It is one of India’s fifth largest state and often known as the ‘Rice Granary of India’. Consisting of fertile coastal plains, semi arid Deccan Plateau and the hill ranges of the Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh has been a seat of some of the famous dynasties as old as 300 B.C. and an important Buddhist centre. The state consists of many edifices, monuments and architectural ruins that continue to fascinate people. Furthermore, exquisite crafts, vibrant festivities, irresistible delicacies and hospitable people, make a visit to Andhra Pradesh a memorable experience.

When to visit: November to March

Airports: Hyderabad, Tirupati, Vijayawada, Vishakapatnam, Cuddapah, Rajahmundry, Ramagundam, Warangal

Tourist Places in Andhra Pradesh

• Ahobilam: Temples.
• Alampur: Temples, Sculpture.
• Papanasam: Temples, Sculpture.
• Amravati: Buddhist Monuments, Excavations at Sankaram, Museums.
• Araku Valley: Tribal area, Forests, Scenic beauty.
• Bhadrachalam: Hindu pilgrim centre.
• Bhuminipatnam: Beach, Templs, Fort.
• Chandragiri: Fort, Temples, Ruins of Ancient Vijaynagar capital
• Chintapalle: Tribal area, Forests, Scenic beauty.
• Drasharama: Hindu pilgrim centre, Temple.
• Ethipothala: Waterfalls, Picnic site.
• Horsley Hills: Hill station.
• Hyderabad: Capital of state, Palaces, Mosques, Museums, Gardens, Parks, Zoological Park (With Lion Safari), outstanding Handicrafts, Planetarium, Race-courses, Lake.
• Himayat Sagar: Lake, Picnic spot.
• Kondapur: Excavations.
• Mahavir Harin Vanasthali: Deer Park, Natural vegetation.
• Osman Sagar: Dam-site picnic spot.
• Karimnagar: Bird Sanctuary, Seasons- October to February.
• Kondapalle: Hand-crafted woolen toys.
• Kuchipudi: Birthplace of Kuchipudi dance, Dance Academy.
• Lepakshi: Temples, Frescoes, Excavations, largest Nandi in India.
• Machilipatnam: Kalamkari Textiles, Antiques.
• Machkund: Waterfalls, Gateway to Araku Vally.
• Mahanandi: Picnic spot, Mineral springs, Hindu pilgrim centre.
• Maipadu: Beach.
• Manginipudi: Beach.
• Mantralayam: Hindu pilgrim centre.
• Medak: Cathedral, Fort.
• Kukhalingam: Temples, Hindu pilgrim centre.
• Nagarjuna Sagar: Dam-site holiday resort, Boating, Buddhist, University, Wildlife Sanctuary stretching to Srisailam-a vast lake, the 110 km stretch boatable during June to February, Tiger reserve, variety of animals, Season- October to june.
• Nagarjunakonda: Buddhist ruins, reconstructed monuments, islands, Museum.
• Nirmal: Handicrafts.
• Nizam Sagar: Dam-site picnic spot.
• Pakhal: Lake, wildlife sanctuary, Fishing, Season- November to June.
• Palampet: Ramappa Temple and Lake, Sculpture.
• Papi Kondalu: Magnificent Gorge and scenery, Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuary, Bison Range, Season – November to June.
• Penukonda: Vijaynagar ruins, Mosques, Fort, Hill station.
• Puttaparti: Pilgrim centre.
• Rajamundry: Temples, Hindu pilgrim centre, second longest railway bridge in India over the Godavari River.
• Sri Kalahasti: Temples, Hindu pilgrim centre.
• Tirumala- Tirupati: Major Hindu Pilgrim centre, Temples, nearby waterfalls, Picnic spot, city of seven hills, one of the richest Temples in the world, Wooden Toys.
• Udayagiri: Ruins of Mosques.
• Mangalagiri: Pilgrim centre, Temple with the tallest tower in Andhra.
• Vishakhapatnam: Seaport, Beaches, Promontories.
• Warangal: Temples, Forts and Ancient Capital, Carpets.
• Yadagiri Gutta: Temple, Hindu Pilgrim centre.
• Yanam: Part of the Union Territory of Pondicherry, old French India.

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Andaman and Nicobar Islands

When to visit: December to April (Entry permits required for foreigners; Indians need them for the Nicobar Island)

Airport: Port Blair

Tourist Places in Andaman and Nicobar

• Car Nicobar: Tropical paradise, Beaches, Tribals
• Great Nicobar: Tribals
• Labyrinth Islands: Beaches, Coral reefs
• Little Andaman: Tribals, Beach
• Mayabander: Beach
• Nancowry: Beach, Coral reefs
• Port Blair: Capital of the Union Territory, historic Penal settlement where the Cellular Jail has been made a National Shrine. Beaches, Boating excursions, Marine Park, Museum, Fishing, Elephant nursery
• Ross Island: Ruins of British administrative mansions. Wildlife reserve
• South Andaman: Tribals
• South Sentinel: Fauna (green turtle and giant crab)

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Funerary Monuments

The best and the most famous funerary architecture in India is Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. The Gol Gumbad in Bijapur, Karnataka, built in the seventeenth century has the largest dome in the world.

Akbar’s tomb at Sikandarabad, tomb of Etmad-ud-Daula in Agra, Sher Shah’s tomb in Sasaram, Bihar, and Humayun’s tomb in Delhi are some of the fine examples of tombs.

Memorial stones include hero-stones, barselas, menhirs, etc. Megaliths, meaning big stones, are of different types. These are found mainly in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, parts of Maharashtra, Vindhya region of Madya Pradesh, some areas of Uttaranchal and Kashmir valley, Mizoram and Meghalaya. These have been dated differently in different regions.

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There are four main dhams (Most Sacred Hindu Pilgrimage in India):
 
- Rameshwaram
- Puri
- Dwarka
- Badarinath

 There are number of other holy places all over the country.

India’s heritage is very rich, vast and varied and forms a colorful cultural mosaic. It is this cultural mosaic that gives a distinct character to this country.

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Each region has its own distinct style and flavor in its folk form of music and dance, and mutual influences are not rare. Distinct style and character can be seen in paintings, sculpture architecture, poetry and other traditions of the country.

Indian culture is one of the richest in the world. This richness is the result of the freedom which every region and community has enjoyed to develop its genius through mutual interactions.

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Even folk paintings, like Madhubani of Bihar, Warli paintings of Maharashtra, Pata painting of Orissa are valuable treasures. Floors are decorated with Rangoli in Maharashtra, Rangavalli in Karnataka, Kallam in Tamil Nadu, Mandana in Madya Pradesh, Alpana in West Bengal and Aipana in Uttaranchal.

Rich tradition of embroidery, carpet weaving, bead work, filigree, jewellery making, appliqué work, papier mache, metal ware, etc. also represent another important aspect of Indian heritage.

Rich heritage of Indian textiles can be best seen in Patola sari of Gujarat, Kanchipuram silk, Banaras brocade, Chanderi of Madhya Pradesh, Pochampalli of Andhra Pradesh and Ikat of Orissa.

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There are fairs, such as Nauchandi Fair, Pushkar Fair, Tarnetar Fair, Sonpur Mela which draw people from far and near. However it is the Kumbh Mela at Allahabad or the Ardha Kumbh at Haridwar which draw largest number of persons from all over the country. 26 January and 15 August are celebrated as the Republic Day and the Independence Day respectively. These are country’s national festivals.

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Forts and Palaces in India

The seven-storeyed Leh Palace in Ladakh, Tipu Sultan’s Palace at Mysore, Bir Singh Palace at Datiya, Madhya Pradesh, Mattancherry and Padmanabhapuram Palaces in Kerala are known for their beautiful fresco mural paintings.

Other beautiful and magnificent palaces and forts are found in Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and other state.

Some Important Forts of India

• Gingee Fort of Tamil Nadu
• Janjira (in the sea) and Simhagarh Forts of Maharashtra
• Golconda Fort of Andhra Pradesh
• The Kangra Fort of Himachal Pradesh
• Chittaurgarh and Ranthambore Forts of Rajasthan
• Asirgarh, Mandu and Gwalior Forts of Madhya Pradesh
• Rohtas Fort of Bihar
• Tughlaqabad Fort and Red Fort of Delhi
• Agra Fort and Allahabad Fort of Uttar Pradesh
• Daulatabad Fort of Maharastra

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Rainfall in India tends to be variable. The north-eastern region, the western slopes of the Western Ghats and part of the Himalayas have very heavy rainfall, receiving over 2000 mm annually. The eastern part of the peninsula, extending up to the northern plains, receives rainfall varying from 1,000 to 2,000 mm a year, while the area from Western Deccan up to the Punjab plains gets between 100 mm and 500 mm a year. Rajasthan, Kachchh and Ladakh have hardly any rainfall.

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India is divided into four fairly clear, physically identifiable regions: the great northern mountain zone, the sprawling Indo-Gangetic Plains, the desert area and the Southern Peninsula.

The river valleys of the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra merge to form the Indo Gangetic plain, which extends across Northern India for about 2,400 km, with a wide varying from 260 to 350 km. This almost flat plain, one of the world’s greatest stretches of flat alluvium, is amongst the most densely populated areas on earth. It is a little over a quarter as large as the mountain region.

The desert region of India comprises the ‘great desert’ and the ‘little desert’. The former extends northwards from the edge of the Rann of Kachchh and covers virtually the whole of the Rajasthan-Sind frontier. The ‘little desert’ stretches from between Jaisalmer and Jodhpur to a little beyond the north of Rajasthan.

Separated by the Aravalli, Vindhya, Maikala and Ajanta mountain ranges from the Indo-Gangetic Plain is the peninsular plateau. This plateau is flanked by the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats, the former averaging about 600 meters in height and the latter around 1,000 meters (with certain peaks over 2,000 meters.) The Western Ghats fall abruptly to the Arabian Sea. The narrow strip of land thus formed is an area of great fertility. Between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal is a much broader coastal area of varying fertility. Joining both Ghats at the southern point of the great plateau are the Nilgiri Hills.

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