Things to Do in Andhra Pradesh

The TTD gardens in Tirupati is a slice of lush retreat with manicured landscapes and ornately decorated gardens. The garden sprawls over an area of 462 acres in Tirupati and Tirumala and provides flowers to all the temples in Tirupati from its cultivation. It is believed that the great Vaishnav saint Sri Ramanuja and his disciple Sri Anandalwar first started planting trees in this garden in the 14th century. Legends have it that the flowers of this garden were cultivated by Sattada SriVaishnava under the guise of Dasa Nambis who made flowered wreaths for the temple in Tirumala-Tirupati. The massive garden hosts an array of colourful hybrid varieties of bougainvilleas, hibiscus, crotons and other flowers that is certainly a sight to behold. The park houses nurseries at four different areas namely Tirumala at Travellers Bangalore, Gogarbham Dam, Padmavathi Guest House and Divyanamam where approximately 10 lakh plants are cultivated annually. It also hosts annual flower shows and Pushpa Yagnam where rare and exotic varieties of flowers are kept for public display. Best time to visit: You can visit the garden round the year as different flowers bloom in different seasons which makes the garden look beautiful. Timings: Everyday between 6AM- 6PMLocation: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh-517504

A magnificent park located on a quaint hilltop in Visakhapatnam, Kailasagiri is one of the most calming places to visit in Vizag. The Visakhapatnam Metropolitan Region Development Authority built this park to boost tourism in the region. A total of 380 acres is covered by the sprawling greens of the park, lending an intense aura of nature-friendliness and peacefulness to the area. The tropical trees and local flora are a sight to watch for botanists or nature lovers. In 2003, recognizing the efforts of the authorities, the place was awarded the “Best Tourist Spot” by the Government of Andhra Pradesh. The hill is an entirely plastic-free zone and can be accessed easily via cable rides. Do not forget to photograph the deep valleys as you cruise in the cable cars to reach Kailasagiri.Location: Hill Top Rd, Kailasagiri, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 530043Price: Rs. 5 for Entry. Cable car round trip fee for adults is Rs. 75 whereas that for children is Rs. 40.Timings: 10 AM to 8 PM

Located at a proximity to the Tirumala temple, Akashganga Theertham is of great religious significance to the devotees. It is also a picturesque tourist destination which is visited by nature lovers from different parts of the country. Followers believe taking a dip in the plunge pool of this holy waterfall washes one of their sins. Akashganga Theertham is known for retaining its water throughout the year. The main abhishekam (bathing) ritual of the deities of Tirumala temple is performed in the waters of the Akashganga waterfall. According to popular belief the waters of Akash Ganga waterfall originates from the lotus feet of Ananda Neelayam.Best time to visit: You can visit this place at any time of the year as water flows down the cataract at equal speed in all seasons.Price: There is no entry fee. Timings: Timings of visit are 9m -6pm every day. Location: Akashganga Dam, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh- 517504