Showing posts with label Tourist Places. Show all posts

Chennakesava Swamy Temple

by Sainadh Reddy

Sri Lakshmi Chennakesava Swamy Temple is located at Markapur in Prakasam District. It was built by the Vijayanagar rulers during the 15th century.

The temple houses a 40-pillered mandapam with carvings of Lord Krishna, Hanuman , Garuda, Lakshmi, and Vigneshwara with their relevant vahanas. The temple has a Kalyana Mandapam with 6 musical pillars and it produces musical notes when tapped. Sri Lakshmi Chennakesava Swamy Temple is the only one of its kind where the sun’s rays enter the sanctum sanctorum through specially placed windows at dawn. The sun’s rays falls at the feet of the deity and this happens from the 16th December to 14th January of every year.

Markapur is situated on the banks of the Gundlakamma River and is about 94 km from Ongole. Frequent buses are available from Ongole.

Distance from Markapur to several places

by Sainadh Reddy

Sri Lakshmi Chenna Kesava Swamy Temple

by Sainadh Reddy



This temple is the main attraction for tourists visiting this town. The temple galigopuram is very tall and can be seen 5 km away from the town.The unique feature of the temple is that every year, from 23 December to 3 January, the sun's rays at dawn enter the sanctum sanctorum, through specially placed windows, and fall at the feet of the deity making them glow for 20 minutes in a day. 

The galigopuram was constructed in such a manner that the sunrays would pass through three holes in the Garudalwar mandir between 6.40 a.m. and 7 a.m. every day for 12 days from December 23. The rays falling at the centre of the Garudalwar mandir would reflect on the idols in the sanctum sanctorum making them glow with golden hues. An incredible architectural feat that speaks volumes of the expertise of the artisans of the sri krishna devaraya period. According to the legend, the Lord killed a demon by name Kesi, so he became known as Kesava here. As the Lord was strikingly beautiful and accompanied by his consort Lakshmi,he was worshipped here as Lakshmi Chenna Kesava Swamy. 

The temple, constructed in 1425 and known for its legends as well as archaeological marvels, has tremendous potential for development as a pilgrim and tourist centre. Apart from magnificently sculptured gopurams, the temple has a beautiful 40-pillared mandapam with carvings of Krishna, Anjaneya, Garuda, Lakshmi & Vigneshwara with their respective vahanas. In the Kalyana Mandapam there are 6 musical pillars that produce the 7 musical notes when tapped.The half constructed Galigopuram was completed in the stewardship of late Y.Lingaraju then Revenue Sirasthadar. 

Every year during the month of March and April, there will be a mela for more than 10 days, at that time it is assumed that at least 100,000 people visit the temple. There is a big teru(Car) where they take the utsav statue of the god during this ceremony. Recently they have demolished the old Car and constructed a new car.

Nearest historical places

by Sainadh Reddy

Cumbum Tank is the historical irrigation tank formed by damming the Gundlakamma river by earthen bund, which is the highest in the Presidency (80 ft), with 100 yards length. The tank spread over an area of 9 square miles (23 km), and irrigates 6,944 acres (28.10 km) with over 3,500 acres (14 km) is second cropped in a good year. A more successful work is the Cumbum tank, formed under native rule by damming a gorge of the Gundlakamma river. Cumbum tank is accessible both by rail and road 27 km distance from Markapur. The main source of water for Markapur tank flows down from Cumbum Tank. 

One can easily spend two days in this town, as there are lots of places to see.