The Anantapur district is larger than it looks on a map, and the most significant sights require travel by road. The standout excursion is Lepakshi (120km, about 2.5 hours), with its extraordinary Vijayanagara-era Veerabhadra Temple — one of the finest in South India. The Gooty Fort (52km) is easier to reach and makes a good half-day trip. Puttaparthi (70km) is the pilgrimage town of Sathya Sai Baba, with its large ashram campus and, for devotees, considerable spiritual significance.
For a longer outing, the Belum Caves — the largest natural cave system in South India, stretching over 3.5km — are about 200km northeast in Kurnool district and can be combined with a visit to the Yaganti temple complex. This is a full day by road.
