TOURIST PLACES

Annavaram:

This is a reputed center of Piligramage in the State on account of the temple of Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swami. The temple is situated on the sacred Ratnagiri Hill. The Idol which is about 4 meters high in a cylindrical form. The base in the lower sanctum represents

Lord Brahma, while the top in the upper sanctum represents Lord Vishnu. The middle portion represents Lord Siva. This image of the deity is of forming as a single idol and representing the Hindu Trinity of unique attraction. In the temple premises, there is a Sundial which shows the Indian Standard time.   So many people are used to celebrate marriages in the temple. The Kalyana Mahosthavam of the dietyon Vaisakha Yekadasi during May attracts thousands of Pilgrims from all parts of the India.

Peddapuram Pandavula Metta:

The temple is situated at a distance of 22 Kms from Kakinada, 45 kms from Rajahmundry and 85 Kms from Amalapuram. Sakuni who lost his kingdom, and who lost his father in the Yuga of Dwapara wanted to take revenge against Kuru   race   kings.      One   day Duryodhana invited the Pandava brothers to participate in gambling. The both parties started the gambling, but with the spiritual power of the Sakuni’s father, Duryodhana got victory.

According to the game rule, Pandava brothers should leave their kingdom for 12 years and spend one year unknowingly. Total the period should be 13 years. On the way to Rameswaram the Pandavas stayed some years in Peddapuram on a hill which was located in between Bay of Bengal and the river Godavari. The hill was in a jungle of Dandakaranya. After some time Pandavas left the hill for Rameswaram.

There are also two natural caves on the hill facing east. It is widely believed that the Pandavas of Epic Mahabharatha lived here for some time during their Aranyavasa can be seen on a hill rock behind the temple. It is also believed that there is tunnel from this place to Rajahmundry. The height of Pandavula Metta is about 200 feet. The sea is just 22 Km away.

Padagaya in Pithapuram:

Padagaya Kshetram which is one of the important Astadasa Peetha’s situated at Pithapuram in Kakinada District. It is described in the third chapter of Bheema Khanda and of Skandapurana one of the eighteen Epics. 

Pithapuram in Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh became famous as pedagaya. The feet of Gayasura lied in the pool infront of the temple. The primal deity of this place is Lord Siva in the form of cock that’s why here Siva called as Kukkuteswara Swami. Even today he is receiving offerings by the devotees. This Piligrimage is also treated as one of eighteen sakthi Peethas as “10^th Pettam Puruhutika”. This Sakthi Peetham is famous with the name of Puruhutika. The place became famous in Pithapuram as the seat place of Satidevi has fallen here.

Datta Pilgrimage:

The son of the sage Atri and the holy Lady Anasuya was Dattathreya, having three forms of the Lord’s Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara. He was born in Padagaya Kshetram at Pithapuram. This is written in fifteenth chapter of Gurucharitra written by Sree Vasudeva Saraswati Swamy. Sri Pada Sri Vallabha was born in Padagyla Kshetram.

We have to see here Swamy old temple, as it is a divine place.  Kuntimadhava Swamy temple and Kukkuteswara Swami Temple are of Eastern Chalukya in 13^th Century at Pithapuram.

Samarlakota:

Kumararama or Bhimarama (Chalukya Kumararama Bhimeswara Temple) is one of the five Pancharama Kshetras that are sacred to the Hindu god Shiva. The temple is located in Samalkota of Kakinada district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

The temple is 1 kilometer from Samarlakota City. The limestone Linga, installed in the shrine, is 16 feet tall that it rises from the pedestal on the ground floor and enters the second floor by piercing the roof, where the Rudrabhaga is worshipped. The temple has a mandapam that is supported by 100 pillars and is of great architectural importance. The temple has an Ekasila Nandi (A Bull carved from a single stone) guarding the Shiva Lingam at the entrance of the temple. The temple resembles the other Pancharama temple at Draksharama which is also called Bhimeswara Alayam. To the East side, there is a mantap called Koneti. Pushkarni (Koneru) lake can be seen here.

Here the Goddess is also known as Bala Tripura Sundari.

Hope Island in Kakinada:

Kakinada in Bay of Bengal. Hope Island is located at 16.97°N 82.35°E. A relatively young island, it formed in the last 200 years into a 16-kilometre-long (9.9 miles) sand spit from the sand carried by the waters of Godavari delta.

The area between Kakinada coast and Hope Island is known as   Kakinada   Bay.   The   water   spread   of   the   bay   is   about 100 km² (39 sq miles). Hope Island protects the city of Kakinada from the strong cyclone/tidal waves/tsunamis coming from the Bay of Bengal. Hope Island acts as a sort of natural break water and provides tranquility to the ships anchored in Kakinada bay which makes Kakinada Port one of the safest natural ports in the Eastern Coast of India.

The northern part of the island is called the “Godavari point” which overlooks the entry point into the Bay of Kakinada and the Kakinada harbour. Currently the Island houses a small hamlet of fishermen and a few government buildings. Now government is planning to renew this island.

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary:

Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) is one of the Wildlife Sanctuaries in Andhra Pradesh. It is located in Konaseema District of Andhra Pradesh. It is approximately 20 km (12.42 miles) away from Kakinada, Headquarters of Konaseema District.

History of the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary:  History of the CWS starts from the year 1978. This wildlife sanctuary was established by Government of Andhra Pradesh on July 5, 1978. At present this sanctuary is under the governance of Andhra Pradesh Forest Department.

Geographical Location of CWS :  Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is geographically located on the Kakinada-Yanam state highway, 20 km away from Kakinada city. Deltaic branches of Gouthami and Godavari Rivers flows through this sanctuary. Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is a part of the Godavari Sanctuary comprising extensive mangroves and dry deciduous tropical forest etc. Coringa and Gaderu rivers and their branches intersect the sanctuary area. The CWS covers an area of 235.7 sq km (91 sq miles) in the marshlands formed due to the rivers and their branches flowing through the sanctuary. Half of the sanctuary area is covered by backwater of mangrove forest. The sanctuary has a sand pit of 18 km (11.18 miles) length in the back water present in its coverage area. This sanctuary is considered as the largest surviving patch of Mangrove forests in Andhra Pradesh.