Ahobilam, ferrying tourists to and fro.
Best hotels: There are no major hotels in Ahobilam except for guesthouses and Airbnb accommodations.
This is another must-visit pilgrimage site in Andhra Pradesh. It is located in the Chittoor district and is about 37 km from Tirupati. The place is home to the Srikalahasteeswara Temple, made from a single hill stone. It is a tenth-century structure with Lord Shiva as the main deity. Srikalahasti means the place of the spider, serpent, and elephant. As per local mythology, it is believed that these three animals worshipped Lord Shiva here for salvation.
The temple site is an idyllic location as the River Swarnamukhi flows past it. The gopuram of the Temple is enormous at 120 feet. The holy place is a part of the PanchaBhoota Sthalams dedicated to Lord Shiva and represents the Vayu element of nature. Astrologically, the Temple is believed to be the home for Rahu and Ketu, and a visit to the Temple by people with Rahu in a dangerous position is supposed to do good.
How to reach via air: The closest airport is Renigunta, about 26 km from Kalahasti.
Best hotels: Hotel KSR Grand and Hotel MGM Grand.
In the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, the holy site of Mahanandi is situated. It is about 306 km from Hyderabad. The place is a small village bounded by a thick forest and the Nallamala Hills. As the name suggests, this place is dedicated to Nandi, Lord Shiva’s dear companion, and vehicle. There are nine Nandis in the entire stretch with nine dedicated shrines. The main Temple is the Mahanandiswara Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva and built in the 7th century. The others include Mahanandi, Shivanandi, Somanandi, Garudanandi, Suryanandi, Vinayakanandi, Naganandi, and Krishnanandi.
The Pushkarini waterbody or pool surrounds the village. There are three sacred pools in and around the main temple wherein two are outside and one inside. The pool inside the temple is used by worshippers to take a holy dip before offering their prayers to the Lord.
How to reach via air: Hyderabad International Airport is the closest airport to the village. There are regular cabs and buses for easy travel between the two destinations.
Best hotels: Haritha Hotel, Hotel Surya Grand, BMR Bala Lodge, etc.
This site has been the seat of legendary guru, Sri Sathya Sai Baba with a full-fledged ashram set up for devotees. The small town of Puttaparthi thrives due to the religion-based occupations of the settlers, natives, and devotees. One of the significant places to visit in India, the abode of Sri Sathya Sai Baba or Prashanth Nilayam Ashram is the best attraction for worshippers who arrive in tens of thousands every year. The spiritual learnings of the Ashram are what make this place one of the top holy sites of the state.
The nearby tourist spotsat Puttaparthi beside the Sathya Sai Ashram, are Anjaneya Swamy Temple, Sri Sathya Sai Space centre & Theatre, and more.
How to reach via air: The closest airport to the Ashram is the local airport, Sri Sathya Sai Airport. There are regular flights from Mumbai and Chennai to Puttaparthy.
Best hotels: Sai Towers, Sai Sathya Niwas, Sai Maa Hotel & Residency, and more.
These are the best places to visit in Andhra Pradesh for soulful rejuvenation, mental peace, and self-discovery. Planning to visit these sites and the nearest tourist places? Check out Cleartrip for the perfect itinerary, best hotel deals, and discounts on flight tickets.
The Temple is open from 0500 am to 1100 pm.
One of the closest places to Tirupati is the holy town of Tirumala. The other places near Tirupati include – Vellore, Chittoor, Chikmagalur, Madikeri, and Wayanad.
There is a walkway connecting Tirupati and Tirumala that entails walking through 3,500 steps. The walkway passes through the forest with a roof covering and it takes about four hours to cover the distance, one way.
The main temple opens from 0600 am to 2:30 pm and then from 5 pm to 8 pm. The other temples open from 0600 am to 1 pm and then from 3 pm to 5:30 pm.
The best way to get good deals and book a holistic trip to the pilgrimage sites in Andhra Pradesh is to book through www.cleartrip.com, India’s top portal for hotels and flights.
