Kanipakam Vinayaka Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Tirupati airport is the nearest, roughly 80 to 90 km away by road, according to tourism pages.

• By train

  Chittoor is the nearest station, about 11 to 12 km away. Taxis, autos and buses run on from there.

• By road

  Kanipakam is about 11 km from Chittoor on the Chittoor to Irala road, and 68 km from Tirupati. Buses run often from Chittoor bus stand.

Why devotees come here

Kanipakam Vinayaka Temple is a Ganesha temple in Kanipakam village, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, about 11 km from Chittoor town. Its deity, Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka, is held to be self-manifested and to sit in a well that never runs dry.

The name Kanipakam comes from two words. Kani means about one and a quarter acres of land, and pakam means the flow of water into it. The name goes back to the legend of the temple.

Three brothers, who were mute, deaf and blind, farmed a small plot. One day, while deepening their well, a tool struck a hard object. Blood ran from it and the water turned red. The legend says all three brothers were then made whole.

Villagers came and found a Ganesha idol in the well. They could never reach its base. They declared it self-manifested, or swayambhu, and offered coconuts. The water from those coconuts is said to have flowed over the one and a quarter acres of the field.

Devotees believe the idol has grown over the years. A silver armour made about 50 years ago no longer fits, and only the knees and belly show above the water. The temple was built in the early 11th century by the Chola king Kulottunga I and expanded in 1336 under the Vijayanagara rulers.

Festivals

• August or SeptemberVinayaka Chavithi

  The Ganesha birthday festival, and the day the Brahmotsavam begins.

• 21 days from Vinayaka ChavithiBrahmotsavam

  The processional deity is carried through the streets on different vahanams, and pilgrims come from across the country.

Tips for your visit

• Expect heavy crowds during the 21 days of the Brahmotsavam, when pilgrims arrive from across the country.
• The cooler months, November to February, suit a visit better, with highs of about 31 to 36 degrees on the tourism page.
• Take a taxi, auto or bus from Chittoor station or bus stand for the last 11 km.
• Check darshan hours, queue rules and booking options on the official site before you leave, as they are not confirmed here.

Questions people ask