Amaravati Temple Tour

Location : Sattenapalli Taluk of Guntur District
Attractions : The Amreshwara Temple, the Buddhist Stupa.
Ideal Time To Visit : Throughout the year

¤ The Pious Land of Amaravati

Located in the Sattenapalli Taluk of Guntur district, is a small town of Amravati. This place is famous for a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva worshiped here as Lord 'Amareswara'. Amravati is also famous for the Buddhist sculptures all over the world.

Apart from these attractions, Amravati or Amareswaram is regarded holy because of the presence of the Krishna river, Sthalamahatyam, a vital Kshetra and the Sri Mahalinga Murthy. All these are pious and represent the principal of the temple.


¤ Religious Amaravati

Amaravati is also known as 'Punyakshetra'. Here, one can find five different forms of Lord Shiva. These lingams are called 'Pranaveswara', 'Agasteswara', 'Kosaleswara', 'Someswara' and 'Parthiveswara'. Both 'Lord Amareswara' and his spouse 'Bala Chamundika' are worshiped here, along with other deities of the temple. The temple's origin is a subject of curiosity among many people. There are various beliefs related to it, some Puranic and some historical. Thus, the temple tour attracts innumerable tourists with its purity and might.


¤ The History of The Temple

The elevated Amreshwara Temple is situated on the holy Krishna river. According to one of the legend, even a flood in the river Krishna won't affect the temple, instead it will turn its flow to some other side. Therefore, one can see the river Krishna diverted from north to south at this place. Temples are usually built on these short turns of the river, as they are regarded sacred.

Another legend tells us that the temple was earlier a Buddhist shrine but later a Hindu temple was built here. This contradiction is the root of a controversy, as the foundations of the temple are laid with the typical Buddhist slabs only.


¤ The Architecture of The Temple

The presiding deity of the this temple is Lord Shiva, present in the form of a 15 ft. high white marble Shiva lingam. There are four high gopuras surrounding the temple, built in typical Dravidian style. The 'Vimana' of the temple is also built in the same style of architecture.

There is a white marble lotus Medallion decorated intricately with early Buddhist 'Silpas'. It is placed just above the 'Mula Virat' in the Garbhagriha of the temple. The cylindrical Mula Virat is a part of typical Buddhist monument.

There is also a beautiful Buddha Stupa, famous throughout the world. Thus, this place hold significane for both Hinduism and Buddhism.


¤ Festivals

Some of the major festivals celebrated in the Amareswara temple are the Maha Shivaratri, falling on the 'Magha Bahula Dasami'. Other festivals celebrated are the Navaratri and the 'Kalyana Utsavas'.


¤ Reach Amaravati

By Air : The nearest airport is Vijayawada (82 km).

By Rail : The nearest railheads are Guntur and Vijayawada. A good network of connect Guntur to Amaravati.

By Road : Amaravati is situated 20 miles northwest of Guntur and is connected by a good motorable road.

Local Transportation : Taxis and buses are available from Guntur.