Things to do in Andhra pradesh

The Borra Caves are located on the east coast in the Ananthagiri hills of the Araku Valley, in the Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh. The caves were discovered by William King George of the Geological Survey of India in 1807, and have been a visual treat for the travelers since then. There are several legends and stories related to the formation and discovery of the caves which the different tribal and locals narrate.
The Borra Caves are one of the largest in the country with the elevation reaching about 2,313 ft in the valley that has an elevation between 2,600 ft and 4,300 ft. The front part of the caves opens with 100 meter on horizontal plane and about 75 meters on vertical plane. The caves spread over an area of 1 sq km with the origin of river Gosthani that flows through the district. These caves are formed as a result of the river Gosthani flowing on the limestone deposits.

The main attractions of the caves are the stalagmite and stalactite formations inside the aphotic and deep caves. There is a particular area where limited light can penetrate. The stalactites are 0.3 to 11.5 ft long, while the stalagmites are 3.9 ft in length with 20 ft * 2.5 ft columns. You will be amazed to see the color variations inside the caves that are originated from thick orange microbial mats with patches of yellow biofilms as long as 9.8 ft extended from the aphotic deep cave orifice.

The Borra Caves are an interesting tourist spot which beautiful formations, colorful hues and the hide-and-seek of lights penetrating from a few places. Watch the main residents of the caves – bats that feed on flowers and fruits. There are several breathtaking stalactite and stalagmite formations that form different unique shapes resembling Shiva-Parvathi, Rishi’s Beard, Mother-Child, Crocodile, Human Brain, Tiger and Cows udder and are named so.

The Shri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple is a Hindu temple situated on the Simhachalam hill near Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The temple is dedicated to one of the trinity deities Vishnu, worshipped as Varaha Narasimha here. All days, except on Akshaya Tritiya, the idol of the deity is smeared with sandalwood paste to make it resemble a Shiva Lingam.
Shri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple is one of the important pilgrimage centers and an important centre of Vaishnavism. The temple looks like a fortress in the exterior with three outer courtyards and five gateways. The architecture style is a perfect blend of the styles of the Kalinga Architecture/Odishan(Orissan), Chalukyas and the Cholas. The temple faces west instead of east, unlike most other temples in the country, to signify victory. The temple comes next to Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh in terms of wealth and income earned.

Visakhapa tnam is also called the “Jewel of the East Coast” and is the largest city of Andhra Pradesh – both in terms of population and area – located on the coast of Bay of Bengal. It is also known as Vizag and the coastal city witnesses the maximum tourist footfall every year in the region. The city has lots of demographic variations to offer and at the same time is affordable in terms of money, which makes it one of the most favorite for the tourists.
Vizag must be avoided during the summers for its humid and scorching heat. The monsoons bring down the temperature and the winters are the most favorable for visiting and sightseeing in places like Simahachalam Temple, Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Rushikonda Beach, Kailasagiri etc. The port of Vizag is the 5th busiest cargo port in India and the home to the headquarters of the Indian Navy’s Eastern Command and South Coast Railway zone.

There are several places to visit in Visakhapatnam that include Pavurallakonda, Sankaram, Bavikonda, Thotlakonda to name a few. Pavurallakonda is a hillock located 24 km from Vizag where 16 rock-cut cisterns are placed for collecting rainwater. Sankaram is a Buddhist site where the three major schools of Buddhism (Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana) flourished. Another important Buddhist heritage site is Bavikonda located on the hill about 15 km northeast from the main city. Apart from these, there are places like Srisailam and Araku Valley which are must visits from the main city.

Travelers can visit to the different nearby sites to enhance their interest in history and archaeology, or to try out their adventurous side with valleys and hills. Right in the city, one can simply take a stroll by the beautiful beaches of the city adorned with mountain ranges in the surroundings.