If you canβt wait to get on a bus or a plane and start an adventure in the beautiful landscapes of Andhra Pradesh, then this article is just for you! Keep reading to learn all you need to know about your trip with this Andhra Pradesh travel guide.
The Covid-19 pandemic took an immense toll on travel and tourism, as we are all aware of, and family vacations, getaway weekends, honeymoons, road trips with friends, and many other touristic plans in Andhra Pradesh and the rest of the world had to be cancelled or postponed. However, the sun always shines after the storm, and touristic venues are reopening as Covid-19 cases decrease and the economy starts to get back on track.
Whether you are a summer lover that canβt help but target the prettiest beaches wherever you go on vacations, or you prefer to experience nature first-hand during immersive hiking in the hills, Andhra Pradesh will surely exceed your expectations. Now that Covid-19 cases are increasingly rare and Andhra Pradesh travel restrictions are more relaxed than ever for people that have been vaccinated with both -or even one- doses, it is time to pack your suitcase, grab your camera, and go on a journey you will not regret!
History and Culture of Andhra Pradesh
Before you run away, this will not be a boring history lecture on Andhra Pradesh, instead, I will go quickly over the most relevant points of interest involving the history and culture of the region that might come in handy when planning your trip.
For instance, the architecture of Andhra Pradesh shows a strong influence of the dynasties that ruled the region in the previous centuries, so if you are a fan of the Dravidian style combined with some traits of the Satavahana periods, such as stupas or Ajanta paintings, or simply interested in architecture in general, you should not miss the chance to visit the temples in the region.
Another interesting fact is that Andhra Pradesh is particularly known for its multiple forms of art, like paintings, metal crafts, brassware, among many others. What maybe you didnβt know is that people born in Andhra Pradesh are taught the traditional methods to do these kinds of arts since they are kids, which is why their traditions remain solid in the present and their art is well known and appreciated across India and the rest of the world.
People visit the state of Andhra Pradesh not only to do cultural, artistic, and gastronomic tourism, but for religious tourism as well, and it is not limited to Hinduism, but also for Buddhism, as the state was once an important Buddhist pilgrimage site.
The Best Tourist Places in Andhra Pradesh
The state of Andhra Pradesh has the second largest coastal surface in India, so hereβs to the beach lovers! But there is a lot more that the state has to offer to its numerous tourists. If you are asking yourself -or us- βis it safe to travel to Andhra Pradesh now?β, I will not limit our answer to a simple βyesβ, but I will give you reasons to want to visit the state!
Visakhapatnam and its beaches: the second urban centre of Andhra Pradesh accounts for breath-taking beaches, such as Yarada, Rama Krishna, and Rishikonda. The amazing waves of the latter make tourists want to get in as soon as they reach the state, while Yarada is commonly referred to as the best beach of Andhra Pradesh. Taking a look at the Visakhapatnam travel guidelines before your trip is a smart move, and you should know that, as part of the state of Andhra Pradesh, the city of Visakhapatnam must stick to the curfew and other restrictions of the state.
The Tirupati Balaji Temple: known across the globe as one of the main Hindi temples, it is also the richest temple in the world after all the money received in donations from pilgrims. Devoted to the reincarnation of Vishnu, its fine carvings and luxurious decorations will leave you breathless.
Araku Valley: If trekking is your passion, then you should come here. The Borra caves and the Tribal Museum are a few of the places you can visit in the wonderful hills of Araku, where its pleasant weather, its astonishing waterfalls, and rich tribal culture will make you want to postpone going back home.
Srikalahasti: A complete Andhra Pradesh travel guide has to include this Shiva temple carved out of a stone hill during the 10th century. The architecture of this structure is something worth visiting when visiting Andhra Pradesh.
How Can You Reach Andhra Pradesh?
Reaching Andhra Pradesh is as easy as taking a bus or a plane, nonetheless, what is the best option in terms of time, money, and amenities during the journey? The first thing to know is that you can reach Andhra Pradesh by bus, train, plane, and through its ports.
Hyderabad is the only international airport in Andhra Pradesh, and it receives national and international flights from Singapore, Malaysia, Qatar, Thailand, among other countries. For local flights within India, you will also find the airports of Tirupati, Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry, and Vijayawada.
If you are planning to save some money and avoid the long queues at the airports, then taking a bus might be the best option. Numerous APSRTC buses operate on the routes that connect Andhra Pradesh with the rest of India. Planning your trip also includes getting your tickets, for which I recommend you to pre-book them through an online booking service such as redBus, which allows you to compare fares, travel time, amenities on board, among other factors of different bus operators in order to choose the tickets that suit you best.
Travel Restrictions in Andhra Pradesh
As I said at the beginning of this article, the travel restrictions in Andhra Pradesh have been relaxing gradually and tourists from other regions in India and even from other countries are slowly starting to resume travel in the state.
The local government declared that the Covid-19 curfew will be reduced from 7 to 5 hours, starting at midnight, instead of at 11 p.m. as it was before.
