The city of Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh is located in the district by the same name and is home to some ancient temples and forts. Puttaparthi in the Anantapur district is known as the birthplace of the great Sri Satya Sai Baba, and tourists usually visit Anantapur to see the native land of their favorite leader. Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Swami Temple is much frequented by pilgrims, especially during the Rathothsavam. The Lepakshi Temple, dating back to the 16th century, is a perfect example of the Vijayanagara style of architecture. The Penukonda Fort is known for being the seat of the erstwhile Vijayanagara Kingdom. Located on a small hillock, the fort offers splendid views of the city and its surroundings, and the Gooty Fort is another popular tourist spot in Anantapur. The city of Anantapur is quite popular with pilgrims and history buffs. Additionally, Dharmavaram, located quite near to Anantapur, is renowned for its beautiful silk sarees.
Best Time to Visit Anantapur
The four months ranging from November through February is the best time to visit Anantapur. The pleasant weather during the winter season makes it easy for the tourists to explore Anantapur to its fullest. These months do not receive much rainfall thus, making it best suited for sightseeing in Anantapur. However, the summer months are hot and dry and thus may prove to be uncomfortable for the visitors. Hence, they are best avoided by the tourists.
Weather Of Anantapur
Anantapur experiences a semi-arid type of climate. The summer months ranging from March to mid-August are quite hot and sultry. The month of May proves to be the hottest month of the year when the temperature can go as high as 39 degrees Celsius. The temperature during the summer months averages around 29 degrees Celsius. Monsoon arrives in Anantapur quite late, in the month of September, and even then the rainfall received is not much as is indicative from the average annual rainfall of about 560 mm. The average temperature during the winter months hovers around a chilly 22 degrees Celsius, but the mercury can drop as low as 17 degrees Celsius.
How to Reach Anantapur?
By Air : Anantapur is located at a distance of 234 km from the Tirupati Airport and can be reached by buses.
By Rail : Anantapur has a railway station on its premises that is connected to several other cities. Alternatively, you can also avail the services of Garib Rath Express and get down at Hyderabad or Bangalore from where you can board one of the many buses to reach Anantapur.
By Road : Buses operated by the state-run APSRTC (Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation) serve to connect Anantapur to other nearby cities such as Bangalore, Tirupati, and Hyderabad.