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Andhra Pradesh

Mahanandi (Nava Nandi)

Glass-clear spring tanks below an old Shiva temple on the Nallamala edge

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Best time to visit Mahanandi (Nava Nandi)

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: November to February
  • Shoulder: March to April and June to October, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: May

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryNovemberDecember

Mahanandi (Nava Nandi) season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Dec-Feb runs 28 C by day and cold at dawn; the three pushkarini tanks hold a steady 22 C and you can count coins on the bottom.

Summer March to May Shoulder

March is fine, April touches 42 C and May goes past 45 C in Nandyal; the water stays cold but the Nava Nandi drive does not.

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

Jun-Sep greens the Nallamala scarp behind the temple and the springs run at their strongest; short heavy showers, very few pilgrims.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Oct-Nov is the sweet spot: post-monsoon green on the forest road, the tanks at their clearest, and no queue at the pool before 8 am.

What Mahanandi (Nava Nandi) is actually like

Devasthanam cottages and pilgrim choultries, one bazaar street; evenings are temple bells, chai carts and people swimming in the tank

Getting to Mahanandi (Nava Nandi)

Nandyal railhead 16 km, then share auto or APSRTC bus; Kurnool 2 h and Hyderabad 5 h by road

Practical ways in: trainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Steady at its peak
Solo travel
Fine solo
Altitude
244 m
State
Andhra Pradesh
Coordinates
15.4701, 78.6178

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Mahanandi (Nava Nandi)?

November to February is peak season in Mahanandi (Nava Nandi). March to April and June to October is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid May. Oct-Nov is the sweet spot: post-monsoon green on the forest road, the tanks at their clearest, and no queue at the pool before 8 am.

How many days do you need in Mahanandi (Nava Nandi)?

2 days is the usual stay. Devasthanam cottages and pilgrim choultries, one bazaar street; evenings are temple bells, chai carts and people swimming in the tank.

How do you get to Mahanandi (Nava Nandi)?

Nandyal railhead 16 km, then share auto or APSRTC bus; Kurnool 2 h and Hyderabad 5 h by road. Practical ways in: train and road.

Is Mahanandi (Nava Nandi) expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs steady at the busiest time of year. Fine solo.

Is there a festival in Mahanandi (Nava Nandi)?

Feb/Mar: Maha Shivaratri brahmotsavam. Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Andhra Pradesh

All 31 destinations in Andhra Pradesh