Mahindra Thar Rental
in Vijayawada 2026

Machilipatnam is Vijayawada's nearest coast and one of the most satisfying short road trips you can do in any car. In a Thar, it becomes legendary. The NH16 highway runs smooth and wide to the coast, and once you arrive, the Thar's 226mm ground clearance means you can actually drive along the beach edge — something no hatchback or sedan can do without getting stuck in the sand.

Roll down the hard-top's windows, engage 4H mode as you approach the beach, and feel the salt air as the Thar navigates the soft shore with absolute confidence. This is the moment most Thar renters describe as the best of their rental experience.

• Smooth NH 65 and NH 16 highway — perfect for opening up the Thar on a clear morning
• Machilipatnam beach — wide, windswept and far less crowded than tourist beaches further south
• Manginapudi Beach nearby — black soil beach, unique in India, superb for Thar photography
• Fresh seafood at local shacks — Bandaru Laddu and coastal Andhra cuisine en route
• Sunrise drive possible — start at 5 AM, reach beach by 6:30 AM, absolute magic

Just 25 km from Vijayawada, Kondapalli Fort sits atop a dramatic hill surrounded by dense teak forest. The 14th-century Bahmani fort is a genuine historical gem — but getting to the upper reaches of the approach track is where the Thar separates itself from every other rental car in the city.

The rocky, steep trail to the fort walls is exactly what the Thar's 4L low-range mode and 41.8° approach angle were engineered for. Flip the 4WD dial to 4L, and watch the Thar climb ground that would beach a Creta or scrape an i20. Cars that attempt this without 4×4 capability often park at the base and walk — in a Thar, you drive higher than anyone else.

• 14th-century Kondapalli Fort — dramatic history, panoramic Krishna River views from the top
• Dense teak forest approach — best in early morning when mist covers the hillside
• Rocky fort trail — perfect test for the Thar's 4L mode (you'll understand why you rented this car)
• Kondapalli toys village at the base — GI-tagged hand-crafted wooden toys, great souvenirs
• Easily combined with a Machilipatnam beach run for a full-day adventure loop

The Nagarjunasagar route from Vijayawada takes you through the fringes of the Nallamala forest and along the Krishna River gorge — one of the most dramatic drives in Andhra Pradesh. The highway is good, but the approach roads near the dam and inside the forest fringes are exactly the kind of mixed terrain where the Thar's elevated ride and 4×4 capability make every kilometre more confident and comfortable.

At Nagarjunasagar, the dam is one of India's largest masonry structures and the reservoir it created submerged an entire ancient Buddhist city. The relics were relocated to Nagarjunakonda Island — accessible by boat — creating one of the most unique museum experiences in South India.

• Nagarjunasagar Dam — massive reservoir views; boat rides to the Nagarjunakonda Island Museum
• Ethipothala Falls — stunning triple-stream waterfall, perfect midway stop and photo opportunity
• Forest fringe roads — earthy, winding, atmospheric — what the Thar was made for
• Nagarjunakonda Buddhist ruins — 3rd century BC history, accessible only by boat from the dam
• Haritha Resort at the reservoir edge — overnight stay option with sunrise views over the dam

Amaravathi is one of the most underrated road trips from Vijayawada — and just 45 km away. Once the capital of the Satavahana dynasty and a major centre of Buddhist learning, the town is home to the Dhyana Buddha Statue (one of the tallest in Andhra Pradesh), the ancient Amaravati Mahachaitya (a ruined Buddhist stupa from the 3rd century BC), and the stunning Amaravati Heritage Centre and Museum.

The drive along the Krishna River banks to Amaravathi in a black Thar is genuinely cinematic — flat agricultural landscapes, ancient temples dotting the riverside, and the wide river reflecting the morning sky. A short, perfect half-day adventure.

• Dhyana Buddha Statue — 125-foot tall statue, visible from kilometres away, spectacular at dawn
• Amaravati Mahachaitya — 3rd century BC Buddhist stupa, one of India's oldest
• Amaravati Heritage Museum — finest collection of Satavahana and Buddhist sculptures
• Krishna River banks at Amaravathi — peaceful, photogenic, and rarely crowded
• 45 km flat road — easy driving, great for getting comfortable with the Thar before attempting rougher terrain

For those who want the definitive Thar experience in Andhra Pradesh, the Vijayawada to Vizag highway run on NH16 is in a league of its own. Six hours of excellent highway with the Eastern Ghats flanking one side and glimpses of the Bay of Bengal on the other. Towns like Eluru, Rajamahendravaram, and Kakinada make excellent pit stops, and the Godavari River bridge crossing is one of the most spectacular road moments in South India.

At Vizag, the Thar's road presence on Ramakrishna Beach, Rushikonda, and Kailasagiri makes it the most photographed vehicle of your trip. And with Aman's Vizag branch available, you can drop the car there without driving back — making this a one-way road trip in India's most iconic 4×4.

• NH16 — one of the finest 4-lane national highways in South India, smooth and fast
• Godavari River bridge at Rajamahendravaram — spectacular crossing, stop for photos
• Vizag's Ramakrishna Beach and Rushikonda — the Thar on the coast is an Instagram moment
• Araku Valley possible extension — Vizag to Araku and back is superb Thar territory
• Aman Self Drive Vizag branch — one-way drop available, no need to drive back