Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(Indian/foreigner ?5/100; 9am-5pm)
Seven kilometres southwest of Vijayawada, these stunning
cave temples cut a fine silhouette against the palm trees and rice paddies. Shrines are ded-
icated to Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, and one cave on the third level houses a huge reclin-
ing Vishnu. The caves, in their Hindu form, date to the 7th century, but they're thought to
have been constructed for Buddhist monks 500 years earlier. Bus 301 (?11, 20 minutes)
goes here; autorickshaws ask ?250 return.
Victoria Jubilee Museum
(MG Rd; Indian/foreigner ?30/100, camera ?3; 10.30am-5pm Sat-Thu)
The best part of this museum is
the building itself, built in 1887 to honour Queen Victoria's coronation jubilee. The mu-
seum also has a small collection of art and arms, and a garden with temple sculptures from
around the state.
MUSEUM
Sleeping
Hotel Sripada
( 6644222;
hotelsripada@rediffmail.com
; Gandhi Nagar; s/d from ?913/1028; )
One of the only budget
hotels in Vijayawada authorised to accept foreign guests, the Sripada has small but bright
rooms, a decent restaurant and helpful staff. Near the train station.
HOTEL
$
Railway Retiring Rooms
(dm/s/d from ?75/180/375;
RAILWAY RETIRING ROOM
$
)
The train station's clean and spacious rooms are a great option.
Alankar Inn
(
www.alankarinn.com
;
Alankar Circle, Gandhi Nagar; s/d with AC from ?1686/2248; )
The Alankar, new
at the time of research, was still working out the kinks. Hopefully, they're sorted now, and
the compact, semi-chic rooms and free wi-fi are all fulfilling their potential.
HOTEL
$$
HOTEL
$$
Hotel Golden Way
(
)
A good midranger right near the
2576693; Purnanandapet; s/d incl breakfast from ?1574/2019;
train station.
Eating
Minerva Coffee Shop
INDIAN
$
