Manikeswaram
Manikeswaram | |
|---|---|
Holy Place | |
| Country | India |
| State | Andhra Pradesh |
| Region | Coastal Andhra |
| District | Prakasam |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 523201 |
| Telephone code | 08593 |
| Nearest city | Ongole,Guntur,Addanki |
Manikeswaram is a holy village situated on the banks of the Gundlakamma river in the Prakasam district district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. This village is home to ancient Shiva temple. Every day hundreds of devotees flocks to Manikeswaram for visiting to offer prayers to Lord shiva. Manikeswaram is acclaimed as southern Kasi.
Shiva Temple
Legend has it that Chola kings constructed the Manikeswaram temple. The village is acclaimed as southern Kasi because there are many similarities between the temples at Manikeswaram and Kasi. The temple is situated on the southern bank of Gundlakamma.
The rivulet flows from east to west. The deity is considered Swayambhu in Kasi. The temple has a rare tree that is found only in Kasi.
According to legend, a salt merchant once made a night halt in the village, then called Boddupalli. A Shivite, he wanted to worship Lord Shiva before going to sleep. As he did not find any Shiva temple in the village, he spread out salt and put his measure (called Manika in Telugu) on it and worshipped it.To his surprise, he found the measure turn into a stone resembling Siva linga the next morning. The village came to be known as Manikeswaram from then and it became a sacred place.
It was Chola kings, who came to stay in the village during one of their expeditions, constructed the temple as per scriptures available on the temple premises.
How to reach
Manikeswaram is located very near to Addanki town. It is 300 km from Hyderabad, 110 km from Vijayawada, 36 km from Ongole and 10 km from Addanki.Nearest Bus station is Addanki. APSRTC run buses frequently to manikeswaram. Buses from Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Ongole to Addanki are available. The nearest Airport is Vijayawada. Nearest Railway station is Ongole. All the express trains and passenger trains going from Hyderabad & Vijayawada to Chennai stop at Ongole.