NH 71
Madanapalle–Naidupeta Highway
176 km
Open
Andhra Pradesh
National Highway
Route
NH 71 runs 176 km from Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh to Nayudupeta, Andhra Pradesh.
Crosses Andhra Pradesh.
Through Madanapalle, Kalikiri, Pileru, Chandragiri, Tirupati, Srikalahasti and Nayudupeta.
Why it matters
Tirumala draws pilgrims in numbers few places on earth match, and this highway is one of the main roads carrying them. Outside the pilgrimage traffic it is the link between the dry Rayalaseema districts and the coast.
History
National Highway 71 runs east from Madanapalle through Pileru and down the ghats to Tirupati, then on past Srikalahasti to Naidupeta on the coastal highway. Its middle section is one of the busiest pilgrimage roads in India: Tirumala, above Tirupati, receives tens of thousands of visitors every day, and a large share of them arrive by road on this highway.
Good to know
- Serves Tirupati, the town below Tirumala — among the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world.
- Also passes Srikalahasti, one of the five great Shiva temples of the elements.
- It connects the Rayalaseema interior to the coastal highway at Naidupeta.
- Traffic multiplies during Brahmotsavam and other Tirumala festival periods.
On the road
Expect very heavy traffic around Tirupati, especially at weekends and during festivals. Book Tirumala darshan slots ahead — the ghat road up the hill is separate and controlled.
More details
- Lanes
- 2–4 lanes