Gandikota is one of the most historical places in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Located in the Kadapa district, it’s a small town that is extremely popular worldwide because of the fabulous gorge that’s formed here by the Penna river. This small town has everything in store to blow your mind away with amazing ancient, natural formations. Known to a few passionate globe trekkers, Gandikota is not a regular tourist hub.

It’s doesn’t fall into the category of a world heritage site and also the state tourism agencies have not promoted it well. And therefore, this site has remained untouched and unexplored. Nevertheless, in this article, we will discuss more about this fantastic tourist destination and a travel guide to explore it.

Gandikota is a small place in India and can be easily explored within a day. There aren’t many things to do and attractions to visit in this town. Also, being a small town, there are fewer accommodation options. People usually consider making a quick stop here before heading to the neighboring cities. You can halt here for a quick snack and take a little break from your journey.

You can check out the list of the cities near Gandikota and find out the top things to do in these towns. So, the next time you are in Gandikota, you can decide which neighboring city to visit for a memorable trip.

How to reach by train?

Gandikota doesn’t have a dedicated railway station and therefore getting here through trains directly is not possible. The nearest railway station is at Jammalamadugu but it is located at about 15 km from the village. So if you get here by train, you’ll have to hire a cab or a rickshaw to get to your hotel in Gandikota. One good option is to get down at Tirupati railway station or Vijayawada Railway station. From Vijayawada, there’s one direct train to Jammalamadugu and from the Tirupati railway station, you can get here by bus or a private cab.

How to reach by flight?

Gandikota being a small village doesn’t have a dedicated airport. If you’re planning to travel by flight, you’ll have to get down at either Tirupati Airport or the Bengaluru International Airport. Many flights are available from Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and other major cities in India to these airports. Once you get down at either of the airports, hire a private cab or get into a bus and reach your hotel in Gandikota or wherever you have booked your stay.

How to reach by roads?

Reaching Gandikota by bus is extremely convenient due to the availability of excellent, smooth, and well-maintained roads. The connecting service roads and highways offer a comfortable bus ride or a self-drive. Various publicly and privately managed buses are available from Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Vizag, and Vijayawada that can help you reach Gandikota.

What is the best time to visit?

The weather of Gandikota is a local steppe in nature. The area undergoes three major seasons like any other place in India. The summers are hot and dry, it receives a good amount of rainfall in monsoons, and the winters are extremely pleasant. The best time, therefore, to visit Gandikota is the winter season.

Things to do in Gandikota

Jamia Masjid

The beautiful mosque situated within the premises called the Jamia Mosque, has a beautiful architecture, similar to that of the Charminar mosque in Hyderabad. With several green trees in the vicinity, you can also find a lot of people camping here.

Raghunathaswamy Temple

Raghunathaswamy Temple is a unique temple inside the Gandikota Fort. The temple houses no idols but has airy corridors, complex hallways and is flanked by an array of towering pillars.

Madhavaraya Temple

Madhavaraya Temple, on the other hand, has several idols and is a living masterpiece of the olden day architecture. Boasting of several sculptures, the temple is also a favourite spot for the tourists in addition to the locals who come here to pray.

Adventure Activities

As the tourism rate in Gandikota is slowly gaining momentum, the village is also introducing several activities and recreational games for the tourists. Currently, you can try your hand at the various adventure activities available in the village-like kayaking, paragliding, rock climbing, rappelling, trekking etc.

Gandikota Fort

One of the best things that you must try in Gondikota is to explore the ruins of the massive Gondikota fort. This huge structure spreads over miles and believed to be constructed during the 13th century. This red sandstone fort holds several sumptuous palaces that have intricate carvings, perpetual springs to provide irrigation facility to the farms, and a huge 5-mile perimeter wall that guards the mighty fort. One can spot the ruins of the ancient temples inside the fort along with a mosque that was constructed years after during the Qutubshahi reign. So take a leisure walk along the perimeter of the fort and sight the serene river or witness the fort transform into a play of colors at dusk.

Belgum Caves

Besides experiencing the beautiful gorge, the next thing that you cannot miss in Gandikota is staring at the fascinating interiors of the Belum Caves. Many call this as the Indian version of the Antelope Canyons in Arizona. These cave formations are the second-largest cave system in the entire Indian subcontinent. They have their own significance in terms of their archeology, geology, and architecture.

Two days trip to Gandikota

Caves, temples, and camping under the stars – a trip to Gandikota (often regarded as The Grand Canyon of India) is something every adventurist must take. So what if you haven’t been to the Grand Canyon yet, Gandikota will give you a similar experience. The rock formations over Pennar River, Gandikota, will remind you of Arizona’s Colorado River. While the drive to Gandikota will fill you in with thrilling cuts and bends along with dry forest belts, witnessing the sunrise or the sunset over Gandikota will be a tear-jerking moment for anyone.

It’s also a famous getaway for bikers who cherish dashing through the wild jungle near Kadapa. Reach Gandikota Fort by evening, and prepare for a night camping (you always wanted to carry your tent and set up a camp, didn’t you?). Scout for the best place from where you can witness the stars and the Moon. You and your squad can kickstart a serious BBQ party with some music for company.

The next day, you can set off to visit Belum Caves and Ahobilam Temple. Belum Caves is tens of thousands of years old and is known for its natural stalactites and stalagmites. It is said to have deposits of quartz and black limestone in the caves which can be explored on your visit. It might take a good two to three hours for you to wander away in these caves, depending upon how much you’re interested in exploring. Your next stopover could be at Ahobilam Temple. Located in the Eastern Ghats, this 11th-century temple will also give you a good view of Nallamalla. With natural rock formations and greenery, this temple is a must-visit.