10 Best Weekend Trips
from Vijayawada by
Self Drive Car

One of the finest weekend escapes from Vijayawada, Nagarjuna Sagar is home to one of India's largest dams and the ancient Buddhist city of Vijayapuri — now mostly submerged but preserved on Nagarjunakonda Island. The island museum, reachable by boat, holds artefacts from the 2nd–3rd century AD Buddhist civilisation. The dam itself, flanked by lush hills and a massive reservoir, is one of the most photogenic engineering marvels in South India.

Must do: Morning boat ride to Nagarjunakonda Island, Ethipothala waterfalls nearby (165 km from Vijayawada), evening walk on the dam crest at sunset. Stay overnight at Haritha Hill Resort for the full experience.

Srisailam is where spirituality meets raw nature — a rare combination that makes it one of the most memorable road trips from Vijayawada. The Mallikarjuna Swamy temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims each year. But what makes this trip special for self-drivers is the exhilarating forest ghat road through the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, one of the largest tiger reserves in India. The drive itself through dense Nallamala forests along the Krishna gorge is absolutely breathtaking.

Must do: Temple darshan at dawn, ropeway ride over Krishna gorge, Srisailam Dam viewpoint, Sakshi Ganapathi temple inside the forest. Keep your windows up while crossing the tiger reserve — it's a real wilderness.

Suryalanka is Vijayawada's closest proper beach and easily one of the most underrated stretches of coastline in Andhra Pradesh. Wide, clean, and far less crowded than Marina or Rushikonda, this beach on the Bay of Bengal has crystal-clear waters, safe swimming zones, and powdery sand. Between November and January, the bay hosts dolphin sightings that will leave you speechless. The sunrise here is genuinely one of the most beautiful you'll see in the state.

Must do: Arrive by 5:30 AM for sunrise, take a dolphin-watching boat (Nov–Jan), visit the Haritha Beach Resort for breakfast, drive down to the secluded stretch 2 km south of the main beach for complete peace.

Called the cultural capital of Andhra Pradesh, Rajahmundry sits on the sacred banks of the Godavari river and oozes history from every stone. The Godavari ghats at sunset — lined with temples, boats, and lamp-lit rituals — are one of the most cinematic scenes in the state. The Havelock Bridge and Sir Arthur Cotton Museum are must-visits, and the city's cuisine — with the freshest Godavari fish curries and the famous Rajahmundry-style bamboo chicken — is reason enough to make the trip.

Must do: Morning at Godavari ghats, ISKCON Temple, Kotilingeshwara Temple, boat ride on the Godavari, Sir Arthur Cotton Museum, bamboo chicken at a local restaurant near the ghats.

Maredumilli is Andhra's best-kept secret — and most travellers from Vijayawada have never heard of it. Nestled deep in the East Godavari forest hills, this tiny town is surrounded by dense teak and bamboo forest, tribal villages, coffee and pepper plantations, and streams so clear you can count the pebbles. There is no phone signal here. That is not a problem — it is the entire point. This is the place you come to when you need to completely disconnect.

Must do: Jalatarangini waterfalls trek, bamboo plantation walk, Tribal Art Museum, overnight stay at forest guesthouses, spot giant squirrels and hornbills on the drive in.

Papi Kondalu is one of the most visually dramatic landscapes in all of South India — a 45 km stretch where the Godavari river cuts through the Eastern Ghats, creating towering cliff walls on both sides that rise vertically from the water's edge. The famous overnight boat cruise from Bhadrachalam or Perantallapadu takes you deep into this gorge at dusk, through mist and silence, past remote tribal villages that have no road access whatsoever. The experience is unlike anything else you can do in AP.

Must do: Overnight boat cruise through the gorge, sunrise inside the gorge, Bhadrachalam Rama temple (one of the most beautiful in AP), riverside stops at tribal hamlets.

The closest major destination on this list, Amaravathi is a fascinating blend of ancient and futuristic — an ancient Buddhist capital from the Satavahana era now being reimagined as the new capital of Andhra Pradesh. The Amaravathi Mahachaitya, a 2,000-year-old Buddhist stupa complex, is one of the most significant archaeological sites in India. The 125-foot Dhyana Buddha statue rising serenely from the Krishna river is one of AP's most iconic modern landmarks. This is easily a half-day trip and ideal for an evening escape from Vijayawada.

Must do: Amaravathi Heritage Museum, riverside walk at sunset, Dhyana Buddha meditation garden, Amaralingeswara Swamy Temple inside the stupa complex.

Spread across 300 square miles between the Krishna and Godavari river deltas, Kolleru Lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia and home to over 20 million migratory birds between October and March. Painted storks, open-bill storks, pelicans, ibises, teals, and even rare migratory species from Siberia call this lake home during winter. The sight of thousands of birds rising together from the water at dawn is one of nature's most spectacular free shows — and almost no tourists are here.

Must do: Dawn bird-watching from the lake's edge, boat ride into the wetlands, photography at Atapaka Bird Sanctuary, visit Eluru's local market for authentic Andhra snacks on the way back.

Kondaveedu is one of those places that rewards the curious — a magnificent 14th-century hilltop fort built by the Telugu Chodas, strengthened by the Kakatiyas, and later used as a garrison by the British. Relatively unknown even among Andhra Pradesh travellers, the trek up to the fort through scrub forest is moderately challenging and takes about 45 minutes. At the top, the panoramic view of the valley, Guntur plains, and distant hills is genuinely spectacular. The ruins — including battlements, water cisterns, and a small temple — are in better shape than most forts of this age.

Must do: Trek to the fort top, sunset from the battlements, combine with Amaravathi (30 km away), Guntur city for lunch on the way back.

You have never seen a beach like Manginapudi. Unlike any other beach on the Indian coast, Manginapudi has jet-black volcanic sand instead of the usual white or yellow. The contrast of the black shoreline, the deep blue Bay of Bengal, and the fishing boats at dawn creates a surreal, almost cinematic landscape that is absolutely unlike anything else in Andhra Pradesh. The beach also holds religious significance — on Magha Poornima, lakhs of pilgrims gather here for a sacred dip. The ancient lighthouse on the coast is an additional attraction.

Must do: Sunrise walk on the black sand (truly unforgettable), visit the Dattashram temple on the coast, Machilipatnam town nearby for local seafood, the old Dutch cemetery at Machilipatnam (a surprising historical gem).