Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu - Top tourist destinations of india

Andhra Pradesh topped the domestic tourist arrivals list, with over 150 million tourists, while Tamil Nadu attracted the maximum number of foreign tourists at over 2.3 million for the year 2009. Though Andhra Pradesh is the most popular destination for domestic tourists, it ranks 7th when it comes to foreign tourist visits.

Kerala is not even in the list of domesic tourist visits list and is 8th for foreign tourist visits. Karnataka is 4th for domesic tourist visits and not in the list for foreign tourist visits.

Most foreign visitors are from France followed by USA, Spain, China, Italy, UK, Turky, Germany, Malasia, Mexico.

Read the complete statistics here

An idol of Lord Buddha found in Hyderabad

A limestone idol of Lord Buddha, dating back to the 2nd century AD of the Satavahana dynasty, found by The department of archaeology and museums, Andhra Pradesh, at Chada village in Atmakur mandal of Nalgonda district. A limestone parasol, Buddhist sculptural panels and large sized bricks were also excavated from the sight apart from the Idol. For safe custody The findings have been shifted to the Ramannapet police station.

A release issued by the department stated that the three feet tall idol was found by villagers when they were working on the land at Chada, which is situated 40 km away from the famous Buddhist site, Phanigiri. Jayesh Ranjan, the principal secretary of tourism, Andhra pradesh, has directed officials to conduct small-scale excavations at the spot, to study the cultural potential of the site.

In the past, Buddhist traces were found at Vardhamanukota, Aravapalli, Tirumalagiri and Gazulabanda in Nalgonda district. The department is now planning to create a circuit of all these Buddhist sites in the district to facilitate tourism activity.