Amaravati, the proposed capital city of Andhra Pradesh is found on the banks of the river Krishna in Guntur district. It has derived its name from Amaravathi, which has been named after the Amaravati Stupa, that was unearthed while the town was being built. Famous for its Amareswara temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is the most preferred tourist destination in India, being one in every of the famous Pancharamas.
Best Time to Visit Amaravati
Amaravati has been envisioned to be the people-centric pioneer Smart City of India, fostering a sustainable and happy atmosphere for all its inhabitants. A well-thought plan has been carved out for the town supported by the layout of Singapore, designed to possess 51% green space and 10% of water bodies. November to February signifies the winter season and is the most suitable time for the tourists to pay a visit to all of its heritage sites while basking within the glory of the winter Sun.
History of Amaravati
The foundation stone of Amaravati was laid by Narendra Modi on 22nd October 2015 at Uddandarayunipalem. Amaravati, earlier called Dhanyakatakam was the capital of the Satavahana Dynasty, one in all the earliest Indian empires and also the ancestral dynasty, with its history dating back to the 2nd Century BCE. The dominance of Buddhist art, inscriptions and stupas imply the prevalence of Buddhism here. This city alongside Nagarjuna Konda is considered one of the richest holy sites of Buddhism in India.
Major Attractions in and Around Amaravati
Amaravati tourism gets a lift during the winter months, with soothing weather and temperatures hovering between 31-33 degree.
1. Amaralingeswara Temple
The major attraction for tourists, this temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is situated on the southern bank of Krishna River. It’s one in all the Pancharama Kshetras and claims that the Shivalinga has been growing.
2. Dhyana Buddha Statute
A 125-feet tall Buddha statue located in Dhyana Buddha Park, under the Amaravati Mandal keeps thousands of tourists gazing at its aura and built.
3. The Krishna River
The fourth-biggest river in India and a significant source of irrigation in Telangana. Tourism being a significant industry here, Amaravati Tourism has plans to construct a floating hotel, boating and a replacement barrage on the River Krishna.
4. Managalagiri Temple
Temples like PanakalaSwami and Lakshmi Naramisha are located at the foot of the Auspicious Hill. The town has three Narasimha Swami temples, located at a distance of 38 km from Amaravati, which has attracted lots of tourists time and again.
5. Amaravathi Mahachaitya
Amaravathi Mahachaitya, a ruined Buddhist monument, encompasses the stupa and important sculptures on the bank of the Krishna River. It is quite renowned for getting the tourists acquainted with the traditional South-Eastern style of art and architecture.
6. Undavalli Caves
Solid sandstone rock-cut caves, located in Undavalli, 22 km northeast of Guntur City on a hillside, includes a huge recreated statue of Vishnu in a highly reclining posture.
7. Bhattiprolu
A Buddhist town renowned for its big Buddha stupa, showcases the earliest evidence of Brahmi script that was prevalent in South India.
8. Heritage Centre and Museum
The Amaravati Heritage Centre and Museum give a holistic and panoramic view of the rich culture that’s embedded in this part of Andhra Pradesh. Comprising of majestic Buddhist monuments, galleries and an elegant bronze statue of Lord Buddha, this destination attracts a lot of foreign travellers.
9. Kondaveedu Fort
A hill fortress and proposed world heritage site located within the heart of Kondaveedu village. This fort is getting renovated by the Andhra Pradesh Department of Archaeology and Museum to emerge as a hot favourite amongst its tourists.
How to Reach Amaravati
Amaravati is one of the most favourite and recently discovered destinations in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Though a virtual tour of the city by Adotrip seems quite appealing, a physical visit to this city is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Since it is a newly formed city, the Government is yet to get varied other means to succeed in except for the foremost widely used railways and road transport, with some flights being operational. Two new depots for State Road Transportation are within the pipeline for construction. Auto-rickshaws also ply over short distances within the city limit.
By Air
The closest airport is Vijayawada International Airport (VGA), Gannavaram which is at a distance of 37 km and connects to some metropolitan cities, by direct and stop-over flights.
Here is a list of Indian cities from where flights are available to Vijayawada
By Train
With an upsurge in educational institutions in this city, a rapidly evolving infrastructural development is foreseen. The long-awaited Amaravati high-speed circular railway line is nearing its completion and would connect the town to Vijayawada, Guntur and Tenali. The metro rail project in making, between the cities of Tenali, Guntur, and Vijayawada, has a 100km circular corridor.
By Road
Several road transport buses operate within the state connecting the town with other places like Guntur, Tenali and Vijayawada.
The Amaravati–Anantapur Expressway, in the course of the Kurnool and Kadapa Feeder Roads, an ongoing greenfield expressway project is anticipated to enable faster road access from the districts of Anantapur, Guntur region, Kurnool, Kadapa, Amaravati to Prakasam, Kakinada, Rajamahendravaram and Visakhapatnam.
The Amaravati seed capital road is the arterial road being built to foster accessibility to the core capital area from the National Highway.
- From Vijayawada – 21.9 km via NH65 (Vijayawada=Amaravati Road)
- From Hyderabad – 282.1 km via NH65
- From Guntur – 37.8 km by NH16
- From Tenali – 55.6 km by NH16
- From Delhi – 1847.0 km by NH44
- From Mumbai – 993.3 km by NH65
- From Kolkata – 1236.0 km by NH16
- From Chennai – 452.4 km by NH16
- From Bangalore – 665.8 km by NH16
Frequently Asked Questions about Vijayawada
Q. What are the popular tourist destinations in Vijayawada?
A. Some of the popular tourist destinations in Vijayawada include the Kanaka Durga Temple, Undavalli Caves, Prakasam Barrage, Kondapalli Fort, and the Gandhi Hill.
You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven circuit planner. Click here
