Basara Tourist Attractions

Basara, also spelt Basar, is a small temple town in Nirmal district in the far north of Telangana. It stands on the banks of the Godavari river, about 35 km from Nizamabad and around 210 km from Hyderabad. The town is home to the Sri Gnana Saraswathi temple. It is one of the very few major temples in South India for Saraswathi, the goddess of learning.

Top places to visit in Basara

Basara is a short visit. Most families finish darshan and rituals in half a day.

• Sri Gnana Saraswathi Temple - the main temple. Parents bring young children here for Aksharabhyasam, the ceremony where a child writes the first letters.
• Godavari bathing ghats - pilgrims take a holy dip in the river before going to the temple.
• Vedavyasa cave - a small cave near the temple linked to the sage Vyasa, who is said to have meditated here.

Best time to visit Basara

October to March has the most comfortable weather. Vasantha Panchami and the Navaratri days before Dasara are the most auspicious times for Aksharabhyasam, and the town is very crowded then. Summer is very hot, so go early in the morning if you visit in April or May.

How to reach Basara

Basar railway station is only about 2 km from the temple and lies on the Secunderabad-Nanded line. Trains run from Hyderabad, Secunderabad and Nizamabad. The nearest airport is in Hyderabad. TGSRTC buses run from Hyderabad and Nizamabad, and the road trip from Hyderabad takes about 4 to 5 hours.

Plan your trip

Start with the Basara temple guide for darshan details. Pilgrims touring north Telangana often add Vemulawada and Dharmapuri to the same trip.