The Seven Wonders of Andhra Pradesh And Telangana

NDTV had unveiled 7 Wonders of Andhra Pradesh in 2009 based on the user polls. However, many of these wonders are today a part of the newly formed state of Telangana. Thus, here the list has been referred to as the 7 Wonders of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. They are as follows:


7. Borra Caves

The seventh wonder of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the Borra Caves, is located in the Araku Valley’s Ananthagiri hills in the Visakhapatnam district of the state. The caves are located at an elevation of 2,313 ft. The Bora Caves are part of a larger karst landscape. These limestone caves feature a range of speleothems including stalactites and stalagmites and extend underground to a depth of about 260 ft. These caves were discovered in 1807 by Geological Survey of India’s W.K. George. The Borra Caves are associated with numerous legends and one of them led to the belief that the caves are the abode of Hindu Gods. A small temple now exists here that is visited by pilgrims to offer their prayers to Lord Shiva.

6. Warangal Fort

Located in Telangana’s Warangal district, this fort is the seventh wonder from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The existence of the fort can be traced back to at least the 12th century. At that time, the Warangal Fort served as the Kakatiya dynasty’s capital. Four ornamental gates lead into the fort with an ancient ruined Shiva temple being located near the entrance. The Warangal Fort’s name has been submitted in the tentative list of World Heritage Sites of the UNESCO.

5. Venkateswara Temple

The temple, the fifth wonder from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, is a marvel of Indian architecture and a hub of Hindu religious and cultural practices. The Venkateswara Temple is located in Tirumala, a hill town in Tirupati, in the Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor district. The temple is dedicated to the Hindu God  Sri Venkateswara who is regarded to be an incarnation of Vishnu. The temple has been built using the Dravidian architectural style. It was possibly constructed around 300 AD. Around 50,000 to 100,000 pilgrims visit the temple every day. On special occasions, an incredible number of about 500,000 visits are recorded in the temple.

4. Mecca Masjid

The Mecca Masjid is one of Hyderabad’s oldest mosques as well as one of the oldest in India. The mosque is located close to other historic landmarks of the city like the Charminar, Chowmahalla Palace, and others. The mosque was commissioned to be built by Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah, the ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty. He ordered for the construction of bricks using the soil brought by his men from Mecca in Saudi Arabia. These bricks were then used to build the mosque’s central arch. The holy site was thus named the Mecca Mosque. The mosque is a beautiful piece of architecture, aesthetically designed and well ornamented to attract all eyes. However, currently, due to poor maintenance, the fourth wonder from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is falling into ruins.

3. Veerabhadra Temple

The third wonder from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is the Veerabhadra Temple. It is located in Lepakshi in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district. The temple was built in the 16th century in the Vijayanagara style of architecture. The entire temple exhibits elaborate carvings and paintings on the walls, pillars, doorways, and other structures. Scenes from Indian epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana are depicted in these carvings and paintings. A massive sculpture of Nandi, the bull, the vehicle of Lord Shiva is located near the temple. It has been built from a single block of stone.

2. Golkonda Fort

The Golkonda Fort is located about 11 km to the west of Hyderabad in Telangana. It was built by the rulers of the Kakatiya Dynasty and later occupied by the Qutb Shahi dynasty. The area around the fort is famous for its mining industry. Some of the world’s most famous gemstones like the Koh-i-Noor, the Nassak Diamond, Noor-ul-Ain, and others were mined in the region. It was in the vault of this fort that the internationally famous Koh-i-Noor and Hope diamonds were kept safe. The fort is the second wonder from the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

1. Charminar

Ranking number one in the list of the Seven Wonders Of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the Charminar is a famous monument that was constructed in 1591. It is located in Hyderabad, Telangana. The monument is located on the Musi river’s east bank. A mosque exists at the top floor of this monument. The surrounding markets create a lively scene in the area. A number of local festivals are celebrated at the Charminar.