Evidence of marine influences within the Permian Barakar Formation of the Pranhita–Godavari (P–G) Basin and its age equivalent, the Kommugudem Formation of the Krishna–Godavari (K–G) Basin, are previously investigated from the outcrop studies. The present work carefully documents the signatures of tidal and wave influences from the Early Permian rocks, solely based on excellently preserved subsurface drill core samples from both the basins. Tidalites, represented by laterally accreted tidal bundles, tidal rhythmites, tidal beddings, oppositely directed strata bundles, and double mud drapes, are preserved within the sandstone–mudstone heterolithic rocks, signifying deposition predominantly in an upper subtidal–intertidal setting. Association of wave-generated structures with the tidalites are indicative of open marine waves, interacting with the tides in the upper subtidal to intertidal region. Records of such tidal and wave processes unambiguously point to the significant marine influence within the continental setup during the Lower Gondwana sedimentation in both the P–G and the K–G basins during the Early Permian time, which indicates a regional encroachment of the sea onto the land.

$\bf{Highlights}$

$\bullet$ A unique approach to study the tidal and wave signatures within the Early Permian sediments from the Pranhita–Godavari Basin and the Krishna–Godavari Basin using subsurface drill core samples.

$\bullet$ The presence of tidal features such as tidal bundles, tidal rhythmites, tidal beddings, with occurrence of the spring–neap tidal cyclicity within the thinly bedded sandstone–mudstone heterolithic rocks signify sedimentation in upper subtidal-intertidal settings.

$\bullet$ The intercalation of tidal deposits with combined flow and wave-generated structures indicates an open tidal flat setting.

$\bullet$Such features unambiguously point to the presence of marine influence within the continental riftogenic basins during the Early Permian time.