Eluru
Introduction
Eluru, historically known as Ellore and Helapuri, is a city and the district headquarters of Eluru district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It sits on the banks of the Tammileru River in the southeastern part of the state, and serves as the mandal headquarters of Eluru mandal in the Eluru revenue division. The city is one of the municipal corporations in the state and anchors a wider urban development authority area, giving it the feel of a major urban centre rather than a small town.
Its history reaches back to the second century CE, with evidence of its ancient roots found in archaeological sites and historical records. Eluru was a prominent town under the Qutub Shahis in the sixteenth century, came under Mughal control in the seventeenth century, and later formed part of the Nawab of Hyderabad's dominions in the eighteenth century. Under British India it was incorporated into the Madras Presidency and made capital for the Northern Circars in the early nineteenth century, when administrative and infrastructural development began to shape its modern identity.
Getting there
The nearest airport is Vijayawada (VGA), which is less than an hour away by bus. By rail, Eluru has a halt from every train passing through it, and local trains connect the city with Rajahmundry and Vijayawada. APS RTC buses travel longer distances within the state as well as outside it, for example to Hyderabad and Bangalore, while many private buses cover the region, including the centre of the city, its suburbs and rural areas. Parking in the city is improving: two-wheelers are generally easy to park, though finding parking for cars is a bit harder, with spaces provided by the city government as well as by business owners.Getting around
Eluru is a walkable city: almost all locations can be reached on foot, and most roads are pedestrian-friendly with footpaths. For longer hops, auto-rickshaws are a major mode of transport and are widely available across the city and its suburbs, while taxis and other four-wheelers can use all roads, which have a minimum width of 3.7 metres. In downtown and busy areas, motorbiking or cycling can often be quicker than an auto-rickshaw or taxi. Two-wheeler parking is generally easy to find, though car parking can be more of a challenge.
Two functional bus stations serve the city, the Eluru New Bus Station and the Eluru Old Bus Station, with buses departing according to destination and frequent intermediate services running between them. State-run APSRTC buses, including Palle Velugu for rural areas and CNG buses on long-distance routes, operate alongside private buses covering the city centre, suburbs and rural areas. Eluru Railway Station is the main rail hub, with local trains linking the city to Rajahmundry and Vijayawada, and other stations such as Powerpet, Vatluru, Sitampet, Denduluru and Bhimadole may suit your route. Traffic has grown around railway gates in Vatluru, Venkatraopet, Powerpet and Eastern Locks; bypass roads, including the mini-bypass between Eastern Locks and Vatluru and the National Highway 16 and GNT Road routes, can help you skirt congestion in the narrow lanes of the old city.
Where to stay
Eluru's accommodation is concentrated in a few pockets of the city. R. R. Pet has the densest cluster of places to stay, including Athidi, a three-star hotel, along with Valentino and Hotel Usha Valentine. Manya Guestline is among the star hotels in Eluru, and Surya Residency also takes guests.
- Athidi — R. R. Pet, three-star hotel
- Manya Guestline — one of the star hotels in the city
- Surya Residency
- Valentino — R. R. Pet
- Hotel Usha Valentine — R. R. Pet
- Vasanth Mahal — Jute Mill Center
- Aditya Ceentral — 1-Town
- Haritha Resort Gudivakalanka — a Kolleru lake resort hotel at Gudivadalanaka
If you would rather base yourself away from the centre, Haritha Resort Gudivakalanka sits out at Gudivadalanaka as a Kolleru lake resort hotel. Otherwise, 1-Town and Jute Mill Center give you alternatives to R. R. Pet, with Aditya Ceentral in 1-Town and Vasanth Mahal at Jute Mill Center.
Food & drink
For a proper taste of Eluru, head to the R.R. Pet area, where you'll find plenty of places to eat and drink in one stretch. Try the local biryani at Biryani House, or sit down for a meal at Madhulatha, Akarsh Pride, or Hotel Athidi International. Ravi Sweets and Sweet Magic, both in R.R. Pet, are good stops for something sweet, and Ibaco Ice Cream Parlour is nearby if you fancy ice cream. In 1 Town, Adithya Central is one of the city's star hotels and a solid option for a meal. No visit to Eluru is complete without trying dosa, a kind of crepe, and the city has several well-known spots for it: Vasanthamahal center, Hai tea center, and Fire station center. Near the Old bus stand, Appalaraju Military Hotel serves very delicious food, and you can also try Sugandhi Soda there. For something refreshing, Kaju Juice in R.R. Pet and Friends Fruit Juice in R.R. Pet are worth seeking out. If you're after a multi-cuisine meal, Banana Leaf at Manya Guestline offers a range of dishes, and Hotel Grand Aarya in N R Pet is another option.What to see and do
In Eluru you can see a towering statue of Abhaya Buddha standing in a pond at Buddha Park, while Brundavan Park in Pathebad offers a recreational space with a walking track. R.R.Pet has its own children's park, and Janmabhoomi Park in N.R.Pet sits on the banks of the Tammileru river. Further out, Holy Land in Sanivarapupeta is one of only two such sites in India, and DwarakaTirumala, also called Chinna Tirupathi, is a home of Lord Venkateswara. The Guntupalli Buddhist Monuments preserve caves carved in ancient times by Buddhists, and Kolleru Bird Sanctuary centres on one of India's largest freshwater lakes. For a sense of local life, head to the Sunday shopping fest around R.R.Pet Market, 1 Town Fish Market, the Jute Mill Industry area and 1 Town Market. Be prepared for the city's well-known traffic congestion as you move between them.When to go
Eluru has a hot, humid coastal climate, so plan around the heat and the rains. May is the hottest month, with intense heat and humidity, so expect scorching conditions if you visit then. July is the wettest month, bringing the heaviest rains of the year, so you should be prepared for downpours during the monsoon peak.
- December is the coolest month and offers the most comfortable conditions of the year for a visit.
- May brings the most intense heat and humidity.
- July is the wettest month, with the heaviest rains of the year.
Three days in Eluru
Day one: Arrive in Eluru, also known as Ellore and historically Helapuri, a city in Andhra Pradesh with roots reaching back through the Qutub Shahis, the Mughals and the Nawabs of Hyderabad, and later shaped under British India as part of the Madras Presidency and the Northern Circars. Start by getting your bearings around the bus stations: Eluru New Bus Station and Eluru Old Bus Station are the main arrival points for APSRTC services, including Palle Velugu, from Vijayawada, Rajahmundry and Bangalore, while Eluru Railway Station, coded VGA, sits close to Powerpet. Use the day to walk the neighbourhoods near Powerpet and along the Tammileru River, and to try the local Andhra cooking the region is known for.
Day two: Head out of the centre toward the surrounding settlements of Vatluru, Sitampet, Denduluru and Bhimadole, using APSRTC buses or the rail line from Eluru Railway Station. These smaller places give you a sense of the wider delta country around Eluru, and the Tammileru River is never far away. Keep an eye on traffic if you are travelling by road, and plan your return before evening so you are back in the city for dinner.
Day three: Spend your last day in Eluru itself, revisiting whichever part of the city you liked most, whether that is the area around Powerpet or the riverside. If you are continuing your journey, connections run onward to Vijayawada, Rajahmundry and Bangalore by APSRTC bus, and the railway station handles trains on the same corridor. Allow extra time for traffic and for reaching the correct bus station, since Eluru has both a new and an old one.