Khammam
Introduction
Khammam is a city in the Indian state of Telangana and the headquarters of both Khammam district and Khammam mandal. It sits in the eastern part of the state, roughly 193 kilometres east of Hyderabad, 61 kilometres from Suryapet, 120 kilometres from Warangal, and about 121 kilometres north of Amaravathi in Andhra Pradesh. The river Munneru runs along the city's western side.
The city was upgraded to a municipal corporation in October 2012, and in the years that followed it saw significant change: roads were expanded, and medical, engineering and IT facilities were added. For a visitor, Khammam works as a district headquarters town and a practical base in this part of Telangana, with the Munneru shaping its western edge.
Before you go
Before you go, it helps to know that Khammam is a city in Telangana, in southern India. The source material for this guide is limited, so treat what follows as a starting point rather than a complete picture. Because the available information is thin, you should confirm practical details — how to reach the city, where to stay, and what to see — through other sources before you travel.Getting there
Khammam sits roughly 200 km from Hyderabad by road, with the rail route a little longer. If you are driving in from Hyderabad, you join National Highway 9 and pass through Suryapet, which acts as the main connecting point for the onward stretch to Khammam. From Vijayawada, the approach is via Kodad on the same highway. Other road connections reach Khammam from Warangal, and from Bhadrachalam via Kothagudem and Palawancha.
- By train: Khammam station (code: KMT) lies on the main north-south national line, so the route is well connected with plenty of trains. Vijayawada is the nearest major railway station and offers the best connections to other major cities. In peak times there are trains to Vijayawada and Warangal roughly every hour.
- By bus: Services link Khammam with Hyderabad, Bhadrachalam, Kothagudem, Palawancha, Wyra and Suryapet, with a bus about every 15 minutes from these places. Buses also run to Warangal and Vijayawada, though they are rarely used because the rail connection is available.
Getting around
Auto rickshaws are the primary way to get around Khammam, and they are your default choice for short hops and for reaching areas the buses do not serve. On the main routes you can share an auto with other passengers for a very small fare, while trips to internal areas require you to bargain rather than rely on a fixed rate — agree on the price before you set off. As a general guide, a journey anywhere within Khammam's boundaries should not exceed around ₹40 for an individual or around ₹60 for a group.
City buses run on the main roads and connect to some suburban villages outside the city. They are cheap, but there are relatively few of them and the schedule is erratic, so treat them as a backup on main corridors rather than something to build a tight itinerary around. Taxis are rare and are generally used only if you plan to visit other places in Khammam district; if you need a car, approach one of the travel agencies near the main bus stand, which allow you to hire one. There is no metro or tram network, and no airport in the city itself, so plan on autos, buses or a hired car. Carry small change for shared autos and city buses, and build in slack if you are relying on the buses.
Where to stay
Where you stay in Khammam is largely a matter of choosing between a handful of small lodges and residencies rather than a wide range of hotels. Vishnu Residency is described as well maintained, making it a reasonable option if you want a dependable base in the city. Sri Sri Hotels (also known as SS Hotels) sits on the bypass road near Vishal Mart, which puts you on one of the main routes through town. Other choices include Hotel S park and City Lodge.Food & drink
For a full meal, Haveli restaurant on Wyra Road is the best-known name in town. From the non-vegetarian menu, try the Tawa Fish, Chilli Prawns or Tawa Chicken; vegetarians should order the Menthi Chaman with naans. The boneless Chicken Biryani and the Fish Biryani are both good choices. Ishta is another reliable restaurant, while Kaveri, near the Petrol Bunk bus stand, is an old establishment with a long-held reputation for keeping up its standards.
For snacking, Mirchi Bajji and Jelabi are famous around Pavilion ground and near the railway station, and cutlet and PaniPuri are well known at SBI Bank on Wyra Road and at PIM Catholic. Roadside tiffin vendors are found all over town, and their tiffins are cheap and delicious — worth trying. If you want a drink, Krishna Bar and Restaurant is the locally famous spot, serving plenty of snacks alongside the drinks.
What to see and do
For a sense of the town's history, head to Khammam Fort, built by the Kakatiya rulers and later managed and extended under the Nizam. Steps have been constructed to make the climb easier, and from the top you get a fine view over Khammam town. The Narasimha Swamy Temple, dedicated to the deity of the same name, is closely tied to the origin of the town's name. It sits on a hilltop that you can reach by car, and the views are especially good in the evening. Khammam has good-quality cinemas across the town, among them Tirumala Theatre, Srinivasa Theatre, Vinoda Theatre and Nartaki, showing mostly Telugu and Hindi films. For time outdoors, Danavaigudem Park is a picnic spot on the banks of the Munneru river, where you can look at the drinking water supply plant and, depending on the flow conditions, take a pleasant walk across the river on the dam. An evening at Tank Bund, near Sequel Resorts, is a good way to pass the time; in the mornings the same spot serves as a walkers' park.When to go
Khammam has a typical Indian climate: a hot, dry summer, a monsoon season that brings rain and relief, and a mild winter. Cyclones are possible during the rainy months, so it is worth keeping an eye on conditions if you travel then.
- Summer: Daytime heat is intense and conditions are generally dry with low humidity, making this an uncomfortable time to visit.
- South West Monsoon: The rains bring much needed relief from the heat. Rainstorms and cyclones are common in the region during this period.
- North East Monsoon: Some rainfall can be expected in October, and cyclones commonly occur between August and November. Temperatures continue to fall as winter approaches.
- Winter: The coolest part of the year, with January usually the coldest. Discomfort is moderate, making this a more pleasant time to visit.
Three days in Khammam
Day one: Base yourself in Khammam and get your bearings in the city before venturing further afield. Khammam sits in Telangana, and the Munneru river runs through the area, so a slow first day around town is a sensible way to start. Buses and auto services make it easy to move around, and taxis are available if you prefer to travel by car. Carry what you need for the day, since October can still be warm and humid.
Day two: Head out to nearby places within reach of the city. Suryapet, Warangal, Kodad, Wyra, Palawancha and Kothagudem are all in the region, and Bhadrachalam lies further along. National Highway connections and services along the route make these trips straightforward, whether you go by bus, auto or taxi. If you are coming from Vijayawada, the journey into this part of Telangana passes through towns such as Kodad.
Day three: Look beyond Telangana towards Andhra Pradesh. Amaravathi and the wider Andhra Pradesh region are reachable, and KMT and Vijayawada are useful reference points for travel in this part of India. Before you set out, check your connections, since buses and other services vary by route. Because the region is well linked by road, you can shape the final day around how far you want to go.