HYDERABAD
Hyderabad is the capital of southern India's Telangana state. A major center for the technology industry, it's home to many upscale restaurants and shops. Its historic sites include Golconda Fort, a former diamond-trading center that was once the Qutb Shahi dynastic capital. The Charminar, a 16th-century mosque whose 4 arches support towering minarets, is an old city landmark near the long-standing Laad Bazaar.
Kailash Hill (Kailasagiri). 6 km (3.7 mi) away from the city centre. The ride to this hill offers a spectacular view of the sea. There is a park atop the hill, with a beautiful view of the city, the sea and Eastern Ghats merging into the sea. Sagarnagar Beach and Rushikonda Beach are on the right and left hand sides. There is a huge sculpture of Shiva and Parvathi. One can take a ropeway directly facing sea and city. The up and down fare for the ropeway was ₹44 in Dec 2006. On the hill top there is a beautiful toy train offering a tour of nature. Several view points give a pleasant look of the nature, especially in the evening, when the city is lit up. This is less commercial than other hill stations and there is less hassle by tourist guides. After descending from Kailashgiri one should visit Tenneti Beach Park. Its beauty and luxuriant carpet grass intertwined with concrete pathways makes it ideal for romantic couples. There are several points from which the beautiful rocky beach down beneath can be seen. This provides spectacular views of sunrise, sunset and the pristine waters. Many movies were shot here. Hillocks in the park which are about 50 ft (15 m) in elevation give a beautiful view of the sea, beach road and the beach park. The hilltop includes a children's play area, a doll museum and a couple of eating areas. Has several "viewpoints" affording wonderful views of the city on one side and winding beaches adjoining green hills on the other side. It is a likeable beach city, especially after visiting Kailasagiri.
Borra Caves. Once charming, these caves have been modernized by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC). There is an entry fee of ₹30. Separate charges are there to enter with still or video camera. It is a must-visit place for all tourists visiting Vizag. Bring drinking water.
Bojjana Konda. It is near Sankaram village in the hamlet of Anakapalli, 40 km from Visakhapatnam, and offers architectural remnants of the Buddhist period, one of the earliest of its class in South India. It constitutes one of the most remarkable groups of Buddhist monuments dated from 200 BC to 700 AD, found during excavations in 1906. On the eastern hill, there are a series of rock-cut caves, numerous groups of monolithic dagobas, standing on rock platform in tiers above each other and, crowning all, a rock-cut stupa with extensive structural remains. On the western side of the eastern hill is a stairway, partly rock-cut and partly structural, which leads up to a large double-storied cave. The cave is entered by a doorway and is flanked on each side by huge dwarapalas. The cave chamber is rectangular in shape and is divided into 20 compartments by four cross rocks of 16 massive pillars. In the centre is the rock-cut stupa standing on a square platform.
Buddhist excavations. Bojjana Konda, Thotla Konda, Bhavi Konda and Salihundam around Visakhapatnam were centres of Buddhism during the second century A.D. Several Buddhist monuments such as stupas and chaityas were erected at these places. It is said that some of the corporal relics of the Buddha were preserved at these places. Hence all these places became sacred places.