Gandikota Grand Canyon, Gandikota, Andhra Pradesh.

The visit to this Gandikota Grand Canyon of Gandilkota, Andhra Pradesh, was a part of “Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka Heritage walk”, from 25^th to 28^th December 2025, organized by “எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு”.  

 

This Gandikota Fort, on the banks of  Penna River, is enclosed with ancient buildings, stone structures, Hindu Temples, Masjid, Islamic structures, etc., in YSR District (Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy and formerly known as Kadapa District), of Andhra Pradesh.

GRAND CANYON OF INDIA, GANDIKOTA

Gandikota, a small, quaint village on the right bank of the Pennar River in YSR district, Andhra Pradesh, is known as the "Grand Canyon of India". This stunning gorge is formed by the Pennar River cutting through Erramala Hills (western part of Cuddapah (Kadapa) Basin) for a stretch of six kilometres. The litho-units consist of quartzites and slates of the Cambrian Period (541 - 485 million years) interbedded with lavas of a younger age. The landscape features deep valleys, massive boulders and the ~300 feet wide Pennar River flowing over the base of the Peninsular Gneiss. The Gandikota Fort on the right bank of Pennar, an impregnable stronghold of the medieval period, is now represented by its remnants with a temple and a mosque. The name Gandikota is derived from "Gandi" (gorge) and "Kota" (fort) in Telugu. This Geoheritage site offers an unforgettable experience for geo-tourist enthusiasts and other visitors.

GEOLOGICAL SET UP OF THE FAMOUS GANDIKOTA HILL GORGE

The spectacular, scenic Gandikota Gorge is a unique blend of geological, ecological, and cultural significance, attracting tourists, Geologists, and Entusiasts.

Geomorphology:

Location: 14° 47′ 0″ n, 78° 17' 0" e

Altitude: max. 450m at the plateau top, min.150m at the river level above mean sea level (MSL).

Land form: Gandi Kota gorge is a steep and narrow gorge with a 300 m, 100-500 m width and 2-3 km long with vertical to sub-vertical cliffs. It is also called the "Grand Canyon of India" due to its similarities with the Grand Canyon of Arizona, USA.

Role of the River Penna: River Penna began flowing 20 million years which gradually cut in to the quartzite rocks, continuing the erosion even till today, carving the famous Gandikota Gorge.

Significance: River Penna flows through the gorge, creating a V-shaped valley with seasonal waterfalls, rapids and natural springs emerging from quartzite fractures.

Geology: The Gandikota Gorge, located in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh, India, is a spectacular geological formation carved by the river Penna through the Gandikota quartzite formation.

Geological era: Paleo Proterozoic to Neo Proterozoic

Group: Kadapa super group

Sub Group: Chitravathi

Formation: Gandikota Quarzite

Age: About 1200-1000 million years as per radioactive dating

Lithology: quartzite with intercolations of shale

Thickness: 300m

Structure: Foulded and Faulted

Origin/depositional conditions: Gandikota Quarzites are formed in shallow marine, slow deposition, sedimentary with tidal flat depositional environment conditions. A gorge is formed due to structural upliftment followed by tectonic activity, weathering and erosion, which started a million years ago and continues even till today by the river Penna.

Other information: the Gandikota Quartzite formation was mapped by various Geologists which are Robert Bruce Foote (1860 CE), H.B. Middle Cott (1870 CE), William King (1880 CE) and M.S.Krishnan (1970-80), etc.

HOW TO REACH

Gandikota in YSR District in Andhra Pradesh is 15 km from Jammalamadugu, 62 km from Belum Caves, 88 km from Tadipatri, and 92 km from Kadapa, the capital City of YSR District.

The nearest Railway Station is Jammalamadugu.

LOCATION OF THIS GRAND CANYON OF INDIA: CLICK HERE

A Sunset view from the temple 

A Sunset view from the temple 

--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---