Kumararama Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Rajahmundry Airport is the nearest airport to Samalkota town.

• By train

  Samalkota is on the Chennai to Howrah broad gauge line of South Central Railway, and the station is a junction on the Visakhapatnam to Vijayawada section.

• By road

  APSRTC operates bus services from Samarlakota bus station.

Why devotees come here

Kumararama Temple in Samalkota is one of the five Pancharama Kshetras sacred to Shiva. The presiding deity is Shiva, known here as Kumara Bhimeswara. The Puranas describe the place as a Yogakshetram.

Legend says the huge stone linga here was cut into five lingas. They were installed at five places, which came to be known locally as the Pancharams. Kumararama is one of those five Shiva shrines, and the Puranas describe it as a Yogakshetram.

The temple was built by the Eastern Chalukya king Chalukya Bhima-I towards the end of the 9th century AD. Construction began in AD 892 and was completed in 922. The tall Sivalinga is named Chalukya Bhimesvara after the king.

Two prakara walls of dressed sand stone surround the temple. On the western side stands a single monolithic pillar, locally known as kappa stambham. The mandapam rests on 100 pillars and is of notable architectural importance. At the entrance, an Ekasila Nandi, a bull carved from one stone, guards the Shiva lingam.

Festivals

• February or MarchMaha Shivaratri

  Grand celebrations are held at the temple on Maha Shivaratri.

• February to March, on Magha Bahula EkadashiKalyana Mahotsavam

  The temple's Utsavam, known as the Kalyana Mahotsam, is held on this day.

• Dussehra, for 10 daysSaran Nava Rathrulu

  A 10-day festival at the temple during Dussehra.

• October or NovemberKarthika Masam

  The month of Karthika is observed at the temple.

Tips for your visit

• Draksharama, Annavaram and Thalupulamma Thalli are nearby places of interest.
• Kakinada is 12 km from Samalkota.

Questions people ask