Happy TravellerWelcome to Kadapa, a city located in the southern part of Andhra Pradesh, India. This hidden gem is often overlooked in favor of its more famous neighbors, but it boasts a rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and mouthwatering local cuisine. Join us as we uncover the many treasures of Kadapa and reveal why this enchanting destination should be on every traveler’s bucket list.
Kadapa is located in the Rayalaseema region and is the district headquarters of YSR Kadapa district. As of the 2022 Census of India, the city had a population of 466,000, a 2.42% increase from 2021. It is located 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) south of the Penna River. The city is surrounded on three sides by the Nallamala and Palkonda Hills lying on the tectonic landscape between the Eastern and Western ghats. Black and Red ferrous soils occupy the region. The city is nicknamed Gadapa (threshold) since it is the gateway from the west to the hills of Tirumala.
Kadapa has a rich history dating back to the second century BC. The city has been under different rulers in its history, including the Cholas, the Vijayanagara Empire, and Kingdom of Mysore. The city’s name originated from the Telugu word Gadapa meaning threshold or gate. It acquired this name with its relation to the Tirumala Hills; one had to pass through this city in the olden days to reach Tirumala Hills. In Telugu, the word Gadapa means a threshold and over time, the name evolved into Kadapa. It was spelled Cuddapah but was changed to Kadapa on 19 August 2005 to reflect the local pronunciation of the name.
Kadapa is a city with a hot semi-arid climate characterized by year-round high temperatures. Summers are especially uncomfortable with hot and humid conditions. During this time temperatures range from a minimum of 25 °C or 77.0 °F and can rise up to a maximum of 45 °C or 113.0 °F. Humidity is around 75% during the summer months. The monsoon season brings substantial rain to the area, and Kadapa gets some rainfall from both the southwest monsoon and the northeast monsoon. Winters are comparatively milder and the temperatures are lower after the onset of the monsoons. During this time the temperatures range from a minimum of 17 °C or 63 °F and can rise up to a maximum of 32 °C or 90 °F. Humidity is much lower during the winter season, which is the best time to visit the area.
Kadapa is well known for its spicy and culinary food which is very similar to the South Indian food. Karam dosa is one of the most favorite items of Kadapa citizens. People have dosa, idly, sambar, and chutney in their breakfast. Rice, daal, and curry are usually served as lunch. Most of the restaurants serve South Indian thali including these dishes in their lunch and dinner menu. Although it has a South Indian touch in its dishes, it also has a diverse variety of its own which includes Ragi Sangati or Ragi Mudda, Boti Curry, Natukodi Chicken, Paya Curry, etc. Ragi sangati with chicken curry is the staple food in Kadapa and is also one of the most famous dishes in the city. Many other varieties of dishes can also be found in the local restaurants.
Kadapa is largely based on Agriculture crops like groundnut, cotton, red gram, Bengal gram are grown here and Mining. Being a district headquarters all types of Government departments are situated within the city. For most of the families, the source of income is through the Government jobs and Private sector jobs in various departments including Business Shops, Hospitality industry, Marketing. Apart from these Tourism also forms a part of the economy of the city. Kadapa is one of the 49 metropolitan clusters selected by McKinsey & Company as growth hotspots in India.
Kadapa City is well connected by Road, Rail, and Air. Kadapa has good road connectivity to the other major places like Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Kakinada, Nellore, Kurnool. APSRTC provides bus services to various destinations of the Kadapa district and other cities across South India. The city has a total road length of 803.84 km. Kadapa has its own railway station in the city. It is one of the Earliest Railway stations in the state opened around 1866. The Mumbai–Chennai line which happens to be one of the busiest lines in the south coast region passes through Kadapa railway station. It is one of the A category railway stations in South Coast Railway zone under Guntakal railway division. A new railway line Kadapa–Bangalore section is under construction stage. As of August 2021, there is no direct train to Bengaluru from Kadapa, although occasional special trains and diverted trains do connect them. Neither are flights to Bengaluru available earlier, however, Indigo started its operations at Kadapa airport connecting the city to Bengaluru(along with Chennai, Hyderabad, Vizag).
