Belum, Gandilota & Yaganti, Andhra Pradesh

Belum, Gandikota & Yaganti, Andhra Pradesh

Belum is a place in Andhra Pradesh and that which hosts the India's 2nd Longest caves. Hence it is automatically a non debatable tourist destination and a must a visit. It is very less known destination. Belum offers a memorable experience of walking into the caves for one and half kilometers. The cave itself is 3KMs long however only one and half is open for tourists. The other part is restricted. The caves are nicely lit and they looks mesmerizing and feast to the eyes. 

Caves Lit beautifully

Entrance to the Belum Caves

First Steps into the Caves...

Bottom Up view of the Caves.

Caves Lit with Light

Excellent View from the one side of the caves

Buddha at the Caves Premises.

Gandikota, is grand canyon of India, so automatically yet another non debatable tourist destination.The place is very natural and it appears like mother nature has very patiently designed itself to give such a fantastic panoramic view of the canyon. The river called Penna flows in between beautiful cliffs. It runs quite long however the visibility is limited. The Gandikota refers to the fort built in that region by the then rulers for protection. The fort and its ruins are well noticeable. One can take a walk around the fort that runs alongside the cliffs and river. 

Broad View - Grand Canyon of India - Gandikota

Mesmerizing View

Few Inaccessible Rocks

Gandikota canyon is offers some absolute adventure as it an open space without any fencing or protection around the rock cliffs. One must at most caution while on the canyon place. It is gets even more risky if there are high speed winds. It is preferable to craw at the close edges of the cliffs as they are too high and steep.

An abandoned temple.

Yaganti, it is a special piece of the earth here. The landscape is quite unique in this part of the region. It is quite rocky and is all of cave type of landscape. So naturally Yaganti is termed as cave temples or temples of the caves. There are 3 larges caves that quite acknowledge the temples. The temples are considered to be auspicious and makes a visit must at least once. The temples open at 6am and close at 1pm and reopen at 3pm till 8pm.

Front View of the Caves Temple

Venkateshwara Cave Temple

Shiva Temple

Another Cave Temple or Shiva

Main Temple

One must see the river water that comes gushing from the insides caves and flows into the streams besides temple and settles into a pond for a while before proceeding further, the waters are so very clear and it feels like naturally filtered water. 

A Water body on the way to Yaganti

Kumbhakarna, around 15kms from Penukonda and just off the National Highway one can find a wonderful picnic spot called Kumbhakarna. Here, a big statue of Khumbhakarna in a sleeping posture is constructed. It is a vast ground with nice arrangements for seating with adequate trees and greenery is made available and one can plan a 30 to 45 mins stay.

Kumbhakarna

Kumbhakarna - Picnic Spot

Kumbhakarna - Picnic Spot

Travel
Recommend to travel by your own transportation such as car. It is essential to manage your time. The Belum caves has enough parking and like wise Yanganti too has enormous parking space. But at Gandikota, it is preferred that you figure the best parking place by choice, there is a APTDC restaurant called Haritha. Pretty decent place to spend you evening and night in case you choose to stay as a package tour. 
The trip can be planned as a 3 day trip.
Day 1: 
- Bangalore to Anantapur (start 7:30am, arrival 11:30am) - Hyderabad road via Bangalore international airport road. Around 200KMs and 4 hours of drive time.
- Check in the hotel (see stay section of the blog)
- Anantapur to Gandikota via Tadipatri (start 12:30pm, arrival 3:30pm with lunch break). Around 130kms and takes 2 to 3 hours, the roads are under construction and it is stressful in case your are driving all through from Bangalore to Gandikota. If shared with others it is still manageable. And if you take a break like check in into the hotel and take a break for an hour or so before you start to drive again.
- Spend 3 hours of time by moving around the fort and enjoy the view of the canyon
- Gandikota to Anantapur via Tadipatri (start 6:30pm, arrival 8:30pm)

Day 2:
- Anantapur to Belum caves (start 8am, arrival, 9:30am) very easy drive. Entry Ticket 50/- per head. Walk into the caves and beware that it is would get stuffy and suffocating at times. please carry water and expect sweaty time inside.
- Belum to Yaganti (start 1pm, arrival 2pm) very easy drive. Have your lunch at the temple premises as part of anaadanam. 
- Yaganti to Anantapur (start 6pm, arrival 7:30pm). 

Day 3:
- Rise late in the morning, have your breakfast and start back to Bangalore at 10am.
- Halt over to Kumbhakarna temple near penukoda railway crossing (use google maps to trace it). It is off the national highway and alongside the railyway line. The place is nice and very huge with a lot of resting places in the park. It offers small time trek as well.

Stay
Hotel Rajahamsa, Anantapur. It is right at the Anantapur Bus Stand and is convenient. 
The hotel is very comfortable and offers excellent ambience. It is has fabulous interiors and amazing quality of amenities.

View of a Room

Hotel Facade

Contact Person: Navin or Prabhavati.
Opp : R.T.C. Bus Stand, Beside Narayana e-Techno School,
Anantapur-515001 Pone: +91-8554-241817,231819 Cell: +91-9948266888, 9948366888 E-mail: info@hotelrajahamsa.com Web: www.hotelrajahamsa.com

Best time to Visit
Strictly recommended between, Oct-Feb. Avoid Summers completely. It is going to make very unpleasant.