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Pancharama Kshetras Tour
The five Pancharama Shiva temples of Andhra Pradesh, which devotees try to visit together, above all in Karthika month.
- Andhra Pradesh
- Suitable for 1–2 Days
- Karthika Month
- Shiva Temples
About Pancharama Kshetras Tour
Five Shiva temples of Andhra Pradesh that, by legend, hold the pieces of one lingam broken when Kartikeya slew Tarakasura. Devotees try to visit all five, often on a single day and above all in the Karthika month.
By legend the five temples hold the pieces of one lingam broken when Kartikeya slew Tarakasura. The four temples near the Godavari fit one long day from Rajahmundry; Amaravati, on the Krishna near Vijayawada, makes a second day.
Temples on this Tour (5)
- 1
View DetailsSamalkota Kumararama Temple
Kumararama
Samalkota
Kumararama at Samalkota.
- 2View Details
Draksharamam Bhimeswara Temple
Draksharama; Manikyamba Shakti Peetha
Draksharamam
Draksharama, also a Shakti Peetha.
- 3
View DetailsPalakollu Ksheerarama Temple
Ksheerarama
Palakollu
Ksheerarama at Palakollu.
- 4
View DetailsBhimavaram Somarama Temple
Somarama
Bhimavaram
Somarama at Bhimavaram.
- 5
View DetailsAmaravati Amareswara Temple
Amararama
Amaravati
Amararama at Amaravati on the Krishna.
Route Map
Tour Highlights
- Draksharamam
- Amaravati
- Palakollu
- Samalkota
2-Day Route
The route moves between Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, staying near each day's temples. Allow 1 to 2 days for the 5 temples, plus travel to the first stop and home from the last.
Day 1 · stay in Rajahmundry
- Samalkota Kumararama TempleKumararamaOpen 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM, with breaks
- Draksharamam Bhimeswara TempleDraksharama; Manikyamba Shakti PeethaOpen 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Palakollu Ksheerarama TempleKsheeraramaOpen 6:00 AM – 8:30 PM, with breaks
- Bhimavaram Somarama TempleSomaramaOpen 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM, with breaks
Day 2 · stay in Vijayawada
- Amaravati Amareswara TempleAmararamaOpen 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM, with breaks
No fixed devotional order was found. The four Godavari temples fit one day from Rajahmundry; Amaravati lies far to the west, so the route gives it a second day.
Customs, rules and beliefs
Order: A pilgrim guide suggests Draksharamam, Samalkot, Amaravati, Bhimavaram, then Palakollu, but Amaravati is far from the four Godavari temples, so road order should be planned separately.
Season (Karthika (10 Nov to 8 Dec in 2026, per a reported guide)): Karthika month is the main season for the circuit, and APSRTC has announced special Pancharama buses for it (headline dated 8 Oct 2025). A Hindu calendar guide dates Karthika 2026 from 10 November to 8 December.
- RitualsBy custom, many devotees visit all five on the same day, which needs a very early start; a guide suggests two days with a night in Bhimavaram, Rajahmundry or Kakinada for a gentler pace.
- Good to know
What devotees believe
- Devotees believe that visiting all five Pancharamas, especially in Karthika and in one day, earns special merit. This is a devotional belief, not an astrological remedy.
These are traditions and beliefs, described as devotees hold them. The temples set their own rituals and fees.
Sources: blog.yatradham.org, deccanchronicle.com · checked 23 Oct 2026
Getting to Rajahmundry
The route starts with the four Godavari temples, all within about an hour of Rajahmundry, and ends at Amaravati, about an hour and a quarter from Vijayawada's airport. Flying in and out of different airports saves the long drive back east. Travellers who need a return ticket can use either airport and add the 159 km Bhimavaram to Amaravati drive in the other direction.
By air
- Rajahmundry Airport (Madhurapudi) (RJA)about 15 km, about 30 min by road to the city; about 1 hr to Samalkota for day 1
- Vijayawada International Airport (Gannavaram) (VGA)about 18 km to Vijayawada, about 30 to 45 min to Vijayawada; about 1 hr 15 min to 1 hr 45 min to Amaravati
By train
- Samalkot Junction (SLO)Main-line junction in Samalkota, the town of the Kumararama temple. 102 trains listed from Vijayawada (about 2 to 5 hr) and 104 from Rajahmundry. Wikipedia puts the temple about 20 km from Kakinada, which has a branch line.
- Rajamahendravaram (Rajahmundry) (RJY)144 trains listed from Vijayawada. The East Godavari district site puts Draksharamam 50 km from Rajahmundry; Kakinada (28 km) is closer. No station near Draksharamam was found, including at Ramachandrapuram.
- Bhimavaram Town (BVRT)For Somarama at Bhimavaram. 37 trains listed from Vijayawada, most taking about 2 hr; 21 from Rajahmundry to Bhimavaram Junction (BVRM).
- Palakollu (PKO)For Ksheerarama, in the town. 15 trains listed from Vijayawada, about 2 hr 15 min to 4 hr, on the branch to Narsapur.
- Guntur Junction (GNT)For Amararama at Amaravati, about 40 km away (OSRM 33.9 km from the station). 58 trains listed from Vijayawada, most under an hour. APSRTC runs buses to Amaravati from Guntur, Vijayawada and Mangalagiri.
By road
- Rajahmundry to Samalkotaabout 47 km, about 1 hr
- Samalkota to Draksharamamabout 41 km, about 45 min to 1 hr
- Draksharamam to Palakolluabout 69 km, about 1 hr 15 min to 1 hr 45 min
- Palakollu to Bhimavaramabout 20 km, about 30 min
- Bhimavaram to Amaravatiabout 159 km, about 3 hr to 3 hr 30 min
- Vijayawada to Amaravatiabout 60 km, about 1 hr 15 min to 1 hr 45 min from the airport
Sources: eastgodavari.ap.gov.in, guntur.ap.gov.in, erail.in, erail.in, erail.in, erail.in, erail.in, router.project-osrm.org, router.project-osrm.org, router.project-osrm.org, westgodavari.ap.gov.in, router.project-osrm.org, router.project-osrm.org · checked 22 Oct 2026
Questions Visitors Ask
Can all five Pancharama temples be visited in one day?
A pilgrim guide says it is possible with a very early start, and many devotees try in Karthika month, but two days are more comfortable because Amaravati is far from the other four.
When is the Pancharama pilgrimage most popular?
In Karthika month, around November and early December, when APSRTC has run special Pancharama buses.
Plan this Tour
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Partial Trip Estimate
₹ 16,010
for 4 people (2 Days)
≈ ₹ 4,003 per person for the trip
Flight fare for this route needs a quote. This is a partial total.
- 1 × AC sedan with driver₹8,2001 × (500 billed km × ₹14 + 2 days × ₹600 driver). Up to 4 passengers per vehicle, driver separate. AC; fuel budgeted within the per-km hire, inclusions to confirm. Minimum 250 km/day; route 480 km. Chennai operator example; pickup in your region to confirm. Rate source
- 1 night · 2 rooms₹4,6101 nights × 2 rooms × ₹2,305/night. Two people per room, rounded up. Hotel Raya’s Standard AC, Kumbakonam published reference including tax; availability elsewhere to confirm. Rate source
- Simple local meals · all travellers₹3,2002 days × 4 people × ₹400/day. Planning allowance.
- Flight fare for this route needs a quote
- Tolls, parking and personal spending
- Home/station transfers, travel-day meals and extra nights
- Permits, garage/pickup kilometres, driver accommodation and operator taxes, if charged
Assumptions & what changes this estimate
References checked 19 October 2026. Rooms use the linked hotel’s published examples. Meals, fuel, bus and train are budgeting allowances. Bus/train costs use approximate distance, not ticket searches or confirmed classes. Flight examples are economy fares; Luxury upgrades your stay and local vehicle, not your flight cabin. Cab and rental examples need confirmation for your arrival region.
Basic sets rooms, meals and hired vehicle class. Own-vehicle fuel and economy return fares do not change with the stay tier. Dates do not fetch live prices.
Hotel references are Kumbakonam examples, including the published tax, used as a budget across the trip. They are not confirmed rooms in every town. Meals and fuel are planning allowances. All travellers use the same allowance; no child discount is assumed.
Cab minimums and room sharing mean some changes can leave a line unchanged. Travel quotes entered by you are fixed group totals. Prices and availability must be confirmed before booking.