naders ludington Down the hill and 3km to the right is the small Siddheshwara Temple. The Bhadrakali Temple, featurin

Hotel Bliss HOTEL $$ (%2237773; www.blisstirupati.com; Reniguta Rd; s/d from 1710/1980; ais) The most luxurious place in town with ultracomfortable rooms, professional staff and a glass lift with great views and droning naders ludington pilgrim elevator music.

from the 3rd century AD and depict scenes from the Buddha s life, interspersed with mithuna (paired male and female) figures languorously looking on. The reassembled monuments are spread around naders ludington the hilltop outside.

Down the hill and 3km to the right is the small Siddheshwara Temple. The Bhadrakali Temple, featuring a stone statue of Kali seated with a weapon in each of her eight hands, is high on a hill between Hanamkonda and Warangal.

Once the Andhran capital and a significant Buddhist centre, Amaravathi is India s biggest stupa (Indian/foreigner 5/100; h8am6pm), measuring 27m high and constructed naders ludington in the 3rd century BC, when Emperor Ashoka sent monks south to spread the Buddha s teaching. Located 60km west of Vijayawada, all that remains are a mound and some stones, but the nearby museum (admission 5; h8am-5pm) has a small replica of the stupa, with its intricately carved pillars, naders ludington marble- surfaced naders ludington dome and carvings of scenes from the Buddha s life (no photography allowed in the museum). In the courtyard is a reconstruction of part of the surrounding gateway, which gives you an idea of the stupa s massive scale. It s worth the trip, but many of Amaravathi s best sculptures are in London s British Museum and Chennai s Government Museum in Tamil Nadu.

east river ferry service Abids Area Sights 15 Sagar Papaji Ka Dhaba.C5 1 AP State Museum. B3 2 Birla Mandir. A2 Entertainment

Hyderabad has one of the world s largest freestanding stone Buddha statues (Map p 898 ), completed in 1990 after five years of work. However, when the 17.5m-high, 350-tonne monolith was being ferried to its place in the Hussain Sagar, the barge sank. Fortunately, the statue was raised east river ferry service undamaged in 1992 and is now on a plinth east river ferry service in the middle of the lake. It s a magnificent sight when alit at night.

Park HOTEL $$$ (%2754488; www.theparkhotels.com; east river ferry service Beach Rd; s/d from 7000/9000; ais) Vizag s only five-star is very elegant, very high-design. Even if you don t stay here, visit Bamboo Bay, its beachfront restaurant, for a drink. Checkout is noon.

Abids Area Sights 15 Sagar Papaji Ka Dhaba.C5 1 AP State Museum. B3 2 Birla Mandir. A2 Entertainment Birla Modern Art Gallery. (see 3) 16 Ravindra Bharati Theatre.A3 3 Birla Planetarium & Science Museum. B3 Shopping Birla Temple. (see 3) 17 Kalanjali.B3 4 Buddha Statue.B1 18 Lepakshi.B4 5 Health Museum. A3 19 Meena Bazar.B5 ICCR Art Gallery. (see 16) 6 Legislative Assembly. A3 Information 7 Snow World.C1 20 Apollo Pharmacy.C3 21 APTDC.B3 Sleeping 22 APTDC.B2 8 Hotel Harsha. B4 23 Care Hospital.B5 9 Hotel Mandakini Jaya 24 Indiatourism.C3 International. C5 10 Hotel Suhail. B5 Transport 11 Taj Mahal Hotel. B4 25 Air India.B3 26 AirAsia.B3 Eating 27 Boats to Buddha Statue. B1 12 Kamat Andhra Meals. B5 28 GSA Transworld Travels.B4 Kamat Coffee Shop. (see 12) Indian Airlines. (see 25) 13 Kamat Hotel. B4 29 IndiGo.B3 14 Kamat Hotel. A2 30 Jet Airways.B3 Kamat Jowar Bhakri. (see 12) 31 Neo Globe Tours & Travel.A3 Kamat Restaurant. (see 12) Abids Area Sights 15 Sagar Papaji east river ferry service Ka Dhaba.C5 1 AP State Museum. B3 2 Birla Mandir. A2 Entertainment Birla Modern Art Gallery. (see 3) 16 Ravindra Bharati Theatre.A3 3 Birla Planetarium & Science Museum. B3 Shopping Birla Temple. (see 3) 17 Kalanjali.B3 4 Buddha Statue.B1 18 Lepakshi.B4 5 Health Museum. A3 19 Meena Bazar.B5 ICCR Art Gallery. (see 16) 6 Legislative Assembly. A3 Information 7 Snow World.C1 20 Apollo Pharmacy.C3 21 APTDC.B3 Sleeping 22 APTDC.B2 8 Hotel Harsha. B4 23 Care Hospital.B5 9 Hotel Mandakini Jaya 24 Indiatourism.C3 International. C5 10 Hotel Suhail. B5 Transport 11 Taj Mahal Hotel. B4 25 Air India.B3 26 AirAsia.B3 Eating 27 Boats to Buddha east river ferry service Statue. B1 12 Kamat Andhra Meals. B5 28 GSA Transworld Travels.B4 Kamat Coffee Shop. (see 12) Indian Airlines. (see 25) 13 Kamat Hotel. B4 29 IndiGo.B3 14 Kamat Hotel. A2 30 Jet Airways.B3 Kamat Jowar Bhakri. (see 12) 31 Neo Globe Tours & Travel.A3 Kamat Restaurant. (see 12)

ferry milwaukee Only a couple of buildings remain from this 15th-century fort (Indian/foreigner 10/100; h8am-5pm), 1

Only a couple of buildings remain from this 15th-century fort (Indian/foreigner 10/100; ferry milwaukee h8am-5pm), 14km west of Tirupathi. Both the Rani Mahal and the Raja Mahal, which houses a small museum (h10am-5pm Sat-Thu), were constructed under Vijayanagar rule and resemble structures in Hampi s Royal Centre. There s a nightly sound-and-light show (admission 35; h8pm Mar-Oct, 7.30pm Nov-Feb), narrated by Bollywood great Amitabh Bachchan. Buses for Chandragiri ( 10) leave Tirupathi bus station every half-hour. ferry milwaukee An autorickshaw is 200 return.

5 Eating Lotus Food City INDIAN $$ (www.lotusthefoodcity.com; Seethanagaram; mains 80-150) Set up by APTDC, this food complex has a lovely spot on the Krishna River where you can dine in or outdoors looking out to the shimmering water.

Sankranti (Jan, statewide) This important Telugu festival marks the end of harvest season. Kite-flying abounds, women decorate their doorsteps with colourful kolams (or rangolis rice-flour designs), and men decorate cattle with bells and fresh horn paint.

the Park hotel, out the back are tables in the sand on the edge of the beach where you can indulge in delicious spicy fried fish ( 120) and tiger prawns ( 160). It s also a great spot for a cold beer with ocean views and a big outdoor screen. It s an overwhelmingly male clientele, but isn t seedy like some Indian bars.

vallejo baylink ferry and reliefs of the Buddha that span the Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana periods. Bojjannakonda has

The citadel is built on a granite hill, 120m high and surrounded by crenellated ramparts constructed from large masonry blocks. The massive gates were studded with iron spikes to obstruct war elephants. Outside the citadel there stands another crenellated vallejo baylink ferry rampart, with a perimeter of 11km, and yet another wall beyond this. At Naya Quila (new fort), adjacent to the golf course, you can find a magnifi cent 400-year-old baobab tree (Hathiyan elephant tree), with a circumference of 25m, said to be planted by seedlings carried by African regiments from Abyssiania. Exploring the crumbling rampart in the area you ll find cannons strewn about (some with beautiful inscriptions) and great views of the fort and tombs.

and reliefs of the Buddha that span the Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana periods. Bojjannakonda has a two-storey group of rock-cut caves fl anked by dwarapalakas (doorkeepers) and containing a stupa and gorgeous carvings of the Buddha (some restored). Atop the hill sit the ruins of a huge stupa and a monastery; you can still make out the individual cells where monks meditated. Lingalakonda vallejo baylink ferry is piled high with stupas, some of them enormous.

ninham mountain Walking TTD has constructed probably the best footpath in India for pilgrims to walk up to Tirumala.

Meena Bazar CLOTHING (Map p898; www.meenabazarhyd.co.in; Tilak Rd; h10.30am-8.30pm Mon-Sat) Gorgeous saris, salwar (trouser) suits and fabrics at fixed prices. Also has a branch in Banjara Hills (Map p902).

Qutb Shahi Tombs TOMBS (off Map p894; admission 10, camera/video 20/100; h9am-5pm) These graceful domed tombs sit serenely in landscaped ninham mountain gardens about 1.5km northwest of Golconda Fort s Balahisar Gate. Seven of the nine Qutb Shahi rulers were buried here, as well as members of the royal family and respected citizens from entertainers to doctors. You could easily spend half a day here taking photos and wandering ninham mountain in and out of the mausoleums. The upper level of Mohammed Quli s tomb, reached via a narrow staircase, has good views of the area. The Qutb Shahi Tombs booklet ( 20) may be available at the ticket counter.

Walking TTD has constructed probably the best footpath in India for pilgrims to walk up to Tirumala. It s about 15km from Tirupathi and takes four to six hours. Leave your luggage at the toll gate at Alipiri near the Hanuman statue. It will be transported free to the reception centre. At the time of research walking was prohibited from 4pm to 6am due to several leopard attacks on pilgrims. There are shady rest points along the way, and a few canteens. ninham mountain

Park HOTEL $$$ (%2754488; ninham mountain www.theparkhotels.com; Beach Rd; s/d from 7000/9000; ais) Vizag s only five-star is very elegant, very high-design. Even if you don t stay here, visit Bamboo Bay, its beachfront restaurant, for a drink. Checkout is noon.

ferry from sausalito to san francisco HEH the Nizam s Museum MUSEUM (Purani Haveli; Map p900; adult/student 70/15, camera 150; h10am-5pm S

From the 2nd century BC the Satavahana empire, also known as the Andhras, reigned throughout the Deccan plateau. It evolved from the Andhra people, whose presence in southern India may date back to 1000 BC. The Buddha s teaching took root here early on, and in the 3rd century BC the Andhras fully embraced it, building huge edifices in its honour. In the coming centuries, the Andhras would develop a fl ourishing civilisation that extended from the west to the east coasts of South India.

Hyderabad s long-distance bus stations are mind-bogglingly efficient. Mahatma Gandhi bus station (Map p900; %24614406), more commonly known as Imlibun, has advance booking offices (%23434269; h8am-10pm). For trips to Karnataka, go with KSRTC (%24656430). ferry from sausalito to san francisco Visit www.apsrtc.co.in for timetables and fares.

HEH the Nizam s Museum MUSEUM ferry from sausalito to san francisco (Purani Haveli; Map p900; adult/student 70/15, camera 150; h10am-5pm Sat-Thu) The 16th-century Purani Haveli was home of the sixth nizam, Fath Jang Mahbub Ali Khan (r 1869 1911), rumoured to have never worn the same garment twice. His 72m-long, two-storey Burmese teak wardrobe, the first room you ll enter, certainly seems to substantiate the claim. In the palace s former servants ferry from sausalito to san francisco quarters are personal effects of the seventh nizam, Osman Ali Khan (1886 1967) and gifts from his Silver Jubilee, lavish pieces that include an art deco silver letterbox collection. The museum s guides do an excellent ferry from sausalito to san francisco job putting it all in context.

ludington zip code Vijaya Lodge HOTEL $ (%2501222; fax 2446864; Station Rd; s/d from 150/240) About 100m from the train

Vijaya Lodge HOTEL $ (%2501222; fax 2446864; Station Rd; s/d from 150/240) About 100m from the train station, the Vijaya is well organised with helpful staff, but the rooms are becoming a little dreary.

The bus station has a train reservation booth (h8am-noon & 5-7pm Mon-Sat, 8am-2pm Sun). For Hyderabad, an overnight train goes daily to Kacheguda (7604; sleeper/3AC/2AC 240/650/870, 10 hours). Overnight train 8564 runs to Visakhapatnam (sleeper/3AC/2AC 340/940/1300, 20 hours), stopping at Vijayawada. The daily Udyan Express (6530) ludington zip code heads to Mumbai (sleeper/3AC/2AC 350/950/1300, 21 hours).

Hyderabad Perfumers PERFUMERY (Map p900; Patthargatti; h10am-8.30pm Mon- Sat) The family-run ludington zip code Hyderabad Perfumers, which has been in business ludington zip code for four generations, can whip something up for you on the spot.

Andhra plays hard to get: its charms are subtle. But if you look closely, you ll find a long, fascinating history of arts, culture, spiritual scholarship and religious harmony. In Hyderabad s Old City, Islamic monuments, Persian-inspired architecture and the call of the muezzin speak of the city s unique heritage.