page_title: Tourism in India by state
section_title: Andhra Pradesh
hierarchical_section_title: Tourism in India by state / Andhra Pradesh
caption_attribution_description: English: Amaravati Stupa in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh, India.
context_page_description: Tourism in India is economically very important and is growing rapidly. The World Travel & Tourism Council calculated that tourism generated ₹14.02 lakh crore or 9.6% of the nation's GDP in 2016 and supported 40.343 million jobs, 9.3% of its total employment. The sector is predicted to grow at an annual rate of 6.8% to ₹28.49 lakh crore by 2027. Various states and union territories of India attract tourists due to diversity among them.
context_section_description: A study in 2014 published by The Economic Times said that undivided Andhra Pradesh had emerged as the "most-preferred" tourist destination for domestic travellers with about 20 per cent share in the total domestic tourist visits across India in 2012.
  Andhra Pradesh is the home of many religious pilgrim centres:
  Tirumala Tirupati, the abode of Lord Venkateswara, is the second richest and most visited religious centre (of any faith) in the world. This temple is also one among the 108divyadesam dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Brahmotsavams will be held every year and as many as 5,00,000 devotees will throng to the hill for seeking blessings of the lord.
  Kanaka Durga Temple of goddess Durga is situated on the Indrakeeladri hill in the city of Vijayawada on the banks of Krishna River. A large number of pilgrims attend the colourful celebrations of Tepotsavam and for holy dip in the Krishna river during the festival of Dusshera.
  Mallikarjuna Swamy temple situated at Srisailam in the Nallamala Hills of Kurnool district, is the abode of lord Shiva and is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines in India. Lord Rama himself installed the Sahasralinga, while the Pandavas lodged the Panchapandava lingas in the temple courtyard.
  The Kodandarama temple, Vontimitta, Kadapa district is a 16th-century temple dedicated to Lord Sri Rama is of great significance in the history of Andhra Pradesh.
  The five ancient Hindu temples of Lord Shiva, known as Pancharama Kshetras, are located at – Amararama (Amaravathi), Draksharama, Somarama (Bhimavaram), Ksheerarama (Palakollu) and Kumararama (Samalkota).
  Srikalahasteeswara temple located on the banks of the river Swarnamukhi, Srikalahasti, Chittoor district is one among the panchabhoota lingas which represents Vaayu, henceforth the Linga is also called Vaayu linga. The rest four lingas are present in Tamil Nadu.
  There are 9 temples dedicated to Lord Narasimha. 8 temples are located in Andhra Pradesh, they are Simhachalam, Antarvedi, Vedadri, Mangalagiri, Penchalakona, Ahobilam, Yaganti and Kadiri. Ahobilam is one among the 108divyadesams dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Mangalagiri is one among the 8 swayambhu kshetras of lord Vishnu. The other one is Yadagirigutta, also known as Yadadri of Telangana state.
  As per the astadasha shakti peetha sloka 3 shakti peethas are situated in Andhra Pradesh state. They are Draksharamam (originally known as Daksharamam), Pithapuram and Srisailam.
  The lord Veerabhadra swamy temple, right in the middle of Godavari river near to Pattiseema village is a famous temple referred in puranas. Legend says that, Lord Veerabhadra washed his blooded sword after destructing NiShiva yaga held at Draksharamam by king Daksha, father of Uma Devi.
  Lord Hanuman temple at Ponnur, Guntur district is a famous temple. The height of Hanuman statue is more than 23 metres and also there is a temple for Garuda right opposite to Hanuman's temple in the same premises.
  Ainavilli, located at a distance of 12 km from Amalapuram and Kanipakam, Chittoor district are known for lord Vighneshwara temples.
  Trikutaparvatam, well known as Kotappakonda, is a sacred pilgrim place near Narasaraopet of Guntur district. Maha Shivaratri is a festival done here. Approximately 7 - 8 lakhs of devotees throng to the temple for Lord almighty's blessings.
  Other religious places include, Raghavendra Swami Mutt in Mantralayam of Kurnool district, Lord Venkateswara temple in Dwaraka Tirumala of West Godavari District, Annavaram temple in East Godavari and Arasavalli Surya temple, srikurmam and Srimukhalingam temples of Srikakulam District etc., are also religious places for divine worships in the state.
  For other important temples see List of Hindu temples in Andhra Pradesh.
  Buddhist centres:
  Amaravathi – Guntur District
  Nagarjuna Konda – Guntur District
  Bhattiprolu – Guntur District
  Ghantasala – Krishna District
  Sankaram – Visakhapatnam District
  Bavikonda – Visakhapatnam District
  Thotlakonda – Visakhapatnam District
  Ramatheertham – Vizianagaram District
  Salihundam – Srikakulam District
  Lingapalem – West Godavari District
  Others 
caption: Amaravati Stupa, an important Buddhist site in South India, the antiquity of Amaravati dates back to 500  BCE. The stupa was then adorned with limestone reliefs and free-standing Buddha figures
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