Top Pilgrimage Places in Andhra

At a distance of 84 km from Rajahmundry, 123 km from Vizag, 234 km from Vijayawada and 483 km from Hyderabad, Annavaram is a village situated on the banks of river Pampa in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. Annavaram is famous for Sri Satyanarayana Swamy temple and is one of the famous Places to visit in Andhra Pradesh. It is believed that all the wishes of devotees will be fulfilled when Satyanarayana Vratam is performed here.

It is believed that the presiding deity of the place blesses the devotees with anina varam (pronounced or wanted boon), the place is called Annavaram. According to history, Sri Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagar used the secret underground passages in the hills to attack the enemy from both sides during his invasion of Kalinga. The Andhra revolutionary late Alluri Seetharama Raju used the secret quarters in these hill ranges, when he rebelled against the British Rule.

The shrine of Lord Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy is situated on Ratnagiri hill top. The name of the Goddess is Ananta Lakshmi Satyavathi Devi. Meruvu the Lord of the hills and his consort Menaka did great penance and got two sons by the grace of Lord Vishnu. One was Bhadra and the other Ratnakara. Bhadra pleased Lord Vishnu with his devotion and penance, became Bhadrachalam on which Lord Sri Rama had permanently settled. Ratnakara ...

Distance from Vizag: 123 Kms

At a distance of 12 kms from Kakinada, 40 kms from Annavaram, 52 km from Rajahmundry,199 km from Vijayawada, 172 km from Visakhapatnam & 447 km from Hyderabad, Samalkota is very famous for Pancharama Sri Kumararama Bheemeshwara Swamy temple. Situated just beside the Railway Station, this temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

This place was known as Purva Chalukya Bhimavaram as the Eastern Chalukyans ruled this place. The temple was built by Chalukya Kumara Rama during the end of 9th century as a celebration of his victories in more than 300 wars. A mantapam supported with one hundred pillars is built here along with Eka Shila Nandi (Single Stone Bull) at the temple entrance opposite to Shiva Lingam. Goddess Shri Bala Thripura Sundari is also worshipped in this temple. Pushkarni Lake is situated to the east of temple. The main entrance to the temple is called Surya Dwaram.

Kalyana Mahotsam & Mahashivratri are most celebrated festivals here.

Timings: 6 AM to 12 PM & 4 PM to 8 PM

Distance from Vizag: 150 Kms

At a distance of 17 km from Kakinada, 42 km from Rajahmundry, 65 Kms from Annavaram, 197 km from Vijayawada, 198 km from Vizag & 466 Kms from Hyderabad, Draksharamam is famous for one of the pancharama temples called Draksharama Bheemeshwara Swamy temple. This temple is situated in a green belt of river Godavari. Draksharamam is among prime place to visit on a Vizag tour.

This temple was constructed by the East Chalukyan king during 9th century. The temple also consists one of the Shakti Peethas called Sri Manikyamba. The speciality of this Shiva Lingam in this temple is that, the early morning tender Sun light falls on the Linga. There are nearly 800 ancient scripts on the walls of the temple. The celebrations in this temple were started during 14th century in the period of Reddy Kings. Shiva Lingam is nearly 9 ft height and the top part is seen at the first floor.

There are other small temples inside the main temple premises. Once upon a time Draksharama was considered as a Buddhist complex.

It is easily accessible by Bus from Kakinada & Rajahmundry (40 Kms).

Timings: 6 AM to 12 PM & 3 to 8 PM

Distance from Vizag: 184 Kms

At a distance of 2.5 km from Pithapuram Railway Station, 12 km from Samarlakota, 16 km from Kakinada, 61 km from Rajahmundry, 31 km from Annavaram, 208 km from Vijayawada and 152 km from Vizag, Sri Kukkuteswara Swamy temple is an ancient Siva temple in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. Pithapuram which was earlier known as Pithikapuram is one of the Ashta Dasha (Eighteen) Shakthi Peethas.

Kukkuteswara Swamy temple is the most famous temple of Lord Shiva at Pithapuram. The presiding Deity is Lord Shiva, who reveals himself in the form of a Spatika Linga. This is a Swayambhu Linga of white marble and is about two feet in height. The Linga resembles that of a cock; hence Lord Shiva is called Sri Kukkuteswara Swamy. There is a huge beautiful idol of Nandi (bull) made from a single stone in front of the temple. The shrine of Sri Rajarajeswari, consort of Sri Kukkuteswara Swamy, is present beside the Shiva temple.

There is the temple of Puruhutika Devi inside the campus of Sri Kukkuteswara Swamy Temple. It is one of the Asta Dasha Shakti Peethas. After Daksha Yagna, Goddess Sati Devi's body part (back part) has fell down in this area, because of this place earlier people has called as Puruhoothika puram later it has changed as Peetika Puram. Finally it has changed Pithapuram. This temple is considered as the 10th Sakthi Peetham of the 18 Shakti Peethas.

This place ...

Distance from Vizag: 137 Kms

At a distance of 1.7 km from Palakollu Railway Station, 85 km from Eluru, 67 km from Rajahmundry, 138 km from Vijayawada, 97 km from Kakinada, 22 km from Bhimavaram and 258 km from Visakhapatnam, Sri Ksheera Rama Temple is one of the Pancharama temples, situated in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. The other four are Amararama Temple in Amaravathi, Draksharama Temple in Draksharamam, Kumararama Temple in Samalkoti and Somarama Temple in Bhimavaram.

Lord Shiva is worshipped as Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy at this temple. The temple tower is one of the tallest among the temple towers in Andhra Pradesh. The height of the temple is 120 ft with 9 floors constructed during the reign of Chalukya Bheema in 9th century. The Prakara was designed by Sri Velupathi during 10th century. Gopuram was constructed by Sri Alladu Reddy during 14th Century. This ancient temple has been listed as a protected monument by the Archaeological Department.

The Shivlinga is a unique milky white in color and the tallest. According to legend, Upamanyu the son of sage Kaushik, requested Lord Shiva to grant him enough milk so that he can carry on the rituals in the temple. Lord Shiva filled the Ksheera Pushkarni Tank with the mythical milky ocean (Ksheera Sagaram). Hence this place is known with different names, Ksheerarama, Palakollu and Dugdhapovanam.

The Shiva Lingam inside the garabha griha can be seen from all the four sides through ...

Distance from Vizag: 257 Kms

At a distance of 18 km from Vizag Railway Station & 128 km from Annavaram, 208 km from Rajahmundry, 359 from Vijayawada, 607 km from Hyderabad, Simhadri or Simhachalam is a Hindu temple located in the Visakhapatnam City suburb of Simhachalam in Andhra Pradesh. This 11th century temple is dedicated to Sri Varaha Narasimha Swamy, an incarnation of Vishnu and situated on top of the Simhachalam Hills.

The temple is believed to have been constructed in 1098 by the famous Chola king, Kulothunga Chola. The queen of Kalinga gifted golden armor to the statue. The Eastern Ganga King Narasimha Deva has constructed the central shrine in 1267. Krishna Deva Raya, the Vijayanagara Emperor visited this temple in the year 1516, as seen from inscriptions here. The temple activities are managed by the Pusapati Gajapatis, for last three centuries.

The architectural of the central shrine follows Kalinga style. Facing towards west, it is a square shrine surmounted by a high tower, a portico in front with a small tower, a carved 16 pillared Natya mantapa. The shrine has inscriptions dating back to 1098 AD on its walls. The deity is always kept covered with sandal paste. The actual form of the deity is in the tribhanga posture with two hands & head of a lion, which can be viewed only during the 'Chandanotsavam' in April/May. Legend has it that the Ugra form of ...

Distance from Vizag: 18 Kms

At a distance of 1 km from Dwaraka Tirumala Bus Stand, 45.5 km from Eluru, 73 km from Rajahmundry, 101 km from Vijayawada, 135 km from Kakinada and 278 km from Visakhapatnam, Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple is located on the top of the Seshachala Hill at Dwaraka Tirumala in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. This temple is considered as sacred as the famous Sri Venakteswara Temple of Tirumala.

Lord Vishnu is presiding deity here in the form of Sri Venkateswara Swamy. The temple was constructed by the Mylavaram Zamindars in 19th century. The self-manifested idol of Sri Venkateswara Swamy was unearthed by a saint named Dwaraka and hence, the temple is called Dwaraka Tirumala. This place is also called Chinna Tirupati.

The statue of the lord is visible above the waist and the lower portion is imagined to be in the earth. The holy feet are said to be offered to Bali Chakravarthi in Patala loka for his daily worship. The full size idol of Lord Venkateswara standing at the back of the main idol is said to have been installed by the great social reformer Ramanujacharya in 11th century. These two idols are located in the same sanctum sanctorum which is a unique feature of this temple. The idols of Goddess Padmavathi and Nanchari are installed in the Arthamandapa.

This temple is a masterpiece of South Indian Architecture with its five-storied main Rajagopuram facing the ...

Distance from Vizag: 257 Kms

At a distance of 1.2 km from Bhimavaram New Bus Station, 65 km from Eluru, 76 km from Rajahmundry, 117 km from Vijayawada, 116 km from Kakinada, 22 km from Palakollu and 277 km from Visakhapatnam, Sri Someswara Temple is one of the Pancharama Kshetras of Lord Shiva known as Somaramam and is situated at Bhimavaram town in West Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. The other four are Amararama Temple in Amaravathi, Draksharama Temple in Draksharamam, Kumararama Temple in Samalkoti and Ksheera Rama Temple in Palakollu.

The main contribution for temple construction was made by the King Chalukya Bheema I during 10th century. The Shiva lingam is called Someshwara as it is believed that this lingam has been installed by Lord Chandra. The color of the linga is believed to change according to the Lunar rays. In Full Moon days it changes into white and during Amavasya day, it turns into black in form.

According to legend, Tharakasura worships Lord Shiva and gets his Atma Linga. Then, Tharakasura starts troubling people and Devatas. The Devathas then got frightened and went to Lord Vishnu for help. Lord Vishnu told them that Tarakasura was a great Shiva bhaktha and a devoted worshipper of Lord Shiva. Lord Vishnu advised the devathas to go and pray to Lord Shiva. As per blessings, Tharakasura dies only by a boy. Lord Kumara Swamy Avatar thus happens and boy kills Tharakasura. After Tharakasura is destroyed, the Athmalinga gets divided ...

Distance from Vizag: 279 Kms