ferries Tirupathi station is well served by express trains, running to Chennai (2nd-class chair/ chair ( 62/

Tirupathi station is well served by express trains, running to Chennai (2nd-class chair/ chair ( 62/206, three hours), Bengaluru (sleeper/3AC/2AC 168/470/628, seven hours), Hyderabad/Secunderabad (sleeper/3AC/2AC 284/764/1047, 12 hours) ferries and Vijayawada (sleeper/3AC/2AC 198/502/674, seven hours). ferries The reservation office (%2225850; h8am-8pm Mon-Sat, 8am-2pm Sun) is across the street.

Laad Bazaar MARKET (Map p900) West of the Charminar, the crowded Laad Bazaar is the perfect place to get lost. It has everything from fi ne perfumes, fabrics and jewels to musical instruments, secondhand saris and kitchen implements. ferries Artisans are tucked away creating jewellery and scented oils, large pots and burkas. The lanes around ferries the Charminar also form the centre of India s pearl trade. Some great deals can be had if you know your stuff.

Around ferries 36km east of Tirupathi, Sri Kalahasti is known for its important Sri Kalahasteeswara Temple and for being, along with Machilipatnam near Vijayawada, a centre for the ancient art of kalamkari. These paintings are made with natural ingredients: the cotton is primed ferries with myrabalam (resin) and cow s milk; figures are drawn with a pointed bamboo stick dipped in fermented jaggery and water; and the dyes are made from cow dung, ground seeds, plants and flowers. You can see the artists at work in the Agraharam neighbourhood, 2.5km from the bus stand. Sri Vijayalakshmi Fine Kalamkari Arts (%9441138380; door No 15890) is an old family business with 40 artists.

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 ferries 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.