Anantapur travel guide

Anantapur, India

By the Travel Wiki editorial team

Anantapur

Introduction

Anantapur, officially Ananthapuramu, is a city in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It serves as the mandal headquarters of Anantapuramu mandal and the divisional headquarters of Anantapur revenue division, and it sits on National Highway 44.

The city's past includes a role as the headquarters of the Datta Mandalam in 1799 and strategic importance for the British Indian Army during the Second World War.

Before you go

Anantapur sits on the road and rail corridor between Hyderabad and Bangalore, roughly 200 km south of Bangalore and 350 km north of Hyderabad, so it works easily as a stopover or base while travelling through the region. The nearest airport is at Puttaparty, about 70 km away.

Telugu is the primary language, though you should not have much difficulty getting along with English alone. The city is also home to Sri Krishnadevaraya University and JNT University.

Getting there

Anantapur is well connected to Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore by frequent train and bus services. On the rails, the Garib Rath service links the city with Hyderabad and Bangalore.

By road, government-operated APSRTC buses run alongside many private operators offering services from Hyderabad, Vellore and Bengaluru. Several private travels companies connect Anantapur with Hyderabad, and there are many other services to Bengaluru as well as short services to nearby towns and villages. A private service also runs daily from Kurnool to Vellore through Anantapur.

Getting around

Anantapur has no metro or tram, so you'll get around by auto-rickshaw, city bus, taxi or rental car. Auto-rickshaws are the standard choice for short hops between neighbourhoods and landmarks such as Clock Tower, Sapthagiri Circle, Srikantam Circle, the Railway Station area, the Bus Station, Government Hospital and Court Road. Meters are not the norm, so agree on the fare before you set off. APSRTC city buses run on various routes within the city and are the cheapest way to move between the bus station, the railway station and the main commercial circles. For longer trips — to nearby sights such as Lepakshi Temple, Penukonda Fort or the ISKCON Temple, or onward to another city — taxis and rental cars are the practical option, and private cab operators also cover routes to and from the airports and major cities. Telugu is the official and widely spoken language, with Urdu, Hindi, Kannada and Tamil also spoken by significant minorities, which helps if you need to ask for directions or negotiate a fare.

Walking is most comfortable in the cooler winter months from late November to early February; the climate is semi-arid and hot and dry for most of the year, with summer beginning in late February and peaking in May, so avoid the midday heat. Plan your walking route around one practical obstacle: the railway overbridge near Clock Tower, a long-standing landmark connecting the Newtown, is closed and under demolition until a new four-lane flyover is functional, which affects how you cross between the heart of the city and NH44. Use the Clock Tower, Sapthagiri Circle, Srikantam Circle, the Railway Station and the Bus Station as orientation landmarks. Buy bus tickets directly from APSRTC staff or conductors; for private operators, book through the travel office or online in advance for overnight services.

Where to stay

Anantapur's accommodation is concentrated around a few central pockets, so where you stay mostly comes down to your budget rather than your itinerary. Budget options cluster near the APSRTC Bus Stand and Subash Road: Nama Residency sits on Subash Road, Komala Residency is beside the bus stand (left side, opposite the petrol bunk), and Naveed Residency, SRS Residency (on the parallel road to Raju Road) and Hotel Sapthagiri Balla near Sapthagiri Circle round out the cheaper choices. These suit travellers arriving by bus or passing through on a tight budget.

Mid-range lodges line Raju Road and the area around Sreekantam Circle — Amaravathi Lodge and Annapurna Lodge on Raju Road, and Mayura Lodge and Sampoorna Lodge near Sreekantam Circle. For something more comfortable, Hotel Masineni Grand on Raju Road is a three-star hotel in the central area of the city and is the pick if you want a step up in facilities while staying close to the centre.

Food & drink

Anantapur's eating is built around tiffin, and the city takes its breakfasts seriously. Dosa is the thing to seek out: Gurukrupa Hotel on I-Road, Sujatha Hotel and Indira Priyadarshini Hotel near Clock Tower are all known for it, and Adi Murthi Tiffin Center opposite Jain Mandir in Old Town is famous for its varieties of dosa. Idly is best found in Old Town near Krishna theatre and Srikantam Circle, while poori is served opposite Emrald Restaurant. For something fried, bajjis are the local staple, with a well-known spot on 1st Road near the Police Training College. Oaligalu is another Old Town specialty worth trying.

For a full meal, biriyani at Spice Touch near Hotel Sapthagiri Balla is a solid choice, and non-vegetarians should head to Swathi daba on Gooty Road. Vegetarians have plenty of options: Madhu Restaurant beside Bank of Baroda Cross on Subhash Road is known for North Indian dishes, with Manogna Restaurant opposite SBI and Srisagar Restaurant on Subhash Road as further choices. Gongooras can be found along the national highway towards Bangalore. To drink, nannari — a kind of root beer — and buttermilk are the most consumed drinks in summer, and bottles of nannari syrup are usually available at stores.

What to see and do

Anantapur's most distinctive landmark is the Clock Tower at the centre of town, built in memory of martyrs of the Indian freedom movement on the initiative of M. Ramachandra Naidu, then district judge, and other citizens. Its proportions carry meaning: the height signifies the year 1947, the radius signifies the date the 15th, and its eight faces signify August, the eighth month. Near the centre of town you can also see the Arts College, worth a look for its ancient architecture.

For temples, head to Cheruvu Katta, a holy place for both Hindus and Muslims where the Shirdi Sai Baba, Ayyappa, Ganesh and Hanuman temples are all located together. The Sarada Temple at SaradaNagar is a peaceful and well-known spot, and the ISKCON Temple at Hare Krishna Land in Somuladoddi, on National Highway No. 7 about 7 km from town, was built by ISKCON in 2008. If you want to eat outdoors, BlooMoon Restaurant sits on NH-7 towards Gooty.

When to go

Anantapur is semi-arid, hot and dry for most of the year, so time your visit around the heat and the short wet season. Summer builds from late February and peaks in May, when the days are at their hottest; pre-monsoon showers can arrive as early as March on north-easterly winds from Kerala, but conditions stay largely hot and dry.

The monsoon runs from September to early November and brings the year's rain, making it the wettest stretch in an otherwise dry place. A dry, mild winter follows from late November to early February, with little humidity and comfortable temperatures — the most pleasant time to visit after the heat and rains.

Three days in Anantapur

Day one: Start in Anantapur itself, getting your bearings around the Clock Tower, Sapthagiri Circle and Srikantam Circle, which anchor the central streets. Wander Court Road and the area around the Railway Station and Bus Station to see how the city moves, and stop by the ISKCON Temple. Anantapur is a natural base for the region, with road and rail links to Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai, so use the day to settle in and plan the rest of your trip.

Day two: Head out to Lepakshi Temple, the region's best-known monument, and give it a good part of the day. If time allows, continue to Penukonda Fort to see its older fortifications. Both sit within reach of Anantapur, so you can return to the city in the evening.

Day three: Take in the city's institutions and everyday life, including Sri Krishnadevaraya University and JNT University, then visit Datta Mandalam. Use the remaining time to explore the markets and streets around the Bus Station and Railway Station before your onward journey, whether by APSRTC bus or by train such as the Garib Rath toward Chennai.

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