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Nagarjuna Sagar Tour Packages from GoldBox Holidays take you to one of the great dams of India, built across the Krishna river on the border of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Work began in December 1955 and the dam was finished in 1967. It is often described as the largest masonry dam in the world. The valley also has a long Buddhist past. Around the 3rd century AD, Nagarjunakonda was an important Buddhist centre, and its remains were moved to higher ground before the reservoir filled. Visitors come for the dam, the island museum, the Buddhavanam heritage park and Ethipothala Falls. All three trips in this category start in Hyderabad and last 1 or 2 days.
Popular Nagarjuna Sagar Tour Packages
Choose by the time you have and the way you like to travel.
- 1 Day Nagarjuna Sagar Tour Package from Hyderabad - a shared bus day trip, good value for students, friends and budget travellers.
- 1 Night-2 Days Hyderabad to Nagarjuna Sagar with Buddhavanam Tour Package - two days with a night's stay, so Buddhavanam and the museum are not rushed. Good for families.
- 1 Day Nagarjuna Sagar Tour Package from Hyderabad by Car - a private day out for couples, small families and elders who like to stop when they wish.
Places you will visit
The Nagarjuna Sagar dam is the first stop. In a good rain year, the crest gates are lifted and white water rushes down the spillway. From the launch station, boats cross the lake to Nagarjunakonda island. There, the Nagarjunakonda Museum displays Buddhist sculptures, carved panels and stupa remains found in the old valley. Boats run only when the water level is safe. Buddhavanam, on the Telangana side, is a large park built on Buddhist themes, with a big stupa, gardens and panels on the life of the Buddha. Ethipothala Falls, on the Andhra side about 11 km from the dam, is where streams drop over a rock face into a deep pool. Our Nagarjunasagar travel guide has more on the area.
Best time to go
August to February works best. After a strong monsoon upstream, the reservoir fills and the gates may open in August or September. Those weeks draw big weekend crowds. November to February is cool and dry, which makes the long walks in Buddhavanam pleasant. From March to June the heat is strong, and a low reservoir can stop the island boat.
How to choose the right package
The dam is roughly 150 to 165 km from Hyderabad, about 3 to 4 hours each way by road. The bus day trip is the cheapest way to see the dam and the main sights, but much of the day goes on the road. The 2-day tour breaks the journey with a night's rest and suits families with children or elders. The car trip costs more per person, but it gives privacy and flexible stops. Pilgrims who want another Krishna river trip can look at our Srisailam Mallikarjuna Tour Packages.
Frequently asked questions
Will the dam gates be open on my trip?
The gates open only when the reservoir is full, and that depends on rain in the upper Krishna basin. There is no fixed date, so follow local news in the week before you travel.
Is the boat to Nagarjunakonda island included?
Please see the inclusions and fare listed on each package page. The boat also depends on the water level and the weather on the day.
How much time does Buddhavanam need?
Plan at least one to two hours to walk around the stupa, the gardens and the carved panels. The 2-day package gives the most time here.