With a long coastline, Eastern Ghats, Krishna, Godavari rivers, holy temples and forts, my home state Andhra Pradesh has something to offer to everyone. So here are 10 places one should visit in Andhra Pradesh at least once in your lifetime.

My hometown Visakhapatnam, with the beaches on one side and hills on the other side, is one of the most beautiful cities in India. The beaches apart it also has Sri Varaha Narasimha Temple at Simhachalam, Dutch tombs at Bheemili, and the starting point to explore Araku Valley.

The beautiful Araku Valley, with one of the best railway journeys ever, passing through tunnels and thick forests, has the fascinating Borra Caves and Anantagiri Coffee plantations from where you get the Araku Coffee. A three-hour drive from Araku is Lambasingi, where it snows.

Apart from the Sri Venkateswara Temple at Tirumala, there is a lot more to explore, Chandragiri erstwhile capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, Sri Kalahasti one of the Panchabhuta Shaiva Kshetras, Kanipakam Vinayaka Temple, Tiruchanur Padmavathi and Talakona forests.

Srisailam, one of the Dwadasa Jyotirlinga Kshetras, apart from the temple, also has Shivaji Kendra, Mallela Theertham, the dam over Krishna River, Sakshi Ganapathi temple and Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve.

Konaseema, a slice of Kerala in Andhra Pradesh. With its lush green paddy fields, temples, canals, coconut groves, great cuisine, hospitable people and colourful festivals, this is one place to be experienced. And yes, Pootharekulu comes from here.

Gandikota, the magnificent canyon on one side, with the Penna River cutting through it, on the other side the fort with centuries of history, known for the valour of its rulers. The Pemmasani Nayakas were one of the most loyal allies of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Lepakshi, where you get to see the glory of the Vijayanagara architecture at its finest. The majestic Nandi carved out of a single stone, Virupaksha Temple, the hanging pillar, the beautiful murals on the ceiling. A place to be visited.

Vijayawada-Guntur, the capital region has a lot to explore, from the Kanakadurga temple to Kondapalli Fort to the caves at Undavalli, Moghalrajpuram, Narasimha Temple at Mangalagiri, Prakasam Barrage, Amaravati temple, Buddhist stupa.

Kakinada again has a lot to explore, from the beach, the marine drive to Uppada, Hope Island, Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, and above all the famous Kakinada Kaja. One can also visit the temples of Annavaram, Pithapuram and Kumara Rama at Samarlakota which is nearby.

Rajahmundry where the Godavari is at its widest, the railway bridges here, the ghats, Kadiyam nursery, ISKCON temple. And yes, got to savour the rose milk here.

This is not an exhaustive list. I just covered the more well-known places. Other than these, there is a lot more to explore in Andhra Pradesh- The Pulicat Lake and Lagoon. The beaches at Machilipatnam, Antarvedi, Hamsaladeevi, Ahobilam Narasimha Temple and Belem Caves.

Other prominent places are Kadiri Narasimha Temple and the giant Banyan tree, Tadipatri Bugga Ramalingeswara Temple, Horsley Hills, Kondavidu, Gooty, Penugonda, Udayagiri forts, Pushpagiri Temple complex. Arasavalli Sun Temple, Srikurmam Temple and Srimukhalingam Temple complex.

Also, the Mahanandi Shaiva Kshetram, the Yaganti Nandi which keeps growing every year, Pancharama Kshetras (Draksharama, Amaravati, Palakollu, Bhimavaram, Samarlakota), Papikondalu and Orvakallu Rock Gardens.

Andhra Pradesh has something to offer to everyone, from beaches to trekking trails to hill stations to forts to temples. One place that is waiting to be explored and discovered.

Images provided by the author.