Gooty is a small town in Anantapur district, on the dry Rayalaseema plateau, built around a granite hill that has been fortified for centuries. Its main sight is Gooty Fort, also called Ravadurg, a shell-shaped ring of linked forts with ruined granaries, a hilltop Narasimha temple site and a cliff-edge pavilion known as Murari Rao's seat. It is a climb rather than a stroll, and the reward is the view and the quiet.
At the foot of the hill lies a European cemetery where Sir Thomas Munro, the Madras governor, is buried, a reminder that Gooty was a Company garrison and a place where the British held prisoners. The town itself has a railway station, a locomotive shed and little tourist infrastructure, which makes it more of a base for history-minded travellers than a resort.
The better known attractions around it are Vijayanagara temples. At Tadipatri, about 50 km away, the Bugga Ramalingeswara and Chintala Venkataramana temples have unfinished gopurams, carved walls and a granite stone chariot. Further afield, Penna Ahobilam has a hilltop Narasimha temple near Uravakonda. A car and driver, early starts and a rest through the hot middle of the day make this a rewarding region for confident travellers; older visitors should treat the fort climb with caution.
Before you plan
Gooty at a glance
- Best months
- November to FebruaryNovember to February; December and January are coolest and driest. March to June is very hot, and August to October is the wettest period.
- Ideal trip length
- 1-2 days: one morning for the fort1-2 days: one morning for the fort, and a second day for Tadipatri
- Airport
- No commercial airport in GootyNo commercial airport in Gooty. Bengaluru (BLR) is about 237 km away by a published figure; check road conditions and time.
- Railway station
- Gooty railway stationGooty railway station (GY) is about 5 km from the fort; Guntakal Junction (GTL) is the nearby major junction
- Getting around
- Autos in townAutos in town; a hired car and driver for Tadipatri and Penna Ahobilam
- Daily budget
- Roughly ₹1,200-₹3,000 per person per…Roughly ₹1,200-₹3,000 per person per day excluding hotel, for food, local transport and a car; varies with car hire
- Senior comfort
- Limited: the fort climb is steep and…Limited: the fort climb is steep and exposed, but the cemetery and Tadipatri temples are level and short
- Language
- TeluguTelugu; Hindi and English are understood in hotels and at the railway station
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Gooty: January, February, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Gooty itinerary
One good day
1 day in Gooty
Reach the foot of Gooty hill at sunrise, buy water at the shop and climb to Murari Rao's seat. Descend before the heat, visit the European Cemetery if it is open, and rest through the afternoon. Use the evening for a walk in the town.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Gooty
Climb the fort early, rest at midday, and visit the cemetery in the late afternoon.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Gooty
Climb at sunrise, rest at midday, and see the cemetery in the evening.
Day-by-day plan →
