Major city · India
Gunturగుంటూరు
Give Guntur one night, or skip it: the chili market, Kondaveedu Fort and the Uppalapadu bird tanks are the reasons to stop, not the route onward.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- INR
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- avoid Apr–Jun (39 °C and above), Jul–Oct (heavy rain)avoid Apr–Jun (102 °F and above), Jul–Oct (heavy rain)
- Airport
- VGA
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 6
- South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
- South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
- India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
- India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
- India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
- India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.
Guntur is Andhra Pradesh's third-largest city and the trade centre of its chili, cotton and tobacco belt, with Asia's largest chili yard. The centre is modest and the sights sit outside it, so most travellers use Guntur as a one-night rail or road stop on the Vijayawada–Chennai corridor, or as a base for Kondaveedu Fort and the Uppalapadu bird tanks.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Guntur, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.India-wide
- SIM or eSIMJio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.India-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.India-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.India-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/D/M. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.India-wide
- SafetyGuntur is a working trade city and generally safe by day; the real risks are heat, monsoon flooding on rural roads…
- RestroomsWestern toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages.India-wide
- Emergency numbers112 All services (police, fire, ambulance) · 108 ambulance · 1363 (≈ US$16) Tourist helpline (Incredible India, 24 h) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysThe Taj Mahal is closed on Fridays; many museums close on Mondays; banks close on the second and fourth Saturdays…India-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportVGA Vijayawada Airport (Nearest airport; about 2 h by bus).
- Getting aroundAutos and city buses run from NTR Bus Station; two-wheelers are quicker than autos in the centre and easier to park than cars.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeFilter coffee or tea₹20–60 (≈ under US$1)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week₹500–1,000 (≈ US$6–12)
- Budget bedHostel or budget lodge bed, a night, per person₹500 (≈ US$6)
- Mid-range bedMid-range double room, a night, per room₹3,000 (≈ US$35)
- High-end bedMid-range double room, a night, per room₹6,000 (≈ US$70)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ₹1,500 (≈ US$18) · Mid ₹3,500 (≈ US$40) · High ₹7,000 (≈ US$80)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- VGA Vijayawada Airport (Nearest airport; about 2 h by bus)
Weather and climate
Guntur: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
30°C86°F
19°C66°F
1 rd
Feb
32°C90°F
20°C69°F
4 rd
Mar
35°C94°F
23°C73°F
6 rd
Apr
37°C98°F
26°C78°F
14 rd
May
39°C103°F
28°C82°F
56 rd
Jun
38°C100°F
28°C82°F
115 rd
Jul
33°C92°F
26°C78°F
171 rd
Aug
33°C91°F
26°C78°F
161 rd
Sep
33°C91°F
25°C78°F
151 rd
Oct
32°C89°F
24°C76°F
159 rd
Nov
30°C87°F
21°C70°F
58 rd
Dec
29°C85°F
19°C66°F
10 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Autos and city buses run from NTR Bus Station; two-wheelers are quicker than autos in the centre and easier to park than cars. Guntur Junction takes express trains, New Guntur the local ones toward Amaravati, Vijayawada and Tenali. Agree the auto fare before you get in; metered apps are not confirmed in Guntur.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Amaravati
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Local train from New Guntur, or bus
Stupa site and the new capital area; half a day.
Kondaveedu Fort
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Bus or auto to Kondaveedu, then a hill walk
14th-century Reddy fort ruins; go early, carry water.
Uppalapadu Bird Sanctuary
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Auto or bus to Uppalapadu village, about 6 km southAuto or bus to Uppalapadu village, about 3.7 mi south
Pelicans and painted storks on the village tanks; best in the cooler months.
Tenali
cautionDoor to door: About 45 min
Local train from New Guntur
Small town, little for a visitor beyond the rail link.
Vijayawada
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Train from Guntur Junction or bus
Bigger city, Kanaka Durga temple and the main airport.
Door to door: 6–8 h
Express train from Guntur Junction
Temple city; too far for a return day.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Arundelpet and the centre
Walkable to Jinnah Tower, the cloth bazaar and most hotels; best for one night.
Around Guntur Junction
Practical for early trains; basic hotels, few restaurants.
Lakshmipuram and Kothapet
Wider choice of mid-range hotels and restaurants; 10–15 min by auto from the station.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ₹1,200–2,500 (≈ US$14–30) excl. bed
- Mid
- ₹2,500–5,000 (≈ US$30–60) excl. bed
- High
- ₹5,000 (≈ US$60)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Mid-range double room1 × 1 night × ₹3,000 | ₹3,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ₹3,500 | ₹7,000 |
| Auto across the centre, one trip1 × ₹120 · check | ₹120 |
| City bus ride2 × ₹20 · check | ₹40 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ₹700 | ₹1,400 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ₹1,160 |
| Trip total≈ ₹6,360 per person per day, bed included | ₹12,720≈ US$150 |
2026 estimate in rupees; flights and long-distance trains excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Filter coffee or tea | ₹20–60 (≈ under US$1) |
| Vegetarian Andhra thali | ₹120–300 (≈ US$2–4) |
| Guntur biryani (mutton or chicken) | ₹180–400 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Mirchi bajji, a plate | ₹40–100 (≈ US$1–2) |
| Auto across the centreAgree before boarding. | ₹80–200 (≈ US$1–3) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ₹500–1,000 (≈ US$6–12) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Summer heat: April–June regularly passes 39 °C; plan sightseeing before 10:00.Summer heat: April–June regularly passes 39 °C; plan sightseeing before 10:00 AM.Summer heat: April–June regularly passes 102 °F; plan sightseeing before 10:00.Summer heat: April–June regularly passes 102 °F; plan sightseeing before 10:00 AM.
- Monsoon flooding on rural roads around the chili belt, July–October.
- Auto drivers at the station often quote flat tourist fares: agree the price first or use a metered app.
- Kondaveedu Fort is a hill trek with uneven ruins and no shade: carry water, avoid midday.
Emergency numbers
- All services (police, fire, ambulance)
- 112
- Ambulance
- 108
- Tourist helpline (Incredible India, 24 h)
- 1363
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Gunturగుంటూరు
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ఈ చిరునామాకు వెళ్లండిTo this address, please
Emergency
- All services112
- Ambulance108
- Tourist helpline (24 h)1363
Embassy
No embassies in Guntur; the US consulate-general is in Hyderabad, and most countries keep embassies in New Delhi.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Vijayawada Airport → Guntur: about ₹1,200–1,800 (≈ US$14–25) by taxi, about 2 h (check)
- Auto across the centre: ₹80–200 (≈ US$1–3), agree first
- Train Guntur Junction → Vijayawada: about ₹50–150 (≈ US$1–2), 45–60 min (check)
Say or show
- నమస్కారం — Hello / Namaste (namaskāram)
- ధన్యవాదాలు — Thank you (dhanyavādālu)
- ఎంత? — How much is it? (enta?)
- ఇది కావాలి — This one, please (idi kāvāli)
- టాయిలెట్ ఎక్కడ ఉంది? — Where is the toilet? (toilet ekkaḍa undi?)
- కారం తక్కువ — Not spicy, please (kāram takkuva)
112 works from any phone; 1363 is the national tourist helpline.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Guntur. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Feb · avoid Apr–Jun (39 °C and above), Jul–Oct (heavy rain) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 6 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for VGA: last bus and train times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Arundelpet and Jinnah Tower, the cloth bazaar, Gandhi Park, the station area.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Kondaveedu Fort, Uppalapadu, Baudhasree museum) and eat pages with last orders.
- Chili-market and monsoon fixtures so gates A–D can go green.