Guntur (Telugu: గుంటూరు Guṇṭūru) is the third-largest city in Andhra Pradesh, southwest of the state capital Amaravati. Once known as Garthapuri, the city is a major trade hub for chili, cotton and tobacco, and home to Asia's largest chili yard. Amaravati, Guntur and Vijayawada together constitute the "Capital Region" (CR) of Andhra Pradesh, the modern heart of the state since 2014.
Understand
[edit]Guntur is known for its modest city centre, business districts and residential areas.
Climate
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It's a humid climate, with hot summers and mild winters.
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]The nearest airport is in Vijayawada (VGA IATA), which takes about two hours to reach by bus.
By train
[edit]Guntur is served by two different stations.
- 1 Guntur Junction SCoR . Reserved for express trains, with services from Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Kochi, Howrah, Puri, Visakhapatnam, Lucknow, Delhi, Jammu and Tirupati.
- 2 New Guntur SCoR . Reserved for local trains, connecting the city to Amaravati, Vijayawada, Tenali and numerous smaller towns in between.
By bus
[edit]
- 3 NTR Bus Station. Local city buses are run by state-owned APSRTC, and private city buses also ply here, although they don't maintain a proper schedule. They cover not only the entire city, but also suburban and nearby rural areas with a bit low frequency. State-run deluxe buses travel to longer distances with in the state as well outside the state, for example Hyderabad and Bangalore.
Get around
[edit]
By two-wheeler
[edit]Motorbiking or cycling in city centre and busy areas can often be quicker than taking the auto-rickshaw or a taxi. It may be easy to park two wheelers, but finding parking for cars a bit harder. Generally parking is provided by the city administration as well as the business owners.
See
[edit]- 1 Baudhasree Architectural Museum.
- 2 Jinnah Tower, MG Rd. Guntur's landmark tower, named after the founder of Pakistan. According to a legend, Liaquat Ali Khan, a representative of Jinnah, visited Guntur in the pre-Independence era. Khan was felicitated by Lal Jan, who is said to have built a tower to commemorate the leader of the Muslim League. It was erected on six pillars which open to a dome, typical of the then-Muslim architecture in the early 20th century. Originally unpainted, the tower was later painted in Indian tricolour in February 2022 by MLA Mohammad Musthafa.
- 3 Kondaveedu Fort. This historical fort was built during the reign of the Reddy kings in the 14th century CE. There are 21 structures in the fort. The ruins of the fort located on the hilltop offer unravelled 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 gateways on the east and west sides are the attractions at Kondaveedu.
- 4 Uppalapadu Bird Sanctuary (The southern part of the Guntur City (4 miles)). The water tanks in the village are unique as they provide refuge to many species birds including endangered Spot-Billed Pelicans and Painted Storks. The bird population in these tanks used to be around 12,000, although lately only about 7,000 birds roost in this dwindling habitat through the year.
- Viswa Nagar (southwest of the City near Chowdavaram (10 miles/16 km), easily accessible using the GNT-Chennai Express way (NH5)). This is the place of Sri Viswayogi Viswamji and the Universal Integration Pillar. It is an envisioned symbol of oneness of humanity. Also located here is the VIMS/Viswayogi Institute of Medical Sciences (Mother and Child Care Hospital).
Temples
[edit]- 5 Agasthyeswara Swamy Temple (Sivalayam). The oldest temple in Guntur, dedicated to Shiva. As the legend goes, the sage Agastya built this temple during the Treta Yuga, centring around a naturally-occurring Swayambhu Lingam. Other than the legend, the temple has inscriptions in the ancient Naga script from 1100.
- Anjaneya Swamy Temple, Ponnur.
- Temple of Chaturmukha Brahma Lingeswaralayam 8 miles (13 km) to the center city of Guntur. It is one of rare temples of India built for Lord Brahma.
- Sri Bhavanarayanaswamy Temples at Bapatla (built at the time of Shri Krishna Deva Raya) and Ponnuru.
- Temple at Ramalingeswara Agraharam. It has old inscriptions dating to 1000 years ago.
- Kakani Malleswara Swamy Temple at Pedda Kakani built during the era of Krishnadevaraya.
Do
[edit]- 1 Gandhi Park.
- 2 Manasa Sarovaram (eastern part of the city). Often called the "Central Park of Guntur".
Buy
[edit]- 1 The Chennai Shopping Mall, 6-19-18, Block No. 1, Lodge Center, Amaravathi Rd, Arundelpet, ☏ +91 40 2233 3333. Daily 10AM-10PM. A good place to shop for clothing, especially saris, as well as jewellery.
- Sri Venugopala Chenetha Vastralayam (Jonnadula Ramakotaiah & Son), Cloth Bazaar, Opp Gandhi statue, baskar deluxe road,Kothapet, ☏ +91 9290449511. Handloom sarees manufactured using traditional ways of hand-woven techniques. They manufacture their own sarees and sell them directly to the customers without any middlemen which makes the models cheaper than in the market.
Eat
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- 1 Ananda Bhavan Hotel (beside Sankara Vilas bridge). Well-known for tasty and delicious vegetarian meals, and tiffins. Andhra style meals are famous.
2. Syed Babu Hotel ( Anjuman E Islamia Complex. Opp: Lalapet Police Station) is the oldest hotel for over 50 years serving authentic Guntur Biryani. Other dishes served are Kichidi, Paya and Kebab. It's worth a visit.
Guntur has three star hotels like Vajram Residency, Sindhuri, and Vijaya Krishna International. For biryani you can visit Hyderabadi house.
- 2 Hotel Surya Mahabodhi (Arundelpet 10th Line). Famous for its delicacies. Especially the Vada Sambar variety they serve is a feast for your appetite. Also don't forget to taste Guntur Mirchi Bajji. You may get it elsewhere in AP also but the taste that you get in Guntur is absolutely matchless. Two more restaurants namely Nakshatra (a 3-star hotel, located at Lakshmipuram main road) and Grand Nagarjuna are very famous in Guntur.
For grocery shopping, one can go to the super markets like Triveni supermarket, Reliance Fresh. Moreover, Spencers and Subhiksha are famous for grocery shopping. Apart from these supermarkets, the Guntur vegetable market is one of the biggest in Andhra Pradesh.
- 3 Bismillah Biryani Point, Gunturvarithota, Beside Bilal Masjid (Opp RTC Bus Stand). 7AM-11PM. This hotel serves authentic Guntur biryani. Its mutton biryani is special and its chicken biryani is also worthwhile. Also try side dishes of mutton and chicken.
- 4 Hotel Madras Bilal, Near Markaz Mosque, Potturivarithota (Lane Opposite RTC Bustand). Hotel Madras Bilal serves authentic Guntur mutton and chicken biryani.
Drink
[edit]- 1 Tonique Restaurant & Bar, JKC College Rd, Bapaiaha Nagar. Daily 10AM-11PM. Known for its cocktails. Has separate areas for smokers and non-smokers.
Sleep
[edit]There are many three-star hotels in Guntur like Grand Nagarjuna, Sindhuri,Nakshatra.
- 1 Embassy Hotel, 4/2 Arundelpet, ☏ +91 9014488341, [email protected]. Outfitted with 27 air-conditioned rooms.
- A1 Grand, Near Kadiyala Hospital, Narasaraopet (45 west of Guntur), [email protected].
Cope
[edit]- Hospitals - As Guntur is a district headquarters, it has a number of good hospitals including Amaravathi Medical Research Center, Sankar Eye Hospital and Bommidala Cancer Center.
Go next
[edit]| Routes through Guntur |
| Visakhapatnam ← Vijayawada ← | N  S
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→ Nellore → Chennai |