Places to visit in YSR Kadapa
10 places, grouped by kind. Each one shows how well it is verified: an official source, two independent sources, or not yet verified.
Forts and gorge 1
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Gandikota Fort and Penna Gorge Official source
Called the Grand Canyon of India: a walled fort town on red quartzite cliffs above a 100-200 m wide gorge of the Penna, with the Madhavaraya temple, Jama Masjid, granary and sunrise viewpoints. ASI-protected.
Temples and pilgrimage 6
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Pushpagiri temples Official source
Madhya Ahobilam to Vaishnavas and Madhya Kailasam to Shaivas: a riverside group of temples, the Chennakesava with inscriptions from 1298, and the only Sankaracharya peetham in AP. Ten-day festival in March-April.
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Sri Kodandarama Swamy Temple, Vontimitta Official source
Chola-Vijayanagara temple with Rama, Sita and Lakshmana carved from a single rock and a 32-pillared Ranga Mandapa; Tavernier called it one of the grandest pagodas in India. Home of the poet Bammera Pothana. ASI-protected.
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Sri Anjaneya Swamy Temple, Gandi Official source
Vayu kshetra at the foot of a hill on the Papaghni, where Rama is said to have carved Anjaneya on a rock; pilgrims crowd in Shravana.
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Sri Saumyanatha Swamy Temple, Nandalur Two sources
ASI-protected temple in the Rajampet area (Monuments of National Importance list). Details to collect.
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Tallapaka Not yet verified
Birthplace of the composer Annamacharya (to confirm details); moved to YSR Kadapa with the Rajampet area on 31 Dec 2025. Temples and memorial details to collect from the Endowments Department.
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Athirala Parasurama Temple Two sources
ASI-protected temple (listed under Rajampet). Details to collect.
Dargahs and mathams 2
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Ameen Peer Dargah (Asthana-e-Magdoom Ilahi), Kadapa Official source
About 300-year-old shrine of the Sufi saints Peerullah Hussaini and Arifullah Hussaini, visited by people of every faith; Masjid-e-Azam of 1691. The Jamadi-ul-Awwal Urs is called the biggest in South India; Thursdays and Fridays are busiest.
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Sri Potuluri Veerabrahmendra Swamy Matham, Kandimallayapalli Official source
Matham of the 17th-century seer Veerabrahmam, who entered jeeva samadhi in 1693; walls carry his Kalagnanam teachings. Siddaiah samadhi and the Veerabrahmam reservoir nearby.
Heritage 1
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Siddavatam Fort Two sources
Riverside fort on the Penna protected by the ASI. Access and history to collect.
In depth: Gandikota Fort and Penna Gorge
Gandikota is where the Penna has cut a deep red gorge through the Erramala hills, and a fort town sits right on the edge of it. Walk in through the east gate, past the granary, the jail and the mosque, to the cliff top; at sunrise and sunset the quartzite walls glow and the river shines far below. Stay the night to have the viewpoints to yourself, and give the Madhavaraya temple an hour for its carvings.
At a glance
- Type
- Hill fort and river gorge; ASI-protected Two sources
- Where
- Right bank of the Penna, 15-16 km from Jammalamadugu Official source
- Founded
- 1123 (Gandikota Kaifiyat; Wikipedia) Official source
- Gorge
- About 100-200 m wide, cut through the Erramala hills in Gandikota quartzite (district portal; Wikipedia) Official source
- Distance
- 85 km (about 90 min) from Kadapa; 47 km from Yerraguntla station (district portal) Official source
- Social
- @visitgandikota (district portal) Official source
- Time needed
- One night: sunset and sunrise at the gorge
History and significance
- Founding
- The Gandikota Kaifiyat dates a fort here to 1123, built by Kaka Raja, a vassal of the Kalyani Chalukyas (district portal; Wikipedia). Official source
- Rulers
- Kakatiyas, Vijayanagara and the Pemmasani Nayaks, then the Qutb Shahis, Mughals, Mayana Nawabs and Mysore; British from 1791 (district portal). Official source
- Mir Jumla
- Mir Jumla, wazir of Golconda, took the fort in 1650 and built the Jama Masjid (district portal). Official source
- Tavernier
- The French gem merchant visited while Mir Jumla held the fort; the portal prints the year as 1952, clearly an error for 1652. Official source
- Diamonds and Vemana
- Diamonds were mined in the area, and the poet Vemana is believed to have lived here (district portal). Official source
What to see
- East gate and House of Drums
- Main entrance with towering walls and watchtowers.
- Madhavaraya Temple
- Four-storey gopuram and Vijayanagara pillars.
- Jama Masjid
- Two minarets, vaulted ceilings.
- Granary
- Vaulted hall on two rows of twelve pillars.
- Mini Charminar and jail
- Three-storey tower and old cells.
- Raghunatha Swamy Temple
- Pemmasani temple with gorge views.
- Gorge viewpoints
- Cliff-edge views at sunrise and sunset.
Visiting
- Timings
- Not published by the district portal. Confirm with ASI or APTDC. Not yet verified
- Entry fee
- Not published. Not yet verified
- Stay
- APTDC Haritha hotel; limited rooms, book ahead (Wikipedia). Two sources
- Development
- A project of about Rs 78-79 crore (tent city, ropeway, glass walkway) was started in August 2025 (Deccan Chronicle). Works may affect access. Two sources
- Festival
- An annual heritage festival is held in the fort (Wikipedia); 2026-27 dates to confirm. Two sources
Festivals
- Gandikota heritage festival
- Annual festival in the fort (Wikipedia); dates to confirm with the district. Two sources
Visitor guidelines
- Keep well back from cliff edges; there are no railings at many viewpoints.
- Do not go down into the gorge or swim in the Penna without a local guide.
- Carry water and a torch for sunrise walks.
- Do not climb on the monuments; it is ASI-protected.
- Camping only at designated sites.
How to reach Gandikota Fort and Penna Gorge
- By road
- Kadapa 85 km; Jammalamadugu 16 km (district portal). Official source
- By train
- Yerraguntla 47 km (district portal); Muddanuru 26 km (Wikipedia). Official source
- By air
- Kadapa airport (district portal). Official source
Month by month
| Month | Temp °C | Sunrise | Sunset | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | IMD normals to add | 06:45 | 18:05 | Best: cool, dry |
| Feb | IMD normals to add | 06:42 | 18:21 | Best |
| Mar | IMD normals to add | 06:26 | 18:27 | Warming |
| Apr | IMD normals to add | 06:04 | 18:31 | Very hot |
| May | IMD normals to add | 05:49 | 18:37 | Hottest |
| Jun | IMD normals to add | 05:47 | 18:47 | Hot, windy |
| Jul | IMD normals to add | 05:55 | 18:51 | Warm; light rain |
| Aug | IMD normals to add | 06:03 | 18:41 | Warm; light rain |
| Sep | IMD normals to add | 06:05 | 18:19 | Rain |
| Oct | IMD normals to add | 06:08 | 17:57 | Rain; green |
| Nov | IMD normals to add | 06:18 | 17:45 | Good |
| Dec | IMD normals to add | 06:34 | 17:50 | Best: cool, dry |
Suggested plans
- One night
- Arrive by 4 PM, fort walk and sunset; sunrise at the gorge; leave after breakfast.
- Two days
- Add Belum Caves in Nandyal district (to confirm road distance).
- Kadapa circuit
- Gandikota, Pushpagiri, Ameen Peer Dargah and Vontimitta over two days.
How to reach YSR Kadapa
- By train
- Kadapa and Yerraguntla on the Guntakal-Renigunta line; Muddanuru.
- By air
- Kadapa airport.
- By road
- National highways meet at Kadapa, the road hub of the district.
- Headquarters
- Kadapa
- Coast
- Landlocked
Best time to visit YSR Kadapa
- Best time
- October to February.
- Climate
- Hot and dry; April-May very hot.
Dates to plan around in Andhra Pradesh
- Pydithalli Sirimanotsavam — Vizianagaram: Tue 27 Oct 2026, 3-5 PM (Deccan Chronicle)
- Papikondalu boats — Polavaram: running again since 12 Oct 2026; season to Sankranti
- Maredumilli Tourism Festival — Polavaram: 12-15 Dec 2026 (Incredible India)
- Sambara Polamamba Jatara — Parvathipuram Manyam: January 2027, dates to confirm
- Godavari Pushkaralu — Rajamahendravaram: 26 Jun-7 Jul 2027 (PTI)
Where to stay in YSR Kadapa
No stays have been verified for YSR Kadapa yet — our guide lists a stay only after checking it with an official source.
Quick answers about YSR Kadapa
What is YSR Kadapa known for?
The Penna country of Rayalaseema: the gorge and fort of Gandikota, the single-rock Ramas of Vontimitta, Pushpagiri's riverside temples and the Ameen Peer Dargah.
What is the one place not to miss in YSR Kadapa?
Gandikota Fort and Penna Gorge. Called the Grand Canyon of India: a walled fort town on red quartzite cliffs above a 100-200 m wide gorge of the Penna, with the Madhavaraya temple, Jama Masjid, granary and sunrise viewpoints. ASI-protected.
Which is the nearest railway station to YSR Kadapa?
Kadapa and Yerraguntla on the Guntakal-Renigunta line; Muddanuru.
Which is the nearest airport to YSR Kadapa?
Kadapa airport.
When is the best time to visit YSR Kadapa?
October to February.
How many places are there to visit in YSR Kadapa?
Our guide lists 10 places in YSR Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, across forts and gorge, temples and pilgrimage, dargahs and mathams, heritage.
Nearby, in neighbouring districts
- Belum Caves, Nandyal — India's second-longest natural cave system (about 3.2 km surveyed), with galleries, stalactites, Kotilingalu formations and the Patalaganga stream; about 1.5 km open on a self-guided tour.
- Sri Uma Maheswara Swamy Temple, Yaganti, Nandyal — Cave and hill temple among springs and waterfalls, with a huge Nandi of about 15 x 10 x 8 ft; the cave temple and Uma-Maheswara temple are ASI monuments. Very busy at Maha Shivaratri.
- Horsley Hills (Yenugu Mallamma Konda), Annamayya — Andhra's best-known hill station, at about 1,265-1,290 m in the Eastern Ghats: wind-swept rocks, valley viewpoints, eucalyptus avenues and more than 133 bird species.
Official links and sources
- YSR Kadapa district portal ↗
- APTDC (state tourism corporation) ↗
- APSRTC ↗
- YSR Kadapa district portal: Gandikota ↗
- YSR Kadapa district portal: religious tourism ↗
- YSR Kadapa district portal: tourism ↗
- Wikipedia: Gandikota ↗
- Wikipedia: Monuments of National Importance in Andhra Pradesh ↗
- Deccan Chronicle: Gandikota tourism project ↗