Sampath Vinayagar Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Cabs wait at the airport to take visitors into the city.

• By road

  The state transport corporation (APSRTC) runs city, district and inter-state buses from Dwaraka bus station.

• By train

  Visakhapatnam Railway Station (VSKP) is the nearest railway station to the temple.

Rules to know

• New vehicles are blessed at the temple, and lines form outside on Sundays and Mondays.

Why devotees come here

Sampath Vinayagar Temple in Visakhapatnam is a shrine to Ganesha, known here as Vinayaka. It is famous for vehicle puja, where new vehicles are blessed before a journey. Visitors are welcomed by a black marble idol.

Sampath Vinayagar Temple is a shrine to Vinayaka, the name by which Ganesha is worshipped here, in Visakhapatnam on the eastern coast of India. Local belief holds that during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war, Admiral Krishnan of the Eastern Naval Command broke 1001 coconuts before the deity to give thanks. Fishermen are said to have prayed here before going to market each day, and their early prayers included lighting lamps.

The temple stands amid the city as a place of devotion. It was established in 1962 by TS Rajeshwaran and TS Selvaganesan. Its care now lies with the Andhra Pradesh Endowments Department. The shrine is revered by millions across India. Visitors are greeted by an elegant black marble idol of Vinayaka, and the black stone architecture is worth a slow look at its craftsmanship.

Today the temple is famous for vehicle puja. On Sundays and Mondays, new vehicles line up outside to receive blessings for a safe journey.

Tips for your visit

• Students place their exam hall tickets before the idol, asking for success in exams.
• Couples place their first wedding invitation card before the deity for blessings.
• Kailasagiri Park is not far away, with statues of Shiva, ropeway rides and views over the Bay of Bengal.

Questions people ask