Papikondalu

Papi-Kondalu is easy to reach from all the nearby cities. The nearest airport and railway station is located in Rajahmundry, which is around 60 km away. NH-5 passes through it and has excellent road connectivity with all the major towns in the vicinity. There are also boat services available from Rajahmundry, though they are few in number.

Situated near Madhurapadi, the Rajahmundry Airport is the nearest airport. Jet Airways and Spicejet are the major airlines providing regular services. They have running flights from Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Vijayawada. Taxis can be hired from the airport to take you to Papi Kondalu.

If travelling from Khammam district, you can use the public transport either bus or taxis to reach Bharachalam. From East Godavari district, you can take a taxi to Rajahmundry. From East Godavari, there is a 35km ghat road to reach Papi Kondalu range.

Papi Kondalu doesn't have a railway station; the nearest railway station is Rajahmundry Station which is one of the important stations in Andhra Pradesh. There are many trains connecting it to different parts of the country. It is around 150 km from Vijayawada and 220 km Vishakhapatnam. Taxis are easily available for hire from the railway station to Papi Kondalu. 

Boat journey from either Rajahmundry or Bhadrachalam is a must to experience the true essence of Papikondalu’s beauty. You can either opt for a small motor boat with a capacity of 5 people (drive included) or river streamers with 50-60 seating capacity. The time taken for the journey on the Godavari river is approximately 8 hours. Cool breeze, ups and downs of the river water, the approaching Papikondalu range together form a mesmerizing one of a kind journey. Various other sites such as Perantallapi, Pattiseema and Pattisam fall along the way. One can also halt for trekking and camping on the riverside. Pattisam is a small village island, named after one of Lord Shiva’s weapons. The area is famous for a temple of Lord Veerabhadra. Peranthallapi is a hub of handicraft items such as small bamboo huts, toys and other souvenir items.

Generally, refreshment and meals are provided by the boat operators. However, you can carry your own snacks and drinking water. Boat trips are also conducted by Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) from Rajahmundry are either of one or two days. The approximate cost of one day trip is INR 500 per head and INR 400 per head for adults and children, respectively.

Local buses are the cheapest mode of transport here. However if you're time bound, hiring a cab or private vehicle for a day would be more feasible. You can also avail short fare taxis to commute to your planned destinations. To reach the ranges, boat is preferable and also a more exciting route.