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Voykit pocket guide · India
Yanam
Spend a half‑day in Yanam to see the French‑heritage church, the river walk and a temple; add a night if you want a relaxed pace.
Yanam is a tiny enclave of Puducherry inside Andhra Pradesh. Its French colonial sites, riverside promenade and a few temples fit into a few hours, so one day is enough for a quick visit; a night adds leisure and easier travel to nearby Kakinada.
- Country
- India
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (hot, humid)
- Stay
- 0.5 nights
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 ₹1,200–₹2,000 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,000–₹3,500 excl. bed · High ₹3,500+ 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 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 at a café | ₹30–₹60 |
| Meal at a dhaba | ₹80–₹150 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | ₹200–₹300 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- VGA · Vijayawada Airport
- about 70 km (43 mi) north, bus or taxi to Yanam (~2 h)about 43 mi (70 km) north, bus or taxi to Yanam (~2 h)
Typical fares
- Vijayawada → Yanam bus
- ≈₹500, 2 h (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
The town covers about 30 km² (12 sq mi); walk everywhere. Bicycles are common for longer stretches.The town covers about 12 sq mi (30 km²); walk everywhere. Bicycles are common for longer stretches.
See and do
Known for
- French colonial church
- Riverside walk on the Gauthami Godavari
- Draksharamam Temple
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kakinada | Bus or taxi, about 35 km (22 mi), 1 hBus or taxi, about 22 mi (35 km), 1 h | ≈1 h |
| Rajahmundry | Bus, about 63 km (39 mi), 1½ hBus, about 39 mi (63 km), 1½ h | ≈1½ h |
Sleep
- Anand Regency Hotel
- Bypass, basic rooms, good for one night.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Excuse me | नमस्ते / माफ़ कीजिएnamaste / maaf kijiye |
| How much? | कितना है?kitna hai? |
| Where is the river? | नदी कहाँ है?nadi kahan 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.
- Some French‑heritage signs are in French only; ask locals for directions.
Generally safe; stay aware of traffic on river roads and keep valuables secure.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Yanam yet. Suggested stay: 0.5 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- French colonial church
- Riverside walk on the Gauthami Godavari
- Draksharamam Temple
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: Yanam, revision 5335509 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5335509
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Yanam
कृपया इस पते पर ले जाएँ
Please take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police112
Indian foreign missions list: check Ministry of External Affairs for nearest consulate.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/yanam). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.