Located on the banks of River Godavari in Andhra Pradesh, and officially known Rajamahendravaram, Rajahmundry is the biggest city of the East and the West Godavari District in the state. Touted to be one of the oldest cities in India, Rajahmundry was founded in the 19th century by the Chalukya King- Raja Raja Narendra. This Cultural Capital of Andhra Pradesh is also referred to as the ‘born city’ as it is believed to be the birth city of Telugu language. Touring along river Godavari and relishing the scenic landscapes is the prime attraction at Rajahmundry that draws in tourists from far and wide.
Rajahmundry is primarily known to be a pilgrimage spot for Hindus, owing to the presence of several places of worship, the most famous of which is the Sri Veerabhadra Swamy Temple. The River Godavari is considered a sacred river other than being a significant spot of tourism. The Pushkara ghats, located along the river, is where the grand Pushkara festivals are held every 12 years. This festival is a holy congregation which sees a lot of devotees scurrying here for the prayers and to take a dip in the holy water. Sometimes referred to as Southern Bombay, Rajahmundry is also a prominent textile hub. Alluring landscapes, primitive temples, and the Godavari river cruise – the heart of this historic land is as pristine as its environment.
Places to Visit
Maredumilli
Part of one of the premium eco-tourism projects of the country, Maredumilli is a terrain of undulating plains, evergreen forests and rich biodiversity. Located in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, which is known for its rivers, ravines and lush greeneries, Maredumilli is a paradise for the nature lover, for the adventure seeker and for the offbeat traveller. The resort, officially named Valmiki Valley Vana Vihara Sthali, is an enchanting nest of nature’s finest, offering its visitors the most authentic, organic experiences. With dense woods and the smell of the wild enveloping the region, an exploding count of flora and fauna, sparkling rapids gushing down the slopes and crevices and exciting campsites to explore, Maredumilli is sincerely one of the best destinations to pick from in Andhra Pradesh, to spend a weekend away from the madding city crowds and the monotony of your everyday life.
While at Maredumilli, you will have opportunities to see and visit some unique locations, which are rare and hard to find otherwise. On the top of the list is Nandanavanam Ethno Medical Awareness Centre. Maredumilli is known for its extensive collection of medicinal plants, and this site is only a further effort to spread public awareness about the benefits of indigenous medicinal plants. You can take a round here and find the names of more than a hundred herbs and plants, both local and brought in from Orissa and regions of Western Ghats, with great healing properties.
Annavaram
Located in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, Annavaram is a small hamlet on the banks of river Pampa. It is famous for its shrine of Lord Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy, a form of the Hindu deity- Lord Vishnu, and is flocked by tourists throughout the year. The land belongs to both Satyanarayana Swamy and the Goddess Ananta Lakshmi Satyavathi Devi. The devotees come here to perform the special ritual of Satyanarayana Vratam to please Lord Vishnu. The prayer is mostly performed before housewarming ceremonies and wedding functions.
Papi Hills
Papikondalu mountain range runs along the River Godavari (Western Godavari) and is located in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh. Papikondalu is a sheer fest to the eyes in terms of its scenic beauty. As the hills become closer and closer to the visitor, the width of the mighty Godavari becomes narrower. In accordance with this view resembling the middle partition of a woman’s hair, it was initially named as ‘Papidi’ Kondalu- Paidi in Telugu means the middle partition of a woman’s hair. Later, it came to be known as Papikondalu in the local language. The river narrowing, its twists and turns along with the Papi Hills form a breathtaking visual experience.
Rajahmundry Temples
Rajahmundry is home to several famous temples that makes this place a pilgrim spot. These are some of the famous pilgrim locations that one must visit: Draksharama, Kotipalli, Samalkot, Pattiseema, Ryali, Maredumilli, Dowleswaram, Annavaram, Dvaraka Tirumala, Iskon Temple.
Draksharama
Located on the eastern bank of Godavari, Draksharamam Temple is one of the five most powerful and prominent temples dedicated to Lord Shiva in the country. 40kms away from Rajahmundry, the temple architecture dates back to the 11th century. Draksharamam is perfect for a religious pilgrimage, the scenery around the temple is pleasant and the road journey to the temple is nothing short of beautiful. The area and the temple is also called ‘Dakshin Kashi’ – that signifies its importance as a place of immense religious importance.
Dowleswaram
Dowleswaram is a small city in the Rajahmundry district of Andhra Pradesh which was only a census town till 2011 and was only recently included fully in the corporation in 2013. The highlight of the town is the Dowleswaram Barrage which is built across River Godavari and is one of the top tourist attractions in the region. The dam was built by Sir Arthur Cotton. In the memory of the aforementioned personality, a museum has also been constructed in town which displays projects and demos relating to the irrigation works.
Pattiseema
Located at a distance of 40 km from the city of Rajahamundry in Andhra Pradesh, Pattiseema is a dreamy rustic hamlet enveloped in the dense green forests of the Papikondalu hill range and the Eastern Ghats. Owing to its surreal beauty, picturesque landscape and pleasant ambiance, the village has lately gained tourism potential and also lures filmmakers to capture the beauty of the place. Flanked by the gorgeous and gleaming Godavari river, the village is like a green oasis in the centre of city chaos and cacophony and is widely visited by tourists seeking solitude and peace.
The highlight of the village is the Sri Veerabhadra Temple which is perched atop the hillock and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple also has a separate shrine of Goddess Bhadrakali which is highly revered by the Hindus. There is only one way to get to this temple, which is through the river in a boat amidst picturesque surroundings. There is also another temple that is dedicated to Sri Bhavananarayana Swamy. All in all, the village is a photographer’s delight and you should definitely visit it especially if you are a nature lover and want to spend some time in solitude and serenity.
Godavari Bridge
Spanning across 2.1 km atop the River Godavari in the city of Rajahamundry, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, Godavari Bridge is India’s third largest rail cum road truss bridge. Also known as Kovvur- Rajahmundry Bridge, the bridge is also a major source of tourism as it offers picturesque views of the golden sun setting in the horizon and merging with the shining water of the Godavari. Known to be synonymous with the arts and culture of the city, the bridge has a road deck over a single track rail deck.
Goutami Ghat
Goutami Ghat is one of the premier recreational places in Rajahmundry, it houses ISKCON Temple, Riverbay Resorts and Water park, Ayyappa Temple, Kailash Bhoomi.
One can spend an entire day here because of the number of places to visit.
Sir Arthur Cotton Museum
Constructed in 1988, this museum is dedicated to the memory of Sir Arthur Cotton who was the mastermind behind the transformation for the ferocious Godavari river into a tame force useful for irrigation and water supply.
He is popularly known as the ‘Delta Architect’ of the Godavari district. The museum chronicles his work through pictures.
Must Try Food in Rajahmundry
1. Barkaas Arabic Restaurant
2. Mughal Biryani Palace
3. Sitara Coffee House
4. Udipi Akshaya Vegetarian Restaurant
5. Eat N Play
6. Creamy Day Celebrations
7. Sreshta Restaurant
8. The Tasty Door
9. Sizzling Shawarma
10. The Kings Dine
How To Get Here
The Rajahmundry Airport is well connected to Hyderabad and Chennai by JetAirways and SpiceJet. All the trains between Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada stop at Rajahmundry. The railway station is situated almost in the city centre. Located on NH5, it is very convenient to travel to Rajahmundry by road also.
By Air
Rajahmundry has a domestic airport that has service flights to and fro from Hyderabad and Chennai. You can take a flight to Hyderabad and then a service flight to Rajahmundry. The airport is around 12 km from the city centre, and prepaid cabs are easily available.
Nearest Airport: Vijayawada Airport (VGA) – 119 kms from Rajahmundry
By Road
Rajahmundry is located on National Highway 5 and lies on the east side of the Golden Quadrilateral connecting Kolkata and Chennai. Rajahmundry has four bus depots – APSRTC Bus complex, Kotipalli bus stand, Gokavaram bus stand and Kakinada bus stand. The city is well connected by roads to nearby towns and villages.
By Train
The Rajahmundry railway station lies on the Howrah – Chennai main coastal rail. As a result, there are regular trains making a pit stop here. All the trains between Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada stop at Rajahmundry. The railway station is almost at the city centre. The cheapest modes of transport available are the auto rickshaws. Taxis are also available outside the railway station.