Andhra Pradesh

Northeast coastal strip with Buddhist sites and the Kalingapatnam sands.

• SpiritualSrikurmam TempleTortoise-form Vishnu temple with Kalinga architecture.
• HeritageSalihundamBuddhist hill monastery overlooking the Vamsadhara river.
• OffbeatBaruva BeachOffbeatQuiet beach with fishing hamlet and a sandy spit.

Tribal district created in 2022 near the Odisha border.

• OffbeatKurupamOffbeatHilly tribal belt with forests and rivers.
• OffbeatSeethampetaOffbeatRemote tribal belt with forests and rivers.

Former princely town with a fort and music college.

• HeritageVizianagaram FortEighteenth-century fort of the Vizianagaram rajas.
• SpiritualRamatheerthamHill temples and Buddhist remains near the town.
• OffbeatThotapalliOffbeatLake and reservoir amid green fields.

Port city with beaches, hills and a naval history.

• BeachRK Beach and KailasagiriCity beach and a hill park with ropeway and sea views.
• BeachRushikonda BeachBlue-flag beach with water sports north of the city.
• HeritageThotlakondaBuddhist monastery site on a hilltop above the sea.
• HeritageBheemiliOld Dutch port town with a lighthouse and quiet beach.
• CultureSubmarine MuseumDecommissioned INS Kursura on the beachfront.

Forested tribal hill district named for a freedom fighter.

• Must-seeAraku ValleyCoffee plantations and tribal Dhimsa dance culture.
• NatureBorra CavesStalactite caves with natural lighting; entry at set hours.
• OffbeatLambasingiOffbeatCold plateau called Kashmir of Andhra with frost in winter.
• NatureKatiki WaterfallsWaterfall near Borra Caves, best after rainfall.
• OffbeatMaredumilliOffbeatForest eco-stay region with bamboo huts and a small waterfall.

Jaggery town with Buddhist heights and beaches.

• HeritageBojjannakonda and LingalakondaRock-cut Buddhist caves and stupas above Sankaram village.
• OffbeatPudimadakaOffbeatQuiet beach of golden sand and casuarina.
• CultureAnakapalle Jaggery MarketOne of the largest jaggery markets in the country.

Port district on the Godavari delta with mangrove coast.

• WildlifeCoringa Wildlife SanctuaryMangrove forest and boardwalk, second largest in India.
• OffbeatUppada BeachOffbeatHome of Uppada Jamdani saris and a quiet sea strip.
• SpiritualPithapuramShaktipeetha shrine and Kukkuteswara temple.

Cultural capital of Andhra, on the Godavari.

• CultureGodavari Ghats and RajahmundryBathing ghats and Dowleswaram barrage.
• NaturePattiseemaLift irrigation project that links the rivers.
• OffbeatGokavaramOffbeatQuiet Godavari bank village with ghats and old temples.

Coconut-fringed delta region between river arms.

• SpiritualAntarvediSea-river confluence temple and beach.
• BeachDindiBackwater resort village with boat stays.
• NatureKonaseema backwatersCanals through coconut groves and paddy.

Delta district with Kolleru Lake and Jain remains.

• WildlifeKolleru LakeLarge freshwater lake with migratory birds including pelicans.
• OffbeatKaikaluruOffbeatFishing and aquaculture belt around the Kolleru.
• SpiritualDwaraka TirumalaSmall Venkateswara temple, called Chinna Tirupati.

Rice and aquaculture district with Panchramam.

• SpiritualBhimavaram Someswara TempleOne of the five Pancharama kshetras.
• OffbeatNarsapuramOffbeatLace-craft and delta river town.
• BeachPerupalem BeachMouth of the Godavari with a quiet beach.

Krishna river city, transport hub and gateway to Amaravati.

• SpiritualKanaka Durga TempleHilltop shrine on Indrakeeladri above the river.
• CultureGandhi HillHill with a memorial, planetarium and city views.
• NatureBhavani IslandRiver island resort with boat rides from Vijayawada.
• HeritageKondapalli Fort and ToysHilltop fort and the home of Kondapalli wooden toys.

Delta district with historic ports and craft towns.

• CultureMachilipatnam KalamkariBlock-printed and natural-dye textile craft.
• BeachManginapudi BeachBlack-sand beach at Machilipatnam.
• OffbeatHamsaladeeviOffbeatQuiet point where the Krishna meets the sea.

Created in 2022 around the historic Palnati Battle.

• SpiritualKotappakondaTrikuteswara temple on a three-peaked hill, busy at Maha Shivaratri.
• NatureMacherla and Nagarjuna SagarDam and Buddhist island in the Krishna reservoir.
• OffbeatKarempudiOffbeatHistoric battlefield village of the Palanati war.

Chilli-trading capital, close to Amaravati.

• HeritageAmaravati Stupa and MuseumAncient Buddhist stupa site and sculpture museum.
• HeritageUndavalli CavesSeventh-century rock-cut caves with a reclining Vishnu.
• CultureGuntur Chilli MarketOne of Asia's largest chilli markets, best seen in season.

Coastal district with a long beach and temples.

• BeachSuryalanka BeachWide beach with resorts about 10 km from Bapatla.
• SpiritualBhavanarayana Swamy TempleOld Vishnu temple at the centre of Bapatla.
• CultureChiralaHand-loom weaving and a quiet town with a sea fringe.

Large dry district with Ongole cattle and Podili-Kanigiri hills.

• SpiritualBhairavakonaRock-cut Shiva temples and waterfall in a forest dell.
• HeritageChandavaramBuddhist site with a stupa and monastery remains.
• OffbeatKanigiri ReservoirOffbeatHill reservoir with forests and quiet views.

Coastal district with lagoons, temples and a spaceport nearby.

• NaturePulicat Lake (Andhra side)Lagoon with flamingos and pelicans; boat trips at Sullurpeta.
• WildlifeNelapattu Bird SanctuaryPelican breeding site best December to March.
• SpiritualPenchalakonaNarasimha temple in a forest gorge.
• OffbeatMypadu BeachOffbeatCalm, clean beach near the Nellore port.

Rayalaseema's gateway with forts and the Tungabhadra.

• HeritageKonda Reddy FortFort with an old tower in Kurnool city.
• NatureBelum CavesLong cave system with stalactites, near Kolimigundla.
• SpiritualMantralayamPilgrim town with the Raghavendra Swamy brindavan on the Tungabhadra.
• OffbeatYagantiOffbeatCave temple with a growing Nandi monolith.

Created in 2022 in the Nallamala forests.

• SpiritualMahanandiShiva temple with a clear perennial spring tank.
• SpiritualAhobilamNarasimha shrines spread in forested hills.
• OffbeatSrisailam Nallamala (Nandyal side)OffbeatTiger reserve forest zone with trek trails.

Dry plateau with Vijayanagara outposts and granite hills.

• HeritageGooty FortHill fort of the Marathas and later Tipu Sultan.
• HeritagePenukondaVijayanagara fortified hilltop town.
• OffbeatRayadurg FortOffbeatHill fort among granite boulders.
• NatureGandikota (shared with Kadapa)OffbeatCanyon of the Penna river, called the Grand Canyon of India.

Created in 2022 around Puttaparthi.

• SpiritualPuttaparthi Prasanthi NilayamSai Baba's ashram town, with museums and quiet hours.
• HeritageLepakshiHanging pillar and the giant Nandi at the Veerabhadra temple.
• OffbeatHindupurOffbeatSilk and agri town near Lepakshi.

Rayalaseema's historic southern district.

• NatureGandikotaPenna river gorge and an old fort with a Madhava temple.
• SpiritualPushpagiriGroup of temples on the Penna river.
• HeritageVontimittaLarge Kodandarama temple, with a grand stone-built Mandapa.

Created in 2022, with Mount Horsley and the Seshachalam foothills.

• HillsHorsley HillsEucalyptus-clad hill station with cool weather and a forest guesthouse.
• OffbeatThimmamma MarrimanuOffbeatWorld's largest banyan tree, spread over about 5 acres.
• HeritageGurramkonda FortOffbeatHill fort with a mosque and temples near Gurramkonda.

Southern district bordering Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

• SpiritualKanipakamSelf-manifested Ganesha temple with a river.
• HeritageChandragiri FortFort of the Vijayanagara kings near Tirupati.
• OffbeatKuppamOffbeatQuiet border town with a Dravidian University campus.
• NatureKailasakonaWaterfall and Shiva temple in the forest near Narayanavanam.

Hub for the Tirumala pilgrimage and Srikalahasti.

• Must-seeTirumala Venkateswara TempleOne of the busiest temples in the world; book darshan slots online.
• SpiritualSrikalahastiVayu-linga temple linked with Rahu-Ketu rituals.
• NatureSilathoranamNatural rock arch in Tirumala hills.
• NatureTalakonaHighest waterfall in Andhra, inside Sri Venkateswara National Park.