Gandikota Fort and Gorge, AP

Gandikota is dubbed as India’s Grand Canyon. You’ve to see it to believe it. Some 100kms from Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh, Gandikota has river pennar flowing through a deep valley and view from top is very inspiring. I was sketching to visit this place since an year or so and it recently materialized. We drove to AP in a Mahindra Xylo E4. With overnight halt in Kadapa, we reached Gandikota at about 9.30AM.

We were welcomed by a large fort, through which we could drive through. Local people reside inside the fort campus and a small road allows us to drive inside. We drove in as long as the road allowed us.

We were clueless how to explore the place. One stranger, who was from ASI, guided us in right direction. He also asked an assistant to open a lock and allowed us to go to the roof top of one of the buildings (the mosque)

The view of Gandikota gorge was majestic. Most of the photos I'd seen had little or no water. If water was plenty, Gandikota could be another Hogenakkal.

It is possible to walk/trek all the way till the foot of the river. The river was near empty, but due to recent rains, there was some greenery and traces of water. It also looked like someone have just driven an SUV across- look at the wheel markings

 The valley is not visible unless we go near.

APTDC runs a hotel here, where you can stay and have food. But pre-order required. We ordered lunch there and proceeded to explore Gandikota. 

How to go to Gandikota?

Kadapa is the nearest town, well connected by bus and train. From Kadapa, rent a vehicle. Other nearby places: Belum caves, Reservoirs (many of them)

Related: Alamparai Fort * Fort Canning centre & Park, Singapore * Gingi Fort * Nagara Fort * Chandragiri Fort (Kasaragod) * Chandragiri Fort-Tirupati * Belum Caves *