Khammam

The fourth largest city in the state of Telangana, Khammam is an old city known by various names over its years of history. The city is located at a distance of just 200 km from the state capital Hyderabad and has been at the forefront of freedom movements back when India reeled under the shadows of colonialism. Presently, it is a major tourist location and is also revered as a cultural landmark. The city was previously also known as Khammamet, Kambham Mettu, Stambhadri, and Kambhadri, and has all of these names derived from the vertical rock or Khamba located at the foot of the Narsimhadri Temple.

Khammam places are also known for this temple which has its roots dating as much as 1.6 million years back. Presently, this city has been identified as a municipal corporation after the addition of 14 nearby villages to its jurisdiction. You can explore the various tourist sites in the city based on your tourism preferences. With mild Khammam weather all through the year except the summers, the city can be explored as and when you make your travel plans.

Khammam Overview

Best Time to Visit Khammam

The weather in Khammam can be quite harsh during the summer seasons and packed with humidity, which makes the time unsuitable for visiting the city. The Khammam temperature can be mild to cold during the winter months, especially from October to March, which makes it the ideal time to visit the city for tourism and exploration. You can plan your trip to the city between December and February to get the most pleasant weather here. Januarys can be the coldest month here.

Visiting the city during the monsoons can be a pleasant experience too as the mild to heavy rainfall here brings a delicate respite from the scorching summers.

How to Reach the Places to Visit in Khammam

Located in the Andhra region, khammam places are well-connected to the nearby cities and towns via the railways and roadways. There is no airways connectivity in the city though. The nearest airport is the Hyderabad airport, from which you can take a bus or taxi to arrive at the city. The developed network of buses and trains in Khammam Telangana also makes it easy to travel to and from the city, connecting to outstation locations with ease.

With two prominent national highways running through Khammam, the city is well-connected via the roadways. You can travel through and from the city via state-owned buses or even through private operators. Taxis and auto rickshaws are another prominent modes of commute in and around Khammam. The railway connectivity in the city is well-developed as well, with the Khammam railway station being the primary halt to reach the city. The railways run from across the country as the station falls on the Hyderabad - Visakhapatnam line.

To travel across the city locally, the best mode of transportation would be the local buses as they come cheap and have expansive connectivity across the city. Short-fare taxis are another good mode of commuting to explore dedicated locations. If you are short of time, you can go for private cab hiring which helps with easy city exploration within your plans.

What are the Things to See and Do in Khammam?

Khammam is a city you can explore extensively for its culture, historic significance, food, lifestyle, and natural beauty that it brings to the fore. You can start by exploring the citys local cuisine at an authentic eatery here, some of which are quite easy to spot across the city. The trip can begin with exploring the popular Khammam Fort located in the heart of the city in Telangana. The citys beautiful architecture carries hints of both Hindu and Muslim structural designs and mesmerises you with its elegance. Some top wildlife sanctuaries are located here and some religious places are worth exploring as well. Imbibe in the serenity of cultural and artistic flavours that the citys nooks and crannies offer.

Places to Visit in Khammam

Irrespective of whether you are visiting the city for religious tourism, to seek adventure, for exploration, or to simply bask in its glorious history, theres something or the other for you in the various tourist sites in the city. Planning your itinerary ahead of visiting the city can help sort out the best places that you would like to explore here.

Narsimha Swami Temple

The Stambhadri hill forms the home to this 1.6 million-years old Hindu religious centre known as the Narsimha Swami Temple. It is a much-revered centre of spirituality and somehow remains at the core of the citys establishment. It is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations that travellers prefer to visit when in Khammam.

Khammam Fort

The origin of the Khammam Fort dates back to 1000AD, while the fort has withstood the test of time, traversing different reigns in the region. It stands tall as a symbol of the citys historic allegiance and is a stark representation of the amalgamated architectural geniuses of both Hindu and Muslim reigns.

Palair Lake

Located in the Palair village at a distance of 90 km from the citys centre, the Palair Lake is another tourist locale and a popular place for visiting when in the city. It is a man-made lake and a freshwater source for the city.

Jamalapuram Temple

The Swami Venkateshwara Temple is one of the main attractions of the Jamalapuram Temple which houses several other temples in Yerupallam town.

Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary

The Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the quaint centre of the Dandakaranya Forest and is home to some of the rarest faunal diversity in India. The sanctuary sprawls across a widespread area of 635 sq. ft. and has a pleasant temperature that makes it suitable for exploring all through the day.

Nelakondapalli

For travellers inclined towards religious, historical, and cultural explorations, Nelakondapalli is an architectural structure worth exploring in the city. Recently, ancient Buddhist sculptures have been discovered at this archaeological site as well.

Restaurants in Khammam

This city of Telangana still remains a quaint little town with little to no impact of the multi-cuisine culture one can find in cities. Thus, it can be a challenge to find a fine-dining restaurant here. You may, however, come across local eateries that serve delicacies infused with authentic local flavours. The top two restaurants popularly visited by travelers here include the following.

Haveli Restaurant

The Haveli Restaurant in this city is located on the VDO Colonys Wyra Road and offers some of the best local delicacies to try out. You can explore various Indian cuisines here served in the authentic local style of preparation. The restaurant is open for 12 hours every day and can be visited any day of the week between 11.30 AM and 11 PM. You can try out meals across the day here, be it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or simply for snacking.

Kaveri Restaurant

Located in Balaji Nagar, Kaveri Restaurant is another eatery serving Indian delicacies in style. The restaurant has an ambience combining palatable tastes with elegant dining experiences and has courteous staff that serve with just the right charm of the citys cultural embrace. You can try out various Indian dishes here, where typical favour is earned for authentic local Telangana cuisine here.

Places to Stay in Khammam

Being the small town of rich cultural significance that this city is, the city is still not receptive to tourism stays in a full-fledged sense of accommodation. So, finding a commercial hotel to stay at when in the city can be a challenge. Some decent hotel stays and homestays that you can explore here for accommodation when visiting the city include the following.

Hotel Vaibhav Inn

Hotel Vaibhav Inn offers a decent stay for solo travellers, groups of friends, family, or couples and is backed with reasonable amenities for a comfortable stay.

Hotel Grand Gayathri

Offering a luxury stay at a decent price, Hotel Grand Gayathri is an accommodation worth exploring when seeking to rest in between explorations in the city.

Hotel S-Park

With an impressive 4-star rating out of 5, Hotel S-Park is another accommodation to explore if looking for family stays. With cordial staff and speck clean corridors, rooms, and balconies, the hotel is worth its high-priced stays.

Food to Try in the Places to Visit in Khammam

This citys culinary culture is typically impacted by the use of local spices that are found in abundance here. The citys history has been dominated by Persian rule, and thus its cultural and traditional impact has trickled down to the citys food habits and cuisines. The local cuisine keeps a fine blend of culinary styles inspired by the Hyderabadi, Persian, and Telugu styles of cooking. Some of the locally made dishes you cant miss out on for their street-style cooking include Biryani, Naan, Sambhar, Butter Chicken, Lassi, and Chilli Chicken.

Things to Buy in the Places to Visit in Khammam

This city is not only known for its vibrant culture but is also a locale worth trying when it comes to shopping for jewellery, clothes, and accessories.

Kaman Bazar

The Kaman Bazar is one of the famous local places to shop at. It houses some of the finest clothing and accessories at reasonable prices. The wide variety of choices makes it easy to shop here. You only need to keep your bargaining skills up to get your picks at a good price.

Gandhi Chowk

If you love collecting jewellery in varying designs, the Gandhi Chowk market is worth a try. The place is known for housing some of the best jewellery shops hosting intricate designs with high-quality, authentic products.

Grain and Mirchi Market

If you want to explore the choicest spices grown in this city, visiting the citys Grain and Mirchi Market can be worth its while. The shops here are mostly available for wholesaling and storing a wide variety of spices and grains for trading.

But when one does arrive at that fresh frontier, there are ways better than others to begin your journey of discovery. Follow these steps and see the world with a new light.

• Discover a new city through a food tour. Food tour's are the easiest way to take a tour, learn about the local delicacies, and the best of all, get great tips that aren't just "local" tips for tourists, but sometimes, lessons for a lifetime too
• Use Public Transportation. When you are in a new city, you can possibly see places and people that you wouldn't normally see when simply walking to the places that checks your list. Some buses or rails take you to parts of the city you wouldn't get to see otherwise. Whilst using public transportation, just ensure that you are following the local norms and do remember to watch the locals!
• Find a local festival. Go beyond what other tourists might do while visiting a place. Look for the unique things you would want to do. Use social media or the local tourism website to find out what's going on locally. You may have to move out of the center of the city to do some of the less popular but more unique things, so just keep that in mind!

Conclusion

Today, this city is more than just a cultural and historic centre and is fast evolving as a commercial centre of Telangana too. It is already the fourth largest city in the state and is fast becoming a hot spot for tourism in the state with well-maintained tourist sites in the city made easily accessible through the convenient commute.