In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · India
Anantapur
Spend a half‑day to see the Clock Tower and ISKCON Temple; add a half‑day for a nearby day‑trip like Lepakshi – one full day is enough.
Anantapur is a small Andhra‑Pradesh city on the Hyderabad‑Bangalore corridor. Its historic Clock Tower, ISKCON Temple and nearby heritage sites (Lepakshi, Penukonda Fort) can be visited in a single day, with budget lodging and good bus/train links from major metros.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (extreme heat)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹800–₹1,200 excl. bed · Mid ₹1,200–₹2,000 excl. bed · High ₹2,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police / all services 112 · Fire 101 · Ambulance 102
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Nannari syrup (750 ml) | ₹45 |
| Meal at a local restaurant (e.g., biryani, dosa) | ₹80–₹150 |
| Bus ticket to Hyderabad (≈200 km (124 mi))Bus ticket to Hyderabad (≈124 mi (200 km)) | ₹200–₹300 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- PUT · Puttaparthi Airport
- ≈70 km (43 mi) north, limited flights≈43 mi (70 km) north, limited flights
Typical fares
- APSRTC bus Anantapur → Hyderabad
- ≈₹250, 4 h
- Auto‑rickshaw within town (5 km)
- ≈₹50–₹80
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
APSRTC government buses and private operators run frequent services to Hyderabad, Bangalore and nearby towns; Garib Rath trains connect to Hyderabad and Bangalore. Auto‑rickshaws are common in town.
See and do
Known for
- Clock Tower
- ISKCON Temple
- Lepakshi Nandi
- historic forts
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Lepakshi | Bus or shared taxi, ~2 h each way | ≈4 h total |
| Penukonda Fort | Bus via Kurnool, ~1.5 h | ≈3 h total |
| Puttaparthi (Sri Sathya Sai Baba ashram) | Bus or taxi, ~1 h | ≈2 h total |
Sleep
- Nama Residency
- Budget guesthouse near Subash Road
- Komala Residency
- Budget, 2 people ₹1,200 per night
- Hotel Masineni Grand
- 3‑star, central, ₹3,200 per night
Language
Hindi is spoken or understood across the north and centre, English is the language of business, signs and educated conversation everywhere, and each state has its own language and script. In the south, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and Telugu replace Hindi — English is the better bridge there.
- Head wobble: a side-to-side tilt can mean yes, OK, or I heard you — check with words.
- WhatsApp is how hotels, drivers and guides communicate.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Bus and train schedules can change; verify timings on the APSRTC or Indian Railways sites.
- Summer heat can be intense; carry water and sun protection.
Anantapur is generally safe for tourists; petty theft can occur in crowded markets – keep valuables secure and use registered transport.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Anantapur yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Clock Tower
- ISKCON Temple
- Lepakshi Nandi
- historic forts
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Anantapur: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Anantapur, revision 5223298 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5223298
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/anantapur). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.