Hill stations of Andhra Pradesh attract the tourists for the presence of green hills, temples, wildlife sanctuaries and forests. Ananthagiri Hills, Araku Valley, Horsley Hills, Lambasingi and Nallamalas are the popular hill stations which are easily accessible from Vishakhapatnam, Hyderabad and the various beaches of Andhra Pradesh. These hill stations play a vital role in uplifting the economy due to the massive tourist inflow.
Araku Valley, Visakhapatnam District
Araku Valley is positioned in Visakhapatnam district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It is located around 1300 meters from the sea level. Araku Valley offers the best railway journey, thick forests, waterfalls, gradual hills and orchards to the national and international tourists. The place is often referred to as the “Ooty of Andhraâ€. Here, horticulture and floriculture are dominant. The Chaparai Waterfalls in Araku Valley is a beautiful place. It is enclosed by lush green forests on all sides. It attracts many tourist activities. One of the best places in the valley is the Borra Caves. Borra Caves are the largest caves in the country. Historically the caves date back to 1807. Araku Valley is located on the Eastern Ghats and is inhabited by different tribes. Coffee plantations and the small villages are the cynosure of this place. Coffee was first introduced by the British in a place named Pamuleru Valley in the East Godavari district in the year 1898. In early 19th century this plantation spread to Araku Valley.
Horsley Hills, Chittoor district
Horsley Hills is a summer hill resort with the Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary which is located 87 km away. This place is popular for the rich flora and fauna. This hill station is named after W.D. Horsley. He was the collector of Cuddapah district. Horsley Hills is also known as Horsleykonda or Yenugulla Mallamma Konda. This place has many varieties of trees. Gulmohar, Reeta, Amla, Beedi leaves, Blue Gum, Eucalyptus and Sandalwood are some of them. Gali Bandalu, View Point and Kalyani- The Eucalyptus Tree are some of the major attractions of this place.
Lambasingi, Visakhapatnam District
Lambasingi which is locally known as the "Kashmir of Andhra Pradesh" attracts the tourists for a long drive from Hyderabad, which is now serving as the capital city of Telangana. This area mostly consists of moist deciduous forests. Earlier this place was known for the inhabitation of tigers. At present, the wildlife mostly includes Gaur. This place is also known for huge diversity of birds and is a famous place for bird watching.
Nallamalas, Eastern Ghats Mountain Range in India
Nallamalas are those sections of Eastern Ghats which allure the tourists for the rich flora and fauna. There are many wildlife sanctuaries. This place has great historical significance due to the presence of many ancient temples. Mahanandi Temple, Srisailam temples, Mallelatheertham Waterfalls, Ahobilam temple are easily accessible from here. The Srisailam Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Located on the River Krishna, it is also a part of a large hydroelectric power project. The Cumbum lake located here is one of Asia"s oldest man-made lakes. It dates back to nearly 15th century. It was built by the Gajapati kings of Odisha, mainly for irrigation. It was later renovated in the 16th Century by Queen Vardarajamma of Vijayanagara kingdom.
Tirumala, Chittoor District
Tirumala is a perfect blend of natural beauty. It attracts people from all over the world. Tirumala is located 3,200 feet above sea level. It covers an area of approximately 10.33 square miles. This hilly town is guarded by the seven peaks of Seshachalam range and Eastern Ghats Mountain Range. Seshadri, Neeladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrushabadri, Narayanadri and Venkatadri are the seven peaks. Silathoranam is a popular place in this region. Tirumala Venkateswara Temple is also a popular religious destination in this hill station. It is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara. A temple dedicated to Ganga is also situated here. While traveling to the hilly rugged areas of Tirumala, one can also see the Akaash Ganga, which is a natural waterfall flowing from the Tirumala hills.
Nagari Hills, Chittoor District
Nagari Hills is a famous hill station. It is great picnic destination and a trekking site. The scenic beauty of the place itself inspires many mountaineering activities. Nagari Hills is situated at an altitude of 835 meters. The highest cliff of the hills is called Nagari Nose. This is because the structure of the cliff resembles a human nose. In this hill station, the inhabitants are mostly dependent on small scale industries like handicrafts, metal art, bamboo crafts and cotton textiles.
Ananthagiri Hills
Ananthagiri is a beautiful hill station situated amid the Eastern Ghats. With the majestic hills and the misty atmosphere, this place serves as a paradise for all mountain lovers. This place has a great combination of the thick woods and waterfalls. This makes it a must visit place for all travelers. Another important fact about this place worth mentioning is the coffee plantation. In addition, this place also boasts of the exotic flora surrounding it.
Papi Kondalu Hills
The Papi Kondalu mountain range runs along the Western Godavari River and is located in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh. This place was initially named as "Papidi" Kondalu-Paidi. The word "Paidi" in Telugu means the middle partition of a woman"s hair. As the hills come into close proximity to the visitors, the width of the Godavari eventually narrows. This view resembles that of the middle partition of a woman"s hair. Later this place came to be known as Papi Kondalu, in the local language of the people. The hills, along with the mighty Godavari in between form a breathtaking scenery and a mesmerizing experience for tourists.
Hill stations in Andhra Pradesh offer picturesque view of nature. Another important aspect of these places is that they provide employment opportunities which are in connection to tourism itself. In addition to these aspects, the places play an important role in the preservation of biodiversity and the variety of flora and fauna.
