Andhra Temple Tourism: 10 Amazing Temples of Andhra Pradesh (2024)
Andhra Pradesh is located on the southern part of the Indian nation. It has earned the honour of having being ruled by several rulers and dynasties for the past years. Today, the state is home to several Telugu speaking people.
Temples form an important part of Andhra Pradesh. In the ancient times these temples were not just originally built for worshipping, but also to show off the architecture and style of the era. This resulted in some of the best and beautiful temples that we see today.
Listed below are the top ten must see temples of Andhra Pradesh.
1. Amaralingeswara Swamy Temple Amaravathi
The Amaralingeswara Swamy Temple is also known as one of the Panchakarma Kshetras located in the Guntur district. It is devoted to the Lord Shiva. Located at the banks of the Krishna River, the temple holds its legends where the Shiva Linga was installed by Lord Indra himself. They believe that the Shiva Linga used to grow everyday and that is why a nail has been put on the head of the sculpture to stop its growth. It is said that the red bloodstain that was caused as a result of hitting the nail on the head of the Shiva Linga, is still visible to the people. Besides this, there are several other statues and inscriptions of famous kings from the past.
Visiting hours: 5 AM to 8 PM
Address: Amaravathi, Andhra Pradesh 522020
2. Venkateswara Swamy Temple Dwaraka Tirumala
The Venkateswara Swamy Temple is also known as Chinna Tirupati. This temple is located in Dwaraka Tirumala of West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.
It is a temple dedicated to the Lord Balaji. It is said that the name of the place was inspired by Saint Dwaraka, who had found an idol of the Lord Balaji. Chinna Tirupati is usually chosen as the alternate location for people who wish to worship Lord Balaji, but cannot travel to Tirupati. Besides this, the temple is an example of the marvellous South Indian Architecture.
Visiting Hours: 4 AM to 9:30 PM
Address: Dwaraka Tirumala, Andhra Pradesh 534426
3. Bhimeswara Swamy Temple Draksharamam
This temple is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva and is located in the East Godavari district. The Bhimeswara Swamy Temple is believed to be the place where Daksha Prajapati was responsible for performing Yagna and hence the name of the place. It is said that the lingam used was very powerful and had a fire like quality. So in order to counteract such a powerful energy, eight other links were installed by the Sapta Rishis around the central linga. There have been several renovations in the past by the Eastern Chalukyas.
This temple is located just 6 Kms away from Ramachandrapuram in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh. Bus is the only way reach this place using public transport. There are bus services available from Kakinada and Ramachandrapuram. The nearest railway stations are Kakinada, Rajahmundry. Samalkot (junction)
Visiting Hours: 5 AM to 12 PM/ 3 PM to 7:30 PM
4. Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple Antarvedi
The Laxmi Narasimha Swamy Temple is a temple recognised for its immense beauty and it is dedicated to the Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. It is located in Antarvedi, on the banks of the Eastern Godavari and so it is often known by its alternative name, Antharvedi temple.
This temple is the inter-junction where the Godavari River meets the Bay of Bengal. The temple and its architecture dates all the way back to the 15th Century. It is believed that the Lord Rama had come to this place after defeating Ravana in Sri Lanka.
Visiting Hours: 6 AM to 7:30 PM
Address: Sakinetipalli Mandal, Antervedi, Andhra Pradesh 533252
5. Mangalagiri Temple
This temple is located atop the Mangalagiri hill in Andra Pradesh. It is said that this place is one of the eight destinations of Lord Vishnu. The shape of the hill resembles an elephant and there is naturally carved out steps to reach the temple as well. The main attraction of this temple is the idol which is worshipped by offering jaggery drink or Panakam. After consuming a certain amount of this drink, the rest is offered to the idol. Gopuram of Mangalagiri Temple is among the highest gopurams in South India. It is 153 feet in height and 49 feet wide and is of eleven storeys
Visiting Hours: 5 AM to 8:30 PM.
Address: Mangalagiri, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh.
6. Simhachalam Temple
The Simhachalam hill is responsible for the derivation of the name of this temple which is located a good 800 meters above sea level. This temple in Andhra Pradesh is dedicated the Lord Lakshmi Narasimha. What is fascinating about this temple is its architecture which is derived from different styles like the Cholas, Orrisan and Chalukya. It was built roughly a thousand years ago and the religious practices have been inspired by Sri Ramanuja. The temple has a Shiva Lingam which is always covered with sandalwood paste.
Visiting hours: 7 AM to 4 PM
Address: Simhachalam Rd, Simhachalam, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 530028
7. Ahobilam Temple
The Ahobilam Temple is built in Anantapur district, located in Andhra Pradesh. This place has a distance of about 220km from the city of Nandyal. The temple is dedicated to the Lord Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy and has a statue of the same resemblance which measures a whooping five feet and three inches.
The area here is known for its beautiful landscapes and surroundings. Originally the name of the place was inspired by the name of the cave where the deity was installed earlier. The Ahobilam, one of the main Narasimha temples is still popular for performing marriage ceremonies.
Visiting Hours: 6:30 AM to 7:00 pm
8. Paritala Anjaneya Swamy Temple
The reason why this temple is famous among its devotees in Andhra Pradesh is simple- It has a large statue of Lord Hanuman which measures 135 feet. It is located at about 30km from Vijayawada city inside the village of Paritala. The temple is also known by the name Abhaya Anjaneya Swamy and is one of the famous Hanuman temples in Andhra Pradesh.
Visiting Hours: 6:30 AM to 7:00 PM.
Address: Paritala, mandal, Kanchikacherla, Andhra Pradesh 521180.
9. Yaganti Temple
The Yaganti Temple in Andhra Pradesh was constructed way back in the 15th Century by a king called Hari Raya Bukkaraya. It was initially made for worshipping Lord Venkateshwara, but after the construction of the temple, the idol of the Lord was broken and was replaced by a Shiva Linga. This place can be found on the hills of Pushkarini through which the river Nanda flows.
Visiting hours: 6 AM to 1 PM.
Address: Temple Gopuram, Yaganti Rd, Yaganti, Andhra Pradesh 518124.
10. Annavaram Temple
The Annavaram Temple is one of the most popular destinations in Andhra Pradesh. Known for its Dravadian styled architecture, this place falls under one of the must see temples of Andhra Pradesh. The name of the place is derived from the word Anna, which translates to food, and it has since lived up to its name by distributing food to the poor and needy. The temple is located on a hill known as Ratnagiri and resembles the shape of a chariot. The temple has two floors- one for the Chakra and the other is for the Peetham of the Lord.
Visiting Hours: 6 AM to 12:30 PM.
Address: Annavaram Town Rd, East Godavari District, Annavaram, Andhra Pradesh 533406.
These are the top 10 temples in Andhra Pradesh. Go ahead and explore the beauty of these temples and indulge in the intricate artwork of these temples.
