Arasavalli Sun Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Visakhapatnam is the nearest airport, 117 km from Srikakulam.

• By train

  Srikakulam Road station, on the Vizag to Bhubaneswar line, is the nearest railway point.

• By road

  From Srikakulam bus stop, take a bus, taxi or auto. The temple is about 5 km away.

Why devotees come here

Arasavalli Sun Temple is dedicated to Surya, the solar deity, in Arasavalli village, 1 km east of Srikakulam town in Andhra Pradesh. It is considered one of the oldest sun temples in India. Twice a year, the early morning sun falls on the deity's feet, even when the gates are closed.

Local legend says Sage Kasyapa installed the idol of Surya at Arasavalli for the welfare of mankind. The temple's own history, the Sthalapuranam, gives another account. It says Devendra founded the temple and installed the present idol. The sun is able to reach the deity even when the five entrance gates of Arasavalli Sri Surya Narayana Swamy Devalayam are closed. The district portal calls it one of two ancient sun temples in the country.

It is believed that King Devendra Varma of the Eastern Ganga dynasty built the temple in the 7th century CE. The temple fell into disrepair over the centuries. It was reconstructed in 1778 by Elamanchili Pullaji Panthulu. It is built in the Rekha deula style of Kalinga architecture, like the Jagannath temple at Puri in Odisha.

Festivals

This year

• 9 to 11 March and 1 to 3 OctoberSun on the deity's feet

  The early morning sun falls on the deity's feet on these days, even when the gates are closed.

Every year

• On Ratha SaptamiRatha Saptami

  Thousands queue for darshan from Thursday midnight. Devotees see the Nijaroopam, which is possible only once a year.

Tips for your visit

• The two sun periods are called Uttarayanam, in March, and Dakshinayanam, in October.
• News reports call the deity Suryanarayana Swamy, so search for that name as well as Arasavalli.

Questions people ask