Movva : Sri Krishna Temple

Movva is a village and Mandal in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India.

This is the birthplace of the great lyricist "Kshetrayya" also known as "varadayya" who has written many songs on "lord Krishna".

 The above picture is the flooring of the temple embedded with Marbles (golis)

 Sri Movva Venugopala swamy temple

Movva is very famous for temple of Lord Krisha popularly referred as "Movva Gopaludu". 

 History of the temple and town in the premises of the temple

There is an old Sivalayam opposite to the  main temple. 

National flag Designer Sri Pingali Venkaiah was born in Muvva taluk (near Batlapenumarru)

Glimpses of Godavari Districts - 2

 

Yeleru River

The Tallest Gopuram of the 100 years old Sri Rama Temple.

 Gollala Mamidada of East Godavari District

 

 A view of ruined Temple at Biccavole in East Godavari District

(Possible Ruined Shiva Temple in the middle of the fields)

My self snap at Annavaram in East Godavari District

Glimpses of Godavari Districts - 1

East Godavari District  is the second richest district in the whole country.

West Godavari District is known as The Granary of India.

Some of the glimpses (snaps) from these two districts:

 A view of Paddy fields near Eluru By-pass Highway, West Godavari District

 A view of  Tuni town surrounded by Eastern Ghats in East Godavari District.

 An Early Morning view of Pampa Reservoir  near Annavaram in East Godavari District

Yeleru Dam near Eleswaram of East Godavari District. 

(Some amount of drinking water from this reservoir is supplied to Visakhapatnam city)

Madhavadhara: A Buddhist Site Near Simhachalam

 Madhava swami temple, Madhavadhara, Visakhapatnam

This temple is adopted by Simhachalam Temple.
It is located on the south foot hill of Simhachalam.
The diety is Madhava Swamy and the water jet flow here is known as Madhavadhara,
from which the locality got its name.
Some people prefer to take a holy bath in holy dharas (Madhavadhara).

Buddhist settlements on Simhachalam hill-range has come to light during a recent renovation and restoration works taken up by the Endowments Department. This site is presently Documented by the state Archaeology department and study of the site is in progress.

Coming to the point the sand blasting and restoration works on Chalukyan period Madhava Swamy Temple at Madhavadhara was completed recently, which not only exposed the intrinsic fine sculpting legacy of 14th Century A.D., but also some other interesting facts about the construction of the original temple on the base of Buddhist Vihara. The khondalite rocks(available on Eastern Ghats) are used for building the temple along with the Buddhist bricks from the vihara. These two (stones and bricks) possess the same color in general.

 The rock and Brick alignments at Madhavadhara.
 Bricks estimated to be from 3rd Century B.C. are now lying in a heap alongside the temple towards south

These bricks measured 52 cm X 28 cm X 8 cm, with structural characteristics of the bricks used in Buddhist sites in and around Visakhapatnam coastal region. A researcher in Buddhist sites of north Andhra Pradesh, he said there were foundation walls of a Buddhist vihara in the close vicinity.

 Bricks estimated to be from 3rd Century B.C. are now lying in a heap alongside the temple, as the mast is being rebuilt with cement concrete. These Brick remnants are found scaterred from the first tier to the foot tier of the present temples at Madhavadhara.

The possible Buddhist site would have been a  4 -Tier semi terraced Buddhist Monastery  as Remnants of chamber for monks to stay was found between the Mallikarjuna Swamy and Madhava Swamy temples that even today remain unexposed to the world due to several reasons like paucity of manpower and lack of will power among local administrators to permit the work.

 The natural water from the hill to ground at Madhavadhara

One can enjoy the natural beauty of this ancient site and surroundings,

unfortunately the steps way towards Simhachalam is becoming a garbage day by day in the name of rituals

 

Temples from Madhavaswami Temple below.

Very frequent buses are available from all parts of Visakhapatnam. (Bus no: 48A) 

 REFERENCE: Article in THE HINDU about Buddhist Site Remains dated July 11, 2010 Vizag.

Tagarapuvalasa: Ancient Commercial Center on NH5

Tagarapuvalasa is a Historical commercial Junction near the city of Vizag along the NH5 in Bhimili mandal of Visakha district.It is located at a distance of 28KM north to the city of Visakhapatnam on the NH5 towards Kolkata.

This town of tagarapuvalasa is a part of the Triplet Towns of

Sanghivalasa

Chittivalasa

Tagarapuvalasa

History:

Some evidences of history about this town are as follows:

It bears an important historic prominence from the Buddhist time nearly 2000 years ago, due to the spotted Buddhist ruins (Brick structure ruins of Stupa's and others) on the riverside hillocks north of the town Tagarapuvalasa. Hamlet of Gudivada (Dubasi). This Buddhist site lies undocumented till date.

 The Rock-cut steps towards the river on the hillock at Gudivada near Chittivalasa.

The below snap is of the possible Buddhist mound on the hillock.

 

Excavations are yet to be done at this possible remnant Buddhist sites of Tagarapuvalasa by the state archaeology people. This town would have been an important trade centre during the BC times through the river Gosthani and seaways at Bhimili.

There are some stone inscriptions on a hillock in the center of the town (locally known as Satyanarayana gutta). There is an old temple dedicated to Lord Shiva on the hill. there are two small hillocks other than this one in tagarapuvalasa, this town is situated on the banks of river Gosthani.

Two temples may be dated back to some 100 years or 150 years from now are located on these hillocks (near sanghivalasa and tagarapuvalasa), this town must have flourished in the reign of Vizianagaram Kingdom, which is 18km from here.

writings on steps to the hillock temple of satyanarayana swamy at tagarapuvalasa

A View of River Gosthani at Tagarapuvalasa

The famous Padmanabham temple is near to this town. World famous Tourist Spot Bhimili is the counterpart Municipal town of Tagarapuvalasa.

There is a post Office in Chittivalasa. Postal code is 531162.

Agriculture Fields near to tagarapuvalasa

Hilltop Lord Shiva Temple at Tagarapuvalasa

This town consits of a Jute mill by name "Chittivalsa Jute mill", The Jutemill is under Lockout presently. Tagarapuvalasa is emerging out as a commercial town in Visakha district.

Young Explorers Mr. Pranav & Mr. Naveen during the Buddhist site exploration at Gudivada Dibba near Tagarapuvalasa

City buses (Metro & Ordinary) run from

Vizag RTC Complex to Tagarapuvalasa (Route no: 222) is a heavy rush route in Vizag sub-urbs

Panchadharla and Dhanadibbalu

1. Panchadharla Kshetram at Dharapalem

Sri Uma Dharmalingeswara Swamy, Dharapalem

Rambilli Taluk, Visakha District Andhra Pradesh

This village ( Dharapalem) is situated at a distance of about 10 kms. North East of Yelamanchili and 24 kms. From Anakapalli & 30 Kms from Vizag Steel Plant(via Atchutapuram). It is located on the Atchutapurm-Yelamanchili Road. We need to get down at Dharapalem village and walk towards the hill to reach the temple.

This place derived its name from the five Jets of water coming out of five fountains which receive their supplies from a natural perennial spring. Near by there is lingam on which are carved other lingams in 12 rows of 85 each and which is consequently known as the Kotilingam or Crore of lingams. Many people take a holy dip in the koneru of the panchadarla and worship Dharmalingeswara swamy.

The temple has a history of nearly 600 years, the stone carved mandapas on the 3 sides of the temple would remind us of architecture of kakatiya dynasty. The stone used for the construction of the temple may be from the beside hills along the Eastern ghats. The pillars on the temple are carved with beautiful images of Hindu Gods.

The main temple of Sri Dharmalingeswara Swamy at Panchadharla

The entrance of main temple

There are several inscriptions on the pillars of the Mandapam in the temple and two of them dated in AD 1407 and 1428 contain a genealogy of chiefs who claimed Eastern Chalukya ancestry and bore the Eastern Chalukya titles of Sarvalokasraya and Vishnu Vardana.

This temple is presently maintained under the endowments Department of Andhra Pradesh Government.

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2. Dhana Dibbalu & Pandavula Guha, Kotturu

(Buddhist Remains site)

Rambilli taluk, Visakha District of Andhra Pradesh

This is an ancient Buddhist remain site with a Maha Stupa and Remains of Vihara's along with a small portion of rock cut cave used by Buddhist monks.(1ST century BC to 2ND century AD) on the hill entrance to the Gokivadu forest area. It lies along the Left banks of river Sarada.

This place is locally known as "Dhanadibbalu"

Still excavations are to be done by the archeology department at this site to excavate the viharas and minor edicts. Small rock cisterns are present very near to the Maha stupa, which is at the entrance of the hillock and at a further distance one can see the ruined mounds of Vihara with scaterred bricks. From there we can reach the rock-cut caves with small (nearly 5) portions (locally known as pandavula guha, due to the resemblance with the number of accommodation in the cave)

Many of the bricks of the stupa and vihara are presently used by the locals(ignorant about the importance of this heritage site and lack of Vigilance).

There is a fencing around the remains site presently and a garden is being maintained by the archeology dept. with a sign board.

Rural Andhra Pradesh

These are some of the glimpses of rural areas of Andhra Pradesh

1. The above is a snapshot of a rural mud road near a village of east godavari district in AP.

2. The above is a shot of a field canal at a village near Jonnada village of Vizianagaram Dist.

3. A canal water filled with waterweeds near a village of bhimili mandal in visakha dist.

4. The view of Draksharamam temple in East Godavari Dist.

5. A scenic evening view of a village pond in North Andhra Pradesh