Located at a distance of approximately 150 kms from Hyderabad, Nagarjuna Sagar is one of the preferred & most popular weekend getaway from Hyderabad, promising few enchanting moments to each and everyone. Earlier known as Vijayapuri, Nagarjunasagar is situated between Guntur and Hyderabad of Andhra Pradesh. The name of the place which means ‘the city of victory’ has been derived from Acharya Nagarjuna, a Buddhist saint. Nagarjunasagar makes for an amazing weekend getaway trip for one and all from Hyderabad.
However, just the destination is not enough for a memorable weekend getaway. One also needs right amount of relevant information about the destination and all the aspects necessary for the trip and at the right time.
Nagarjuna Sagar dam is one of the most popular tourist attractions of the place. Built in the year of 1969, with a height of 124 metres, it is the world’s tallest masonry dam. The dam is one of the most important source of hydroelectricity. Earlier called as the Nandikonda project, the dam has been built on the River Krishna presenting breathtaking scenic beauty as well.
The place now has a religious and as well architectural importance too along with the natural beauty. During the construction of the dam, various ruins of ancient Buddhist civilisation were excavated. These have been preserved at Nagarjuna Konda, a mesmerizing island museum situated in the centre of a man made lake. It is consisted of relics of the Buddhist saint, Acharya Nagarjuna along with various stuff related to Buddhism.
Once at Nagarjunasagar for your weekend, you will have various activities to do along with sightseeing. One of the most enjoyable is the boating. Steam boat rides are available to the dam which one must try out when at Nagarjunasagar.
Attractions Near Nagarjunasagar:
Nagarjunasagar Dam
World's largest masonry dam protected with 26 gates measuring 14m in height and 13m in width, Nagarjunasagar Dam located in Nalgonda District is built across River Krishna.
The dam has a storage capacity of nearly 11,472 million cubic meters with an irrigation capacity for 10 acres of land. The dam measure 150m tall and 16 kms in length while also being a major tourist attraction. In fact, it is among the first irrigation projects started by Indian Government as an element of Green Revolution. Today, apart from offering not only irrigation facility, it is also a source of hydro-electricity. The dam attracts a huge number of tourists owing to its great magnificence as well as the cover of dense green surrounding it offering an absolutely captivating view.
Ethipothala Waterfall
A sight of sheer beauty and excellence, Ethipothala Waterfall serve as another major attraction of the town. It is originally a popular mountain stream which falls from a height of nearly 21.3m into a lagoon.
m into a lagoon. The merging of three streams viz. Nakka Vagu, Chandravanka Vagu and Tummala Vagu give birth to this beautiful waterfall. One can also enjoy watching a crocodile breeding center at the site offering splendid sights. Once the water falls into the lagoon, it joins Krishna River further at a distance of 3 kms. Two famous temples namely Ranganatha and Dattatreya are situated at the site. This waterfall is situated nearly 15 miles from Nagarjunasagar Dam and also lies on the way to Macherla. It also features few caves that go till Srisailam.
Nagarjunasagar Wildlife Sanctuary
A paradise for nature lovers and wildlife buffs, Nagarjunasagar Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Srisailam and is often referred to as Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Sanctuary.
Established over a huge area of nearly 3568 sq. kms, this land rich in flora and fauna lies adjacent to Nagarjunasagar Reservoir. In fact its massive area covers five district of Kurnool, Prakasam, Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar and Gutnur. Apart from being declared as a 'Tiger Reserve' in 1983, this place also inhabits several other species including langur, jackals and macaques etc. The sanctuary is also home to around 150 species of birds which include grey horn bill and pea fouls. Reptiles like monitor lizard, pythons, soft shelled turtles and marsh crocodiles also call this place as their home. The area is also adorned with River Krishna which flow through Nallamala Hills providing all the inhabitants source of water. Travellers will also find guesthouses, temple and cottages within the sanctuary premises. The perfect time to explore the wilderness of the area is from October to May as the weather is quite pleasant and cool.
Nagarjunakonda Museum
Nagajunakonda Museum is cradled amid a man-made Nagarjunasagar Lake on an island of Nagarjunakonda. This Buddhist museum is packed with the collection of various Buddhist structures and artifacts excavated during the construction of the dam.
The collection is quite ancient belonging to 3rd century AD. The beautiful collection features panels carved with jataka tales, stone idols of Lord Buddha, weapons and equipment belonging to Stone Age and old inscriptions etc. The information provided in the museum is in three languages i.e. English, Hindi and Telugu. The museum is accessible via boat from Nagarjunasagar, the boat service being run by Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department. Besides, the boast service, the place can also be approached via road from Hyderabad airport.
Macherla, Nagarjunsagar
Macherla is a small town located in the district Guntur of Andhra Pradesh. In Gurazala revenue division, it is the headquarters of the Macherla division. The township located on the banks of Chandra Vanka has an average elevation of 136 m. It is a hub of historical sites and some other local attractions which one must never miss. It has a population of 1,06,289 and an average literacy rate of 71.13%. The town has a road of length 76.23 km running through it.
When one goes out on vacation to any place, it becomes mandatory to explore every minute detail and the places in and around the place. Macherla too has some attractions in and around it for the tourists to visit. One can visit the Macherla city center, Macherla rural city center, Nagarjunasagar city center, Nagarjunakonda, Gurazala city center, Nallamala hills and Ethipothala Falls.
Ethipothala Falls is a stream which cascades down the hill at the height of 21.3 m and is a combination of three streams namely Chandravanka vagu, Nakkala vagu and Tummala vagu. The main temple is Sri Laxmi Chennakesava Swami Temple. It is a beautiful temple which was constructed in the 13th century AD.
Nagarjuna Konda - Boat To Nagarjunakonda in Nagarjuna Sagar
At a distance of 23 km from Nagarjuna Sagar Bus Station & 14 km from Boat Launch Station, Nagarjuna Konda is a small island in Nagarjuna Sagar Lake which houses the excavated remains of the Buddhist civilization of 2nd century. This is one of the major historical sites to visit around Hyderabad and among the top Nagarjuna Sagar places to visit.
It is one of India's richest Buddhist sites and now it lies in the backwaters of Nagarjuna Sagar Dam. Nagarjuna Konda was once the capital of Ikshvaku Kingdom and was called Vijayapuri. It was named after Acharya Nagarjuna, a renowned Buddhist scholar, philosopher who lived here in the 2nd century AD and composed the initial sutras of Mahayana Buddhism. The revered Buddhist monk was heading the community of Buddhist priests for nearly 60 years in the 2nd century. He found the Madhyamika School which studied and developed the teaching of Mahayana Buddhism.
Discovered in 1926, the remains of the Buddhist settlements and university are preserved in the museum on Nagarjuna Konda. The site was once the location of many Buddhist universities and monasteries, attracting students from as far as China, Gandhara, Bengal and Sri Lanka. Some of the Buddhist archaeological sites were submerged after the construction of Nagarjunasagar Sam. Few of them were excavated later and transferred to higher land on the hill which is the main tourist site. There are several ancient structures still remain scattered on the island.
Constructed in the shape of a Buddhist Vihara, the museum houses a stupendous collection of relics of Buddhist art and culture. It houses the Buddhist, Paleolithic and Neolithic artifacts, ruins and relics that were found in the archeological finding. The most unique part of the museum is that a partly ruined monolithic statue of Buddha.
This place can be reached by a boat ride from Boat Launch Station operated by AP Tourism from Vijayapuri South.
Boat Timings: 9.30 AM, 11.30 AM & 1.30 PM
Museum Timings: 9 AM to 4 PM. Closed on Fridays and national holidays.
Boat Fee: Rs. 150 for Adults & Rs. 120 for Children
Museum Entry: Rs. 20 for Adults & Rs. 10 for Children
Nagarjunasagar Boat Timings to Nagarjunakonda: The first boat leaves at 9:30 am but is reserved for staff that works on island, then every hour or so a boat leaves from the boat launch point at Nagarjuna Sagar, the last boat is at 3:30 pm and return the last trip is at 5:30 pm from the island.
