Draksharama temple guide: Bhimeswara Swamy, Konaseema

This Draksharama temple guide covers the Sri Bhimeswara Swamy Temple in Konaseema district, Andhra Pradesh, on the eastern bank of the Godavari. It is one of the five Pancharama Kshetras sacred to Shiva, and also one of the eighteen Ashtadasa Shakti Peethas, where the goddess is worshipped as Manikyamba. Below is a calm, practical plan for darshan, timings, travel and what the inscriptions and architecture actually tell you.

Draksharama is a Chalukya-era Shiva temple about 28 km from Kakinada in Konaseema district, Andhra Pradesh. It is counted among the five Pancharama Kshetras and the eighteen Shakti Peethas, with a tall two-storey sanctum, a spatika (crystal) lingam and a temple tank called Saptagodavari Kund.

About Draksharama and quick facts

Draksharama (also written Daksharamam) sits in a small temple town in Konaseema district, in the delta country east of the Godavari. The presiding deity is Bhimeswara Swamy, a form of Shiva; his consort here is Manikyamba. The temple complex is a protected monument looked after by the Archaeological Survey of India, and the worship is managed by the Andhra Pradesh Endowments Department.

What makes the place unusual is its double standing: a major Shaiva pilgrimage site and a Shakti Peetha at once. The district administration notes that, like Varanasi and Srisailam, Draksharama treats god and goddess as equally important.

Pancharama and Shakti Peetha significance

The Pancharama Kshetras are five ancient Shiva temples of coastal Andhra Pradesh. According to Wikipedia’s summary of the regional legend, their lingams are believed to have formed from a single broken lingam linked to the demon Tarakasura. The five are listed below; Draksharama is the eastern-most of the delta group.

The Shakti Peetha story comes from the Daksha Yagna cycle of the Skanda Purana. According to this tradition, after Sati’s self-immolation her body was carried and dismembered, and the pieces fell across the subcontinent to become the Shakti Peethas. The district administration records that Sati’s left cheek is said to have fallen here, worshipped now as Sri Manikyamba, the twelfth of the eighteen Ashtadasa Peethas. These accounts are religious belief, not documented history.

Architecture and inscriptions of the Draksharama temple guide

Inscriptions in the temple record that it was built in the 9th–10th century CE by the Eastern Chalukya (Vengi) king Bhima. The style blends Chalukyan and Chola features, clearest in the carving of the mukha mandapam (front hall). Wikipedia notes that a later mandapam was added by Ganga Mahadevi of the Eastern Ganga dynasty.

The layout has two prakarams (concentric enclosures) entered through gopurams (gateway towers), including a tall five-tier western gopuram. A pillared two-storey verandah runs along the inner enclosure. The sanctum itself is two-storeyed: two flights of stairs lead to an upper level from which you view the top of the lingam, so darshan happens on two levels.

The lingam is the temple’s signature. It is a pale spatika (crystal) column about 2.6 m tall, with dark bands on the upper part; local sources describe it as among the tallest Shiva lingams. For historians the walls matter as much as the shrine: Draksharama carries one of the largest collections of medieval Telugu and Sanskrit inscriptions anywhere, with several hundred epigraphs recording grants, battles and endowments from the 11th century onward.

In the complex is the Saptagodavari Kund, a sacred tank. By local tradition the Godavari was divided by seven sages into seven streams, four of which are said to run underground and surface in this pond. Pilgrims treat a dip here as part of the visit.

Darshan, timings and festivals

The temple generally opens early morning and again in the evening, with a midday break. Widely listed darshan hours are about 6 am–12 pm and 4 pm–8 pm (indicative — reconfirm, as timings shift on festival days). There is no entry fee; special poojas, abhishekam and Manikyamba sevas are booked for nominal charges at the temple office.

The biggest day is Maha Shivaratri (February–March), when the town fills for night-long worship. The other marquee event is Sri Swamyvari Kalyanam, the ceremonial wedding of the deities, held around Bhishma Ekadasi in February. Devi Navaratri in autumn and the Kartika Monday observances in November are also busy. Expect long queues and restricted timings on these days.

Best time to visit

The Godavari delta is hot and humid for much of the year, so the comfortable window is the cool, dry season from November to February. Summers are harsh, and the southwest monsoon brings heavy delta rain. Plan a weekday morning if you want an unhurried darshan outside festival crowds.

How to reach Draksharama

Draksharama is well inside the delta, so most visitors base themselves in Kakinada or Rajamahendravaram (Rajahmundry) and drive out. The district administration lists it about 28 km from Kakinada, 50 km from Rajahmundry and 25 km from Amalapuram; allow a little more by the actual road route through the delta.

• By air: Rajahmundry Airport (Madhurapudi, code RJA), run by the Airports Authority of India, is about 50 km away. As of 2025–26 it has flights to Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and Tirupati on carriers including IndiGo, Fly91 and Alliance Air. Visakhapatnam is the larger fallback airport, roughly 150 km north.
• By train: There is a small halt called Draksharama Road (code DKSA) on a branch line, served by a handful of local DEMU services only. For mainline trains use Kakinada Town/Port or Rajamahendravaram, both major stations on the Howrah–Chennai route, then taxi or bus.
• By road: APSRTC and private buses run from Kakinada, Rajahmundry and Amalapuram. Taxis and autos are easy from Kakinada; self-drive is straightforward on delta roads.

Where to stay

There is only basic lodging at Draksharama itself, including a temple choultry (pilgrim guest house) beside the complex that can be enquired about at the temple office. Most travellers sleep in Kakinada or Rajahmundry and make a half-day trip. The price bands below are indicative planning estimates for October 2026 and should be reconfirmed when you book.

• Budget (₹800–1,800/night): pilgrim choultries, basic lodges in Kakinada and Rajahmundry.
• Mid-range (₹2,000–4,500/night): business hotels in Kakinada and Rajahmundry with AC and restaurants.
• Upper/luxury (₹5,000+): a limited number of higher-end hotels and riverfront properties in Rajahmundry.

Book ahead for Maha Shivaratri and the Kalyanam, when rooms near the temple towns fill quickly. For a slower Konaseema trip, homestays among the coconut groves and canals are worth a night.

Food to try

This is the heart of coastal Andhra vegetarian cooking, and the temple towns do it well. Expect rice-based, spice-forward meals.

• Andhra meals (thali): rice with pappu (dal), several kuras (vegetable curries), pachadi (chutney) and sambar, served on a banana leaf.
• Gongura pachadi: a tangy chutney made from sorrel leaves, a regional signature.
• Pootharekulu: a paper-thin sweet of rice starch, jaggery and ghee, associated with the Godavari districts.
• Tiffin: idli, dosa, pesarattu (green-gram dosa) and upma at breakfast.

The temple area offers simple prasadam and small vegetarian eateries; for more choice, eat in Kakinada or Rajahmundry. Carry water in the heat.

Budget breakdown

The figures below are an indicative planning estimate for one person on a two-day trip based in Kakinada, as of October 2026. They exclude long-distance flights or trains to the region, and will vary with season and group size. Darshan itself is free.

Rules and practical tips

No special permit is needed to visit Draksharama — it is an open pilgrimage town, so the ILP/PAP rules that apply in some border states do not apply here.

• Dress: modest, traditional dress is expected; cover shoulders and knees. Footwear is left outside the complex.
• Photography: often restricted inside the sanctum; ask before photographing deities, and follow staff instructions. Do not assume drone flying is allowed near a protected monument.
• Timing: go for the morning opening or late afternoon to avoid midday heat and the closed midday hours.
• Money: carry some cash for autos, offerings and small shops; UPI works in the towns but can be patchy at the temple stalls. ATMs are in Kakinada, Rajahmundry and Amalapuram rather than the temple lane.
• Health & safety: the nearest well-equipped hospitals are in Kakinada and Rajahmundry. Summers are genuinely hot and humid — hydrate, and start early. Solo women travellers generally find the temple towns straightforward in daytime; keep to busy areas after dark.
• Packing: cottons and a sunhat for most of the year; a light layer for winter mornings; a compact umbrella in the monsoon.

Nearby places

Draksharama pairs naturally with the other delta Pancharamas and the wider Konaseema circuit. The distances below are approximate by road and worth confirming with your driver.

If you are shaping a longer trip, see our wider Andhra Pradesh travel coverage and our roundup of pilgrimage sites in India. The nearby hill shrine has its own Annavaram guide if you want to combine the two.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entry fee at Draksharama temple?

No, there is no entry fee to visit the Draksharama Bhimeswara Swamy temple. Darshan is free. You only pay nominal, optional charges at the temple office if you want to book special poojas, abhishekam or a Manikyamba seva. Confirm current seva rates at the counter, as they change from time to time.

What are the Draksharama temple timings?

The temple is commonly listed as open about 6 am to 12 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm, with a midday break. These hours are indicative and change on festival days such as Maha Shivaratri, when darshan can run much longer. Reconfirm the day’s timings at the temple before you plan your visit.

Why is Draksharama both a Pancharama and a Shakti Peetha?

Draksharama is one of the five Pancharama Kshetras, ancient Shiva temples of coastal Andhra, because of its Bhimeswara lingam. It is also the twelfth of the eighteen Ashtadasa Shakti Peethas, where, by tradition, Sati’s left cheek fell and is worshipped as Manikyamba. So both Shiva and the goddess are central here.

How do I reach Draksharama?

Most people base in Kakinada (about 28 km) or Rajahmundry (about 50 km) and drive out by taxi or bus. The nearest airport is Rajahmundry (Madhurapudi); the practical railheads are Kakinada and Rajamahendravaram. A tiny Draksharama Road halt exists but has only a few local trains, so it is not the main way in.

What is the Saptagodavari Kund?

The Saptagodavari Kund is the sacred tank inside the Draksharama complex. According to local belief, the Godavari was split into seven streams by seven sages, four of which run underground and surface in this pond. Many pilgrims take a ritual dip here as part of their visit before darshan of Bhimeswara.

When is the best time to visit Draksharama?

The best time is the cool, dry season from November to February, when the Godavari delta is most comfortable. Summers are hot and humid, and the monsoon brings heavy rain. Visit on a weekday morning for a quieter darshan, and expect large crowds around Maha Shivaratri and the February Kalyanam.

Last updated and sources

Draksharama suits pilgrims and anyone drawn to medieval temple architecture and inscriptions; pair it with the other Pancharamas and the Konaseema backwaters. Go in winter, early in the day, and allow time for both the Bhimeswara sanctum and the Manikyamba shrine.

Last updated: 2 October 2026. Fees, timings and permits change — reconfirm with official sources before you travel.

Sources: East Godavari district administration — Sri Bhimeswara Swamy Temple; CPR Environmental Education Centre (ecoheritage) — Daksharamam; Wikipedia — Draksharama; Wikipedia — Pancharama Kshetras; Wikipedia — Rajahmundry Airport (AAI); APSRTC — Draksharamam. Accessed September 2026.

{“@context”:”https://schema.org”,”@graph”:[{“@type”:”FAQPage”,”mainEntity”:[{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Is there an entry fee at Draksharama temple?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”No, there is no entry fee to visit the Draksharama Bhimeswara Swamy temple. Darshan is free. You only pay nominal, optional charges at the temple office if you want to book special poojas, abhishekam or a Manikyamba seva. Confirm current seva rates at the counter, as they change from time to time.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”What are the Draksharama temple timings?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”The temple is commonly listed as open about 6 am to 12 pm and 4 pm to 8 pm, with a midday break. These hours are indicative and change on festival days such as Maha Shivaratri, when darshan can run much longer. Reconfirm the day’s timings at the temple before you plan your visit.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”Why is Draksharama both a Pancharama and a Shakti Peetha?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Draksharama is one of the five Pancharama Kshetras, ancient Shiva temples of coastal Andhra, because of its Bhimeswara lingam. It is also the twelfth of the eighteen Ashtadasa Shakti Peethas, where, by tradition, Sati’s left cheek fell and is worshipped as Manikyamba. So both Shiva and the goddess are central here.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”How do I reach Draksharama?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”Most people base in Kakinada (about 28 km) or Rajahmundry (about 50 km) and drive out by taxi or bus. The nearest airport is Rajahmundry (Madhurapudi); the practical railheads are Kakinada and Rajamahendravaram. A tiny Draksharama Road halt exists but has only a few local trains, so it is not the main way in.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”What is the Saptagodavari Kund?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”The Saptagodavari Kund is the sacred tank inside the Draksharama complex. According to local belief, the Godavari was split into seven streams by seven sages, four of which run underground and surface in this pond. Many pilgrims take a ritual dip here as part of their visit before darshan of Bhimeswara.”}},{“@type”:”Question”,”name”:”When is the best time to visit Draksharama?”,”acceptedAnswer”:{“@type”:”Answer”,”text”:”The best time is the cool, dry season from November to February, when the Godavari delta is most comfortable. Summers are hot and humid, and the monsoon brings heavy rain. Visit on a weekday morning for a quieter darshan, and expect large crowds around Maha Shivaratri and the February Kalyanam.”}}]},{“@type”:”TouristDestination”,”name”:”Draksharama”,”address”:{“@type”:”PostalAddress”,”addressLocality”:”Konaseema”,”addressRegion”:”Andhra Pradesh”,”addressCountry”:”IN”},”geo”:{“@type”:”GeoCoordinates”,”latitude”:16.79,”longitude”:82.06}}]}