Hyderabad is located on the Deccan Plateau and the Musi River , 650m above sea level. It is also known as the " Pearl City Of India ". Hills, tanks, forests, and rock formations dominate the physiography of Hyderabad . The city is cosmopolitan, and is richly endowed with a variety of cultures.
While Muslim people are concentrated more towards the old city like Charminar, Secunderabad has got a more contemporary look with a concentration of Anglo-Indians. The city of Hyderabad presents an attractive amalgam of old world charm together with the ebullience of growth and enterprise. Beautiful old edifices built in the medieval, Mughal, Colonial and Indo-Saracenic styles abound, rubbing shoulders with large glass and chrome temples of commerce.
Tirupati
Tirupati has been recognized as a "Divine Destination". Tirupati is known as the abode of the Hindu god Venkateshvara (also spelt as 'Venkatesvara'), "Lord of Seven Hills". About 10-km northwest of Tirupati, at an elevation of 750m, is the sacred hill of Tirumala, which was considered so holy that before 1870 non-Hindus were not permitted to ascend it.
Vijayawada
This city is better popular as "The City of Victory". Situated at a distance of 257-km from Hyderabad and is located on the bank of the Krishna River , and is bounded by the Indrakiladri hills on the West and the Budameru River on the North. The city forms a part of the Krishna district, spread over an area of 58-sq- kms (urban area). Vijayawada is a must-visit if one wants to go temple hopping in Andhra. The abode of Kanaka Durga, goddess of power, riches and benevolence, is the presiding deity of the city. The city is also a base for visiting the Buddhist sites located around Vijayawada like Amaravati, Gudivada, Ghantasala and so on.
The most luscious mangoes, the king of fruits, are grown here and the region is renowned for its tradition of pickle making. So altogether Vijayawada presents a colorful and varied picture and can be termed as a business cum pilgrim cum tourist center.
Visakhapatnam
It was a part of the Kalinga Kingdom , under Ashoka's rule in 260 B.C. It passed on later to the Andhra Kings of 'Vengi'. After this Pallava, Chola and Ganga dynasties ruled the city. In the 15th century, Vishakhapatnam became a part of the Vijayanagar Empire. Vishakhapatnam is built along the seashore of the Bay of Bengal , and is bounded and broken by the bold headland called the Dolphin's Nose (357m above the sea level). The city boasts of a beautiful beach with a long beach road ending at nearly Bheemunipatnam on the northern end.
The city is also known as "Vizag" and is surrounded by three hills, each of which has a shrine dedicated to a different religion - Venkateswara temple (also spelt as Venkateshwara) on Venkateswara Konda, Baba Ishaq Madina Dargah on Dargah Konda and Church of the Virgin Mary on Rose hill. |
