Gandikota

The Grand Canyon in the USA is one of the top attractions in the world that attracts thousands of tourists every year. But did you know India has its Grand Canyon with an intriguing history and geography? Known as the Grand Canyon of India, the Gandikota Canyon is a gorge carved by the Penna River in Andhra Pradesh. A gorge is a valley formed by the erosion of rocks due to the river flowing through the rocks over centuries, eventually cutting it and creating a path of its own. This continuous water flow is why Gandikota has unique boulder formations, deep valleys and a landscape that looks like it’s from outer space. I visited the Gandikota Canyon along with my friends as we drove from Bangalore. We also visited Belum Caves, the second-longest cave in India which looks similar to the Antelope Canyons in Arizona, USA. In this guide, I would like to tell you about my overall experience of visiting the Gandikota Canyon (and Belum Caves) and share my itinerary with you so that you can plan your trip effectively. Gandikota is a small village in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. The closest major city to Gandikota is Bangalore, at 280 km. Historically, Gandikota was also the centre of power for many dynasties. It is why you’ll also see attractions like a couple of ancient temples, a mosque and a 12th-century fort that sits atop the hills. There are plenty of other structures in ruins here, reminding you of Hampi in Karnataka. We also visited Belum caves, 60 km away from Gan...

If you have been visiting our website, you must know how curious we are about sharing our thoughts on different places. This time we are adding Things To Do In Gandikota to our list for our travel junkies. With the all-new places to visit this summer season, we made this post to make your trip to Gandikota perfect and memorable. So let’s explore this new place in India that is situated in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. Gandikota is a small town in India that can be explored in one day. But don’t judge this place by its size. If you have heard about the “Grand Canyon of Arizona”, you can easily imagine the beauty of this little town. Yes, it is the hidden “Grand Canyon of India’‘ that attracts millions of visitors towards itself every year. People visit this small village of Andhra Pradesh just to watch the beautiful gorge that forms here. Besides this unparalleled beauty of the gorge, Gandikota has several attractions to visit with plenty of things to do there. We have uncovered many exciting things about Gandikota Tourism that can blow any visitor’s mind. Pro Things To Do In Gandikota: Explore Big Things In Small Village A small village in India, but still capable of capturing the attention of millions of visitors from the globe. From Camping, adventurous activities, to exploring the caves, there are plenty of things to do in Gandikota. Also several places on the way to Gandikota such as Kurnool Fort, Yaganti Temple and Oravakallu Rock Garden are worth visiting. t...

Gandikota gorge (Image: Twitter/ @ArchaeoHistories) Gandikota, Grand Canyon of India: River gurgling through the rock cuts structures is a whole different experience. When vast expanse of land is covered with towering rocks with water meandering through, it is nothing less than an arresting view indeed. Gandikota is a quaint hamlet located in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh that offers its visitors with breathtaking vistas. This village is famous for the mesmerizing gorges that are formed by the River Pennar cutting though the hills of Erramala. It is an offbeat destination that not many people know about. Architecture According to the description by aptourism website, The first structure one will come across inside the fort is Charmiar, a three-storeyed tower that has been overzealously renovated. To the left is a Prison, a colossal stone structure with three gateways. A little ahead, one will find the Madhavaraya Swamy Temple. Despite the brilliance of all these monuments, the highlight of Gandikota is undoubtedly the view of the Penna Gorge from the edge of the fort. Climb over the mass of boulders beyond the Ranganatha Swamy Temple for the best vintage point. Why is called the Grand Canyon of India? A canyon is formed over years after rocks are eroded by the river. Gandikota is a similar rock structure. The Grand canyon in Arizona is lauded for it s grand gorges and rock cut structures. Similarly, Gandikota gorge is magnificent in its own way although it is not s...

Looking for a weekend getaway from Hyderabad where you can just savour the magic of history and nature? If yes, then it is advisable to plan a trip to the beautiful hamlet of Gandikota in Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the few places in the state which can get you an adrenaline rush. Yes, apart from exploring the beauty of its historical monuments, which are in existence for centuries, you can also indulge in relishing the beauty of nature. The village is located on the banks of the Penna river and has a history dating back to the 12th century. It is one stoppage where you can learn in detail about the bygone era of the Pemmasani Kamma dynasty. Best Time To Visit Gandikota The region in and around Gandikota experiences an extreme climate during the summer season, and hence most of the tourists do not prefer visiting it during the summers. The best time to frequent is from October to February. During this period, the weather is perfectly fine, thereby, letting visitors explore its tourist attractions comfortably. How To Reach Gandikota From Hyderabad By Air: The nearest major airport to Gandikota is located in Bangalore at a distance of about 250 km. If you desire to travel by air, then you can take a direct flight from Hyderabad to Bangalore and then from there, you can either hire a cab or use public transport to reach Gandikota. By Rail: Kondapuram is the nearest railway station to Gandikota at a distance of about 50 km. You can catch a direct train from Hyderabad to Konda...

Madhavaraya Temple, Gandikota (India) Show map of India 14°48′48″N 78°17′02″E / 14.81327°N 78.283837°E / 14.81327; 78.283837 Architecture Date established First quarter of the 16th century Madhavaraya Temple is a 16th century History [ ] An analysis of the art and architectural features of the temple suggests that it was built in the first quarter of the 16th century. Epigraphic evidence also confirms this: the earliest reference to the temple is found in 16th century inscriptions. tomala) to the god. Art and architecture [ ] The temple is located within the The main adhishthana contain figures of various deities, including gopura has four levels ( talas), and its dvara-palakas (male door-keepers) and female figures standing under creepers. The central pillars on the sides of the passage have A kitchen hall is located in the south-east corner of the courtyard. Its pillars have roll and leaf corbels, and the ceiling has gaps to provide ventilation. The doorway has decorative figures of creepers, flowers, lotus petals, and dvara-palikas (female door-keepers) carrying lotuses. A A wedding hall ( kalyana-mandapa) with 16 pillars is located in the south-west corner of the courtyard. Another mandapa is located in the north-east corner of the courtyard: it was probably used as a shrine dedicated to the navagraha-mandapa) or a site to celebrate a festival of the main deity. Its doorways feature carvings of creepers, flowers, lotus petals, and navagraha-mandapa. It has no images no...

Gandikota is a historic village which is characterized by its own fort, situated on the right bank of the River Penna, 15km from the Jammalamadugu in the district of Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh. The city used to be the centre power for notable dynasties such as the Chalukyas, Kalyani, Delhi Sultanate, Pemmasani Kamma Nayakas and the famous Golconda Sultanate, making it historically significant apart from being naturally beautiful. Gandikota is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Andhra Pradesh because of its incredible natural beauty. The historical walls of the fort, the undulating, mountainous terrain of the region and the picturesque gorge that is unique to Gandikota make it a photographer’s and nature lover’s paradise. There are several remarkable places to visit in Gandikota such as the Pennar River Gorge Viewpoint, Madhavaraya Temple, Raghunatha Swamy Temple, Jama Masjid, Owk Reservoir, Belum Caves near Yaganti, Yaganti and the Mylavaram Dam. Gandikota is known for its versatile terrain and incredible scenic natural beauty. You can trek to places like Charminar and visit the Jail of Gandikota Fort. You can also go hiking and rock climbing, go bird watching in the various shelters and sanctuaries in the area, and spend your evenings watching the sunset over the Penna River. Camping under the stars by the Rayalacheruvu Lake is a popular activity amongst visitors as well. Gandikota is situated 323 metres above the sea level and the prevailing climatic condition of t...

Siganamala SC Constituency has been blessed with a good amount of water allocation for localisations of a minor irrigation tank and a lift irrigation project from Gandikota, all thanks to Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, said MLA Jonnalagadda Padmavathi. In a statement issued on Saturday, Ms. Padmavathi said that the allotment of water to 45 ponds in the constituency through the Handri-Neeva project was now 1.35 TMCFT. The total amount spent on the constituency’s irrigation and drinking water projects would be ₹520 crore by the end of this five-year term, she said and added the Chief Minister showed the way to develop the water-starved constituency. Ms. Padmavathi said that the Chief Minister had given special priority to the Shinganamala constituency for localization of the Shinganamala Minor Irrigation Tank, sanctioned lift irrigation project from Gandikota to Putlur mandal at the cost of ₹252 crore, and has guaranteed to fund of ₹520 crore in the constituency. The MLA said she had kept her promise of providing water to different places in the constituency during her padayatra from Yellanur to Garladinne. “I had brought the hardships of people about the allocation of water to the notice of the Chief Minister, and he reacted positively,” she added. On June 24, 2021, we requested Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy to allocate water through the Handri-Neeva and High-Level Canal projects/canals to about 50 minor irrigation ponds in Shinganamala, Garladinne, Bukkarayasamudram, Narpa...

• ExplorebyRoad welcomes you! • About ExplorebyRoad • ExplorebyRoad – Podcast • • • Telangana • Karnataka • Andhra Pradesh • Nagaland • Jammu and Kashmir • Tamil Nadu • Himachal • Kerala • • Switzerland • Dublin • Bhutan • Indonesia • Ireland • • Hotel Reviews • Airline Reviews • • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy Table of Contents • • • • • • • • • • Roadtrip to Gandikota Planning of the Trip This weekend saw us head-over to Gandikota popularly known as “Grand Canyon of India” situated in Andhra Pradesh which is definitely an understatement. The plan was to head to this destination on a Saturday and return back on the Sunday as a overnight camping trip. Gandikota Travel With all planning complete with friends n colleagues all set, we met at the ORR at 06:15 hours. After a few introductions, we set to our destination at around 06:45 hours. Route Option: Hyderabad – Gandikota via Owk, Belum Caves is good (via Betamcharla and Banaganapalli We hit the Bengaluru Highway and continued towards Mahabubnagar, Kurnool stretch which is a lovely 4-lane road. Breakfast Stop on the Bengaluru Highway is always “Food Pyramid” who don’t disappoint as always.. After crossing Kurnool, we took the newly constructed “ Rayalaseema Expressway”and continued towards Tirupati before taking the State Highway towards Betamcharla. Rayalaseema Expressway from Kurnool Roads were in decent and good shape most of the journey until we reached Banaganapalli and had a mix of good and bad patches from here on....