GUNTUR

GUNTUR– ANDHRA PRADESH TRAVEL GUIDE

INTRODUCTION

The municipal corporation of Guntur (also called Guntur City) is located on the plains, 40 miles (65 km) west of Bay of Bengal on the east coast region of India. It is one of the major cities in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Its district is surrounded by the River Krishna, where it merges into the ocean.

In ancient times the city was referred as “Garthapuri”. Its estimated population is around 700,000. It is one of the larger cities in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

How to Reach :

1.By Road :

Local city buses are run by state owned APSRTC and also private City buses are also there. They cover not only the entire city region, but also the suburban and near by rural areas with a bit low frequency.

2.By Train :

There are plenty of long-distance trains available at the Vijayawada Station to get to any part of the country and Guntur also has a railway station but with less frequent trains. So, one can plan for a train to Vijayawada and get to Guntur by bus.

3.By Air:

There are flights to Vijayawada from Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore. Vijayawada is an hour by bus.

Places to Visit :

Amaravathi: 26 km (16 miles) northeast from Guntur City, Amaravathi is named after its famous temple of Amareswara Swamy with the swayambhu linga. Also the Mahachaitya stupa, built in the 2nd century BCE in Amaravathi, is richly adorned with carvings depicting the life and teachings of the Buddha. The stupa houses a small museum with a collection of old monuments, and a pictorial depiction of the Buddha’s life and teachings and terracotta antiquities. The temple walls have a number of inscriptions that throw light on the different dynasties that reigned over this place. The Museum at Guntur, has collection of various relics and antiques such as Stupa-slabs, railings, sculpture, coins of gold, silver and lead, potsherds and crystals caskets.
Bhattiprolu 20 miles (32 km) southwest of the city, formerly the Kingdom of Prati Palaputra, appears to be the earliest known kingdom in Guntur District.
Kondaveedu 17 miles (27 km) from Guntur City. This historical fort was built during the reign of the Reddy kings in 14th century CE. There are 21 structures in the fort. The ruins of the fort located on the hilltop offer unraveled mysteries to the tourist. A place of natural scenic beauty with natural wonders it is an ideal place for trekking. The Gopinatha temple and Kathulabave at the foot of the hillock, numerous temples, residential structures, pillared halls on the hill and the entrance gate ways on east and west sides are the attractions at Kondavidu.
Kotappakond, Guthikonda Caves: Kotappakonda, the temporal abode of Trikoteswara Swamy, is a village, 40 km (25 miles) southwest of Guntur City near Narsaraopet. Its original name is Kondakavuru, but is more popularly known as Kotappakonda or Trikutaparvatam, a three-peaked hill nearby. Though surrounded by other hills, the three hills, also known by the names of Trikutachalam or Trikutadri, can be distinctly seen from a distance from any direction. The three peaks are named after the Hindu Triumvirate, Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara. Guthikonda popularly known as Dakshina Kasi is located near Narasaraopeta. The Guthikonda Caves are a place of deep mystery attracting many tourists to explore.
Sitanagaram 16 miles (26 km) north-east of Guntur City on the banks of river Krishna with a vast sandy beach for recreation and leisure. The famous Someswara Swamy temple is situated here According to the legend Lord Rama wept here for Sita when she was abducted by Ravana, hence the name Sitanagaram.
Undavalli-caves, Mangalagiri: 13 miles (21 km) northeast of Guntur city, these two places are easily accessible on the Guntur-Kolkata Express Way. Managalagiri is famous for its temple of Lord Lakshmi Narasimha swamy. The hill used to be an active volcano. It is at an altitude of 30 m above the sea level. Latitude is 16.44 degrees north, and longitude is 80.56 degrees east. Here at the temple, jaggery water is offered to the lord by the devotees. According to the ancient scriptures, the lord is being worshiped since Satya Yuga (The first of the four yugas). In the down hill there is another temple dedicated to Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. It is said that, Yudhishtira (Dharmaraju, the eldest of the Pandavas) installed the main deity in this temple. The temple has a very tall tower with beautiful sculpture which has 11 stairs.
Downtown and other.

Downtown and city centres Guntur City has its own nice/modest downtown, midtown/city centers and uptown/residential areas. To name a few, 1. Center of Brodipet and ArundelPet, 2. Jinnah Tower Center, 3. Naaz Center, 4. Inner and Outer Ringroads, 5. Old Guntur, 6. Brindavan Gardens: A name which is identified with one of the famous residential areas, 7. Manasa Sarovar: This is like the Central Park for Guntur City. Located on the Eastern part of the city, it is one of the man made parks located in Guntur. Managed by the GMC and UDA together.
Krishna Barrage (also known as Prakasam Barrage) is on the northeastern part, located around 18 miles (29 km) from the Guntur City on the Krishna River connecting Guntur and Krishna Districts. On the other side of the River Krishna is Bezwada which is like a twin city to Guntur. Together the two/twin cities provide major medical, educational facilities in the state. This region is also a major transportation hub in the country. There is a future plan to make ‘Greater Guntur’ and twin cities comprising this area.