Gandikota, also known as the Grand Canyon of India, is perhaps the most neglected pearl of India. Gandikota is a tiny town in the Kadapa region of Andhra Pradesh. Visiting this ageless town encompassed by a bygone era's fortification on the edge of a 300 feet gorge is genuinely striking to encounter. However, one ought to likewise cover some additional fascinating spots close by in case you are visiting Gandikota. While it merits a great deal more, this immaculate, unexplored, unfamiliar spot is presumably the most extraordinarily fascinating spot you have been to as of late. Scroll down to check out all the pieces of information below!

Are you up for some cave exploration? The Belum Caves is the largest and longest cave system open to the public on the Indian subcontinent, known for its speleothems, such as stalactite and stalagmite formations. Detailed exploration and studies of this cave started only about 30 years ago. The black limestone caves of Belum have a maze of sixteen cavernous paths ( with limited ventilation and freshwater underneath ) and a pit cave entrance that makes this hidden gem accessible for adventure seekers. Centuries ago, Jain and Buddhist monks meditated in the labyrinths of these caves, as evidenced by the unearthing of the relics and remnants of vessels used by them.
 
Traveller Information:
<ul>
 <li>Famous for: Largest and longest cave system in India</li>
 <li>Best Time to Visit: October to March</li>
</ul>

Built-in 1946, Owk Reservoir is one of the popular places to go to in Gandikota. The reservoir has an internal space of over a thousand acres. It is the main supply of irrigation in the Rayalaseema region, additionally providing drinking facilities to nearby villages and towns. This place also offers various water sports activities like Cruise boats, and speed boats, which can be interesting. There are two waterfalls, Gollaleru and Paleru, in the catchment area of the dam. This place is perfect for outdoor photography.
 
Traveller Information:
<ul>
 <li>Famous for: Water activities&nbsp;</li>
 <li>Best Time to Visit: October to February</li>
</ul>

Do you like exploring temples and pilgrim places as much as we do? Yaganti temple is the one for you. Located 45 km from Belum towards Kurnool, this temple is known for Pushkarini - a small pond of fresh water and three caves named after saints who lived there. Devotees take a bath in the holy pond before heading to the temple to pay tribute to lord shiva. The caves are embedded with historical significance. One of the highlights of the temple is the growing idol of Nandi. The Archaeological Survey of India has found that it grows in size by 1 inch every 20 years. They have removed a pillar in the temple to accommodate the growing idol.
 
Traveller Information:
<ul>
 <li>Famous for: Holy place</li>
 <li>Best Time to Visit: October to March</li>
</ul>

Are you familiar with the movie Bahubali? Then you will know for sure which place we are talking about. The rock garden is known for being a pristine shooting location. Just 20 km before Kurnool lies the expanse of igneous rocks in the water pool later developed into a 1000 acre park by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism department, known as the Oravakallu Rock Garden. A day that began at the canyon of Gandikota prompted limestone rock caverns of Belum. One can put a few hours here and appreciate photography before going to Kurnool and going through the night.
 
Traveller Information:
<ul>
 <li>Famous for: Pristine environment</li>
 <li>Best time to visit: October to February</li>
</ul>

Kurnool is the fifth biggest city by the populace and one of the significant urban communities of Andhra Pradesh, India. Waterway Tungabhadra courses through the city and joins river Krishna heading towards Srisailam, Nagarjuna Sagar, and Vijayawada. The Kurnool post is something you don't want to miss. Though Kurnool fort, also known as the Konda Reddy fort, was built by rulers of the Vijayanagar empire, it is more famous for Konda Reddy, who ruled during the 17th century and was imprisoned here by Golconda kings.
 
Traveller Information:
<ul>
 <li>Famous for: Konda Reddy</li>
 <li>Best time to visit: October to March</li>
</ul>

By Air:&nbsp;
<ul>
 <li>Gandikota doesn’t have a dedicated airport. Bengaluru International Airport at Bangalore and Tirupati Airport at Renigunta are the nearest airports to Gandikota. Many air service providers such as GoAir, Air India, and SpiceJet run regular flights from Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and other prominent cities in India to Bengaluru and Tirupati.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
 
By Road:&nbsp;
<ul>
 <li>Gandikota has excellent road connectivity with major cities such as Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Vizag, and Vijayawada through the NH 7. The bus ride can be comfortable owing to the smooth and well-maintained roads.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
 
By Train:&nbsp;
<ul>
 <li>Gandikota has limited direct connectivity through the railway. There are no direct trains from Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, or Chennai that lead you to this town. The nearest railway station is Jammalamadugu which is located 18 km from Gandikota. Vijayawada has one of the best rail connectivity with the rest of the country so this is a good option.</li>
</ul>

Are you still not excited to explore the meditation den at Belum caves, and try some thrilling water sports at Owk Reservoir? I am sure you are. These places are worth visiting for their beautiful, unique carvings and gorges and they are bound to leave a magical influence on you. Absorb all the fun and thrilling adventures, capture them in your camera roll and cherish them for life.

It’s good to prepare a list of things that you must do in the city you are visiting. The famous Pennar Gorge viewpoint is situated just 1 km from Gandikota Bus Station. The place offers a mesmerising view of the gorge that is formed here by the Pennar river when it flows through the huge rock-hill formation. Getting to the top of the slippery rocks and taking a view of the gorge is just awe-inspiring. Because of the resemblance of Pennar Gorge with the Grand Canyon of Arizona, many people have started calling this place the Hidden Grand Canyon of India. The best time to explore the gorge is during sunrise and sunset.&nbsp;
 
Location: Pennar Gorge
Best Time to Do: October to April
Duration: 1 to 2 hours

The best thing to do in Gandikota is walking through the remains of the mighty Gandikota Fort. This fort is located 1 km away from the Gandikota Bus Station just close to the Pennar Gorge Viewpoint. Pigeon tower with fretted windows, a magazine, and a huge palace built by bricks with some nice carvings and wells, and old cannon can be viewed inside the fort along with springs, gardens, house of the Drum, Charminar, Jail, and Red Koneru — the pond. The fort has a long history and has been ruled by different rulers since its creation.
 
Location: Gandikota Fort
Best Time to Do: October to April
Duration: 3 hours

Belum Caves are one of India's ancient sites located 43 km from Yaganti in the Kurnool district. These historic caves are the second-largest in India and offer a captivating view from the inside. It is said that these caves are a million years old and were formed by the disruption in limestone deposits in the area by the Chitravati River that flows 32 km south of the caves. Besides the sublime inside view of the caves, the other thing that will attract your attention is the huge Buddha statue near the caves. It is said that ancient Buddhist monks used these caves for meditation.&nbsp;
 
Location: Belum Caves
Best Time to Do: October to February
Duration: 3-4 hours

The next thing to do in Gandikota is to admire the old Islamic structure that is the Jamia Masjid. The beautiful minarets of the mosque resemble the ones in the famous Charminar of Hyderabad. Although the walls of the mosque have lost their shine over several centuries, they can still attract and captivate visitors who happen to visit the mosque with its simple but elegant Islamic design. When you get to the top of the entrance, you’ll spot the tower of the Madhavaraya temple situated nearby.&nbsp;
 
Location: Jamia Masjid
Best Time to Do: October to March
Duration: 1 hour

Many tourists and locals visit this reservoir simply to enjoy the view from the top and they indulge heavily in the water sports activities. So the efforts of AP Tourism are paying off well. The Owk Reservoir is a dam that’s built across the Paleru River near Owk in Andhra’s Kurnool district. You can try different water sports activities such as speed boating, cruise boat, and so on. Also, there are two waterfalls &nbsp;— Paleru and Gollaleru — in the catchment area of the reservoir. You can visit them and enjoy your time there in the water streams, but be cautious of the water flow.
 
Location: Owk Reservoir&nbsp;
Best Time to Do: October to February
Duration: 2 to 3 hours

The last thing to do in Gandikota is to visit the Mylavaram Dam located 10 km away from Gandikota. This irrigation project is constructed across the Pennar river in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. Majorly, people visit this dam for the view it offers especially when the water is released. The view of the dam during the sunset is the most scintillating one letting you spend a wonderful evening. Additionally, you can enjoy boating at the boat club set up recently by the AP Tourism department in the backwaters of the dam to attract more visitors.
 
Location: Mylavaram Dam
Best Time to Do: October to March
Duration: 2 hours

A Guide to Gandikota

India > Andhra Pradesh

Explore in Andhra Pradesh

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