Nellore sits on the southern bank of the Pennar River, about 170 km north of Chennai along the coast of Andhra Pradesh. It's a workaday market city — cotton, oilseed, and the busy Krishnapatnam port drive the local economy — but the surrounding district rewards those willing to venture out. Long stretches of undeveloped coastline, a flamingo sanctuary, ancient temples on the riverbanks, and the ruined hilltop fort at Udayagiri all lie within easy reach.
The city itself is relaxed and unpretentious. Telugu spoken here has a distinctive accent that locals are quietly proud of. There's not much in the way of fancy restaurants or nightlife, but the fish curry is genuinely excellent and the people are famously hospitable. Most visitors use Nellore as a base for day trips rather than a destination in itself, and that's a fair way to approach it.