VANAMCOVE 
Somasila
Dam reservoir with boating
Why this weekend?
The day-by-day plan
- 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/nightMid-range
₹2,500–5,000/nightComfort
₹5,000+/nightThings 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
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
For a quiet reservoir lake with hill framing, easy from Nellore, and strong winter birding.
Local boats run for fishing and short rides — negotiate at the shore; no organised tourism fleet.
October–February keeps the lake full and the birdlife highest; summer shrinks the water.
Dam reservoir with boating
Take the break. We'll take the planning.
Tell us your dates, budget and travel style — we'll build your Somasila plan with day-by-day routing, stays, food and bookings.