On the invitation of Novotel Vijayawada Varun Hotel, I recently visited Viayawada, Andhra Pradesh. My itinerary included a visit to the Chilli Market, and I’m glad I did.
Despite the 38-kilometer distance between Viaywada and Guntur, it didn’t take us long to get there. The Guntur Chilli Market appears to be a long row of tin sheds full of gunny bags at first glance! I must have skipped the morning rush, where the majority of the business is conducted. In the afternoon, the market was relatively quiet.
Chilli’s pungent, spicy aroma lingered in the air. In my photos, I was searching for a lot of colour. More gunny bags and trucks were found in our first round of market research. Teja is the most well-known brand on the market, I discovered.
Then we discovered a small patch of red chilies on the grass. I stepped out of the hotel car to take a few photos. But it was the odour that got to me! I coughed and sneezed for a moment, but I kept taking photos.
I took a few steps around the area only to discover more gunny bags! I returned to the car, and we began driving until we arrived at my magical place!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m fascinated by how the women sort chilies with such grace, but the greedy photographer in me craved those images. The ladies did inquire as to whether I spoke Telugu, which I do not.
With Google Maps, getting to the market was a breeze. They let our car through the doors. Without a doubt, we were the only tourists in the entire market! I adore visiting off-the-beaten-path locations, and the Guntur Chilli Market is no exception!
