Cabs and car rental in Rajahmundry, with a driver.

Rajahmundry, officially Rajamahendravaram, sits on the east bank of the Godavari where the river spreads out before the delta, and the river is the reason to come. Nannaya began the Telugu Mahabharata here, which is why the town is often called the cultural capital of Andhra. Down at river level, Pushkar Ghat and Kotilingala Ghat are the places to walk in the evening, and the bridges are the view: the old Havelock Bridge, the road-cum-rail bridge to Kovvur and the long Godavari Arch Bridge. A few kilometres downstream, the Dowleswaram Barrage and the Sir Arthur Cotton Museum tell the story of the irrigation that made the delta.

The drives from here go in three directions. South and east is Konaseema, the coconut country between the Godavari's branches, with the plant nurseries at Kadiyam on the way, the temple at Ryali, and Draksharama, one of the five Pancharama shrines. Upstream, the river narrows between the Papikondalu hills, and the forest road to Maredumilli climbs into the Eastern Ghats. North along NH-16, the Satyanarayana Swamy temple at Annavaram stands above the highway, on the way to Visakhapatnam, about 190 km away.

The town is on the main coastal road and rail line, so it is a common break on longer trips. Vijayawada is about 160 km to the west, and Hyderabad about 445 km. Rajahmundry Airport is at Madhurapudi, north-east of the town.

Car hire in Rajahmundry means the car and a driver together, not self-drive. Sneha Go Cabs is based in Hyderabad and serves Rajahmundry as part of its Andhra Pradesh and Telangana coverage. Send your pickup point, dates and plan on WhatsApp, and we will confirm the car and the fare before you travel. A 30% advance by Razorpay confirms the booking, and the balance is paid after the trip.

Local tip — Keep the river for the evening. The ghats are at their pleasantest towards sunset, and the arch bridge is worth seeing from the bank. Konaseema is a full day rather than a quick loop: the roads run along canals and through villages, and they are slower than the map suggests, so choose two or three stops instead of trying to see everything. Draksharama and Ryali fit together on one trip if you start early. If you want a Papikondalu boat trip, check that services are running and where they are starting from before you plan the day, since this depends on the river and the authorities. In monsoon, the Godavari rises quickly, and low-lying roads in the delta can be affected, so check before leaving. Maredumilli is a forest road, narrow in places, with limited mobile signal, so settle the plan before you set off and carry water and a snack. If you are breaking a Hyderabad to Vizag drive here, tell us at the start, so the overnight stop and the next day's leg are planned together. Atreyapuram, known for its pootharekulu sweets, is a pleasant stop in the delta.