Slate town
Markapur has long been known for its slate, quarried nearby and cut into school slates, roofing and flooring. Its old town, around the bazaars and the Chennakesava temple, has narrow lanes where a truck can't stop for long. Colonies along the Ongole, Cumbum and Podili roads are more open, with independent houses.
When you ask for a quote, give the exact address, the floor and whether a truck can stand outside.
Chennakesava temple
The Chennakesava Swamy temple, with its tall gopuram, is the heart of the town, and its festivals draw crowds to the surrounding lanes. Plan your move around festival days if you live nearby.
Nallamala and Srisailam
West of Markapur, the Nallamala hills and the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam tiger reserve stretch towards Srisailam, one of the twelve jyotirlingas. Roads through the reserve have restrictions on heavy vehicles at night, and Mahashivratri brings huge crowds of pilgrims through Markapur. Plan around both.
Weather
From about March to June, Markapur is very hot; load at dawn and keep candles, medicines and electronics in your car. Rain is uneven, with the heaviest falls between July and November. Winters are pleasant.
November to February is usually the most comfortable window.
Farming families
The surrounding country grows tobacco, chillies, cotton and pulses, with the Cumbum tank watering fields to the south. Many families farm. Keep farm tools and produce off the household list.
Transfers and employer moves
Officers, forest staff, teachers and bank employees move in and out of Markapur on transfer. Government quarters need a vacating notice and an inspection. If an employer is paying, ask what documents they need; every mover we work with provides a GST invoice.
Festivals
Mahashivratri pilgrim traffic, Sankranti, Ugadi, Dasara, Deepavali and the wedding season keep crews busy. Book early if your date falls near one.
Local moves
Many local moves go from the old town to a colony on the main roads, or between Markapur and Cumbum, Giddalur, Yerragondapalem, Podili or Tarlupadu. Share both exact addresses.
Common moves out of Markapur
Common moves from Markapur go east to Ongole and north-east to Guntur. Our route guides cover both.
First weeks in a Markapur home
Ask how the water supply works and whether the house has a sump and borewell, check the power backup, and book internet as soon as you have the address. Our guide to address changes after moving lists the official records to update.
Students and colleges
Students from Markapur often move to Ongole, Guntur or Vijayawada for higher studies. A student's room usually goes as a few-items move; check the hostel's dates first.
Packing slate and stone
If you're moving slate or stone pieces, ask for them to be packed flat with padding between layers and loaded at the bottom of the truck. Slate edges chip easily.
Cumbum and Giddalur
Cumbum, with its old irrigation tank, and Giddalur, a railway town near the Nallamala, are the area's other main towns, and moves between them and Markapur are common. Give both exact addresses.
Old houses and heavy furniture
Older Markapur homes near the temple often have thick walls, slate floors and heavy wooden furniture. Measure doorways and stairs, and ask for large pieces to be dismantled.
Packing for heat and dust
Ask for carton seams taped against dust, wooden furniture covered in blankets rather than tight plastic, and electronics sealed in their own boxes.
Srisailam pilgrims
Pilgrims heading for Srisailam pass through Markapur, especially around Mahashivratri, when the roads west fill with buses and walkers. Avoid moving in that week.
Railway station
Markapur Road station is on the line between Guntur and Guntakal, and some families travel by train to Vijayawada or Hyderabad. If someone commutes, check the new home's distance from the station first.
Ongole for the district offices
Many government offices for Markapur are in Ongole, the district headquarters, a couple of hours east, and staff move between the two regularly. A move between them takes most of a day, as the road passes through dry farmland and small towns.
Hyderabad through the forest
The shortest road from Markapur to Hyderabad runs through Dornala and Srisailam, crossing the Nallamala forest and its tiger reserves, where heavy traffic is stopped at night. A truck on this route must plan to cross the forest in daylight, or wait at the check post until morning. Ask the mover which route they will take.
Nandyal and Kurnool to the west
Nandyal and Kurnool, to the west, are reached over the Nallamala hills by a ghat road. Families move between them and Markapur for jobs and family. The ghat is slow for a loaded truck, so plan a daylight drive.
Vinukonda and Guntur to the east
Vinukonda and Guntur, to the east, are where many Markapur families go for hospitals, colleges and the cotton and chilli trade. A household move to Guntur takes most of a day.
Tripurantakam's temple
Tripurantakam, north-west of Markapur, has an old Shiva temple by a lake that draws pilgrims at Shivaratri. Roads around it are packed then, so a move in that direction should avoid the festival days.
Yerragondapalem and the forest edge
Yerragondapalem, to the north-west on the edge of the Nallamala, is a forest-fringe town where forest staff and teachers are posted. Roads from there pass through forest, so a move is best driven in daylight, and the last stretch to some villages may need a smaller vehicle.
Checking the water
Groundwater in parts of the Markapur region has long had high fluoride levels. Before you move in, ask whether the home gets treated piped water or has a purifier, and plan to fit one if not, especially if you have small children.
Bengaluru for jobs
Many young people from Markapur move to Bengaluru for work. The route runs west through Kurnool and on NH 44, and the trip takes a long day; Bengaluru's daytime truck limits can mean unloading the next morning.
Podili and Darsi
Podili and Darsi, east of Markapur on the way towards Ongole, are farm and market towns where many families move for work and family. Village roads around them are narrow, and the last stretch may need a smaller vehicle.
Kanigiri and Pamur
Kanigiri and Pamur, to the south, are dry upland towns with independent houses and wide yards. Government staff and teachers are posted between them and Markapur often. Roads are good but long, so a move between them takes most of a day.
Bhairavakona in the monsoon
Bhairavakona, in the Nallamala hills south of Markapur, has cave temples and a waterfall that draw visitors in the monsoon. The forest road to it is narrow and slippery when wet. Families moving to villages along that side of the hills should plan a daylight drive and expect slow going between July and October.
Brahmotsavam at the Chennakesava temple
During the Chennakesava temple's annual Brahmotsavam, the streets around it fill with processions and visitors, and parking is hard to find for days.