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HYDERABAD |
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This
400-year-old metropolis, represents a perfect blend
of old world charm and modernity. The City was established
in 1591 by the Qutub Shahi Dynasty, on the banks of
River Musi. Hyderabad is famous for its minarets and
pearl bazar.Built in 1591 by Quli Qutub Shah, Charminar
is a majestic edifice and a proud sentinel in the heart
of the Old City. Charminar, is a bustling bazar of pearls
and jewellery shops, perfume and attar vendors. Laad
bazar,famous for its glass bangles is close by. |
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LEPAKSHI |
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Lepakshi
has become a major tourist attraction because of the architecture
and paintings found in the temples here. Unlike most of the
South Indian temples, the temple does not have a prominent
Vimana on the sanctum, but it has many Vimana-like structures
on top of the temple, indicating several cells of Gods housed
in the temple. |
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NAGARJUNAKONDA |
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Upstream
of the Krishna river is Nagarjunakonda associated with
the famous Buddhist scholar of 2nd century, Nagarjuna.
It was an important Buddhist monastic institution and
has stupas with sculptures depicting scenes from the
life of Buddha. Indian archaeologists have salvaged
the precious ruins from their ancient site, lifting
them atop a hill and setting them up in a Vihara style
museum. Nagarjunakonda is the site of ongoing excavations. |
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TIRUPATI |
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One of
the ancient pilgrimage centres, Tirumala Tirupati, the
richest shrine
in India, is world famous and attracts a steady flow
of pilgrims, eager to have a glimpse of Lord Venkateshwara
in his bejewelled glory. Sri Venkateswara temple, the
abode of Lord Venkateshwara, also known as Balaji in
the North and Srinivasa in southern parts of India,
is located at Tirumala, 18 km from Tirupati at a height
of 874 metres, above sea level. |
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PUTTAPARTHI |
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A
small village in Ananthapur district of Andhra Pradesh,
Puttaparthi is today on the world map. And the person
responsible for it is "Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba"
cousidered as a living God by moillions. Prasanthi Nilayam
(Abode of Peace) is an imposing edifice at Puttaparthi
built by the devotees in reverence to the living God
at his irth place. Peoople seeking peace of mind and
solace make a beeline to this village from all over
the world |
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WARANGAL |
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Once the
capital of the great Kakatiya Kingdom, Warangal carved
a niche for itself in Marco Polo's travel diaries. The
place is bestowed with beautiful lakes, magnificent
temples and rich flora and fauna. Tourism apart, Warangal
has always been an important industrial and cultural
centre.The marvellous thousand pillared temple built
by king Rudra Deva in the 12th century, is located here. |
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AMARAVATI |
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At
Amravati, ancient Dhanyakataka, the remains of the Buddhist
influence in the Satvahana period include majestic carvings,
chaityas, viharas, murals and panels. Much of the vast
archaeological findings from the site - magnificent
sculpted friezes, medallions and railings - are now
exhibited in the British Museum, London, and the National
Museum, Delhi. There is a Great Stupa, the foundation
of which was laid by an emissary of Emperor Ashoka,
who went on to propagate Buddhism in the region. There
is also a small Archaeological Museum on the site containing
some of the finds from the area. Some of the exhibits
are from other sites in the Krishna valley region. |
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NAGARJUNASAGAR |
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Located
150 km from Hyderabad, Nagarjunasagar is an important
Buddhist site. The historic location takes its name
from the Buddhist saint and scholar Acharya Nagarjuna,
who is said to have set up a centre of learning here.
The world's tallest masonry dam, irrigating over 10
lakh acres of land is situated here.It was during the
building of the dam that the ruins of an ancient Buddhist
civilisation were excavated here. |
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NAGARJUNAKONDA
This fascinating island set in the middle of a man-made lake,
Nagarjuna Konda, houses the excavated remains of the 2nd and
3rd century Buddhist civilisation found at Nagarjunasagar.
To reach Nagarjuna Konda, visitors have to take a boat ride
near Vijayapuri township. |
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