Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam form the most travelled bus triangle in the Telugu states. People go back and forth for work, family functions, exams and festivals, and buses run through the day and the night. The routes are long enough that the choice of bus matters, and busy enough that seats can run out around holidays. This guide gives practical tips for both routes: the difference between a day and a night journey, how to choose a seat, how to read the boarding and dropping points and how to avoid the usual problems.
Two routes, two kinds of trip
The route to Vijayawada is shorter, and many people treat it as a day trip or a morning-to-evening journey. The route to Visakhapatnam is much longer and is usually done overnight. Because of the difference, plan the two trips differently: a Vijayawada trip can be done by a seater with a morning start, while a Visakhapatnam trip is easier in a sleeper.
Some travellers go to Vijayawada first and continue to Visakhapatnam on another bus. Check whether that suits your plan or whether a direct bus is simpler.
Think about what you want to do on the other side. If you have a day of work in Vijayawada, a night bus that arrives early is best. If you travel for a family function, a day bus that arrives before the evening is more relaxed.
Day or night
A day bus lets you see the countryside and arrive when the city is awake. A night bus saves a day of travel but you will arrive tired if you do not sleep well. If you have a meeting in the morning, choose a bus that arrives the evening before.
Highway traffic near the cities slows the first and last hours, so leave a margin.
Choose a seat that suits the journey
For long night journeys, choose a lower berth in the middle of the bus. For a day journey, a window seat in the front half is good for views and less movement. If you are travelling with children, check the seat map and choose seats that are together.
Check whether the bus has charging points and whether the air conditioning is working before you travel.
On the long Visakhapatnam journey, sleeper buses are the most comfortable choice. Look for a lower berth in the middle section, and think about the air conditioning and the blanket if the bus provides one.
Boarding and dropping points
Hyderabad is a big city and buses often pick up from several points along the main roads. Choose the one that is easy to reach and check the time shown for that point. In Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, look at where the bus drops, because some drop points are away from the centre.
Reach the boarding point early and keep the operator's number with you.
- Check the time at your boarding point, not only at the first stop
- Read the dropping point address
- Keep the ticket and the operator's number on your phone
- Reach the point at least fifteen minutes early
Festivals and busy days
Sankranti and other festival weeks are very busy on these routes. Seats fill up quickly and prices change with demand. Book as early as your dates are known, and have a backup plan for the return.
Exam seasons and long weekends are also busy.
At the festival time, buses leave the cities in a rush on the same day. If your plan is flexible, leaving a day earlier or later can give you more choice and a more comfortable ride.
Luggage, safety and cancellation
Carry valuables with you and label your bags. Check the luggage rules and the cancellation terms before you pay, because the refund depends on when you cancel. Keep a screenshot of the ticket.
Share the bus and ticket details with a family member.
When you cancel a ticket, the refund depends on the terms of the operator. Read them before you pay and cancel as early as you can if your plan changes.
Booking
On Oray you can compare buses, view the seat map and read the boarding and dropping points before booking. If you are planning a group trip on a full bus between these cities, you can ask for a price and the team replies with the details.
Questions
Which is longer, Hyderabad to Vijayawada or to Visakhapatnam?
Visakhapatnam is much farther, so it is usually done as an overnight journey.
Is it easy to get a seat at Sankranti?
Seats fill early in festival weeks, so book as soon as your dates are known.
What should I check on the ticket?
The seat number, the boarding point and time, the dropping point and the operator's number.