Bangalore to Gandikota – A Trip Idea for Andhra Pradesh

Gandikota is a village on the banks of Penna River in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh, India. Known for its mesmerizing landscapes and picturesque fort, Gandikota is surely one of the top places in the list of weekend getaways from Bangalore. Depending on who you talk to, there are some travellers who’ll tell you that Gandikota is quite literally the Grand Canyon of India. While that may seem to be an overstatement, it’s still one of the most enthralling canyons you’ll find in India. Intrigued enough to learn how to make it from Bangalore to Gandikota and what to do when you get there

I visited Gandikota recently and had an amazing time. It’s really beautiful and the sunrise there was the best I saw that year. You can read about my trip to Gandikota here. Here I talk about how to reach to Gandikota from Bangalore.

Bangalore to Gandikota – The Route

By CarSurrounded by lush green forests and rocky landscape, Gandikota is 282 km from Bangalore. Thankfully, the place is easily accessible no matter what means of transportation you pick, whether it’s car, train, bus, or flight.

Bangalore to Gandikota by road is full of enchanting scenery and breath-taking views. One can take the National Highway 44 (NH44) from Bangalore and reach Gandikota in 5-6 hours. Be prepared to encounter a few patches of rough drive for a few kilometres, which fortunately wouldn’t last for a long duration. The roads are quite smooth overall, and one can surely enjoy the drive.

By Bus

The distance of 282 km from Bangalore to Gandikota can also be covered by opting the APSRTC and KSRTC state-owned buses on the Bangalore-Gandikota route. One can travel from Bangalore to Jammalamadugu, and from there, choose to take a private or state-owned bus to Gandikota. The other route that can be chosen is Bangalore to Kadiri – Kadiri to Jammalamadugu – Jammalamadugu to Gandikota. One can also choose private buses; however, this route is slightly longer compared to the government-run buses.

By Train

Gandikota is well-connected by train from Bangalore. You can board a direct train that runs between Bangalore and Jammalamadugu, which is just 18 km away from Gandikota. The other train stations are Kadapa (77 km away from Gandikota), and Tirupati (219 km away from Gandikota). Being one among the major tourist attractions in Andhra Pradesh, many trains halt at the Jammalamadugu station, thus, making trains one of the best and least time-consuming ways to travel from Bangalore to Gandikota.

By Flight

The nearest airports to reach Gandikota are Kempegowda International Airport at Bangalore (345km), and Tirupati Airport at Renigunta (220 km). It would take approximately 6 hours and 4.5 hours respectively to reach Gandikota from the two airports. After reaching the airport, one can opt for a bus, car, or train to first reach Jammalamadugu and then head toward Gandikota.

Best Time to Visit Gandikota

With temperatures soaring up to a range of 40 to 45-degree Celsius, summers are definitely not the perfect time of the year to visit this place. Summers are hot and humid, thus making it a difficult time for the travellers. September to February is considered to be the ideal time to visit Gandikota. As the weather is pleasant and comfortable, it proves to be a good time for travellers to witness the gorge and its surrounding natural beauty during daytime.

Key Attractions

Gandikota is the perfect example of a small place with various hidden gems. The most famous attraction here is the beautiful gorge situated in the Gandikota Fort. It is because of this gorge that tourists have named it the Grand Canyon of India. But this is just one among the various other key attractions that you can experience when you travel from Bangalore to Gandikota.

Follow history at Gandikota Fort

 

The stunning and massive Gandikota Fort was built in the 13th century under the supervision of Pemmasani Kumara Timma Nayaka. Made out of red sandstone, this fort comprises of fine carvings and perennial springs. It also has a temple and a mosque inside the fort premises, both built during the 13th century itself. Spread over several miles, this fort is a classic tourist attraction in itself. No trip to Gandikota is complete without visiting the Gandikota Fort, which is waiting to reveal the forgotten stories of our ancient civilization.

Get Trekking along the Canyon to Witness Breath-Taking Sunset

One would have to first trek for a few kilometres before reaching the summit of the rocks, and this trek can prove tiresome for many. But all the tiredness vanishes after reaching the top where a splendid sight awaits your presence. The sight of river Penna and the extraordinary work of art that nature has created in the form of the stone gorge, proves to be enchanting and soothing.

Get Awestruck with the Interiors at Belum caves

 

The Belum caves can surely be called the Antelope Canyon of India. Being the second-largest cave system in the Indian subcontinent, Belum caves are very important because of their archaeology, architecture, and geology. These caves have various formations with huge deposits of Quartz. The interiors of the caves are sure to leave the travellers awestruck with other-worldly scenes.

Unwind at the Rayalacheruvu Lake

 

Clearwater, quaint landscapes of the Erramala hills, blue sky, and migratory birds – What better way to unwind and relax after a long and tiring day? Situated just near the Gandikota Fort, Rayalacheruvvu Lake is the perfect place to sit and watch the sun go down. As the belief goes, this lake was established by emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya by using water from Penna River. This is the best place to end a beautiful trip to Gandikota.

An excellent display of art and culture can also be seen at the Madhavarya temple and Raghunathaswamy temple in Gandikota.

Stay Options

For those travelling from Bangalore to Gandikota, one should not expect to have four or five-star hotels and resorts here. What a person can get hold of would be a basic stay with normal amenities and local Andhra food. However, if you choose to stay in Kadiri or Kadapa, you can expect to find some good lodging options.

APTDC Complex

This APTDC complex-Haritha Hotel is spread across acres and has cottages, dormitories, car parking, dining area, and a playing area for kids. The hotel promises to provide all the standard facilities you can expect to find in Tier-II cities. Since this hotel does not have any online registration system, one should make a call and make room reservations over the phone.

River Penna camping site

If one wants to explore the unconventional way of staying, the option of riverside camping is also available here. Freakouts Adventure helps travellers by providing comfortable and easy camping opportunities, along with adventure activities like rock climbing, kayaking, and rappelling. It is suggested to make prior calls and book your reservations early before heading from Bangalore to Gandikota.

Things to Remember

In order to have a beautiful and well-planned trip, it is suggested to keep in mind certain important things.

• Be clear about the mode of transportation for reaching Gandikota. If you choose to take the car or bus route, make sure to carry enough food and beverages. The national highway in this route doesn’t have enough places to stopover for eating.
• Make sure you make prior reservations for your stay, either with APTDC Complex or Freakouts Adventure, and avoid facing any kind of difficulties.
• Avoid traveling to Gandikota during summers, and also during monsoons. You won’t be able to witness the beauty of the place during these seasons.
• Carry a first-aid box, as you might find it difficult to get one here.
• Try carrying walking or trekking shoes.