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This is the travel newsletter of Untrails, a premium offbeat travel company. In this newsletter, I help you discover offbeat locations across India every week, forgotten cultures and offbeat travel hacks. So you can escape the crowds and create unforgettable experiences

Gandikota is a small village in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. It sits on the banks of the Penna River and is known for a deep gorge where the river cuts through the Erramala Hills.

The word Gandikota comes from two Telugu words, gandi, meaning gorge and kota, meaning fort. People often call it the Grand Canyon of India because of its rocky cliffs and wide valley, but that name is not an official title.

Gandikota is offbeat because it lies deep in Andhra’s dry plains, far from any major city or tourist route.

Most people don’t know that there is a huge gorge and an old fort sits hidden there.

The village looks simple, with farms, goats, and narrow paths, but at the edge, the land opens into a wide valley cut by the Penna River.

There are no big hotels to stay in or masses. You walk on stone paths, eat home-cooked food. Life moves slowly, and locals still live beside the old walls of the 13th-century fort.

It is still untouched and natural, not made for tourists. It’s a perfect mix of quiet village life, history, and amazing landscape that makes Gandikota one of India’s few places that is a perfect destination for your weekend.

As usual, pack your bags the day before Friday, and once you’re done with your work on Friday, leave for Gandikota.

Carry a water bottle, some snacks, and a jacket. Have an early dinner or stop at a dhaba for parathas and chai before you start. Take an overnight bus or drive toward Gandikota. You can reach Kadapa or Jammalamadugu and take a cab from there. Flight is also there at Kadapa Airport, but it’s small and very limited number of flights that actually land.

Reach Gandikota early and check in at your stay or campsite. Start your day with hot chai and a simple South Indian breakfast like idli or dosa.

Visit the old Gandikota Fort and walk through its large stone gates and temples. From there, go to the viewpoint where the Penna River cuts through the rocks. You can spend time taking photos or just sitting in silence.

Eat lunch at your stay or a small local eatery with rice, dal, and curry. In the afternoon, visit the Madhavaraya Temple and Jama Masjid inside the fort. Walk through the open fields and watch the locals tending to their goats and farms.

In the evening, go back to the viewpoint to see the sunset. The cliffs glow orange. Have dinner at your campsite or stay, try spicy Andhra food, and sit outside under the stars before you sleep.

Wake up early for sunrise and have tea while watching the sky turn pink over the gorge. After breakfast, leave for Belum Caves, which are about forty kilometres away. Explore the long tunnels and cool air inside the caves. It takes two to three hours to see them properly.

Eat lunch near Belum Caves or back at Gandikota. After lunch, rest a little, pack your things, and start your journey back. Stop on the way for evening chai and snacks before reaching home at night.

Travel (round trip by AC bus) = ₹2,000 – ₹2,500

Local travel (cab or auto for sightseeing) = ₹800 – ₹1,000

Stay (1 night in private guesthouse or campsite) = ₹2,000 – ₹2,500

Food (2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner, snacks and tea) = ₹1,000 – ₹1,200

Entry and activities (Fort area, Belum Caves, small donations) = ₹400 – ₹600

Miscellaneous (Water, tips, local snacks or souvenirs) = ₹300 – ₹500

Total estimate = ₹6,500 – ₹8,000 per person

Thanks for reading.

Well, do let me know if you'd like me to find any particular state’s offbeat weekend travel spots.

I’ll see you on Sunday with another great spot.

See ya till then,

Anirban ‘helping you to experience Gandikota’ Das.

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