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Voykit pocket guide · India
Kakinada
Spend 1–2 days in Kakinada: a half‑day for the beach and temples, another half‑day for mangrove wildlife or a boat ride on the Godavari.
Kakinada is a port city on the Godavari delta in Andhra Pradesh. It offers a mix of beaches, temples and the nearby Coringa mangrove sanctuary. With good rail links and short road trips to the delta islands, a short stay covers the main sights without long travel times.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (hot, humid)
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–₹2,500 excl. bed · High ₹2,500+ 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 100 · Fire/ambulance 101 · General emergency 112
- 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 |
|---|---|
| Fish fry (street stall) | ₹80–₹150 |
| Kakinada Kaja (sweet) | ₹30–₹70 |
| Auto‑rickshaw (2 km (1.2 mi))Auto‑rickshaw (1.2 mi (2 km)) | ₹30–₹50 |
| Bus ticket (city) | ₹20–₹30 |
| Coffee (café) | ₹50–₹100 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- RJA · Rajahmundry Airport
- 65 km (40 mi) north, flights to Hyderabad, Chennai, Visakhapatnam40 mi (65 km) north, flights to Hyderabad, Chennai, Visakhapatnam
- VTZ · Visakhapatnam Airport
- 145 km (90 mi) south, international services90 mi (145 km) south, international services
Typical fares
- Rajahmundry → Kakinada (taxi)
- ≈₹1,200–₹1,500, 1 h (check)
- Auto‑rickshaw 2 km
- ₹30–₹50
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Taxis and autorickshaws dominate city travel; open‑top rickshaws are a tourist option. Mini‑buses connect neighbourhoods. Trains to Samalkot (12 km (7.5 mi)) link to the Chennai‑Visakhapatnam line.Taxis and autorickshaws dominate city travel; open‑top rickshaws are a tourist option. Mini‑buses connect neighbourhoods. Trains to Samalkot (7.5 mi (12 km)) link to the Chennai‑Visakhapatnam line.
See and do
Known for
- Kakinada Kaja sweet
- Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary
- Godavari River delta
- Beaches and open‑top rickshaws
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary | Bus or hired car north along NH‑214, about 30 min | ≈1 h total |
| Konaseema delta islands | Boat from Kakinada harbour, 20 min | ≈45 min |
| Annavaram Satyanarayana Swamy Temple | Bus south via NH‑16, about 1 h 15 min | ≈2 h |
Sleep
- GRT Grand
- 5‑star, central, good for business travellers
- Royal Park
- Mid‑range, near main road
- Budget guesthouses
- Various options near the railway station
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | क्षम करेंkṣama karēṁ |
| Thank you | धन्यवादdhanyavād |
| How much is it? | कितना है?kitnā hai? |
| Where is the beach? | समुद्र तट कहाँ है?samudra taṭ kahā̃ hai? |
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
- Summer heat can be intense; carry water and sun protection.
- Auto‑rickshaw fares are not metered; agree on price before boarding.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Kakinada yet. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Kakinada Kaja sweet
- Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary
- Godavari River delta
- Beaches and open‑top rickshaws
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Andhra Pradesh Tourism – Kakinada: www.ap.gov.in/tourism/kakinada
- Wikivoyage: Kakinada, revision 5303798 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5303798
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/kakinada). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.