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Gandikota is a small village on the right bank of the river Penna, Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, India. There's something life affirming to watch the sun going down whilst river Pennar gurgles peacefully through the stony jagged and eroded gorge at the foot of Gandikota hills...  How to reach Gandikota?

The Veerabhadra temple in Lepakshi in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh is a living or a functional temple. Built in stone in the 16th century this architectural marvel unravels mythical stories in its every nook and corner.

Lepakshi temple’s main deity is Veerabhadra - fiery god invoked by Shiva in his rage after the Daksha Yagna and the immolation of Sati. Enraged Shiva pulled off a lock of his hair and from this lock both God Veerbhadra and Goddess Kali were born. Warrior God Veerbhadra in ancient and medieval period was definitely worshipped during wartimes.

Did you know Puranas state that the Veerabhadra temple was built by the Sage Agastya? There is a cave chamber in the sanctum where Sage Agastya is believed to have lived when he installed the Shiva Linga here.

Shiva Linga at Lepakshi Temple is built on rocky hill called Kurmasailam or tortoise hill in Andhra Pradesh. You get an opportunity to meet many forms of Shiva at the Lepakshi Temple Complex - Its fun to recognize various forms of Shiva be it Ardhanareeshwara (the half-female, half-male form of Shiva and Parvati), Kankala Murthi, Dakshinamurthi (Guru of Gurus), Tripuranthaka or Tripurasurasamhara (vanquisher of demon Tripura)... Interesting to note that fiery goddess Bhadrakali has an uncharacteristically serene expression. And most travelers can't stop talking of the mystery of the Aakaasa Sthambha or the hanging pillar at Lepakshi temple. How to reach Lepakshi Temple?

Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh is bustling city that offers turquoise bay views. How to reach Vishakhapatnam?

Gosthani River in the state Andhra Pradesh, India flows from the Ananthagiri Hills, Eastern Ghats into the Bay of Bengal. And you will find a quaint fishing town Bheemunipatnam right at the confluence of River Gosthani and the Bay of Bengal - well known for its pristine beach Bheemil is just about 47 km away from Vishakhapatnam.

How to reach Vishakhapatnam?

Venkateswara Temple located in the hill town of Tirumala at Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India is dedicated to Venkateswara, a form of Vishnu who blesses devotees in a standing posture and is one of the important Vishnu Swayambhu Kshetras.

The Tirumala hills comprises of seven peaks, that are believed to represent the seven heads of Adisesha and the temple is situated on the seventh peak -Venkatadri, on the banks of sacred pushkarini or a water tank.

Built in Dravidian architecture the temple to have been built in a period starting from 300 AD it is well known as one of the richest temple in the world in terms of wealth.

Kapila Theertham is a temple dedicated to Shiva that has a self-manifested lingam - as per legend Kapila Rishi performed a severe tapasya and Shiva and Parvati blessed him - Shiva at this temple is thus referred to as Kapileshwara or the ‘god of Kapila Rishi’ and the Devi is called Kamakshi Amman; It is located at Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. 

The serene and magnificent Buddha statue found at the entrance of Belum caves is probably the only structure that is modern.

Belum Caves are geologically and historically important caves - actually large and really a long cave system known for its speleothems or cave formations - stalactite and stalagmite formations. 

The Belum Caves were formed over the course of tens of thousands of years by the constant flow of underground water from the now-disappeared river Chitravathi - leaving behind - long passages, spacious caverns with fresh water and siphons. 

Inhabited by Jain monks and Buddhist monks centuries ago - a fact proven by the recovered relics - that are housed and exhibited in a Museum at Ananthapur. The Archaeological survey of India has even found objects dating pre-Buddhist era and dated to 4500 years BCE.

Some reasons to explore Blum caves - Patalganga is the deepest part of the cave and is a subterranean stream which flows perennially through the Belum Caves all year round. And the source of it is still a puzzle that both geologists and archeologists have yet to solve. Saptasvarala or the seven notes - this natural chamber formed over thousands of centuries is musical in nature and when hit with knuckles or branches produces musical notes. Kotilingalu chamber is an area with thousands of lingams formed of stalactites. Dhyan mandir is found deep down under the earth’s surface - this cave was used by the Jain and Buddhist monks for meditational purposes centuries back. 

Yaganti temple is dedicated to Shiva Parvati in the form of Uma-Maheswara and was built by King Harihara Bukka Raya of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 15th century. It located in the Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh, India.

The idol is that of Ardhanarishvara form of Uma and Mahesh carved out of a single stone - and this is also believed to be the only temple where Shiva is worshipped in the form of an idol rather than a lingam.

There are many cave temples in Yaganti located right next to the main temple - and one specific cave is important - is known as the Agatsya Rishi cave which is believed to be a place where the Rishi did his penance to get Shiva’s blessings and is open for worship from dawn.

Yaganti temple is at a distance of about 78 km from the city of Kurnool.
The Yaganti temple is 45 km from Belum caves.

River Godavari is the second longest river after river Ganga and is revered in Hindu ancient scriptures since centuries.

Godavari originates in the Western Ghats near Triambakeshwar, Nashik, Maharashtra and first flowing eastwards through the state of Maharashtra, and then turns southeast towards the states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

This image is from Pushkar Ghat, Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, India.

The Undavalli Caves are monolithic rock-cut caves and known as one of the finest example of ancient architectural expertise.

Undavalli caves located in Undavalli, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India - are at a distance of about 11 km from Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.

Mypadu Beach is situated on the west coast of Bay of Bengal, at a distance of about 26 km  from Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Akkana Madanna Cave Temple is a rock-cut cave temple built in the 17th century though the caves date back to 6th or 7th century. It is located in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India and is a protected monument of national importance.

Picture is that of Ranganatha Swamy Temple located in Gandikota Fort...

Gandikota is at a distance of about 77 km from Kadapa which is well connected by road and rail.

Kadapa is at a distance of 259 km from Bengaluru and 416 km from Hyderabad. Do double check before you travel as varied distances are listed on many websites. I have used details as listed in google maps.

Kadapa has its own Domestic Airport, Cuddaph Airport at a distance of about 9 km with direct flights from Hyderabad, Chennai and Vijayawada.

Recommend reading a detailed article on most sights you could experience at Gandikota by Ami Bhagat...

Lepakshi Village is at a distance of about 120+ km from Bengaluru International Airport or if you prefer train travel than Hindupur railway station is at distance of about 14 km from Lepakshi temple.

You could also include Gandikota and Belum Caves in your itinerary when visiting Lepakshi temple. 

Picture is one the many frames of Simhachalam Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Vishakhapatnam, India. The Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasimha temple is a Hindu temple located on the Simhachalam hill in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh dedicated as the name indicates to Varaha Narasimha.

How to reach Visakhapatnam by air?
Visakhapatnam Airport is well connected to many direct and daily flights to many cities in India including Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Kochi, Mangalore, Bhubaneswar, or Port Blair. Visakhapatnam Airport is also an international airport connecting Visakhapatnam to many cities in Asia like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Dubai.

Ethipothala Falls surrounded by arresting greens is a 21 m high river cascade located in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, India. You may also pray to Dattatreya Guru near the waterfall which is actually a result of what we in India term as ‘Trivet Sangam’ - waterfall resulting from three streams namely 1- the Chandra Vanka stream 2 - Surya bhaga stream 3 - Krishna river... How to reach Ethipothala Falls?

Picture >  Vinayaka sculpture at the Undavalli Caves, a protected heritage site, famous for their monolithic or single rock-cut architecture. Caves are at distance of about 36 km from Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.

The nearest airport to Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India is Vijayawada Airport which is about 45 km away whereas Hyderabad International airport is about 286 kms away.

Guntur railway station is well connected to many cities in India including Hyderabad, Chennai, New Delhi, Mumbai and Vishakhapatnam.

Ethipothala falls is at a distance of 134 km from Guntur and at a distance of about 165 km from Hyderabad.

The nearest airport to Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India is Vijayawada Airport which is about 45 km away whereas Hyderabad International airport is about 286 kms away.

Guntur railway station is well connected to many cities in India including Hyderabad, Chennai, New Delhi, Mumbai and Vishakhapatnam.

Belum Caves is at a distance of about 107 km from Kurnool city, Andhra Pradesh India.

The nearest airport to Belum Caves is Tirupati Airport that is at a distance of about 268 km from Belum Caves.

Alternatively you could travel to Kurnool from Hyderabad airport that is at distance of about 198 km and then travel to Belum Caves.

The nearest railways station to Belum Caves is Tadipatri Railway Station - a major station well connected to many cities in India. It is at a distance of about 34 km from Belum Caves.

A visit to Belum Caves can be easily combined with traveling to Gandikota which is at a distance of about 67 km from Belum Caves.

Kolleru lake is the large fresh water lake in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Kolleru lake located between the deltas of Krishna and Godavari rivers serves as a natural food-balancing reservoir between the two rivers - as it has a rich biomass of 60+ species fish and planktons that are vital food sources for the birds. Kolleru lake is sustenance for a rich biodiversity of resident and as migratory birds and is a recognized Bird Sanctuary, 

Birds found at Kolleru Lake include Glossy Ibis, Open billed Stork, Purple Heron, Painted Storks, Pied Avocet, Marbled Teal, Common Redshank… 

Flora around the area is typical of a wetland marsh habitat creating a wonderful niche for birds. Sanctuary has small islands with Keekar trees that are just right as nesting sites for Pelicans and Painted Storks.

Do find time to visit the ancient Sri Peddintlamma temple at Kolletikota village.

The Little Egrets at Kolleru Birds Sanctuary are sociable birds aquatic birds with long black legs feeding in shallow water as well as on land. Also referred to as small snow-white herons - Little Egret's plumage is normally totally white but there are ones with bluish-grey plumage too.

Little Egret's diet is usually fish, amphibians, small reptiles, small mammals and birds + crustaceans, molluscs, insects, spiders and worms. They use a variety of methods to eat - either stalking their prey in shallow water - or running with raised wings or shuffling their feet to disturb small fish, or may stand still and wait to ambush prey. 

On land Little Egrets walk or run while chasing their prey, feed on creatures disturbed by grazing livestock + ticks on the livestock, or may scavenge.

Little Egrets nest in colonies, with other aquatic species - laying a clutch of three to five bluish-green eggs which are incubated by both parents.

Little egrets usually silent produce a harsh alarm call when disturbed - they do make many croaking and bubbling calls at their breeding colonies. How to reach Kolleru Birds Sanctuary?

Painted Storks at Kolleru Birds Sanctuary enjoy feeding in groups or flocks that range from 5 to 50 commonly found in shallow wetlands along lakes or rivers.

Painted Storks are waders - they do so to stir the water with their feet to flush out the hiding out small fish or frogs. They immerse their beaks which are half open and sweep it side to side till they sense their prey and snap it up as soon as they touch it. Once fed they can literally stand still on the bank or shore for a long time.

The adult Painted Storks have pink legs and typically fly with their neck as well as their head drooped almost at or below their belly level. How to reach Kolleru Birds Sanctuary?

Flocks of Glossy Ibises wade in the shallows probing for prey with their sickle-shaped bills at the Kolleru Birds Sanctuary.

The Glossy ibis is a water bird, being highly nomadic in nature they eat whatever is available and includes aquatic beetles, dragonflies, grasshoppers, crickets, snails, crabs and occasionally fish, lizards, small snakes and nestling birds.

Glossy ibis with its long, curved bill plus iridescent green and reddish toned skin - feed in very shallow water and nest in freshwater or brackish wetlands or marshes that has reeds or low trees or bushes. Glossy ibis is also found at the margins of lakes and rivers, lagoons, swamps, reservoirs, paddies and irrigated farmland. How to reach Kolleru Birds Sanctuary?

The elegant Great Egrets are white herons - long legged wading birds who develop fine plumes that are mostly milky white - and are commonly referred to as - large egret or great white egret or great white heron. Great Egrets at Kolleru Birds Sanctuary nest in colonies close to water.

The Great Egret feeds prefer drier habitats and shallow water foraging motionless with a stand and wait technique - The Great Egret feed on fish, frogs, small mammals, and occasionally small reptiles and insects, spearing them with its long, sharp dagger like bill - standing still and waiting for the prey to come to a striking distance or may slowly stalk its victim. 

The great egret is not a vocal bird and gives out a low, hoarse croak when disturbed - whilst at breeding colonies, it often gives a loud croaking and higher-pitched squawks. How to reach Kolleru Birds Sanctuary?

The Grey Heron is a long-legged predatory wading bird with a powerful pointed beak and also found in Kolleru Birds Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, India. Fossils indicate that Herons have a fairly ancient lineage almost a couple of million years.

The Grey Heron can be seen mostly around lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes and on the sea coast feeding on fish, amphibians, small mammals, and insects which it catches after standing stationary beside or in the water or stalking its prey through the shallows.

The Grey Heron predominantly hunts during dawn and dusk. Small fish are swallowed head first, and larger prey are carried to the shore where they are subdued by being beaten on the ground or stabbed by the bill and then swallowed entirely or in chunks - it regurgitates pellets of indigestible material such as fur, bones and the chitinous remains of insects. Away from the water the Grey Heron hunts for beetles and lizards.

The birds usually building their nests high in trees and lay clutch of usually three to five bluish-green eggs. Both male and female gray herons incubate the eggs and both feed the chicks. If the chicks survive a winter they live for about 5 years.

The Grey Heron has a noisy main call - a loud croaking 'fraaank' - and multiple guttural and raucous noises during the breeding season. Their chicks are loud too. How to reach Kolleru Birds Sanctuary?

Wood Sandpiper at Kolleru Birds Sanctuary is a thrush-sized, tail-bobbing wader with a short fine bill, white belly, a brown back with pale spotting and pale yellowish legs.

Wood Sandpiper forage by probing wet mud or shallow water predominantly preying on insects. They either builds nests on the ground or may use an abandoned old nest are found to lay four pale green eggs usually between March and May.

Wood Sandpiper young or adults are known to potentially cross distances of 2000–4000+ km in one non-stop flight. How to reach Kolleru Birds Sanctuary?

Kolleru Bird Sanctuary and Kolleru lake are located in West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, India. 

How to reach Kolleru Bird Sanctuary by air? Which is the nearest airport to Kolleru Bird Sanctuary?
The airport nearest to Kolleru Bird Sanctuary is Vijaywada airport at a distance of about 55 km.

How to reach Kolleru Bird Sanctuary by train? Which is the nearest railway station to Kolleru Bird Sanctuary?
Railway Station nearest to Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary is Vijaywada station at a distance of about 73 km.
You could also reach Kolleru lake via the railway station at Eluru which is at a distance of about 17 km.

Best time to visit Kolleru Bird Sanctuary would be between October and March when migratory birds make Kolleru their destination - but do note it is open all 365 days.

Kolleru Lake is located at a distance of about 17 km from the Eluru town, about 74 km from Vijayawada, about 348 km from Hyderabad, about 300 km from Visakhapatnam…

Painted Storks at Uppalapadu Birds Sanctuary enjoy feeding in groups or flocks that range from 5 to 50 commonly found in shallow wetlands along lakes or rivers.

Painted Storks are waders - they do so to stir the water with their feet to flush out the hiding out small fish or frogs. They immerse their beaks which are half open and sweep it side to side till they sense their prey and snap it up as soon as they touch it. Once fed they can literally stand still on the bank or shore for long a long time.

The adult Painted Storks have pink legs and typically fly with their neck as well as their head drooped almost at or below their belly level. How to reach Uppalapadu Birds Sanctuary?

The Asian Openbill is a distinctive Stork found in Uppalapadu Bird Sanctuary.

It is a large wading bird that is greyish (non-breeding season) or white (breeding season) with glossy black wings and tail that has a green or purple sheen - note the young ones are brownish-grey in color..

Naturally found around wetlands Asian Openbills tend to move within their range in response to habitat conditions - they prefer natural marshes and lakes (especially in the monsoon and winter), and irrigation canals (especially in the summer) as foraging habitat.

Asian Openbills soar frequently in flocks - they also descend rapidly into their feeding areas - often seen forage in groups, in shallow water on which they walk with a slow and steady gait. The Asian Openbills largely feed on large molluscs and they separate the shell from the body of the snail using the tip of the beak. 

Asian Openbills typically lays two to four eggs and both parents take turns in incubation. The Asian Openbills may share the nesting trees with egrets, cormorants and darters... How to reach Uppalapadu Bird Sanctuary?

The Spot-billed Pelican found at Uppalapadu Bird Sanctuary is a relatively smaller than other Pelicans - mainly white, with a grey crest, hind-neck and a brownish tail. Their pouch is pink to purplish and has large pale spots, and is also spotted on the sides of the upper mandible. The tip of the bill is yellow to orange. 

Spot-billed Pelicans usually fish alone or in small flocks and predominantly feed on fish and at times eat small reptiles, amphibians, and aquatic crustaceans. They use their beaks to skim the water or simply dip their heads and necks below the water, collecting fish using their large, expandable bill-pouches - than theu squeeze out the water from the corners of their mouthes before swallowing their food. 

When flying to their roosts or feeding areas Spot-billed Pelicans form small groups and fly in formation with steady flapping. The Spot-billed Pelicans are not migratory but may move within their range based on habitat changes and food availability.

Spot-billed Pelicans are colonial breeders or nest in colonies with other waterbirds, especially painted storks and the usual clutch include three to four eggs.

Outside their nests the Spot-billed Pelicans are silent - in their nests they tend to be vocal with their hisses, grunts or snap their bills - and maybe noisy during nesting time.

How to reach Uppalapadu Bird Sanctuary?

The Uppalapadu Bird Sanctuary is located in Uppalapadu, near the Guntur City, Andhra Pradesh, India. 

The major species found here include Pelicans and hence, you can watch hundreds of these beautiful species flying and chirping all around the sanctuary, which in turn, creates a wonderful environment filled with melody and composure. 

How to reach Uppalapadu Bird Sanctuary by air? Which is the nearest airport to Uppalapadu Bird Sanctuary?
The airport nearest to Uppalapadu Bird Sanctuary is Vijaywada airport at a distance of about 53 km.

How to reach Uppalapadu Bird Sanctuary by train? Which is the nearest railway station to Uppalapadu Bird Sanctuary?
Railway Station nearest to Uppalapadu Wildlife Sanctuary is Vijaywada station at a distance of about 36 km.

Best time to visit Uppalapadu Bird Sanctuary would be between October and March when migratory birds make Kolleru their destination - but do note it is open all 365 days.

It seems the sheer number of birds at Uppalapadu Bird Sanctuary is overwhelming as they soar into the sky at dawn and then come back at dusk to rest here.

You would find Painted Storks, Spot-billed Pelicans, Spot-Billed Pelicans, Grey Pelicans, Pintail Ducks, Cormorants, Red-crested Pochard, Common Coot, Common Teal, Black-headed Ibises. …

Birds feed on both fresh water and seawater fish at Uppalapadu Bird Sanctuary.

Painted Storks at Garapadu enjoy feeding in groups or flocks that range from 5 to 50 - they are commonly found in shallow wetlands along lakes or rivers.

Painted Storks are waders - they do so to stir the water with their feet to flush out the hiding out small fish or frogs. They immerse their beaks which are half open and sweep it side to side till they sense their prey and snap it up as soon as they touch it. Once fed they can literally stand still on the bank or shore for a long time.

The adult Painted Storks have pink legs and typically fly with their neck as well as their head drooped almost at or below their belly level. 

Garapadu, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh India is at a distance of about 63 km from Vijayawada.

The Spot-billed Pelican found at Garapadu is relatively smaller than other Pelicans - mainly white, with a grey crest, hindneck and a brownish tail. Their pouch is pink to purplish and has large pale spots, and is also spotted on the sides of the upper mandible. The tip of the bill is yellow to orange. 

Spot-billed Pelicans usually fish alone or in small flocks and predominantly feed on fish and at times eat small reptiles, amphibians, and aquatic crustaceans. They use their beaks to skim the water or simply dip their heads and necks below the water, collecting fish using their large, expandable bill-pouches - than theu squeeze out the water from the corners of their mouthes before swallowing their food. 

When flying to their roosts or feeding areas Spot-billed Pelicans form small groups and fly in formation with steady flapping. The Spot-billed Pelicans are not migratory but may move within their range based on habitat changes and food availability.

Spot-billed Pelicans are colonial breeders or nest in colonies with other waterbirds, especially painted storks and the usual clutch include three to four eggs.

Outside their nests the Spot-billed Pelicans are silent - in their nests they tend to be vocal with their hisses, grunts or snap their bills - and maybe noisy during nesting time.  

Garapadu, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh India is at a distance of about 63 km from Vijayawada.