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
Machilipatnam
Spend a half‑day at Manginapudi Beach and a few hours browsing Kalamkari markets; one full day covers the main sights.
Machilipatnam is a small coastal town in Andhra Pradesh known for its historic port, Kalamkari textiles and a nearby beach. Most attractions are clustered, so a single day is sufficient for a focused visit.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Sep (cyclone and monsoon season)
- 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 ₹1,500–2,500 excl. bed · High ₹3,000+ 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 / 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 |
|---|---|
| Coffee (street stall) | ₹30–50 |
| Spicy chat snack (evening vendor) | ₹20–40 |
| Mineral water (1 L) | ₹15 |
| Auto‑rickshaw (10 km (6.2 mi))Auto‑rickshaw (6.2 mi (10 km)) | ₹200–300 |
| Taxi (city centre, fixed minimum) | ₹300–500 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- VGA · Vijayawada Airport
- about 70 km (43 mi) north, 1½ h by roadabout 43 mi (70 km) north, 1½ h by road
Typical fares
- Bus Vijayawada ↔ Machilipatnam
- ≈₹100 one‑way (check)
- Auto‑rickshaw 5 km
- ≈₹150–200 (fixed, bargain)
- Taxi city centre (minimum)
- ≈₹300–500 (check)
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
Buses (state APSRTC and private city buses), autorickshaws (fixed rates, bargain), and taxis (fixed minimum fare, no meters). Walkable town centre.
See and do
Known for
- Kalamkari textiles
- Manginapudi Beach
- Historic British‑East India trading post
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Vijayawada | Bus or car, about 70 km (43 mi), 1½ hBus or car, about 43 mi (70 km), 1½ h | ≈2 h |
| Bhimavaram | Bus, ~30 km (19 mi), 45 minBus, ~19 mi (30 km), 45 min | ≈1 h |
| Eluru | Bus, ~45 km (28 mi), 1 hBus, ~28 mi (45 km), 1 h | ≈1 h 30 min |
Sleep
- Apsara Hotel
- basic rooms ₹500–1,000 per night
- RR Bhavan
- basic rooms ₹500–1,000 per night
- Eswara Residency
- basic rooms ₹500–1,000 per night
- Raghava Residency
- basic rooms ₹500–1,000 per night
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | क्षमించండిkshaminchandi |
| Thank you | ధన్యవాదాలుdhanyavaadalu |
| How much is it? | ఇది ఎంత?idi enta? |
| Can I pay by card? | కార్డ్ ద్వారా చెల్లించగలనా?kaard dvara chellinchagalanaa? |
| Where is the toilet? | బాత్రూమ్ ఎక్కడ?baathroom ekkada? |
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
- Autorickshaw and taxi rates are not metered – always agree on price first.
- Cyclone risk in coastal months; heed local warnings.
- Tap water not safe for drinking – buy mineral water (≈₹15 /L).
Generally safe; watch traffic, keep valuables secure, avoid isolated beaches after dark, and follow local cyclone warnings.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Machilipatnam yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Kalamkari textiles
- Manginapudi Beach
- Historic British‑East India trading post
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Machilipatnam, revision 5297299 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5297299
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Machilipatnam
ఈ చిరునామాకు దయచేసి
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / General emergency112
Local language is Telugu; most signs also in English.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/machilipatnam). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.