PAPIHILLS GODAVRI RIVER CRUISE COTTAGE TEMPLES Home

 

Kolleru

 

How to reach: located 15kms from Eluru.

 

It is known the world over for the famous Kolleru Bird Sanctuary. The largest fresh water lake in Asia, Kolleru lake is a virtual paradise for nature lovers. Rich in flora and fauna, it attracts migratory birds from Australia, Siberia, Egypt and Philippines between the months of October and March. During the season, the lake is visited by an estimated 2,00,000 laks birds, which include Open Bill Storks, painted Storks, Glossary Ibises, White Ibises, Teals, Pintails, Shovellers, Red-Crested Pochards, black-winged Stilts, Avocets, Common Redshanks, Winged Stilts, Avocets, Common Redshanks, Wigeons, Gadwalls and Cormorants, among others.

 

Accommodation is available at

Zilla Parishad Guest House, Eluru.

 

For Reservations contact

Ph:08812-30865,39865

R&B Guest House, Eluru.

For reservations contact ph:08812-30134.

Best season to visit:November to March.

 

Dwaraka Tirumala

 

How to reach: Located 39kms from Eluru.

 

Sri venkateswara Swamy temple also known as Chinna Tirupati or Second Tirupati is situated here. According to a legend, the temple dates back to the reign of Raja Dasaratha and Lord Sri Rama and Sidha Nagarjuna. Unique for being the only temple with two idols under one Vimana.

Sikharam, this is where you can have a glimpse of south Indian architecture at its finest with the eye-catching 5-storey Gopuram. the prakara of the temple is adorned with idols of various deities.

 

Accommodation is available at Temple Guest House.

For reservations contact

Ph: 08812-271436.

 

Narasapur

 

How to reach: Located 128kms from Eluru & 440 kms from Hyderabad.

 

Situated on the banks of river Godavari, it is famous for the Sri Adikesava Embermanar Swamy temple, which is a sacred pilgrimage destination for the Vaishnavites. The temple, constructed two centuries ago, is reminiscent of the style of the renowned Sriperambadur temple in Tamil Nadu. The annual Brahmostava celebrations is conducted on a lavish scale in the month of April – May, which attracts thousands of devotees from all over.

 

Just about 3 kms from Narsapur town is the Durga Laxmaneshwara Swamy temple. Legend has it that SriLaxmana has installed this temple. The Goddess demands total peace & silence, hence there are no houses near the temple.

 

20 Kms from the town is perupalem beach where a newly built Baptist church is worth a visit.

 

Narasapur has found  it’s way on to the world map, thanks largely to th lace crochet industry that  flourishes here. Started some 150 years ago by Swedish missionaries, lace from Narasapur  is today much prized  in the international markets. You can see for yourself the incredible expertise of the artisiabs as they weave magic into dining sets, handkerchiefs, pillow, covers, tablecloths, bed sheets, gowns and frocks.

 

Jilakarragudem

 

How to reach: This histpric Buddist site

a hamlet of Guntupalli is located at a distance of 60 Kms from Eluru.

 

On an adjacent hill, visit the rock-cut caves where you can see more than a dozen interred stupas ranging in height that reaches up to 10 feet and circumference of 30 feet. Dating back to the 3rd century B.C., the structures include a circular rock cut temple containing a monolithic stupa, huge monastery, a brick chaitya, remains of a large pillared hall and 6 feet tall marble idols of Lord Buddha.

 

Achanta

 

How to reach: Located 28 Kms from Tanuku & 48 Kms from Tadepalligudem.

The ancient Sri Raneswara Swamy temple is situated here. The temple has a Gopuram at the entrance with a pair of lions on top and a big dwaja Sthamba at the Mukha Mandapam. A beautifully sculpted Nandi in a resting posture can be seen on an elevated platform.

  

Palakollu

 

How to reach: Located 10 Kms from Narasapur.

 

This is the site of the renowned Ksheera Rama lingeswara Swamy temple, one of the pancharama Kshetras in Andhra Pradesh. According to legend, the temple stands on the spot where Lord siva shot an arrow into the earth to draw out milk to satisfy his hunger. Built during the 10th-11th centuries A.D. by the chalukyas, it represents the south Indian style and has a 9-storey gopuram that soars 125 feet, one of the tallest in Andhra Pradesh. Colorful images and sculptures of various deities are engraved on the temple complex.

 

20 Kms from palakollu is the Natta Rameswaram temple, where the lingam is made of shells & conches is worth a visit.

  

Penugonda

 

How to reach: Located at a distance of 15 Kms from palakollu & 16 Kms from Tanuku.

 

Situated here is the famous Sri Vasavi Kanyakaparameswari temple which finds mention in various ancient religious texts. According to a legend, Vasavi Knayakaparameswari was famous for her beauty. Hearing thus, the chalukyan ruler Vishnu Vardhan proposed to marry her. But being aware if his ignoble intentions, she preferred to end her life by immolation. Soon after, the king’s head is believed to have been shattered into thousand pieces. A temple dedicated to her was then built. Nearby, is the temple Sri Nageswara Swamy, which houses a huge lingaroopa of the Swamy. An unexplained mystery of this temple is that the sandalwood paste smeared around the linga remains fresh and wet till the next morning.

  

Koya Dance

 

The traibal Koya dance of Kotaramachandrapuram village of West Godavari district is very popular. The dance is performed only by the men folks. Apart from minor variation indress style, this dance is similar to Kammu dance of Rampochodavaram village in East Godavari district.

 

 

Eluru Carpets

 

Eluru is famous for its thriving woolen pile carpet industry. The Persians who migrated to this part of the world during the Muhammaddin regime have developed the carpet industry. Most of they carpets produced here are exported.

 

Bhimavaram

 

How to reach: Located107 Kms from Vijayawada & 270 Kms from Visakhapatnam.

 

Bhimavaram is famous for the Gunupudi Someswaraswamy temple, which is considered to be one of the holy Pancharamas. Built during the 3rd centuray A.D., the Shivalinga in the temple is believed to assume a black-cum-brown colour on no-moon day and kind ofwhite on full-moon day. Another unique feature here, is that the temple of Goddess Annapurna was built on top of the Shiva temple, something that cannot be seen anywhere in the country. Surprisingly, the Goddess has the sacred thread her neck and a baby near her feet.

 

Other palaves in Bhimavaram that are of interest to tourists are Jain temple at Peda Amiram and Mavullamma(Goddess Shakti) temple.

 

 

Pattiseema

 

How to reach: Located 120 Kms from Eluru, 40 Kms from Rajahmundry & 25 Kms from Kovvur.

 

It is famous for the temple Sri Veerabhadra. which is picturesquely located on a hill known as Devakuta Parvatha in the middle of the Godavari River. Considered to be one of the panchakasi Kshetrams of the Shilvaites, the temple has a beautiful Nandi Vigraha. Carved images of dancing people adorn the walls while an awe-inspiring life-size sculpture of Devi Bhadrakali with lot of ornaments and a sword, Catches the eye. A temple dedicated to Sri Bhavanarayana Swamy can also be visited.