Pillamarri is a village

Pillamarri is a village with a population of about 3,733. It is situated at a latitude of 17* 12'N and longitude of 79* 32'E. Historically significant this ancient village consists of many splendid temples maintained by State Government. The temples stand testimony to the architectural style of the Kakatiya period. The intricately carved stone pillars add grandeur to these archaeologically significant temples. Trescoes and inscriptions tell the tales of the rulers of the Kakatiya dynasty. There is a Kannada, Telugu inscription dated S. 1130 (A.D 1208) on a stone referring to king Ganapati. Another inscription of S.1117 (A.D 1195) found on a stone in the temple mentions the rule of Rudradeva. Ancient coins have also been discovered at this place. Pillalamarri, being the birth place of the famous Telugu poet Pillamarri Pina Virabhadrudu, is not only historically but also culturally and religiously significant. The sanctorum of Lord Chennakesavaswami is much revered and the annual celebation of the deity, held during February - March is waited to be attended by thousands of devotees

Kaleshwaram Tour

Kaleshwaram is a picturesque village located at the merging point of the Pranahita River with the Godavari River. This village is about 32km from Manthani in Karimnagar District. Kaleshwaram is popularly known as Manthrakuta. Mukteshwaraswamy Temple is the major draw at Kaleshwaram. The temple is considered as one of the three Jyotirlingas in Andhra Pradesh and contains two shivlings. Gautamashram, the hermitage of saint Gautama, is easily accessible from here by road. Manthani Temple is another attraction nearby. Bounded by forests, Kaleshwaram is an ideal tourist destination. Mancherial Railway station is located at 40 km from Kaleshwaram.

VEMULAWADA

VEMULAWADA

Vemulawada is situated at about 11 kms to the NorthEast of Sirsilla and 36kms from the Karimnagar on the Karimnagar, KamaReddy bus route. Buses ply regularly from Karimnagar, KamaReddy and Hyderabad. This place owes its importance ti the sacred and famous temple of Sri Rajarajeswara, an incarnation of Lord Siva. There is a Koneru known as Dharmagundam, the waters of which have some curative properties thousands of piligrims from all parts of the state congrgate here especially during Mahasivaratri and Kalyanotsavam of the deity. The income of the temple is said to exceed 3 to 4 lakhs of rupees every year. A great part of it is derived during the course of these festivals. The other shrines of importance are that of Anantha Padmanabha Swamy, Bhimeshwara Swamy, Kodanda Ramaswamy, Kasi Visweswara and Rajaswari. Apart from these there is a tomb of Muslim saint.

How far : 150 km from Hyderabad

What to see : Sri Rajarajeswara Swamy temple and the Mosque inside the premises Vemulawada, located 150 km from Hyderabad is known for Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Temple. It is one of the very few temples devoted to Lord Siva. Popularly known as Dakshana Kashi (Benaras of South India) the temple attracts lakhs of devotees from all over the country. The Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy Temple is a fine example of communal harmony where both Hindus and Muslims offer obeisance to Lord Siva and Allah. The temple at Vemulawada is next only to Tirupati in terms of its revenues. The temple contributes Rs. 8 lakhs anually to the gram Panchayat for developmental activities in the pilgrim town. Special arrangements are made for the pilgrims during the festival. Several cultural and social activities are also organised by the authorities. Free boarding and lodging is provided to the students. Besides, the temple also offers donations for other small temples. On the Sivaratri day, a record three to four lakh pilgrims through the sacred temple at Vemulawada. Special poojas and darshans are held to mark the festivity. Mahalingarchana is performed by about hundred archakas. At midnight Ekadasa Rudrabhishekham is performed to the deity. The temple is brightly illuminated in the night, presenting an aesthetic look.

LEGEND:

The puranic version has it that Lord Siva after having stayed at Kashi, Chidambaram, Srisailam and Kedareswaram chose to reside at Vemulawada. History records that Vemulawada was ruled by successive dynasties - the Ikshwakus, the Satavahanas and later by the Chalukyas who made it their state capital. The presiding deity is Sri Raja Rajeswara Swamy, also called Rajanna. To the right of the presiding deity is the idol of Sri Raja Rajeswari Devi and to the left is the idol of Sri Laxmi Sahitha Siddi Vinayaka. In the temple premises there is a holy tank called the Dharma Gundam. Three mandapas were constructed on it and the statue of Lord Eshwara resides in the middle. The Lord is seen in a meditation posture with five lingas surrounding the holy tank. The lighting of the holy lamp or Ganda Deepam is also considered auspicious by the devotees visiting the shrine. Although devotees make offerings to the presiding diety in different ways, the most important one is Kode Mokku (offering of bull to God). The devotees who bring the bull take them round the temple and tie it somewhere in the temple complex. The significance of this ritual is that devotees will be cleansed of their sins and they can beget children. This temple attracts followers of both Vaishnavism (worshippers of Vishnu), and Saivism (worshippers of Siva), and is also being frequented by Jains and Buddists. The sculptures on the temples also depict the cultures of Jainism and Buddhism. A unique feature of the temple at Vemulawada is that it also houses a 400 year old mosque inside its premises. It is believed that the mosque was built as a tribute to a muslim devot

Tour to Dharmapuri

Facts And Figures Area: 4497.77 Sq Kms Population: 12,86,552 Languages spoken: Tamil and English STD Code: 0434 Location Situated on the northern western part of the state of Tamil Nadu, the beautiful district of Dharmapuri is bounded by the Tiruvannamalai and Villupuram Districts on the east, Salem District on the South, Krishnagiri District on the north, while the Kaveri River flows on its western fringes. One of the prettiest districts of Tamil Nadu, a tour to Dharmapuri is a must-include if you are planning a trip to Tamil Nadu. Best Time To Visit The hottest period in Dharmapuri usually occurs during the months of March to May when the temperature ranges around 38 degrees Celsius. Decembers are cool with the pleasant weather continuing till February when the mercury touches a happy minimum of around 17 degrees Celsius. Thus, the best time to visit Dharmapuri would be during the months of winter. History Perhaps the earliest mention of Dharmapuri can be found during the Sangam Era when a chieftain who ruled Tagadur, which is known as present-day Dharmapuri kept written accounts of his reign. In the period which followed, Dharmapuri saw the reigns of the Rashtrakutas, Cholas and the Pandyas. Soon under the realms of the valiant Tipu Sultan, the province also came under the rule of the British, a period which saw the district as being incorporated as a “taluk” or part of the Salem District. Tourist Attractions The major tourist attractions of a tour to Dharmapuri include: Theerthamalai :One of the most sacred places of Tamil Nadu, this is the site of the revered Shri Theerthagirishwarar Temple, which is regarded by history to be one of the most respected temples of the Chola and the Vijayanagara Kings. This is also the site for the celebrations of the Mahashivarathiri, one of the most auspicious days of the Hindu calendar. Hanumanthathirtham :Closely associated with the Theerthagirishwarar Temple, Hanumanthathirtham is located at a distance of 10 Km from Uthangarai. According to an ancient legend, this place has strong associations with the Ramayana and is believed to be one of the most sacred places in Tamil Nadu. A must visit if you are planning a tour to Dharmapuri. The other places of worship in Dharmapuri include Agasthya Theertham, Agni Theertham. Kumara Theertham, Rama Theertham, Vashista Theertham and the Gouri Theertham Places Around Dharmapuri The important places of tourist interest located around Dharmapuri are: Hogenakal Falls : Located at the border of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the Hogenakal Falls is situated at a distance of around 46 kms away from Dharmapuri. An important tourist attraction of Dharmapuri, the Hogenakal Falls earns its importance for being the point where the River Kaveri enters Tamil Nadu. Krishhnagiri Dam :Situated around 7 kms from Krishnagiri, the Krishnagiri Dam is located between Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri and enjoys a reputation for being one of the most scenic spots of Dharmapuri. Thally :Situated on the borders of Karnataka, Thali is home to a famous temple built as a mark of reverence for Venugopala Swami. Fairs & Festivals The festivals of Dharmapuri are varied and add an extra spark of life to the town’s daily lives. Notable among these are: Pongal :Like all the other regions of Tamil Nadu, Pongal is one of the most important festivals of Dharmapuri. Mahashivaratri :If you are planning a tour to Dharmapuri, one of the best times to visit would be during February when the festivities of Mahashivaratri promise to add a dash of special flavor to your vacation. How to reach By Road: Dharmapuri is well-connected to a number of neighboring cities by an efficient network of roads. By Rail: Dharmapuri is well-connected to a number of neighboring cities via important rail heads. These cities include Chennai, Thanjavur, Chidambaram, Madurai, Tirupathi, Tuticorin, Tenkasi, Quilon as well as Rameswaram Bangalore, Coimbatore, Mysore, Kochi, Kanyakumari and Mangalore. Take a tour to Chettinad and look back in time amidst the temples, mansions and historical monuments of Tamil Nadu. Where To Stay Dharmapuri is home to a number of hotels and resorts, all of which are fully equipped to provide warmth and hospitality to all the guests to the city. These include several hotels pertaining to the economy and choice of numerous people on a tour to Dharmapuri. Tourism of India.com offers online information on Tour to Dharmapuri and other tourist attractions of India.

Bhadrachalam Rama Temple , Khammam

Location: Bhadrachalam near Khammam. This ancient shrine is built on a hill, accessed by a flight of steps.
Deity:Lord Rama

This temple is vast in size. The vimana and the mandapams are of fine craftsmanship. This temple is associated with Bhadrachala Ramadas an ardent devotee of Rama. The temple underwent renovation in the 17th century. Valmiki has sung the story of Sri Ramachandra here. The spot where the temple stands was where Lord Rama lived before Ravana carried Sita away. Lord Rama is said to have given Ramachandra darshan and liberated his soul. That is why it is called Bhadrachalam in the memory of the Saint Bhadra. The temple has beautiful pieces of sculpture that captivates the attention with their sheer beauty and excellence of workmanship. Sri Rama is shown here as handsome, well-built, holding the Dhanus-bow and arrow, and standing in the Tribhanga pose. Sita stands close to him, also in Tribhanga pose, with a lotus in one hand and the other hand in the katyavalambita posture.

Legend: The temple was consecrated by manushya pratishtha according to local legends the temple finds its first mention with a Bairagi or mendicant who came from Ayodhya. He resided on a small hillock overlooking the mighty Godavari. Here he carved out an image of Srirama and built a small temple. Ramadas were a Taluk official who was sent here to collect the revenues for his masters. He collected the revenues, but instead of remitting them to his masters, he thought that the money could be better used for constructing a temple for Srirama, and hence spent all the money for enlarging the small temple. He was found a guilty of embezzlement and was sentenced to prison by Tanashah for 12 years.

Lord Rama, pleased with his devotee, he chose to appear before the Kutub Shahi ruler, in the form of Gopanna and showered lakes of rupees. The king freed Saint Ramadas and was also allowed to mint gold coins, popularly known as ramatangi. An unlettered woman Dammakka is said to have lived in the hamlet near the hill. She saw a vision of the images of Sri Rama, Sita and Lakshmana lying sheltered in an unfrequented spot on the hill. Next day, she climbed the hill and discovered the idols on the very spot she had dreamt. Dammakka is said to have built a small mantapa to house these idols.

Festivals: Ramadas expanded the temple and constructed mantapas and gopuras for conducting several festivals for the Lord particularly Sri Ramnavami which is celebrated on a grand scale here. The temple till recently got an endowment of Rs. 20,000/- from the Nizam`s treasury, for the maintenance of worship of Sri Rama. It was at Bhadrachalam that Sri Rama lost Sita, and it was here that he manifested himself to save his devotee Ramadas. During Sri Rama Navami endless streams of pilgrims do the famous Bhadrachala Yatra.

The Yatra follows a serpentine track, creeping up many ancient hill and passes through many dales and woods, which are a part of the Dandakaranya forest (of Ramayana), which form a part of his exile.

Other Shrines: close by are in the vicinity: Parnasala, 32 km near Bhadrachalam is said to be the site of the hut where Rama, Sita and Lakshman lived in exile. Ushnagundam, a hot water spring 6 km near Bhadrachalam is another site visited by them.

Basara Saraswathi Temple

Basara Saraswathi Temple is one among the two temples of this Goddess in India. The other is in Kashmir. Let’s take the tour of the vibrant historical heritage in and around Nirmal. There are many places of worship built which reflect the amalgamation of various cultures and traditions. Among them the most important and most visited place is the temple of Basar, the abode of Goddess of Learning, Goddess Saraswathi. Basar is well connected by rail and road. One can go by train, The Secundrabad –Manmad Express that stops at Basar.And all state transport buses from Hyderabad. The temple authority provides the Devasthanam Choultry for the devotees and visitors for their stay. There are many guesthouses, restaurants and hotels available on reasonable tariffs. The temple of Goddess Saraswathi at Basar is one among the two temples of this Goddess. The other is in Kashmir. Basar is a village situated on the banks of river Godavari; the serene and pious nature attracts the kith and kin. Built at the confluence of the rivers Mangira and Godavari this temple is adorned by the goddess of knowledge and wisdom The Goddess Saraswathi. According to a popular legend great sage Vysa along with his son sage Shuka and other disciples desponded and dejected by the Kruskethra War left on a pilgrimage towards Dakshinapatnam (southern India). He retired on the banks of River Godavari for a penance. This was later called Vasar in his honour and gradually is being called as Basar. During his stay, Sage Vysa bought three handfuls of sand and made them into three heaps daily after the morning bath. T he heaps have transformed into the divine trio The Lakshmi, The Sarada and The Gowri. The idol made of sand is smeared with turmeric. Another popular legend says that Sage Valmiki prior writing his magnus opus The Ramayan; installed Goddess Saraswathi and seeked her blessing. One can find the marble samadi of Valmiki near the Saraswathi temple. The temple is an example of the Dravidian architectural splendour. The Garbha gudi or Garbha griha, Gopurams, Prakarams and the like all are sculptured with grandeur. The idol of Goddess Lakshmi is installed along with Goddess Jnana Saraswathi. The goddess adorns the throne in sitting posture, which is of 4 feet tall. Another object of attraction is the granite pillar that emits the sound of ‘Saptaswaras’when struck with a stone, drawing visitors’ attention. Another speciality is the tree called ‘Oudumbra’ at the base of which are installed the sacred sandals of Dattatreya’. It is believed that a barren woman is gifted with a child on mere touch of them. Devotees stream the temple for the ritual of ‘AksharaAbhishekam’ of their children; the formal starting of education deeming it to be auspicious. The annual festivals of ‘Devi Nava Rathri’, ‘Dattatreya Jayanthi’, and ‘Vasantha Panchami’ are celebrated with utmost dedication and devotion and draws devotees from all parts of the country from all walks of life. A shrine one must visit in one’s lifetime; the abode of Goddess of learning and knowledge is the BASAR Saraswathi temple in the Muthol taluq in the district of Adilabad in Andhra Pradesh. For more information on Basar Saraswathi, please visit: www.basaratemple.org

Basara Temple - Accomodation facilities. TTD Guest House ( Four Rooms) Each room (Non-AC) Rs. 150 per day, AC room Rs. 400 per day. Vemulavada Guest House 4 rooms. Rs. 75 per day per room. Saraswathi Sadan Guest House with 5 rooms. Rs. 75 per day per room. Nilanghekar Guest House ( Donor Guest House) With 4 rooms Rs. 100 per day per room. Gourla Guest HOuse (Donar Guest House) with 2 rooms Rs.150 per room per day. Dharamshala with 9 rooms Rs.100 per room per day. There is a large 100 room Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam (TTD) Guest House. Rooms are available for Rs. 100 per day. There are Brahmana Choultry and Vyshya Choultry near the temple premises. APTDC run Punnami hotel ( Ph: 08752-243691) is also available for the visitors. For reservations and bookings visit APTDC website. Besides these major accomodation facilities, there are about 20 private lodging establishments with an average of 15 rooms each. Air conditioned rooms cost about Rs. 700 per day and Non-AC about Rs. 200. To reserve the rooms, please write a letter to Excutive officer along with a Demand Draft of Rs. 200 for Non-AC room and Rs. 500 for AC room, in favour of "Excutive officer, Gnana Saraswathi Devi Devastahnam" payable at "State Bank of Hyderabad-Basar, Andhra Pradesh" Make sure to mention the date, time, duration of stay, number of people and number of rooms you want to reserve. Register post the letter to the following address: The Executive Officer Sri Gnana Saraswathi Devasthanam, Basara - Village: Mudhole - Mandal. Adilabad. Pin - 504101, Andhra Pradesh, India. Devasthanam Phone number (91) 08752 - 243503 Executive Officer (Office) (91) 08752 - 243550 E.O (Home) (91) 08752 - 243903

How to Reach Basara Temple?

Basara is well connected with Road and Rail routes. By Air : Nearest airport is Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. From Hyderabad one can choose to travel by Bus, Train or by hiring a private taxi. By Train : Basara has a Rail railway station between Secunderbad Junction - Mudkhed Junction (via Kamareddy, Nizamabad.) By Road : Number of Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Buses ( APSRTC) are available from Hyderabad Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station ( Imliban Bus station) and from Jubilee Bus Station (JBS Secunderabad) List of trains and their schedule to Basar. Note: Information provided may be out dated and need update. Kindly visit the Indian railways web site for the latest. Kindly visit South central railway website for detailed schedule TRAIN NO TRAIN NAME 7058 DEVAGIRI EXP 707 PARBHANI - NIZAMABAD PASS 708 NIZAMABAD - NANDED PASS 703 NANDED-NIZAMABAD 704 NIZAMABAD-NANDED PASS 582 NIZAMABAD - MUDKHED PASS 557 NIZAMABAD - NANDED PASS 558 NANDED - NIZAMABAD PASS Station Telephone Numbers Centralised enquiry about arrival and departure of trains at Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Kacheguda and Begumpet. 131 Centralised reservation enquiry about Accommodation availability and Confirmation for all classes at Secunderabad 135 1345 (IVRS)* IVRS for train enquiry at Secunderabad 1331 (English) 1332 (Hindi) 1333 (Telugu) Vijayawada 131 136 (IVRS) 135 133 578955 577775 Guntakal 131 (Note: Kindly reconfirm the train numbers and the destinations with the proper railway authorities. Web site is not responsible for an misinformation) BUS Transport: Number of APSRTC buses, as frequent as every half-hour, are available from Imliban Bus station (MGBS), Hyderabad and Jubilee bustation, Secunderabad, Nizamabad and Bhainsa. Contact APSRTC for a detailed Schedule. APSRTC Enquiry phone numbers: 040 - 23434268 General Enquiry 040 - 23434280 General Enquiry 040 - 24618685 General Enquiry 040 - 23434264 General Enquiry 040 - 24613955 and 040 - 23434269 - Reservation Enquiry. From Maharashtra busses run from Nanded, Bhokar, Hadi Gaon and Mudhkhed.

Beechupally (Sri Anjaneya Swamy Temple)

Beechupally is one of the famous shrines for the god Hanuman (anjaneya swamy). It is located on the banks of Krishna River at about 30 kilometers downstream after Jurala Project in Mahaboob Nagar district, Andhra Pradesh.

The development of the shrine has been augmented by the passage of national highway (NH7) through the village. A road bridge built in 1950s helped trading between Telangana and Rayalaseema regions of the Andhra Pradesh. The bridge was one of the first connections between central/north India and south India.

Initially, the shrine consisted a Hanuman temple about 200 meters away from the river and a Shiva lingam temple near by the river. During the rainy season, the water flow becomes high enough to touch the Shiva lingam temple. A temple for Lord Rama was also built in the area in 1992. For the convenience of devotees, several ghats were built for pushkara snanam, a sacred bath that takes place every 12 years. Since then its development continued to expand. In 2004 pushkaras, the shrine was developed with greater facilities making it one of the major places for pushkara snanam (sacred dip).

The Beechupally shrine is near two islands on the Krishna River. A larger island (Gurram Gadda village) is about 10 km² area is populated with farmers due to its soil fertility. A smaller island on the east side is called Nizam Konda (port belongs to Nizam Nawabs).