Venu Gopala Swamy Temple

Getting there

• By train

  Bobbili railway junction is in the Visakhapatnam division of the East Coast Railway zone.

• By road

  Bobbili is 55 km from Vizianagaram and is reached by both rail and road.

Why devotees come here

Venu Gopala Swamy Temple stands in Bobbili, a town in Vizianagaram district, Andhra Pradesh. Its gopuram entrance rises higher than the main temple, the only temple in the region where this is so. It is the family temple of the Bobbili royal family.

The temple belongs to the Bobbili royal family, whose family deity is Venugopala Swamy. The temple has existed since Bobbili was founded, and the royal family has worshipped Venugopala Swamy since then. It is the most revered temple in the town. Legend says Venugopala Swamy spends a day of solitude here with his wife.

The present temple was built for the ancient idol by Chinna Ranga Rao, when he took over the reins of Bobbili after the devastating war that wiped out most of Bobbili Fort. Later, the mandapams were built by Maharaja Krishnadas Ranga Rao in 1825, and the gopuram entrance by Swetha Chalapati Ranga Rao in 1851. The gopuram rises higher than the main temple. The Vasant Mandapam stands in the placid waters of a lake.

Festivals

• Every year, at the onset of springIdol visit to the lake

  The idol is taken to the lake, rests for a day in the Dola Yatra Mandapam on the bank, then is carried back to the main temple.

Tips for your visit

• Look for the Vasant Mandapam, which stands in the placid waters of a lake.
• The temple is located close to the royal residence in Bobbili.

Questions people ask