Key hubs
Ahobilam airport and railway station
- Airport
- Kurnool (Orvakal) Airport (KJB), about 54 km from Nandyal on NH 40; the onward road journey to Ahobilam is a couple of hours more. Bengaluru and Chennai are the larger gateways.
- Railway station
- Nandyal Junction (NDL), about 60 km away by road; Allagadda, on NH 40, is the usual road junction for Ahobilam
- Getting around
- Hire a car or take a bus to Ahobilam; on site, local jeeps serve the road-accessible shrines, and the forest shrines are on foot. Sri Ahobila Math is reported to run a free bus to the upper temple entrance.
How to reach Ahobilam by air
The nearest scheduled airport is Kurnool (Orvakal), IATA KJB, about 54 km from Nandyal on NH 40, with IndiGo flights to Bengaluru, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam listed on Wikipedia. From Kurnool, expect a road journey of a couple of hours more. Bengaluru and Chennai are the larger airports that Outlook Traveller names, but both are long road drives.
How to reach Ahobilam by train
Nandyal Junction (NDL) is the railhead, roughly 60 km from Ahobilam by road. It is served by several Express and passenger trains, including services to Guntur, Bengaluru and Tirupati. Allagadda, on NH 40, is the usual road junction, about 30 km from Ahobilam.
How to reach Ahobilam by road
Ahobilam is reached from Allagadda (about 30 km), Nandyal (about 60 km) and Kurnool (about 130 km), according to Wikipedia and Outlook Traveller. Buses run from Allagadda and Nandyal, and taxis are available. Road quality and timings vary, so allow extra time for the hill section.
Getting around Ahobilam
On site, local jeeps serve the road-accessible shrines, including Pavana and Bhargava Narasimha. Sri Ahobila Math is reported to run a free bus to the Upper Ahobilam temple entrance, and shared autos operate in the area. The forest shrines are reached on foot, with palanquin (doli) bearers reported for those who cannot climb.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Ahobilam
- Wear shoes you can slip off easily, with good grip for rocky paths, and carry water. Footwear is left outside the shrines.
- Stay in Nandyal or Allagadda if you need a lift, air conditioning or a wider choice of food, and accept the road time.
- Ask the airline or railway for wheelchair or porter assistance when you book, not on the day.
- Pre-book the pickup from the airport or station, so nobody has to negotiate with drivers after a long journey.
- Choose arrivals in daylight where you can, and keep the first afternoon free to rest.