This 2021 guide profiles five places to visit in Andhra Pradesh: Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, Araku Valley, Ananthagiri Hills and Gandikota. The profiles bring together coastal scenery, temple heritage and Eastern Ghats landscapes. Read them in their original archive context; the Ananthagiri section also carries a dated correction distinguishing it from the destination in Telangana. Check current visitor information separately when developing travel plans.
The state of Andhra Pradesh is one of the oldest civilizations of India and was mentioned in Sanskrit epics like the Mahabharata.
Andhra Pradesh has been ruled by a lot of empires which include the Maurya Empire, the Ikshvaku Dynasty, Pallava, Rashtrakutas, Chalukyas, and Later Cholas.
The state is well promoted by the tourism of Andhra Pradesh as the place sits in the Eastern Ghats with some grand temples and picturesque rivers.
5 Places to Visit in Andhra Pradesh: 2021 Archive
1. Vishakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam, popularly known as Vizag, is one of the oldest port cities in the country. Nestled in the center of Andhra Pradesh, Visakhapatnam is known for its picturesque beaches and scenic landscape, as well as its rich history of cultural past.
Vizag is home to a lot of beaches along its coastline, with the most famous one being Yarada Beach. If you are someone who loves history, then Borra Caves are one of the best tourist attractions that Vizag has to offer for you.
2. Tirupati
Located in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, Tirupati is most famous for Lord Venkateshwara Temple, one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in India. Tirupati is one of the oldest cities of India and the mention of this city could be found in plenty of ancient Vedas and Puranas.
Tirupati has a lot of unique geological wonders that you shouldn’t miss out on. The Silathoranam is a natural arch formed out of rocks and is situated at the Tirumala Hills.
3. Araku Valley
Araku Valley is a comparatively less explored hill station and is mostly visited just by the locals as a weekend getaway. It is situated some 120 kilometers away from Vishakhapatnam. Situated in the green hills of Eastern Ghats, the valley is home to a few tribal caves and the Museum of Tribal Arts.
This place is quite famous for its amazing coffee, whose subtle aroma will make you crave a cup. In addition to this, you can also try some adventure activities, like trekking, here.
4. Ananthagiri Hills
Ananthagiri Hills lies in the Eastern Ghats on the route from Visakhapatnam to Araku Valley in Andhra Pradesh. Its coffee plantations, wooded hills and waterfalls make it a scenic stop on an Araku itinerary.
The Visakhapatnam district tourism guide identifies Tadimada among the area’s waterfalls and places Borra Caves in Ananthagiri Mandal. This is a different destination from the Ananthagiri Hills near Vikarabad in Telangana.
Correction, 28 October 2026: This section previously mixed Andhra Pradesh’s Ananthagiri Hills with the destination near Hyderabad in Telangana. The description and photograph now refer to the Andhra Pradesh destination. Sources: Visakhapatnam district tourism guide; Telangana Tourism.
5. Gandikota
Lovingly known as the ‘Grand Canyon of India’, Gandikota is a twee village in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh.
Placed in between the River Pennar on the right side, the village is popular for the stunning gorges formed by the river cutting through Erramala Hills.
Located 1.5 hours away from Belum Caves, the highlights of the village of Gandikota are the ruins of a 13th Century built Gandikota Fort. The fort also offers scenic views of the hills and valleys below.
2026 editor’s note: how the five places differ
These source notes were added on 1 November 2026 to help compare the five places to visit in Andhra Pradesh. They supplement the 2021 profiles without changing their archive date. Administrative names also need context: the Tirupati district history records the district’s creation in April 2022, after this guide was first published.
Visakhapatnam: maritime heritage alongside the coast. The district’s submarine-museum guide describes INS Kurusura, a decommissioned submarine preserved at RK Beach. Its aircraft-museum page identifies the TU-142M across from it. These provide a more specific historical subject than the profile’s general description of beaches. A reader can distinguish interest in naval equipment and museum displays from interest in the seafront itself, without assuming that both experiences have identical visiting arrangements.
Tirupati: distinguish the city, the hill shrine and geology. The district’s religious-tourism guide describes Govindarajaswamy Temple in Tirupati city and the Venkateswara shrine at Tirumala in the hills. It also identifies Silathoranam as a natural arch formed in quartzite. The archive therefore brings together different subjects under the Tirupati name. Separating urban temple heritage, the Tirumala pilgrimage and a geological feature makes the profile easier to interpret; the arch is not another constructed temple gateway.
Araku Valley: landscape and cultural interpretation. Alluri Sitharamaraju district’s tourism guide describes the valley’s coffee-growing landscape, a museum interpreting tribal culture, and the horticultural nursery and training centre at Padmapuram. These identify different reasons for further research: cultivated landscapes, museum interpretation and horticulture. They add substance to the older profile’s broad hill-station description. A museum presentation and the everyday life of local communities are different subjects; the former should not be treated as a complete account of the latter.
Ananthagiri: a hill landscape with limestone caves. The same district guide places Borra Caves in the Ananthagiri hills and describes limestone formations, including stalactites and stalagmites. This helps connect the corrected Ananthagiri profile with the nearby Araku discussion without treating every attraction as the same place. The relevant comparison is between a wider hill landscape and a particular cave system. These geological descriptions do not establish a visitor’s route, access permission or the availability of an organised excursion.
Gandikota: a fortified settlement as well as a gorge. The Kadapa district fort guide identifies temples, a mosque and a granary within the fort. Its built heritage offers a different subject from the river-and-cliff landscape highlighted in the original profile. Reading the place through both lenses gives the historic structures a role beyond serving as a backdrop for a canyon photograph. Choose which aspect to investigate further, then check the relevant official visitor information.
