What to Buy in Rajahmundry: A Sweet Lover's List

Rajahmundry sits right at the heart of the Godavari districts, and almost every visitor leaves with a box of sweets. If you are wondering what Rajahmundry is famous for and what is worth carrying home, this list is a good place to start.

The sweets the region is known for

Tapeswaram kaja: the layered, ghee-fried kaja from the village of Tapeswaram, close to Rajahmundry. Crisp outside, juicy inside, and the sweet most people come looking for.

Putharekulu: the famous paper sweet of Atreyapuram, also nearby. Rice-paper sheets wrapped around sugar or jaggery and ghee, sometimes with dry fruits.

Konaseema kova: a soft, grainy milk sweet from the Godavari delta.

Gottam kaja: the hollow, tube-shaped kaja many people call Kakinada kaja. Crunchier than Tapeswaram kaja and better for long journeys.

Mamidi tandra: sun-dried mango jelly built up in thin layers, a summer speciality of the region.

Snacks and pickles worth carrying

Andhra namkeen like janthikalu and chakodi, and the region's pickles and podis, are what many visitors buy for themselves. They keep for weeks and pack flat in a suitcase.

What travels best

For a long train journey or a flight, choose sweets that hold their texture: gottam kaja, putharekulu, bellam gavvalu and namkeen all travel well. Milk sweets like kova are best eaten within a few days, so buy those for people you will see soon.

What to buy for whom

For family elders: putharekulu and Tapeswaram kaja. For children: ice cream barfi and gavvalu. For colleagues: an assorted sweet box, so everyone finds something they like. For yourself: a jar of avakaya and a packet of karappodi.

Can't visit?

You don't need to be in Rajahmundry to get these. We make them fresh in our kitchen at Morampudi and deliver across India, so you can order the same box online wherever you are.