route 81 traffic Sankranti (Jan, statewide) This important Telugu festival marks the end of harvest season. Kite-flyi

The Hill of Nagarjuna, 150km southeast of Hyderabad, is a peaceful island route 81 traffic in the middle of the Nagarjuna dam peppered with ancient Buddhist structures. From the 3rd century BC until the 4th century AD, the Krishna River valley was home to powerful empires that supported the sangha (Buddhist community of monks and nuns), including the Ikshvakus, whose capital was Nagarjunakonda. It s estimated that this area alone had 30 monasteries. route 81 traffic

Sankranti (Jan, statewide) This important Telugu route 81 traffic festival marks the end of harvest season. Kite-flying abounds, women decorate their doorsteps with colourful kolams (or rangolis rice-flour designs), and men decorate cattle with bells and fresh horn paint.

Vijaya Lodge HOTEL $ (%2501222; fax 2446864; Station Rd; s/d from 150/240) About 100m from the train station, the Vijaya is well organised with helpful staff, but the rooms are becoming a little dreary.