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Getting there · Andhra Pradesh
Gandikota by Train: Which Station, What It Costs, and the Last Leg
There is no station at Gandikota. You take a train to Jammalamadugu or Kadapa, then a local bus. Here is which station to pick, what the train and bus cost, how the last leg works, and what two days at the gorge add up to.
Photo: Sudhakarbichali, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Text added by Trip Under.
Short answer
Gandikota has no railway station. Take a train to Jammalamadugu, the closest station, or Kadapa, which has better connections. Then take a local bus. From Jammalamadugu the bus takes 40 min and costs about ₹30. Trip Under plans the whole train-and-bus journey at about ₹700 per person each way. The exact train fare depends on your city and class, so check it on IRCTC. Two days at the gorge by train cost about ₹3,000 per person on a shoestring.
Gandikota is a ruined fort on the lip of a red sandstone gorge, with almost nobody there. It gets called India's Grand Canyon. The catch is that it is a long way from anywhere. You do not need a car, though. A train and a local bus get you to the fort gate.
Every station, fare and price below comes from Trip Under's Gandikota page. The fares there are planning figures, not live ticket prices. You book every piece yourself: Trip Under is not an agency.
Which station: Jammalamadugu or Kadapa
| Station | Why pick it | Last leg to Gandikota | Stay nearby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jammalamadugu | The closest station. The page lists it as Gandikota's railhead. | Local bus, 40 min, about ₹30. A few a day. Or an auto, about ₹600 return. | Budget room, about ₹600. The nearest town with actual rooms, 15 km away. |
| Kadapa | Better train connections. | Local transport, about 1 h 30 m. | Hotel, about ₹1,600. An hour and a half out, and the sensible base with children. |
Pick Jammalamadugu if a train from your city stops there at a sensible hour. Pick Kadapa if it does not. It is better connected, and it has hotels if you arrive late.
Infographic · the route
From the train to the gorge rim
The fort, the gorge rim, the temples and the granary are all walkable. Once you are there, walking is the entire visit.
The ticket price: what Trip Under plans for
Trip Under prices the train-and-bus route at about ₹700 per person each way. That is a planning figure: the real train fare depends on which city you start from, the train and the class. Look up your train and its fare on IRCTC before you book.
| Way in | Route | Time | Fare (per person, each way) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Train + bus | → Jammalamadugu or Kadapa, then bus | varies + 1 h 30 m | ₹700 | Kadapa has better connections; Jammalamadugu is closer. |
| Bus | Bengaluru / Hyderabad → Kadapa, then local | 8 h + 1 h 30 m | ₹900 | APSRTC overnight services to Kadapa. |
| Flight + road | → Hyderabad (HYD), then 6 h | 1 h + 6 h | ₹7,500 | Long. Kadapa's small airport has occasional flights. |
| Local bus, last leg | Jammalamadugu → Gandikota | 40 min | ₹30 | A few a day. Confirm the return timing before you go in. |
Infographic · two days at Gandikota, per person
Train against bus, two days at the gorge
One person, return travel plus two days on the ground at Trip Under's Gandikota daily rates (₹800 shoestring, ₹1,400 mid-range). Flying into Hyderabad is about ₹7,500 each way and then 6 h by road.
The train and bus route is the cheapest of the three. The APSRTC overnight bus to Kadapa is the backup, at about ₹900 each way from Bengaluru or Hyderabad.
The last leg: the bus, or an auto
From Jammalamadugu, the local bus to Gandikota takes 40 min and costs about ₹30. There are only a few a day. Confirm the return bus timing before you go in.
If the bus times do not suit your train, take an auto from Jammalamadugu. The page puts it at about ₹600 for the return trip, and says it is worth it when the bus does not work. Agree the price before you start.
Cash only. There is no ATM at Gandikota and no card payment. Draw money in Jammalamadugu or Kadapa. There is one chai stall at the fort gate, so carry your own water and lunch: three litres per person.
Two days by train, for two people
Photo: Bharat Kumar Jonnalagadda @ Malkum, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The sunrise over the gorge is the reason to go, and day visitors miss it. So the best plan is one night on the rim, at APTDC's Haritha camp.
Infographic · where the money goes
₹6,240 for a couple, one night on the gorge rim
Everything inside the fort is free. Kayaking on the Pennar or a Belum Caves day trip is extra.
Travelling solo on a shoestring? The page says camping in your own tent on the rim is permitted in practice, for nothing. Carry all your water. Or sleep at the Jammalamadugu lodge for about ₹600 and come in on the morning bus. A couple at mid-range, by train, pays about ₹3,700 each for two days.
When to go, and staying safe
Infographic · month by month
Gandikota month by month
Month-by-month as text
Jan: Best · Feb: Best · Mar: Good · Apr: Avoid · May: Avoid · Jun: Avoid · Jul: Passable · Aug: Good · Sep: Good · Oct: Best · Nov: Best · Dec: Best
November to February only. The Rayalaseema plateau from March to June is 44°C on bare rock, and there is no shade anywhere in the fort.
- The rim is completely unfenced and the drop is 90 metres. People have died taking photographs.
- There is no shade in the fort and no reliable water.
- March to June is 44°C. The page says not to attempt it outside November to February.
Frequently asked questions
What is the nearest railway station to Gandikota?
Jammalamadugu. From there, a local bus to Gandikota takes 40 min and costs about ₹30. Kadapa is the alternative, with better train connections but a longer last leg.
How much is the train ticket to Gandikota?
Trip Under plans the train-and-bus journey at about ₹700 per person each way. The exact rail fare depends on your starting city, train and class, so check IRCTC.
How do I get from Jammalamadugu to Gandikota?
By local bus, 40 min, about ₹30. There are only a few a day, so confirm the return timing. An auto costs about ₹600 return.
Can I do Gandikota as a day trip by train?
You can, if the bus times line up with your train. But the sunrise over the gorge is the main event and day visitors miss it, so one night at the rim camp or in Jammalamadugu is better.
How much does a 2-day Gandikota trip cost by train?
About ₹3,000 per person on a shoestring and ₹4,200 mid-range, including the train and bus both ways. A couple sleeping one night at the rim camp spends about ₹6,240 for two.
Sources and how we priced this
- Stations, routes, fares, the last-leg bus and auto, stays, food prices, safety and the season: Trip Under's Gandikota page. Fares are per-person planning figures; check IRCTC and APSRTC for live fares.
- Budgets: our cost model (two days on the ground, return travel).
Keep reading
Plan your own Gandikota trip
Set your dates, group and travel mode on the Gandikota page and see the train, bed and food add up.
Open the Gandikota page →Costs come from Trip Under's place data and our cost model (see methodology). They are indicative ballparks for budget travel and move with season and demand. Check live bus, train and room prices before you book. Trip Under is reader-planned, not an agency, and takes no commission on any booking.