Leisure tourism in Nellore district involves visiting a number of different places of varied interest. There are a number of places of historical interest, parks and places of natural beauty which encompass the entire gamut of pleasure tourism in Nellore district.
Udayagiri Fort, located about 100 kms from Nellore, stands majestic at a height of 3079 feet. The entire area boasts of great natural beauty. The hill side has lush vegetation and beautiful waterfalls. The ruined fort is a major attraction for tourists. The access to the fort is only by means of steps as there is no road to the fort. The ruins of 365 Temples found in the Town reflect the sculpture and architecture of various periods. Other structures include Chinna Masjid and Pedda Masjid. Every year the Sandal Festival is celebrated on the 26th of Rabi-UI-Aval month. The Hill of Udayagiri is also popularly known a Sanjeevi Hills as there are so many medicinal plants on the hill.
The ruins of Prabhagiripatnam lie on the Podalakuru Mohammadapuram at a distance of 45km away from Nellore. The ruins of the temple of Lord Shiva and Perumallaswamy, which belonged to 1512 A.D., remind the tourists of their former glory and excellence. An inscription denoting the royal gift (1512AD) of the Vijayanagara king Venkataryalu, is gathering dust at a place close to the temple of Perumallaswamy. This inscription enjoins that the income derived from the agricultural lands of the neighbourhood should be spent for the upkeep of the temple. The sculptural and artistic pieces strewn around here have been recognised as the idols of Veerabhadraswamy, and Shanmugaswamy is that six heads, instead of being in a row are sculpted differently -there in the front and three in the rear.
Somasila Dam is one of the biggest Irrigation Projects in the District, and a place of great natural beauty being located as it is in the Eastern Ghat mountain range. It is constructed across River Pennar and is situated near Somasila Village of Ananthasagaram Mandal, Nellore District. There is a temple in the village called Someswara Temple said to be blessed by the Lord Siva on the other side of River Pennar an Ashram is situated.
Kandaleru Dam is located about 60 kms away form Nellore. The destination is also well connected for State Highway from Nellore to Kadapa via Rapur and Rajampet. The dam is the world`s biggest earth dam with 68 TMC water storage spread over 11 kilometres and it supplies drinking water to Tamil Nadu. It was constructed across the Kandaleru River. The site of the dam is a picturesque spot with Hillocks and Forest around. A Government Guest house has been constructed with 4 suites, Meeting hall and a Dining hall with kitchen for official purposes.
Pulicat Lake is the second largest brackish water lagoon in India spread over the two States of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu adjacent to the Bay of Bengal. It extends over six hundred squire kilometres in Andhra Pradesh covering the five Mandals of Tada, Sullurupet, Doravari Satram, Chittamur, and Dugarajupatnam of Nellore District. It is a bird watchers paradise. Water birds and other birds like Flamingoes, Painted storks, Egrets, Grey Pelican, Grey herons, pintails, Black winged stilts, Shovelers, Terns etc., Visit this lake. These migratory birds visit during winter as the lake offers food and protection from predators. The lake is a notified bird sanctuary.
Nelapattu bird sanctuary is one of the largest Pelicanary in South East Asia with more than 1500 pelicans and other birds visiting every year. The Sanctuary is very near to the National High way -5.The big fresh water tank of Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary and the presence of good number of "Barringtonia Acutangula" trees make this sanctuary a haven for a broad spectrum of Bird species for both breeding and roosting purposes. Many winter migratory birds from Siberian countries have been visiting this sanctuary since a long time. It is a breeding ground for some of the rare and endangered species like Grey Pelicans, Open-billed storks, little cormorants, Spoonbills etc. There is an Environmental Education Centre in the Sanctuary with a Museum, Library and Auditorium with audio Visual Equipment for screen slides, Films etc., on wild life watch towers which are also available to watch the birds at the Sanctuary.
One of the major attractions of Nellore district is at Sriharikota Island. It is situated on the National Highway No.5 and a forest -like area to the east of Sullurupet in between Pulicat Lake and Bay of Bengal. Under the stewardship of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai the Indian Space Research Organisation of rocket lauching space Centre was established at Sriharikota in 1968. The launching of a missile helps streamlining the study of tele-communications, TV, lights and environmental relationships.
Nellore District has 165k.m coastal line. A number of different beaches are found dotting the district like Krishnapatnam, Ramayapatnam, Ramatheertham, Kodur, Mypadu, Thupilapalem etc., are some of the beaches.
These are therefore the various places of tourist interest in Nellore district which are well worth a visit.
