Photo 1 / 4Grey granite rajagopuram. Photo: Krishna Chaitanya Velaga, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Amaravati Amareswara Temple
About the Temple
Amararama is the only one of the five Pancharama temples on the Krishna river; the other four lie in the Godavari delta. Shiva is worshipped here as Amareswara beside the goddess Bala Chamundika, and the linga is so tall that priests climb a platform to perform the abhishekam. The temple is run by the AP Endowments department and sits a short walk from the ancient Buddhist stupa site of Amaravathi.
Why visit
- Complete the Pancharama circuit at its only Krishna river temple.
- Combine darshan with the Amaravathi stupa site and archaeological museum nearby.
Temple Timings
- Morning
- 6:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Evening
- 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Official source, checked 22 Oct 2026 · Source
The About tab of the same portal says 09:00 to 18:00. Large crowds on Maha Shivaratri and through Karthika month.
Before You Go
- Time to allow
45 minutes to 1.5 hours inside the temple. This is a planning allowance, not a queue time; festival days take longer.
- Dress
No dress rule for this temple was confirmed. Traditional, modest clothing is the safe choice; ask at the entrance.
Not confirmed: check with the temple before you go
- Phones
A current rule on phones inside the temple was not confirmed. Ask at the entrance whether phones may be carried or must be left outside.
Not confirmed: check with the temple before you go
- Access
Wikipedia places the temple on Krouncha Saila, a small hill near the river. The number of steps and any step-free route were not confirmed, so ask locally if anyone in your group has limited mobility.
Reported by en.wikipedia.org, checked 23 Oct 2026 · Source
Highlights
- A linga reached from a platform
The linga is so tall that priests stand on a raised platform for daily worship and abhishekam. A red mark on top is linked to a legend about a nail driven in to stop it growing.
- The only Pancharama on the Krishna
The temple stands on the south bank of the Krishna, while the other four Pancharamas lie in the Godavari region.
- Inscriptions and royal patrons
The walls carry 35 inscriptions, the earliest from 1129 CE. Krishnadevaraya added a mandapam, and the zamindar Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu renovated the temple in the late 18th century.
- Four gopurams on a small hill
The Dravidian-style temple has four gateway towers and a central vimana, on a low rise called Krouncha Saila near the river.
Sources: tms.ap.gov.in, en.wikipedia.org · checked 22 Oct 2026
How to reach Amaravati Amareswara Temple
- By air: Vijayawada Airport (Gannavaram) (VGA) · about 47 km
- By train: Pedakurapadu (PKPU) · about 19 km
- By road: The AP Endowments page puts the temple 32 km from Guntur along the Amaravati road and 46 km south-west of Vijayawada. Gannavaram airport north of Vijayawada is the nearest airport.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, tms.ap.gov.in · checked 22 Oct 2026
Nearby Places
- Amaravati StupaThe excavated site of the ancient Buddhist Mahachaitya.0.7 km away
- Archaeological Museum, AmaravatiASI site museum with sculpture from the stupa.0.7 km away
- Dhyana Buddha statueA large seated Buddha statue by the Krishna.0.7 km away
- Undavalli CavesRock-cut cave temples on the Krishna near Vijayawada.26 km away
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org · checked 22 Oct 2026
Questions Visitors Ask
Is there a dress code at Amaravati Amareswara Temple?
No dress rule for this temple was confirmed. Traditional, modest clothing is the safe choice; ask at the entrance.
Can I take my phone inside Amaravati Amareswara Temple?
A current rule on phones inside the temple was not confirmed. Ask at the entrance whether phones may be carried or must be left outside.
What are the Amaravathi Amareswara temple timings?
The AP Endowments portal lists darshan from 06:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 20:00. Its About page gives 09:00 to 18:00, so confirm locally.
Why is Amararama part of the Pancharama Kshetras?
Legend says the linga worn by the demon Tarakasura broke into five pieces and each piece became one of the five temples. Indra is believed to have installed the piece at Amaravathi. This is a belief, not history.
Can Amaravathi be done on the same day as the other four Pancharamas?
It is possible but long. Amaravathi lies about 125 km in a straight line from the nearest Godavari delta temple, so many pilgrims start or end the circuit here.
What else is there to see in Amaravathi?
The ancient Buddhist stupa site and the archaeological museum are less than a kilometre from the temple.