Best time to visit : October to February
The wonderful blend of culture, history and religion has increased the worth of many tourist places in South India, the city of Eluru being one of them. Sandwiched between the plains formed by the deltas of River Krishna and River Godavari, the city is a popular destination for those taking up cultural, historical and pilgrimage tours in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Because of its nearness to the fresh water lake called Kolleru, Eluru is also visited by the bird watchers and nature lovers. A number of villages adjoining the city showcase interesting countryside, making the visits to Eluru even more interesting.
Facts
Throughout the history, Eluru has been known by several names, the most popular one being Helapuri. Once ruled by the powerful kingdoms like Vengi, Vishnukundinas, Vijayanagara Empire and Kalinga Empire, the city today bears the stamp of its rich cultural past. Located in the West Godavari District, the city experiences extremely hot summers while the winters here are enjoyable. Apart from being the home to many movie theaters, like Vijaya Lakshmi, Ambica and Balaji, Eluru is also known for its festivals like Vengi Utsav and Gangalamma Jathara.
Popular Andhra cuisines like fish curry and biryani can be enjoyed at various independent and in-house restaurants. Because of the city’s nearness to the Bay of Bengal Coast, one can also enjoy fresh and delicious seafood. Banana Leaf is one of the most recommended restaurants in the city, while other good options include Appalaraju Military Hotel, Chennai Biryani Centre and Gowtham Restaurant. Tasty Andhra sweets can also be enjoyed at various sweet shops in the main bazaar.
Eluru is quite famous for producing export quality carpets and blankets that can be purchased at the best prices while in the city. Customized carpets can also be obtained on order. Hand-rolled agarbathis (incense sticks) produced and sold here and exported to many other regions are also worth buying.
Nearby Places:
- Tadepalligudem (about 56 km.): A popular pilgrimage destination due to the presence of Sri Kanyaka Parameswari Panchayatana Kshetram, Sri Maddi Anjaneya Swami Vari Temple, Jagannadhapuram Temple and Buddhist Caves.
- Vijayawada (about 57 km.): The city entertains the visitors with some outstanding attractions like Prakasam Barrage, Undavalli Caves, Gandhi Hill, Victoria Museum, Kanaka Durga Temple, Bhavani Island and Kondapalli Fort.
- Bhimavaram (about 64 km.): An historical holy city, it is well-known for Gunupudi Someswara Temple and Mavullamma Temple.
- Machilipatnam (about 80 km.): Famous for its temples and beaches, this coastal city has attractions like Machilipatnam Fort, Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, Sri Sri Virat Vishwakarma Temple, Dattashram and Manginapudi Beach.
- Guntur (about 98 km.): A very interesting place to explore, Guntur is home to Uppalapadu Nature Conservation, Amaravathi ancient relics, Kotappakonda ancient temple and a number of forts, temples, mosques and churches.
- Khammam (about 160 km.): Attractions here include Khammam Fort, Stambhadri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, Lakaram Lake and Danavayagudem Botanical Gardens.
With the best tourist information, one can end up exploring many other nearby attractions like Natta Rameswaram, Pattisam, Samalkot, Draksharama, Chebrolu, Gudivada and Penukonda.