Papikondalu

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Papikondalu Travel Essentials

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Ideal duration: 1-2 days

Best Time: October to March Read More

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Also Refered As:

Papi Kondalu

Papikondalu Tourism

Papikondalu mountain range runs along the River Godavari (Western Godavari) and is located in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh. Papikondalu is a sheer fest to the eyes in terms of its scenic beauty. As the hills become closer and closer to the visitor, the width of the mighty Godavari becomes narrower. In accordance with this view resembling the middle partition of a woman's hair, it was initially named as 'Papidi' Kondalu- Paidi in Telugu means the middle partition of a woman’s hair. Later, it came to be known as Papikondalu in the local language. The river narrowing, its twists and turns along with the Papi Hills form a breathtaking visual experience.

Its beauty is often compared to that of Kashmir as the area around the ranges is quaint and bountiful with nature. The ranges also boast of waterfalls at Munivaatnam.

Things to do in Papikondalu

1. Papi Kondalu Hills

Papi Kondalu Hills
Papi Kondalu, series of mountain ranges running along the Godavari river. The mountain ranges are named from the Telugu word meaning partition because from an aerial view they looked like a partition (Read More)a women makes in her hair.

2. Gandi Pochamma Temple

Gandi Pochamma Temple
The Gandi Pochamma Temple is situated in Gonduru village at the banks of the River Godavari.

3. Perantapalli Village

Perantapalli Village
Perantapalli Village is a quaint little village along the banks of the river Godavari. Ramakrishna Muni Vatika (Ashramam) and Veereswara Swamy Temple are two favored spots visited by tourists.

4. Jammalapuram Temple

Jammalapuram Temple
The Jamalapuram Temple is situated in Jamalapuram village near Yerrupalem town in the Khamman District. The presiding deity is Swami Venkateshwara to whom the temple is dedicated to.

5. Papikondalu National Park

Papikondalu National Park
Covering a significantly vast area of over 1000 km square, Papikondalu National Park in Andhra Pradesh's East and West Godavari districts is a beautiful forest reserve offering stunning views of natur (Read More)e and rich biodiversity of flora and fauna. The area was declared as a national park only recently in 2008.

More on Papikondalu Travel

Etymology

The mountain ranges are named from the Telugu word meaning 'partition' because from an aerial view they look like the partition women make in their hair.

Itinerary

If you're in for a day, there are some places you would skip, however, it is recommended to have a two day stay to experience the unique setting of Kolluru bamboo houses by the shore.

Day 1: Ideally, reach Rajahmundry or Bhadrachalam whichever you chose, by 8:00 - 8:30 AM in the morning to catch a 9:00 AM boat. By 10:00 AM, you'll reach the Gandi Pochamma Temple. The boat will leave by 11:00, giving you an hour to explore the place. After this, the next destination will be the Papi Kondalu hills themselves, the journey through the middle of the mountains being particularly noteworthy. Next, you can stop at Perantpali village and see Ramakrishna muni Vatika ashram and Swami Veereswara and proceed to do some local sightseeing. The last stop of the day would be Kolluru village where you could get a Bamboo hut for yourself and have the rest of the evening for leisure.

Day 2: In the morning after breakfast you could do some local sightseeing and can even hire a guide to explore the forest area. After this, you can take the boat back to the mainland in the afternoon. You'll reach Rajahmundry or Bhadrachallam by 6:00 PM.

Best Time to Visit Papikondalu

How to Reach Papikondalu

How to Reach Overview

Papi-Kondalu is easy to reach from all the nearby cities. The nearest airport and railway station is located in Rajahmundry, which is around 60 km away. NH-5 passes through it and has excellent road connectivity with all the major towns in the vicinity. There are also boat services available from Rajahmundry, though they are few in number.

How to reach Papikondalu by flight

Situated near Madhurapadi, the Rajahmundry Airport is the nearest airport. Jet Airways and Spicejet are the major airlines providing regular services. They have running flights from Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Vijayawada. Taxis can be hired from the airport to take you to Papi Kondalu.

How to reach Papikondalu by road

If travelling from Khammam district, you can use the public transport either bus or taxis to reach Bharachalam. From East Godavari district, you can take a taxi to Rajahmundry. From East Godavari, there is a 35km ghat road to reach Papi Kondalu range.

How to reach Papikondalu by train

Papi Kondalu doesn't have a railway station; the nearest railway station is Rajahmundry Station which is one of the important stations in Andhra Pradesh. There are many trains connecting it to different parts of the country. It is around 150 km from Vijayawada and 220 km Vishakhapatnam. Taxis are easily available for hire from the railway station to Papi Kondalu. 

How to reach Papikondalu by waterways

Boat journey from either Rajahmundry or Bhadrachalam is a must to experience the true essence of Papikondalu’s beauty. You can either opt for a small motor boat with a capacity of 5 people (drive included) or river streamers with 50-60 seating capacity. The time taken for the journey on the Godavari river is approximately 8 hours. Cool breeze, ups and downs of the river water, the approaching Papikondalu range together form a mesmerizing one of a kind journey. Various other sites such as Perantallapi, Pattiseema and Pattisam fall along the way. One can also halt for trekking and camping on the riverside. Pattisam is a small village island, named after one of Lord Shiva’s weapons. The area is famous for a temple of Lord Veerabhadra. Peranthallapi is a hub of handicraft items such as small bamboo huts, toys and other souvenir items.

Generally, refreshment and meals are provided by the boat operators. However, you can carry your own snacks and drinking water. Boat trips are also conducted by Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) from Rajahmundry are either of one or two days. The approximate cost of one day trip is INR 500 per head and INR 400 per head for adults and children, respectively.

Local transport in Papikondalu

Local buses are the cheapest mode of transport here. However if you're time bound, hiring a cab or private vehicle for a day would be more feasible. You can also avail short fare taxis to commute to your planned destinations. To reach the ranges, boat is preferable and also a more exciting route.

Papikondalu Photos

Papikondalu, Andhra Pradesh
Gandi Pochamma Temple
Papi Kondalu Hills
Jammalapuram Temple

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photos

FAQs on Papikondalu

What is famous about Papi kondalu?

One can a have a unique experience of staying in Kolluru (bamboo huts) along the beautiful hill range.

What is not so good about Papi kondalu?

There is a lack of good eating joints (advisable to carry your own food).

Who should visit Papi kondalu?

Papi Kondalu is one of the top places to explore in Andhra Pradesh. It is ideal for people looking for a getaway full of natural beauty. It is also suitable for camping and trekking. A perfect place for a trip with family and friends.

What is the best time to visit Papi kondalu?

The best time to visit this region is from October to March. The summers in this region experience high and humid temperatures, so it is best to avoid this place during this time. From July to September, monsoon commences, bringing in a refreshing climate change. Winters too are quite pleasant making it an ideal time to take a trip to Papikondalu.
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What is the local food in Papi kondalu?

There is a lack of good places to find food near Papi Kondalu. It is advisable to carry food from Rajahmundry and Bhadrachalam beforehand. There are small hotels that offer decent food but it's good to carry some along with you just in case the food is not satisfactory for you.
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What is the best way to reach Papi kondalu?

Papi-Kondalu is easy to reach from all the nearby cities. The nearest airport and railway station is located in Rajahmundry, which is around 60 km away. NH-5 passes through it and has excellent road connectivity with all the major towns in the vicinity. There are also boat services available from Rajahmundry, though they are few in number.
Read More

What are the top hotels in Papi kondalu?

There are 526 in Papi kondalu which can be booked through Holidify. The most popular hotels in Papi kondalu are OYO 11966 Grand Euro Park Hotel, Spacious 1BR Home in Hyderabad, Luxury Three Bed Room Apartment 8 Vazeer Residency, Premium 1BR Stay Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, Ababeel Guest House, OYO 63021 Hotel Hill 9. You can see all the hotels in Papi kondalu here

What are the places near Papi kondalu?

The top places near to Papi kondalu are Bhadrachalam which is 1 km from Papi kondalu, Khammam which is located 26 km from Papi kondalu, Warangal which is located 141 km from Papi kondalu, Hyderabad which is located 255 km from Papi kondalu, Rajahamundry which is located 122 km from Papi kondalu

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Popular Questions And Answers on Papikondalu

Q. In august month we see in boat journey papikondalu

Kovid Kapoor

6 years ago
Boat journeys to Papi Kondalu will cost you around 500-600 per head for a one day trip and around 2200 for a two day trip in the Papi Kondalu Tourism boats.
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Q. 22-8-2015 we want two tickets ap tourism boats in rajamundry

Devyani Chandra

6 years ago
There are packages available from Rajahmundry which will take you on a one day or two day tour of Papi Kondalu. The one day tour costs 500 for adults and 350 for children (non AC) and 600 for adults (Read More)and 400 for children (AC). The two day costs 2200 and 1600 only has AC tickets.
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Papikondalu Reviews

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Rohit Shroff

6 years ago
- Summers are extremely hot here so make sure you check the weather before you plan a trip.
- The availability of food here is questionable, it's best to carry your own packed food and light snack (Read More)s for the trip.
- Due to tourism, some resorts and hotels have come up in the vicinity, you can avail good food from here.
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