Places of Interest
Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority, Nandyal District
Important Tourism places in Nandyal District
PLACE OF TOURIST IMPORTANCE :
Srisailam
It is located at 165 Kms from Nandyal and 264 Kms from Vijayawada with an attitude of over 1500 ft. above the Sea level in the Picturesque natural environment in the Northern most part of the Nallamala hill range. The temple at Srisailam is the ancient and sacred place of South India. The presiding devity of the place is Brahmaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy in natural stone formations in the shape of Lingam and is listed as one of the twelve Jyotirlingams existing in the country. The Temple built in 14th Century and the walls are carved with depictions of elephants hunting scenes and Lord Shiva in different manifestations. Apart from the main temple there are other places like Sikhareswaram, the gates of Heaven, Hatakeswaram and Pala Dhara–Pancha Dara, Sakshi Ganapathi, Sivaji Spurthikendra, Pathala Ganga etc., are well worth for visit.
Mahanandi:
Mahanandiswara temple in Mahanandi mandal is a reputed pilgrim center and that dates back to the 7th century A.D. It is Located at a distance of 14 Kms from Nandyal district.It is a scenic spot having its location to the east of the Nallamalas hill range in a natural set up of ravishing beauty surrounded by thick forest. The remarkable feature here is the crystal clear water which flows throughout the year from perennial springs. The festival of Mahanandiswara is celebrated during February- March. Pilgrims and Tourists from all parts of India particularly South Indians visit this place throughout the year. Apart from the above there are other places like Pushkarani, a pond with water so clear and pure that even a pin at the bottom can be seen, KodandaRamalayam and Kameswari Devi temple are the visiting places.
Ahobilam:
It is a great religious center of antiquity and is situated at a distance of 68 Kms from Nandyal, 28 Kms from Allagadda.At upper Ahobilam worship is offered to Navanarasimha (Nine Forms of Lord Narasimha) where as at lower Ahobilam down the hill the temple of Prahladavarada is located. The Brahmotsavam is celebrated in the month of February – March attracting large number of devotees. Other sites worth seeing are Amruthavalli tavar temple, Sannidhi Pushkarini, Bhashyakara Sannindi.
Yaganti:
Yaganti lies at a distance of 11 Kms from Banganapally and 74 Kms from Nandyal situated admists natural scenery with caves and water falls around. The presiding deity is Uma Maheswara Swamy popularly known as Yaganti Swamy.This deity is in the form of Statue and its tower posses beautiful sculptures. The most striking scenic at this temple is huge Nandi of size of 15’ X 10’ X 8’.Mahasivaratri Festival celebrated here and attracts large gathering of Hindus.
Belum Caves:
Belum Caves are located near Belum village, Kolimigundla mandal in Nandyal district. The Caves lies at a distance of 79 Kms from Nandyal via Banaganapalli. Belum Caves made known in 1982 and which are the second largest natural caves in Indian Sub Continent after Meghalaya Caves. These under ground caves are located on a flat agricultural field, have 3 well like cavities with the central one being the main entrance to the caves.
After a distance of 20 meters at the entrance, the cave is horizontal and has a length of 3229 meters. Longer than Borra Caves in Vizag district, Belum caves have long passages, spacious chambers fresh water galleries and siphons. There are some land marks inside named as “Simhadwaram”, “Kotilingalu”, “Manadapam” and “Pathalaganga”. All this makes Belum Caves a geographical and archeological attraction worldwide.
Bramham Gari Matam-Banaganapalli:
Banaganapalli us 85 kms away from Kurnool. Veera Bramham is well known saint.in this region. He lived in this area written “Kalagnanam” on palm leaves. Garimireddy Achamma has provided shelter to Veera Bramham and became his disciple. He worked as a Gopala in her house. Chintamani Matam and Nelamatam are famous in this town, Banaganapalli is famous for Mango Gardens.
Rolla Padu Sanctuary:
The Rolla Padu Sanctuary is located in Midthur mandal and about a distance of 42 Kms from Nandyal. Apart from a wide variety birds and animals, this sanctuary is renowned as one of the last refuges of the endangered Great Indian Bustraed (Batta Meka Pitta), which is a hevy Ground Bird like a young ostrich or peahen.
NANDAVARAM CHOWDESWARI DEVI
Nandavaram is a village near Banaganapalli at a distance of9 kms. The temple village is 32 Kms away from Nandyal.Accroding to history Nandavaram was ruled by NandanaMaharaju. Nandana Chakravarthi used to apply lepanam given bya sear to his feet and visited Kasi Viswewara and Annapurneswariand return to Nandavaram before sunrise every day. One day ThePower of lepanam passed away. Then the king sacred Brahmins
helped to reach. The king and wife to Nandavaram with theirMantra Power. Nandanaraju gave a word to meet him when everythey require help. After some years there was famine in Kasi.Memorising the word given by Nandana Raju, The brahmin families arrived Nandavaram and visited remember the word givento Brahmins. He asked for witness. Brahmins prayed KasiAnnapurneswari and requested to witness before king. As per therequest Devi accepted and settle at in Nandavaram. NandavarikaBrahmins, Thogataveera Kashatriyasand other devotees visit theChowdeswari Devi, the Jyothi Utsavam is a famous festival in themonth of April (Chaitra Masam) every year on a large scale. Thousands of pilgrim attends the jyothi festival from Karnataka, Maharshtra, Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh. This temple is visited by great people.
KOTTURU – SRI SUBRAMANYASWARA SWAMY
Sri Subramanyaswara Swamy loving son of Parvathi and Parameswara. His another name is Kandanaswamy, Kumaraswamy, Karthikeyudu and Shanmukudu. He is prasing allthese names. Subramanyaswara Swamy a here is standing theirhappiness law and order. Kotturu is a famous place. It means good
bramharam he got knowledge means brahagram or knowledge of the Brahma.
KOILAKUNTLA – PANDU RANGA SWAMY
Koilakuntla is a mandal head quarters in Nandyal district. Itis 37 Km away from Nandyal and is connecting town to Kurnool -Banaganapalli – Jammalamadugu. Long ago Pandavas during thesevanavasam were visited this area. Dharmaraja of Pandavas hasbrought and famed Salagrama of Panduranga swami. In course oftime the Salagrama was covered by soil. once Sri Pandu rangaswamy appeared in dream to a girl by name ‘Koila’ and said thathe is in a mud of a pond (Kunta) and said to construct a temple.The people identified the Panduranga swamy in the Kunta and constructed temple and the village is named as Koila-kuntla.There are idols of Lakshmi, Anjaneya, in the temple. Thesasanam (inscription) in the temple laid by Nandala Narasimharayalu (AD 1571) Araviti Tirumala rayalu was ruling the Vijayanagaraempire with capital of Penukonda at the time. 12 days frestival is performed in Vaisaka Masa sudha Astami.
KOLIMIGUNDLA SRI LAKSHMINARASIMHA TEMPLE
The temple is situated at distance of 71 k.m. from Nandyal.The temple was constructed during the period of Sri Krishnadevaraya. There is an idol of Sri Krishnadevaraya with his wifes Chinnadevi and Thirumaladevi. The shine of Sri Lakshmi Narasimha is piece of excellent architecture workmanship depicting the Vijayanagara style of art.
PANIKESWARA SWAMY – PANYAM
Panyam is a Mandal head quarter and is 18 kms away fromNandyal. The area is endowed with garden. The are is famous fornurseries. Long ago the land was ruled by king Vishnu Vardhan.The wild animals destorying the crops and villagers. The king chasedthe wild animals in the forest to protect villagers. While the kingwas in sleep his hands fell on the chest of his daughter. Facing
him self as sin, he cut his two hands even though his daughter andpeople objected to do.Then the king decided and kept in a place of snakes.Automatically his hands re appeared. He constructed a temple onthe name of Panikeswara Swamy (Pani mean hands) on the diety provided two hands again to the king.
Sangameswara temple
The Sangameswara temple is a Hindu temple in the Nandyal district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located near Muchumarri at the confluence of the Krishna and Bhavanasi rivers, in the foreshore of the Srisailam reservoir, where it is submerged for part of the time, surfacing when the water level recedes to a sufficient degree. It was first submerged after the Srisailam Dam was constructed in 1981, and first surfaced in 2003.The temple’s wooden Lingam, Sangameshwaram, is believed to have been installed by Dharmaraja, the eldest of the Pandavas, after their visit to Srisailam Mallikarjuna temple.The temple is considered a place of religious sanctity due to being built at the confluence of seven rivers and remain visible for two months. (Bhavanasi, Krishna River and five rivers that merge into it beforehand, namely, Veni, Tunga, Bhadra, Bheemarathi and Malapaharini)