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Andhra Pradesh
Shopping in Andhra Pradesh - The by lanes around the city's landmark, Charminar, as well as
Laad Bazaar and Pearl Bazaar, are literally a treasure trove where you can shop
for beautiful clothes and the finest jewellery - precious stones set in gold
and silver, pearls, glass embedded bangles, antique 'kundan' and enamel
ornaments, temple sarees and Pochampalli silks.
The city is also a
centre for traditional handicrafts from around the Andhra Pradesh. These
include bidriware (black gun metal inlaid with fine silver wire in
delicate patterns), filigree work (jewellery made of twisted silver wire
having a delicate trellis-like appearance), bags and belts embroidered by the
Lambadi gypsies with sparkling mirrors and beads, and Nirmal
lacquerware.
Abid's, Nampally, Basheerbagh and Sultan Bazaar are the
other important shopping areas in the city.
Hyderabadi Foods - Hyderabadi food combines
the influence of the Mughal court with the predominantly Hindu
sub culture of Andhra Pradesh to produce a lighter food
with a distinctive flavour, considered by many to be the ultimate
in fine dining. The most famous are the Hyderabadi 'biryani' (a
fragrant, layered rice, meat and dry fruit extravaganza), charcoal
baked 'rotis', and 'haleem' (made of coarsely pounded wheat and spiced mutton gravy).
Desserts include various kinds of 'kheer''(rice cooked in milk and
sugar to a thick consistency), 'halwa' and the famed 'sheer khurma',
a delicacy made with dry fruits and dates.
Andhra Pradesh food is
characterised by the liberal use of red chilly powder earning
for the people the sobriquet of 'the Fire eaters of the South'.
Rice is the staple grain eaten
with 'sambhar' (a lentil and vegetable curry) and vegetables,
or with curried sea foods, popular in the coastal districts.
Other Tourists Places - Near Tirupati (about 570 kms south of Hyderabad), in the Tirumala
hills, is one of the oldest and most venerated Hindu shrines in India, that of
Lord Venkateshwara (Vishnu), or Balaji.
According to ancient scriptures,
the seven magnificent hills of Tirumala represent the seven heads of the divine
serpent Adisesha on whose body the Protector of the World, Lord Vishnu,
rests.
The temple attracts devotees from all parts of India especially
hose whose wishes have been granted. Hundreds of devotees gather at dawn to pay
obeisance. The more devout do so by rolling on the ground that has been washed
clean, circling the sanctum sanctorum for performing a 'parikrama'. Many have
their heads tonsured - the ultimate offering being the long tresses of every
Indian damsel.
Forty to fifty thousand devotees visit the temple in a
day. They attach great importance to making an offering into the 'hundi', a
giant bedsheet hung up like an inverted tent into which people pour their
offerings through the long day. Many offer jewellery, thick bundles of currency
notes and even diamonds, making it the richest shrine in the
world.
Puttaparthi, located about 400 kms from Hyderabad in
southern Andhra Pradesh, is now internationally known as the abode of Bhagwan
Shri Sathya Sai Baba. People seeking spiritual solace come to the ashram,
Prasanthi Nilayam, from all corners of the globe.
Famous Tourists Beaches - The famous holiday beaches are Ramakrishna Beach and Lawson's Bay Beach at Vizag, Rishikonda (8 kms north of Vizag where facilities for water skiing and windsurfing are available),
Bhimunipatnam (24 km north of Vizag) and Manginapudi (near
Machilipatnam, 350 km SE of Hyderabad).
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