The Andhra not so obvious: The Grand Canyon of India beckons
Andhra Pradesh aims to be a pioneer in all segments of tourism: eco, heritage, cultural, culinary and adventure circuits that the Chandrababu Naidu government is betting on
In alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat and chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s Swarna-Andhra Vision 2047, Andhra Pradesh “aims to be a pioneer just not in spiritual tourism but in all segments”, said Padma Rani Seela, chief marketing officer of the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority, at the India Today Tourism Survey & Awards 2026 in Goa. She was participating in the session ‘Andhra Pradesh as a global travel destination’.
Outlining the vast tourist potential of the state’s east coast, Seela spoke about the eco, historical-heritage, cultural, culinary and adventure circuits that the Naidu government was betting on. She showcased some of the not-so-known but fascinating tourist spots, such as Gandikota, referred to as the Grand Canyon of India. The gorge resembles the world-famous natural formation in Arizona, US. In Andhra’s Rayalaseema, the scenic, deep canyon was carved over the millennia by the Penna river.
At the event, Araku in Andhra Pradesh won the India Today Editor’s Choice Award in the Most Instagrammeable Landscape category.
Besides the Lord Venkateshwara temple at Tirumala, the state is home to 80,000 temples. There are 13 wildlife sanctuaries, three national parks, including the second largest tiger reserve in the country at Srisailam-Nagarjuna Sagar.
While aggressively promoting its destinations, the state government is also addressing the infrastructure gaps in order to become a global travel destination. Seela said the tourism policy offers subsidies such as 100 per cent capital subsidy. “Andhra Pradesh is the only state that has an employment subsidy, offering 50-100 per cent subsidy on EPF and ESI for firms for up to three years. Which means we are cutting down the operational costs of investors. We have given industrial status to tourism. In just two years, we could attract up to Rs 20,000 crore of investments in the hospitality segment,” she said.
The policy includes promotion of homestays, beach shacks and caravans. The state is encouraging the vast Telugu diaspora, especially in the US and Europe, to conduct weddings and traditional events back home in Andhra so that the state’s vibrant history, culture and heritage could be introduced to their families and friends abroad.
“We have also come out with a ‘adopt a monument policy’ so that private firms and individuals could partner in preserving the places of vast historical, archaeological importance,” said Seela.
While defining tourism as the engine of future growth, economic transformation, employment generation, cultural promotion and local community uplift, Seela called upon other states to collaborate in promoting tourism circuits that often overlap at the national level, such as Jyotirlingas and Shaktipeeths.
FIVE KEY TAKEAWAYS
* Andhra Pradesh has the third longest coastline, dotted with several beautiful beaches.
* Besides Tirupati, Srisailam and Srikalahasti, there are about 80,000 shrines in the state, making it a big spiritual tourist destination.
* Araku, from where the now famous Araku coffee beans are sourced, Maredumilli, Kondakarla-ava and Nallamala forest range are eco-tourism destinations.
* The state is rich in handicrafts such as Kalamkari and Etikoppaka toys, Pondur khaddar, and Uppada, Chirala and Venkatagiri saris.
* The state government is preparing to host the once-in-12-years Godavari Pushkaralu in 2027. It is expected to draw devotees in millions from around the country.
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In alignment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat and chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s Swarna-Andhra Vision 2047, Andhra Pradesh “aims to be a pioneer just not in spiritual tourism but in all segments”, said Padma Rani Seela, chief marketing officer of the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority, at the India Today Tourism Survey & Awards 2026 in Goa. She was participating in the session ‘Andhra Pradesh as a global travel destination’.
Outlining the vast tourist potential of the state’s east coast, Seela spoke about the eco, historical-heritage, cultural, culinary and adventure circuits that the Naidu government was betting on. She showcased some of the not-so-known but fascinating tourist spots, such as Gandikota, referred to as the Grand Canyon of India. The gorge resembles the world-famous natural formation in Arizona, US. In Andhra’s Rayalaseema, the scenic, deep canyon was carved over the millennia by the Penna river.
At the event, Araku in Andhra Pradesh won the India Today Editor’s Choice Award in the Most Instagrammeable Landscape category.
Besides the Lord Venkateshwara temple at Tirumala, the state is home to 80,000 temples. There are 13 wildlife sanctuaries, three national parks, including the second largest tiger reserve in the country at Srisailam-Nagarjuna Sagar.
While aggressively promoting its destinations, the state government is also addressing the infrastructure gaps in order to become a global travel destination. Seela said the tourism policy offers subsidies such as 100 per cent capital subsidy. “Andhra Pradesh is the only state that has an employment subsidy, offering 50-100 per cent subsidy on EPF and ESI for firms for up to three years. Which means we are cutting down the operational costs of investors. We have given industrial status to tourism. In just two years, we could attract up to Rs 20,000 crore of investments in the hospitality segment,” she said.
The policy includes promotion of homestays, beach shacks and caravans. The state is encouraging the vast Telugu diaspora, especially in the US and Europe, to conduct weddings and traditional events back home in Andhra so that the state’s vibrant history, culture and heritage could be introduced to their families and friends abroad.
“We have also come out with a ‘adopt a monument policy’ so that private firms and individuals could partner in preserving the places of vast historical, archaeological importance,” said Seela.
While defining tourism as the engine of future growth, economic transformation, employment generation, cultural promotion and local community uplift, Seela called upon other states to collaborate in promoting tourism circuits that often overlap at the national level, such as Jyotirlingas and Shaktipeeths.
FIVE KEY TAKEAWAYS
* Andhra Pradesh has the third longest coastline, dotted with several beautiful beaches.
* Besides Tirupati, Srisailam and Srikalahasti, there are about 80,000 shrines in the state, making it a big spiritual tourist destination.
* Araku, from where the now famous Araku coffee beans are sourced, Maredumilli, Kondakarla-ava and Nallamala forest range are eco-tourism destinations.
* The state is rich in handicrafts such as Kalamkari and Etikoppaka toys, Pondur khaddar, and Uppada, Chirala and Venkatagiri saris.
* The state government is preparing to host the once-in-12-years Godavari Pushkaralu in 2027. It is expected to draw devotees in millions from around the country.
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