Vijayawada is often considered the true gateway to the south. Lying in the midst of the Telengu heartland, the city today remains true to its age old character. It has a tradition for hospitality that was lent to it as early as the time of the Vijayanagar empire and later reinforced under the Qutab Shahi rulers when it became an important inland port. The presiding deity of the city Kanakdurga is also locally called Vijaya. Remains of the city;s past preserved in the cave temples are remainders of the importance of Vijayawada over ages.

How to Reach

Viyaywada is connected by air to Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam. As it is a major junction it is well connected to almost all the major cities in India.

What to see

Undavalli caves

Of the many cave temples Undavalli caves just 4 kms away are amongst the most important. The 7th century Hindu cave temples are cut into five tiers along the slope of a black granite hill. The main attraction here is the reclining statue of Lord Vishnu about 5 kms long sculpted from a single block of granite.

Mogalarajapuram

Of the three cave temples only one is intact and contains the idols of Natraj and Vinayak. The Ardhanareeswara one of the forma of Lord Shiva, here is believed to be the onlu one in South India. These cave temples date back to the 6th 7th century.

Mahastupa

Amaravati 50 kms from Vijayawada was once the ancient Satavahana capital. It was one of the four major places of Buddist worship in the country. Built over 2,000 years ago, on the bank of river Krishna at this point is the Mahastupa, the largest stupa in the country, 36.5m across and girdled by a 4.2m circumambulatory path. The stupa is built of kiln burnt bricks and faced with marble slabs, adorned with carvings showing the Buddha's life along its dome and inner and outer sides of the railing. It is known as Deepaladinne or hillock of lamps.

Narasimha

At Bangalagiri 12 kms south is the famous temple of Narasimha an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Kondapalli

Kondapalli village is 16 kms from Vijayawada and is the famous production centre of the famous Kondapalli toys which are made up of light wood called poniki. The toys are in the form of gods and goddesses, birds, animals and houses. They are available in major temple towns and handicraft centres. Near a hill top stands the ruins of a 7th century fort built by the founder of the Kondaveeti Reddy dynasty, the village is inhabitated by craftsmen who fashion figures from wood.

Machilipatanam

It is 65 kms from Vijayawada . The sea side town isthe birthplace of the Kalamkari art of textile printing. Manginapudi beach near the town is another popular tourist spot.

Kuchipudi

It is 60 kms away from Vijayawada. The town lends its name to the famous dance form of Andhra pradesh. A dance school in the memory of the originator, Siddhendra Yogi of the Kuchipudi dance form here.