Somasila

Half dayBest: Oct–MarLakes#dam#boating#picnic

Dam reservoir with boating

Why this weekend?

Somasila damMypadu driveReservoir rides

Some links below are affiliate links — booking through them may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The day-by-day plan

Half day · The reservoir hour
- Drive from Nellore
- Dam walk
- Viewpoint
- Boat or bird stop
- Return by dusk

Geography & terrain

Somasila sits on the Penna river about 35 km west of Nellore — a broad reservoir lake held by the Somasila project's dam, ringed by bare eastern-Ghats hills and farmland, its long blue water running miles into the river's gorge country.

History & culture

The Somasila project (1980s–90s) harnessed the Penna for the district's irrigation, flooding the river's fertile reach into the present lake; the old villages and temple edges that submerged now surface in low-water years, and the project town itself grew into the region's picnic and fishing lake.

Where to stay

Budget

₹1,000–2,500/night

Mid-range

₹2,500–5,000/night

Comfort

₹5,000+/night

Things to do

Reservoir lake
Dam crest
Bird banks
Gorge narrows
Hill-frame sunsets

Eat & drink

Hyderabadi biryani
Gongura pachadi
Pesarattu with upma
Rayalaseema chicken curry
Pootharekulu sweets

Getting there

Fly: Visakhapatnam (VTZ) / Vijayawada (VGA)
Train: Vijayawada & Visakhapatnam junctions
Road from Hyderabad: varies by region — 250–600 km
Getting around: Auto-rickshaws, city buses, app taxis in cities

Budget snapshot

Total: ₹5,000–11,000 (2 days)
Per day · Stay: ₹1,000–5,000/night
Per day · Food: ₹600–1,000
Per day · Transport: ₹600–1,000
Per day · Activities: ₹700–1,100

Month by month

Jan · Best: 20–31°C · None rain
Feb · Best: 21–33°C · None rain
Mar · Hot: 23–35°C · None rain
Apr · Hot: 25–36°C · Moderate rain
May · Pre-monsoon: 26–35°C · Moderate rain
Jun · Monsoon: 24–32°C · Heavy rain
Jul · Monsoon: 23–31°C · Heavy rain
Aug · Monsoon: 23–31°C · Heavy rain
Sep · Monsoon tail: 24–32°C · Heavy rain
Oct · Good: 24–33°C · Moderate rain
Nov · Best: 22–32°C · Light rain
Dec · Best: 20–31°C · None rain

Practical info

Language: Telugu (English understood in tourist spots)
Best window: Oct–Mar
Connectivity: good 4G in towns
UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops

Practical tips

Sunsets over the water are the slot — time the visit late
Boating is informal; fix terms with the local boatmen first
Low-water years expose drowned temple corners — ask at the town for the guide

Frequently asked questions

Why visit Somasila?

For a quiet reservoir lake with hill framing, easy from Nellore, and strong winter birding.

Is there boating?

Local boats run for fishing and short rides — negotiate at the shore; no organised tourism fleet.

What season is best?

October–February keeps the lake full and the birdlife highest; summer shrinks the water.