Ramalingeswara Temple ,Mulug Taluka in Warangal district, Andhra Pradesh

Ramappa Temple

• Destination: Warangal

Ramalingeswara Temple is located in a valley of Palampet village of Venkatpur Mandal, in the Mulug Taluka in Warangal district. It is situated at a distance of 64 km from Warangal, the ancient capital of Kakatiyas. The temple bears the great Kakatiyan style of art and is situated near the Ramappa tank (now Ramappa Lake), an ancient engineering marvel of the 13th century AD. It is a well built tank where semi circular chain of hills is connected with a 2000ft long earthen dam to form a lake.

Histoty

The temple is more popularly known as Ramappa Temple due to the astounding fact that Ramappa is neither the name of the king nor the deity worshipped, but the architect of the temple. It is probably the only temple in India which is known by the architect who made it. Inscriptions dated way back to 1213 serves proof of the temple having been built under the reign of King Kakati Ganapathi Deva by his chief commander Recherla Rudra Samani at Ranakude in the province of Atukuru.The temple has also been tagged as the “Brightest star in the galaxy of medieval temples in the Deccan”. The temple was built in 40 years.Its presiding deity is Ramalingeswara, one of the many forms of Lord Shiva and a personal God of Lord Vishnu’s incarnation, Ram.

Construction

The temple stands on a 6feet high star shaped platform elevated above its surroundings with Garbagriha, an Antarla and Maha Mandapa with lateral porched entrances on three sides. The main sanctum is surrounded by a pradakshinapatha and is crowned with a shikhara. The hall in front of the sanctum is engraved by exquisite carved pillars that combine light and space so as to complement the magnificent walls and ceilings. Rich and beautiful carvings adorn the walls and pillars of this wonderful temple. The most prominent of them all are the sculptures of Hindu mythology that covers the temple from its base all the way to its ceilings and wall panels. The entire complex is enclosed within a compound wall. There are two subsidiary shrines on either side of the main temple, which are in good condition apart from the other votive shrines present in the temple. The temple houses a Shivalingam that is over 9 feet tall. A ruined Nandi Mandapam at the entrance of the temple with an imposing 9 feet high Nandi is still intact. Kakatiyan’s temples have the Nandi in an alert position which seems to be waiting for an order of Lord Shiva, unlike the other temples of India where Nandi are placed straight to deity. There is an additional entrance from the north which leads to Navaranga Mandapam in front of the sanctum. The ceilings are carved with exquisite patterns and divided into compartments by columns from the bottom. The temple signifies many facets of the Shiva like the Himalaya Mountains, his royal residence and his in habitation of the sacred space beyond the mortal realm.
The entire temple is spread over an area of 5 acres. The main entrance gate facing east in the outer wall of temple is now ruined, so one can enter through small west gate only. The temple is approached through a lawn with a tree lined path. The most exceptional thing about the temple isthat the bricks of the temple are so light that they can float on water. Hence, the temple is also known as “Temple of Floating Bricks”. The temple is still so intact after natural calamities, numerous wars and invasions over the years. There were even instances of local people carrying away the bricks to see that they float in water, before the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) took charge of it.

Best Time To Visit

October to March
The temple celebrates the festival of Mahashivratri in a grand manner and thousand of devotees during this time flock here to take blessings from Lord.

Temple Timings

Temple remains open for public from 6AM to 6PM every day.

Transportation

By Air

Hyderabad is the nearest airport which is around 230 km away from the temple and is connected with major cities of India and abroad.

By Train

There are no trains to Palampet. Nearest railhead is Warangal; one should get down there and reach down Ramappa Temple by a bus or taxi
.

By Road

There is no direct bus from Warangal to Ramappa temple. You have to reach Mulug from Warangal by APSRTC or local bus. From Mulug, you can take a bus or auto rickshaw. The bus will drop you at a point where a separate road is built towards this temple and basically it’s a small village, which is only 1.5km from the temple. The best way to reach the temple is by your own mode of transportation like Car.

Official Website

There is no official website of this temple.

Gnana Saraswati Temple, Adilabad, Basara Telangana,Andhra Pradesh

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Gnana Saraswati Temple

• Destination: Adilabad, Basara

Location

The Gnana Saraswati Temple, also known as Basara Temple is located on the banks of Godavari River at Basar in Adilabad district of Telangana. It is situated around 148 km from the district headquarters and 45 km away from Nizamabad. It is one of the two most famous Goddess Saraswati Temples of India, the other being located in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. This is an ancient temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the Hindu Goddess of knowledge and learning. It is also the abode of Goddess Laksmi and Goddess Kali.

History Of The Temple

The history of the temple goes back to the times of Mahabharata, nearly about 5000 years back. According to a legend, Maharishi Vyasa also known as Veda Vyasaand his disciples with sage Suka decided to settle down in calm and soothing atmosphere after the epic Kurushetra war was over. Therefore, he travelled from north to south and in a quest to found peaceful place, came to Dandaka forest and settled here. He used to meditate very deeply everyday and due to his meditation, this region was also called as Tapobhoomi. One day, in the passage of his meditation, he got the dream of Goddess Saraswati who told him to bring fistful of sand from Godavari River after having sacred bath every day to this cave and keep it as three heaps. After some days, due to true penance and devotion of VedVyasa, the three deities from the three heaps appeared in the form of Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Kali. This idol made of sand has their face marked with turmeric and it is said that eating little bit of turmeric paste will enhance one’s knowledge and perception. Since Maharishi Vyasa spent ample of time in prayers here only, the place was named after him as Vasara, which turned later into Basara or Basar due to influence of Marathi speaking people in the region. It is also said that, according to BrahmandaPurana, Maharishi Vyasa wrote Mahabharata here only. You can see the Maharshi’s idol made of marble and his Samadhi near the temple. It is also believed that this is one of the three temples constructed by Ashtrakutas near the confluence of Godavari and Manjira rivers.

Construction Of The Temple

The temple was first constructed by Maharshi Vyasa only. Then, during 6th century, King Bijialudu, who was the ruler of Nandagiri with Nanded as his capital, renovated the temple. During 11th to 18th century, various attempts to destroy the temples and idols of Basar were done by Mughal Nawabs. At that time, a young man named Sri Makkaji Patel who belonged to the Veershaiva dynasty of Renukapuram with the help of some locals fought against them and thus protected the temple from Muslim invasions.
The main presiding deity in the temple is of Goddess Saraswati, is in seated position with her instrument Veena in one hand and adorned with turmeric. Adjacent to it, is the shrine of Goddess Lakshmi and to the eastern side of it, is shrine of Goddess Kali. This temple does not have magnificent carvings like the other temples in the region. Devotees often go to nearby mountain which bears the idol of Goddess Saraswati on top of the rock. Due to the presence of these three super goddesses, Basar is called as the abode of the holy trinity.

Some Interesting Facts

Many pilgrims take their kids to this temple to perform the ‘Akshara Abhyasam’ ceremory before starting their formal school education. The kid performs the exercise of letters and devotes pens, books, pencils and notebooks to the Goddess of knowledge.

Best Time To Visit

September to April
Special poojas and celebrations are held during MahaShivaratri, commencing from Vasantha Panchami (15 days before) and continued till 3 days after the festival. Devi Navrathrulu is another festival which is celebrated for 10 days during Dussehra in grand manner. Thousands of pilgrims flock to this place during this time.

Temple Timings

Temple remains open for public from 4AM to 1PM and 2PM to 9PM every day. Temple remains closed between 1PM to 2PM.

Unofficial Website

For more details about the temple, visit www.Basaratemple.org. Note that there is no official website of this temple.

Transportation

By Air

Nearest airport is at Hyderabad, which is situated 235 km away from the temple and is well connected to major cities of India and abroad.

By Train

Basar has its own railway station, which is just 2.4 km away from the temple. It is situated on the Secunderabad-Nanded via Nizamabad route. It is well connected to major cities of India.

By Road

APSRTC operates regular buses to Basar from major cities of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Adurru Buddhist Site, East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, India

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Adurru Buddhist Site

• Destination: East Godavari

Adurru is a village located in the Razole Taluk of East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. It is an ancient Buddhist religious centre which lies on the west banks of Vainetaya branch of Godavari River. It is situated in very close from Bay of Bengal. The district headquarters is at Kakinada, which is 77 km away from the village.
Adurru is popular abode for the followers of Buddhist religion. In 1953, The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has unearthed the century’s old heritage of Viharas, Chaityas, and Buddhist Stupas from this site. These excavations have also revealed ancient artefacts like shreds of red pottery, jars, and bowls of kaolin. The prime attraction of this religious site is a Maha Stupa which stands with a diameter of 17 feet and has been carved out as a wheel on a raised platform. There is also a pyramid shaped structure in Adurru village which is popularly referred to as “Dubaraju Gudi” by the locals.
The popular Buddhist Stupa present here is said to be built during the reign of Emperor Ashoka and it was called as “Mahakshetram”. The Maha Stupa has been also declared as a protected monument by Archaeological Department of India. The place also bears a foundation stone laid by Ashoka’s daughter, Sanghamithra while she was on her way to Sri Lanka. She was a famous Buddhist nun also. On the front side of the site, i.e. towards east, there are two Upa-Stupas on both sides with the same wheel based structure. You will also witness square shaped and round shaped structures towards the west side of the main Stupa. They are systematically well connected with each other from all the sides.
Some of the other enthralling findings at this Buddhist site are the presence of an underground passage to Godavari River and the diamonds-square shaped structures on the main Stupa. The whole excavation site stretches to an area of 2.04 acres and its scenic beauty makes this site a worth visit place.

Address

Adurru Buddhist Site
Boudha Sthupam Road, Adurru,
Dist. East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh

Details

Taluka: Razole Area: East Godavari

Fast Facts

State: Andhra Pradesh District: East Godavari
Languages: Telugu, English Weather: 25°C to 42°C (Max.)
Best Time to Visit: November-March
STD Code: 08862 Pin Code: 533247

How to Reach

By Air

Visakhapatnam Airport is the nearest one, 234 km away from the site and is well connected to major cities of India and abroad.

By Rail

Nearest railway station is at Rajahmundry, 74 km away and is well linked with major cities of India. It lies on Howrah-Chennai rail route.

By Road

APSRTC operates regular buses to Amalapuram, 14 km away from the site and is well connected by road from all the major cities of the state. You can hire a taxi from Amalapuram to reach Adurru.

Distance from Nearby Cities

Vijayawada—188 km
Visakhapatnam—230 km
Hyderabad—462 km
Tirupati—600 km

Bhavani Island Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh,India

Bhavani Island

• Destination: Vijayawada

Location

It is a river island amidst the Krishna River located near Vijayawada in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. The island exhibits one of the biggest lagoons in the region. It encompasses an area of over 133 acres. It is situated in close vicinity from Prakasam Barrage.
Bhavani Island is full of references to the exotic and serene spots of the area. It is known as one of the most peaceful and impressing islands of the state. Various water sport activities like Snorkelling, Reef Walking, Canoeing, Sailing Yachts and Kayaking are being offered here. It is a place to rest, relax and enjoy oneself with its mangroves, well-manicured gardens, immaculate woodlands and sparkling water bodies. The island is a fabulous place to plan for a trip with your family especially on weekends and hundreds of visitors visit this place every year to enjoy the picturesque exquisiteness of the island. The popular drink available for tourists at the island is fresh coconut water. Fishing is another soothing activity that one can enjoy at this island. It is the piece of Nirvana on Earth with its goodwill from Mother Nature.
APTDC is trying to develop this island into a major tourist spot of the state in the near future. They are also developing a project named Shilparamam (Arts and Craft Village) which will encourage the local artisans and weavers to showcase their extraordinary work. They are also planning to include some more adventure sports activities, resorts and a ropeway.
APTDC also runs a resort named Haritha Resort at Bhavani Island where the visitors can stay in the unique treetop cottages that are elevated on stilts.
For more details about the accommodation, visit www.aptdc.gov.in .

Address

Bhavani Island
Bhavanipuram, Opposite Neelima Theatre, Vijayawada,
Dist. Krishna, Andhra Pradesh

Details

Area: West Vijayawada Phone: 0866-2418507

Fast Facts

State: Andhra Pradesh District: Krishna
Languages: Telugu, English Weather: 25°C to 48°C (Max.)
Best Time to Visit: October-March
STD Code: 0866 Pin Code: 520001

How to Reach

By Air

Vijayawada Airport is the nearest one, 25 km away and has direct flights to Bangalore and Hyderabad. Major International Airport is at Hyderabad (280 km), which is well connected to major cities of India and abroad.

By Rail

The nearest railway station is at Vijayawada, about 4 km away from the island and is superbly connected with major cities of India. It is a major junction of South India and lies on Howrah- Chennai as well as on New Delhi- Chennai rail route.

By Road

APSRTC and other private travels operate regular bus services to Vijayawada from major cities of the state. After reaching there, you can take a cruise boat from Haritha Berm Park Hotel located in Bhavanipuram area to Bhavani Island. For Day Trippers, the cruise fee is Rs. 40 per head for a 3 hour stay on island. Those who have accommodation at the resort located on the island do not have to pay this cruise fee.

Distance from Nearby Cities

Hyderabad – 264 km
Visakhapatnam – 360 km
Chennai– 463 km
Bangalore – 667 km

Thousand Pillars Temple Hanamakonda, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh

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Thousand Pillars Temple

• Destination: Hanamakonda, Warangal

The Thousand Pillars Temple

Thousand Pillars Temple is situated in Hanamakonda town, near Warangal, in Telangana region. It is a temple which hasa rich cultural heritage. It is believed that this temple was constructed in 1163 AD by King Rudradeva of the Kakatiya kingdom.The temple is built on the slopes of Hanamakonda hills on 1 meter high platform. Also known as Rudreshwara Temple, it is said that the builders took 72 years to construct this marvel.The star-shaped temple is built in Chalukya style of art and comprises of three shrines which are dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Surya. Because of this, the central complex of the temple came to be known as Trikutalayam.
This architecture marvel was designed by the Vishwakarma sculptors from Kakatiyan dynasty. As the name suggests, there are 1000 pillars which are intricately carved of wide ranges and different sizes. The walls of the temple too have an exquisite design, which makes one spellbound of the quality of artwork that existed during those days, when technology did not even exist. The temple also consists of brilliant stonework which will leave you enthralled. The dance platform “Natya Mandapam” which is viewed from any direction of the central complex is a phenomenon. Most interesting fact of the temple is that though there are thousand pillars but they are made in such a way that the view of one shrine is not blocked by the other one.
At the entrance of the temple, you will find a monolith statue of ‘Nandi Bull’ carved out from black basalt, which was used as raw material for excellent finishing. It measures 6 feet in height and has chiselled garlands and ornaments. Unlike most Nandis in the Indian temples facingwest, 1000 pillars Nandi faces east. Lord Shiva is the presiding deity of this temple whose idol is placed in Garib Graha or Sanctum Sanctorum as Kakatiyas were true worshipper of Lord Shiva. They wanted early morning rays of the sun to directly fall on the Shiva Lingam. So to make it happen, Shiva’s shrine was faced towards east and rest of the two shrines of Lord Vishnu and Lord Surya ware facing towards south and west respectively.
As you enter the main hall, you will find an idol of Lord Ganesha which is 5 feet tall, towards the left hand side and you will also see four magnificently carved pillars supporting the Natya Mandapam. These pillars have multiple designs about 2 to 30 centimeters long on the perimeter of circular pillar. The Kakatiyas symbol, ‘Kalisam’, can be seen one after another on each pillar. The sculpture of Lord Indra with his Airavata is remarkable piece of Kakatiya’s art and the Lord Narasimha’s sculpture at the entrance of the north shrine is also a masterpiece. The Elephant structure cut of the big rocks and perforated screens with holes, speak about the richness of Chalukyan’s architecture.
When the Tughlaq dynasty attacked South India, they destroyed this temple. Currently, there are no pillars in the temple. Archaeologists removed these pillars to renovate the Kalyana Mandapam that was crumbling. When the pillars were lifted, they encountered a huge mass of wet sand which was accumulated due to pipe connection from a nearby local water body called Bhadrakali Cheruvu. However, Nandi and other shrines are still intact. This temple, in local language, is also called as “Kakatiyula Veyi Stambhamula Devalayam”.

Best Time to Visit:

October to March
Temple remains open for public between 6AM to 8PM every day.

Transportation

Hyderabad is the nearest airport which is around 160 km away from this temple and is well connected to all the major cities of India and other parts of the world.
Warangal is the nearest railway stationand is well connected by trains with all the other major cities of India.
APSRTC and various private travels operate regular buses which ply to Warangal from all the major neighbouring cities including Hyderabad, Vijaywada and Vishakhapatnam.
In case of local transport, the easily available means of transport, to move around the city are taxis, auto-rickshaws and cycle rickshaws.

Kanipakam Vinayaka Temple Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh

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Kanipakam Vinayaka Temple

• Destination: Chittoor

Location

Kanipakam Vinayaka Temple is located at Kanipakam village in Irala mandal in Chitoor district of Andhra Pradesh. It is situated just 11 km away from the district headquarters. The temple is popularly known as “Sri Varasidhi Vinayaka Swamy Temple”. It is the holy residence of Lord Ganesha, also known as Lord Vinayaka in South India. The idol of Lord is self-manifested one. Kanipakam is very close to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu borders.

About the Temple

The temple was established in the early 11th century by Kulothunga Chola, the great Chola King and then developed further by the rulers of the Vijayanagara dynasty. There are many myths and legends associated to the temple.
According to one legend, there were three brothers who used to live in this village. Each one was born with physical deformities. They were deaf, blind and dumb by birth. As they were farmers, they used to earn their livelihood by cultivating their small piece of land. In ancient times, the water was drawn from the well by the Piccota system.
Therefore, one of those farmers used channels to irrigate their fields, while the other two used to draw water. One day, they came to know that the water in the well dried up. To see the actual cause of it, one of them got into the well and started digging it up. As he was doing his work, his shovel struck a stone like formation. He was shocked to see blood coming out from it. The clear water of the well soon turned into blood red colour. Thus, amazed by this divine experience, all the three brothers got rid of their deformities on the spot. As soon as the villagers came to know about this miracle, they flocked to the well and tried to dig the well further. But their attempt goes in vain as the “Swayambhu” idol of Lord Vinayaka emerged from the whirling waters. The villagers started to offer coconuts with prayers beneath the new idol and as a result, coconut’s water covered the entire area of 1.3 acres. Kani symbolises wetland and Parakam means flow of the water in Tamil. This lead to the name of the village as “Kaniparakam” and later was pronounced as “Kanipakam”. Even today, the original well exhibits the real idol. The springs of the well are considered as eternal. The holy water from the well overflows even today, during every rainy season. The most interesting and striking feature of the idol is that it is still growing in size. The knees and the abdomen of the idol can be seen at present. An avid devotee had offered a “Kavacham” to the Lord fifty years ago and now it doesn’t fit the idol and out of size. Theertham, the holy water from well is offered to every devotee who comes here.
One more legend associated to the temple is of Bahuda River. There were two brothers named Sankha and Likhita who was on pilgrimage to Kanipakam. As the journey was long and tiring, Likhita felt hungry and without his elder brother advice, plucked the mango from mango grove and ate it. Sankha felt bad and reported this incident to the ruler of the area and demanded punishment for this sin. Thus, Likhita was punished severely which resulted in loss of his both arms. Before entering the Kanipakam temple, they took bath in the river flowing near to the temple. As soon as Likhita took a dip in the sacred waters of the river, his chopped arms were restored. This miracle leads the ruler to rename the river as Bahuda River (bahu means human arm).
The Swayambhu idol of Lord Vinayaka is the upholder of the truth. The villagers of Kanipakam have a belief that, without the interference of the court, police and middlemen, the disputes are settled. It is all due to the purification and transformation of the hearts of the rivals under the Lord’s divine spell.

Best Time to Visit

August to March

Temple Timings

The temple remains open for public from 4AM to 9:30PM every day.
The annual Brahmotsavam commences from Ganesh Chaturthi which comes in the month of August or September. It goes on for 20 days with all traditional rituals and exuberance. The Utsavamurthi (Festive idol) is taken out in procession on all the days joyfully decked on different vahanams (carriages). The soulful participation of the devotees is mind boggling. This festival attracts pilgrims from all over the country.

Official website

For more details about the temple,visit www.kanipakamvinayaka.org .

Transportation

By Air

Tirupati Airport is the nearest one, situated 82 km away from the temple. Regular flights are available from Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru to Tirupati. Nearest International Airport is at Chennai (160km), which is connected to all major cities of India and abroad.

By Rail

Chitoor railway station is the nearest one, 12 km away and is well connected to major cities of India.

Kolanupaka Jain Temple Nalgonda district of Telangana,Andhra Pradesh

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Kolanupaka Jain Temple

• Destination: Nalgonda

Location

Kolanupaka or Kulpak, is a village situated in the Nalgonda district of Telangana, 82 km away from the district headquarters.Kolanu means a pond and Paka means a hut, this place was once full of ponds, hence it was named Kolanupaka.This place is famous for the Kolanupaka Temple, a Jain Shrine. The temple is said to be 2000 years old. It presently houses idols of the three Jain Tirthankaras namely of Lord Rishabha, Lord Neminath and Lord Mahavira. The temple is also known as Kulpakji Jain Temple. The idol of Lord Rishabha carved of a green stone has been historically famous as Manikyaswami. This place also served as substitute capital of Kalyani Chalukyas dynasty during 11th century.

History Of The Temple

This religious place contains much ancient importance. A number of Jain antiquities have been found in Kulpak. It is said that that Kolanupaka flourished as Jain center during the Rashtrakutas period. Near about 20 Jain inscriptions have been also found there. Through these inscriptions, we came to know about that Kulpak was the major center of KranurGana of MulaSangh, an ancient Jain monastic order. A Manastambha was also found with inscriptions of 1125 AD. A 12th century inscription also tells us about Meghachadra Siddhanta deva who entered Sallekhana, a Jain religious ritual of suicide by fasting. However, after 1276 AD, the Jain activities heavily declined. Then, in 1711 AD, the Jain activity was again re-established and with that temple of Manikyaswami was also renovated and a boundary wall was erected. According to a legend, Mandodari, wife of Ravana was the true worshipper of Manikyaswami. The idol is said to be brought here by ruler Sankar of Kalyana.
The main temple is believed to be built by Bharata Chakravarti, son of King Dushyanta and Queen Sakuntala of Hastinapur and the descendant of the Lunar dynasty of Kshatriya Varna. He conquered all of Greater India, united them into a single political entity which was named after him as Bharatvarsa. Jainism was prevalent in Andhra before 4th century and due to its rich history, Kolanupaka remains one of prominent Jainism center from early times.

Construction Of The Temple

The first Tirthankara in the Jain religion was Lord Rishabha, who is popularly known as Lord Adinath also. It is believed that original idol of Lord Adinath, locally known as Manikya Deva, made Kolanupaka its abode by itself. On both sides of the temple, there are eight idols of the other Jain Tirthankaras. The idol of Lord Mahavira is 130 cm tall and is made of single piece of jade. Every Jain Tirthankara has a unique identity like Lord Mahavira is depicted with the lion and Lord Rishabha with the bull on their pedestals and Lord Parshawnath with a multiple headed cobra acting as an umbrella. Idols of Lord Simandar Swami and Goddess Padmavati can be seen on the either sides of the main temple. The temple was recently renovated by calling 150 artisians from Rajasthan and Gujarat. A complete new temple was built around the existing towers and the old garbhagraha was preserved.Kulpakji is the major pilgrimage center for the Svetambara Jains of South India.

Best Time To Visit

October to April

Temple Timings

Temple remains open for public between 6 AM to 7 PM every day.
Fordarshan, one needn’t necessarily take a bath, but if one wants to dopooja, it is mandatory that one should take a bath before going inside the chamber of Tirthankaras and touch the statue of the deity. Also, in order to dopooja, one has to wear the acceptable clothing, dhotis or panchas for men and sarees for women. The clothes need to be clean, washed and unused for any purpose other than performing poojas.

Official Website

There is no official website of this temple.

Transportation

By Air

Nearest Airport is at Hyderabad, 100 km away from the temple and is well connected to major cities of India and abroad.

By Train

Aler is the nearest railway station, which is just 8 km away from Kolanupaka and is well connected to Hyderabad. The major railway junctions near to the temple are Secunderabad (76 km) and Warangal (84 km).

By Road

APSRTC buses are available at regular intervals from Hyderabad and Warangal to Aler. From there, catch a private vehicle to reach Kolanupaka.

Sri Raja Rajeshwara Temple, Karimnagar, Vemulawada ,Andhra Pradesh

Sri Raja Rajeshwara Temple

• Destination: Karimnagar, Vemulawada

Location

Sri Raja Rajeshwara Temple is a holy place located at Vemulawada, 36km away from district headquarters of Karimnagar. Vemulwada town is named after the famous poet Vemulawada Bheemakavi who lived there during 11thcentury and composed various poetic works in Chaatuvu style. The temple’s presiding deity is Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy, an incarnation of Lord Shiva. According to the beliefs of the locality, every God is called here as Rajana. To the left of the presiding deity is the idol of Sri Lakshmi SahithaSiddiVinayaka (LaksmiGanpathi) and to the right is the idol of Sri Raja Rajeshwari Devi. Apart from Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu is also worshipped here. The complex of this temple is popular by the name of Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swami Temple Complex.

History

This complex comprises of several small temples of various Gods and Goddesses like Goddess Mahalakshmi, Goddess Durga, Lord Ganapathi, Lord PadamanabhaSwamy and Lord Bhimeshwara. Interestingly, there is also a small Muslim Mosque inside the temple which was built as a tribute to a muslim devotee of Lord Shiva who lived for many years in the temple surroundings and breathed his last inside the temple. In real sense, this temple is meeting point of various religious faiths and opinions, irrespective of caste and creed. In the temple premises, there is a holy tank called Dharma Gundam which is used by devotees for taking a dip before proceeding to Darshan of Lord Shiva. There is a historical story related to the origin of how the temple and holy tank was built. Once upon a time a king named Sri Raja Narendra came to this place in search of hunting wild animals. But accidentally, he killed a Brahman boy who was drinking water from the pond. As a result, he got cursed with an incurable disease and to get rid of his wrong deeds, he went on pilgrimage to many holy places and returned back to this place. Then one day, he drank the holy water from Dharma Gundam and slept the night praying the Lord Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy. Then Lord Shiva came to his dreams that night and asked him to take Lord’s existence (lingam) from the Dharma Gundam and put it in the temple. Then he cleaned Lord’s lingam and built a temple on the hill to keep the lingam inside it. But while he was sleeping, the holy priests came and established the Lord’s idol inside the temple that night. After knowing this, King got disheartened as he missed the chance of establishing the Shivalingam. Then, the other night, Lord Shiva again comes back into his dreams and promises him that his name will be associated with this place forever. Thereafter, he also got cured from his incurable disease.

Construction

The temple is said to be built by Chalukya Kings during 750 AD-975 AD. Neither the exact time of construction of the temple is known nor is the name of the particular king available as constructor of temple. The temple is famous for its Mirror Gallery (AddalaMantap) and a large corridor which consists of various idols of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. The internal decoration with such magnificent architectural carvings is rarely seen in the temples of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The Dharma Gundam has the holy water which is believed to have medicinal properties. There are three mandapas on the Dharma Gundam and statue of Lord Eshwara sitting in a meditation posture with five lingas resides in the middle surrounding the holy tank.

Some Interesting Facts

There are many myths and legends related to this temple. One legend said that, once upon a time God Indra after killing Vrithasura went to many holy places and still could not purify his life. Then as per the advice from Bruhaspathi, the guru of Gods, he visited this holy place. Then he visited the temple and took the holy dip in Dharma Gundam and took the blessings of Lord Sri Raja Rajeshwara and hence got purified. By this ancient story, history gives us the evidence of existence of Lord Sri Raja Rajeshwara in all yugas.

Best Time To Visit

October to March and August
Thousands of Pilgrims from all over the country flock here especially during the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri and Kalyanotsavam of the deity and also during the SravanaMasa in August.Special darshans and poojas are held to mark this festivity.

Temple Timings

Temple remains open from 4AM to 9PM. There are various sevas/poojas conducted at specific time. One can check the information about the timings from the temple’s official website.

Official Website

For more details about the temple, visit www.vemulawadatemple.org

Transportation

By Air

Hyderabad Airport is the nearest one, located at around 200 km from the temple and is connected to major cities of India and abroad.

By Train

Warangal and Kazipet are the nearest broad gauze railway stations and Kamareddy is the nearest meter gauze railway station.Warangal, Kazipet are the major junctions, 100 km away which are connected to Hyderabad and all other major cities of India. Kamareddy is located on NH-7 and is around 70 kms from the temple which also connects Hyderabad and other major cities of India.

By Road

APSRTC buses are available which link this temple directly to the major cities of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Local transport is also available in the form of taxis and tourist cabs.

Talakona Waterfalls Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh

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Talakona Waterfalls

• Destination:

Talakona Waterfall is located in Sri Venkateswara National Park near Nerabailu village in Yerravaripalem Mandal in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. It is the highest waterfall of the state with a height of 270 feet. Talakona is also popular for Lord Siddheswara Swamy Temple which is in close vicinity to the waterfall.
It is a serene place well bestowed with thick forests, rich greenery, exquisite waterfalls and exotic wildlife. This place is in amidst of soothing and peaceful atmosphere. Due to rich variety of flora and fauna, this site was declared as the Biosphere Reserve in 1989-90. Locals living nearby believe that the water of the Talakona comes from an underground stream which suddenly surfaces here and has immense healing power as it flows through lot of herbs which contains high medicinal values. There is a huge variety of sandalwood trees and medicinal plants in this region. It is considered home for endangered species like Chital, Sambar, Mouse Deer, Indian Giant Squirrel, Slender Loris and Golden Gecko. Giant plants like Enteda and Red Sander are also found in this region.
There is also a long and perilous trekking route which leads you to top of the hill; there are multiple trek paths, you can choose any one of it. Talakona hills are said to be the part of mighty Eastern Ghats geographically. To give a unique and thrilling experience to the tourists, there is a 240 metre long canopy rope walk, which is about 35 to 40 feet in height. There are also deep small caves dotted over the mountains. It is said that the sages used to meditate eternally in this caves during ancient times. A Bathing Ghat is under construction near the canopy walk area where the stream of water flows. This beautiful picnic spot will surely amuse and excite you.

Best Time to Visit

November to January

Timings

Open throughout the day for the tourists. There is no particular timings to visit the waterfalls.

Official Website

For more details about the place and accommodation, visit www.seshachalavanadarshani.com.

Transportation

By Air

Tirupati Airport is the nearest one, 74 km away from the site and has well connected flights to Hyderabad. Nearest International Airport is Chennai (200km), which is connected to all major cities of India and abroad.

By Rail

Nearest Railway Station is at Tirupati, 58 km away, which is well connected to all the major cities of India.

By Road

APSRTC operates regular bus services to Tirupati and Chittoor from major cities and towns of the state. You can hire a taxi or a mini bus to Talakona Waterfall from the above cities mentioned. The best way to reach the site is by your own means of transport like car.

Dwaraka Tirumala Temple West Godavari, Andhra Pradesh,India

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Dwaraka Tirumala Temple

• Destination: West Godavari

Location

Dwaraka Tirumala Temple, also known as Sri Venkateswara Swamivari Devasthanam, is located at the Dwaraka Tirumala village in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. It is the holy abode of Lord Venkateswara and a popular pilgrimage centre of India. It is around 40 km from Eluru, its district headquarters. This place is also known as “Chinna Tirupati” by the devotees. Lord Venkateswara is also called as “Kaliyuga Vaikuntha Vasa” by the local pilgrims.

History of the Temple

This place was named after a saint Dwaraka, who found the self manifested idol of Lord Venkateswara after the great penance at Valmikam, an ant hill. The region is garlanded by two great Indian rivers namely Krishna and Godavari. Dwarka Tirumala is a very ancient temple according to the Puranas. It has its origin in Kruta Yuga. According to Brahma Purana, Aja Maharaja (Grandfather of Lord Rama) also worshipped Lord Venkateswara. He crossed the temple of Dwaraka when he was on his way to Swayamvaram of Indumati. He did not stop at the temple that time. The bride Indumati welcomed him but he had to face the fury of the kings who came for Swayamvaram in form of a battle. He apprehended that the battle was plunged on him for ignoring the temple on the way. Hence, he realises his mistake and pleaded for forgiveness to Lord Venkateswara. Suddenly, rest of the kings stopped the battle. Soon after that, he went to the temple and seeked Lord’s blessing.

Construction of the Temple

On entering the sanctum sanctorum, one can feel the divine and soothing atmosphere of the temple. There are two main idols under one Vimana Sikharam. One is the full statue and other one is the half statue of the upper portion of the Lord. The upper portion of the Lord in half statue is a self manifested idol located by sage Dwaraka. The idol is visible till the bosom and lower part is regarded to be submerged in the Earth. The saints thought that prayers are not complete without Lord’s holy feet, therefore Srimad Ramanuja, a social reformer during 11th century installed the full size idol of Lord Venkateswara at the back of the main idol.
There are many shrines dedicated to different forms of God in the temple complex. The temple has been rebuilt and renovated several times over the centuries. The magnificent structures of the temple like Vimana, Gopura, Mantapa and Prakara are attributed to be made by Dharma Appa Rao (1762-1827). The various Silver vahanas and golden ornaments were gifted by a beautiful queen, Rani Chinnamma Rao of Mylavaram, Krishna district (1877-1902). The main Rajgopuram exhibits five storeys and faces the southern direction. The other three ‘gopurams’ are illuminating the other three sides of the temple. The Vimana is in the form of Nagara style. The old Mukhamantapa has been restored and extended. The entire huge complex has been tiled with sandstone. A variety of flower trees and stones enrich the site with their peaceful and exotic appearance.

Best Time to Visit

October to April

Temple Timings

The temple remains open for pilgrims from 4AM to 9PM every day.
Darshanam timings are from 6AM to 1PM, 3PM to 5:30PM and 7PM to 9PM every day.

Official Website

For more details about the temple, visit www.dwarakatirumala.org .

Transportation

By Air

Vijayawada Airport is the nearest one, 80 km away from the temple and has well connected flights with major cities of India.

By Rail

The nearest railway station is at Bhimadole, 15 km away and lies on Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam rail route. But only passenger trains halt here. Major railway junction is at Eluru, which is well connected to major cities of India.

By Road

APSRTC runs regular bus services to Eluru from major cities of the state. After reaching Eluru, you can opt for a bus or hire a taxi to Dwaraka Tirumala.