Getting Around Srikakulam
Srikakulam is a small city and district headquarters in Andhra Pradesh, and getting around it is straightforward. There is no metro or tram system here, and no local train network within the city itself — the railway station that serves Srikakulam sits at Amudalavalasa, a short trip away from town. In practice, visitors rely on buses, autorickshaws and taxis to move between the city, the railway station and the surrounding sights.
Rail Connections
Srikakulam Road railway station (station code CHE) is the railhead for the city. It is located at Amudalavalasa, near Srikakulam town, and lies on the Khurda Road–Visakhapatnam section of the Howrah–Chennai main line, administered under the Waltair railway division of the East Coast Railway zone.
For a visitor this means the station is well connected along the east coast corridor: trains arrive from the north (including Palasa, Howrah and Bhubaneswar) and from the south (including Vijayawada, Secunderabad and Chennai). Because the station is not in the city centre, plan on a road transfer at either end of your journey.
- Many taxis and autorickshaws are available from Srikakulam to reach the railway station.
- RTC and private buses run between Srikakulam Road railway station and both the Srikakulam RTC Complex and the old bus stand, with frequent departures throughout the day.
Buses and Public Transport
The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) operates bus services from Srikakulam bus station, and the RTC bus complex has two depots that provide service to almost all villages around Srikakulam town. This makes the bus the most practical option for reaching nearby places and for the station transfer.
Services are frequent rather than timetabled in a way you need to memorise — the useful thing to know is which routes run often:
- Visakhapatnam: non-stop buses run frequently throughout the day, from early morning until around 9PM.
- Vizianagaram: buses run roughly every half hour, from 5AM to about 8.30PM.
- Palakonda: buses run roughly every half hour, from 6AM to about 9.30PM.
- Narasannapeta and beyond: buses run very frequently around the clock, continuing up to Icchapuram and to some parts of Odisha.
- Visakhapatnam express services: express buses run frequently from around 5.30AM to about 10.15PM.
Tickets are bought on board or at the bus station in the usual way for state-run and private services; there is no city-wide travel pass to worry about. National Highway 16, part of the Golden Quadrilateral network, bypasses the city, so long-distance road traffic does not have to pass through the centre.
Taxis and Autorickshaws
Autorickshaws are the main on-demand transport for short hops in town, and taxis are readily available for the run out to Srikakulam Road railway station. Both are the standard choice for arriving visitors who want to go directly to their accommodation rather than negotiating the bus network with luggage. Ride-hailing apps are not part of the picture described here, so expect to arrange autorickshaws and taxis directly — at the station, at the bus complex, or through your hotel.
Walking
Srikakulam is a compact city, and the central areas around the bus station and old bus stand are navigable on foot for everyday errands and short trips between nearby streets. Walking is a reasonable way to cover short distances in town, but for the railway station, outlying villages and the district's Buddhist sites you will need a vehicle.
Getting In from the Airport
Srikakulam does not currently have a working airport. The Government of Andhra Pradesh has been planning to build Srikakulam Airport here, but as of now there is no airport serving the city. Visitors flying in should expect to arrive via a larger regional airport elsewhere and continue by train or road; the rail and bus connections described above are the practical ways to complete the journey into Srikakulam.
Practical Tips
- Build your trip around Srikakulam Road railway station if you are coming by train — it is the regional railhead, not a city-centre station.
- Use the frequent station-to-town buses or take an autorickshaw or taxi for the transfer.
- For day trips to nearby towns, head to the RTC bus complex, where services to villages around Srikakulam town are based.
- If you plan to visit the district's Buddhist heritage sites, such as Salihundam, arrange road transport — these lie outside the city and are not served by a local rail network.