Vijayawada (with Undavalli and Kondapalli)
A Krishna River city between a temple hill and rock-cut caves
A Vijayawada tour joins Kanaka Durga Temple on Indrakeeladri hill, the Prakasam Barrage, the Undavalli caves and Kondapalli's toy craft in NTR district.
Overview
Vijayawada is a city of roughly 1.2 million people in NTR district, Andhra Pradesh, set on the Krishna River where the water passes between low hills. A Vijayawada tour suits pilgrims, anyone curious about rock-cut architecture, and families who want a river island and a craft village in the same stay. October to February is easier on the feet than summer, when the city has recorded highs of 48.8 C.
The temple comes first for most visitors. Kanaka Durga Temple stands on Indrakeeladri hill above the river, and the goddess is shown with eight arms over the demon Mahishasura. A Telugu inscription of 1229 CE records gifts to the shrine, and the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam administers it. Dasara is the busiest season, so check the devasthanam before planning a visit then.
The river itself is the second theme. The Prakasam Barrage, completed in 1855 and 1,223.5 m long, serves irrigation and water supply and also carries a road across to Guntur district. Upstream lies Bhavani Island, 133 acres in the middle of the Krishna, which the state tourism corporation (APTDC) runs with gardens, cycling and a crafts village called Shilparamam.
Two older sights sit outside the centre. The Undavalli caves are across the river in Guntur district and date from the 4th and 5th centuries. Carved from sandstone, they rise through four storeys, and the main cave holds a reclining figure about 5 m long cut from a single block of granite. It is a centrally protected monument. To the west, in the Ibrahimpatnam mandal of NTR district, Kondapalli Fort was begun in 1360 CE by the Reddi ruler Prolaya Vema Reddy. Its three successive gates lead up to the Tanisha Mahal, a palace set between two hills.
Kondapalli is also the home of a toy craft. Artisans carve soft tella poniki wood from the nearby hills and finish the figures with vegetable dyes and enamel. Dasavatara sets, bullock carts and village scenes are typical, and the craft holds a geographical indication.
For arrival, Vijayawada Airport at Gannavaram (VGA) has had international status since 3 May 2017. Vijayawada Junction (BZA) opened in 1888, has ten platforms and sits where the Howrah to Chennai and Delhi to Chennai lines cross. Annual rainfall is about 978 mm.
Known for
A hill shrine on Indrakeeladri above the Krishna, with a 1229 CE inscription
Quick facts
Hot and wet-dry, with monthly averages of about 23.4 C to 34 C, a recorded maximum of 48.8 C in May 2002 and about 978 mm of rain a year.
Vijayawada Airport (VGA) at Gannavaram (distance to the city centre to be supplied)
Vijayawada Junction (BZA), in the city, about a 10 minutes' drive from the Kanaka Durga Temple
NH16 passes the city on the Chennai to Kolkata corridor. Machilipatnam is about 60 km away, and Amaravati about 15 km south-west. Distances to Undavalli and Kondapalli from the centre and drive times (to be supplied).
Buy Kondapalli toys in the village's Bommala Colony, where the figures are made, rather than relying on city shops
Check Bhavani Island's access and opening arrangements with APTDC before planning the visit, as no official page was readable
Ask the Durga Malleswara Swamy Devasthanam about darshan arrangements before travelling in the Dasara season, because crowds peak then
Location
Packages that visit Vijayawada (with Undavalli and Kondapalli)
All packages →Buddhist Amaravati and Vijayawada
Amaravati Buddhist tour package: 3 days by private car from Vijayawada Airport to the Amaravati Stupa, Undavalli caves and Kanaka Durga Temple.
Vijayawada (with Undavalli and Kondapalli) → AmaravatiHeritage & Temples
4D / 3NKrishna River Cities: Guntur, Vijayawada and Amaravati
A 4-day Guntur Vijayawada Amaravati tour: Undavalli's rock-cut caves, Kanaka Durga Temple, Kondapalli toys and the Amaravati stupa, by private car.
Guntur → Vijayawada (with Undavalli and Kondapalli) → AmaravatiHeritage & TemplesAndhra Temple Circuit: Vijayawada, Srisailam and Tirupati
A 5-day Vijayawada Srisailam Tirupati temple tour: Kanaka Durga, a Jyotirlinga shrine and Tirumala, with two long road days between them.
Vijayawada (with Undavalli and Kondapalli) → Srisailam → Tirupati (with Tirumala)Heritage & TemplesPlan a trip to Vijayawada (with Undavalli and Kondapalli)
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