Sri Durga Malleswara

The Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam is an important religious site in Vijayawada and is the largest temple in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Like other tourist spots in Vijayawada, it is also a notable one. The temple is located on the banks of the river Krishna in Indrakeeladri hill. The main goddess of this temple is Kanaka Durga. It is believed that the idol of Kanaka Durga manifested itself in this place. It attracts thousands of pilgrims and tourists every year and people come to enjoy here many of its festivals.

Attraction

It is one of the attractions of the town. The main attraction of this place is Ma Durga. There are also many idols inside the place. If you are a pious, artistic person and want to see inscriptions of different dynasties then this is definitely a must visiting place for you. It is worth to visit.

History

This temple was built for Goddess Durga by Arjuna and occupies an important place in the scriptures. The Hindu scriptures mention that Goddess Kanaka Durga is considered to be ‘Swayambhu‘ or self-manifested in the temple, so it is considered to be extremely powerful. Inscriptions of different dynasties are also found in the temple.

Inside/Outside Views

The great architectural style of the temple from the outside will attract any tourist. The architectural style of this temple is largely inspired by the Dravidian style. The main attraction of the temple is Goddess Kanaka Durga. Next to the idol of Goddess Kanaka Durga are the idols of Sri Chakram and Lord Ganpati. You will see eight arms in the idol of Kanaka Durga, each of which carries different elements. Chakra, conch, a bow and arrow, a sword, a trident and a lotus are seen in the eight hands of the Goddess.

How to Reach

By Air: Vijayawada has its own airport but unfortunately, it is around 18 km away from the city. On the other hand, Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam is around 6 km away from the city center. Don’t worry, after reaching the airport, you can easily hire taxis, cabs or take buses to reach your preferred destinations. This airport is well-networked with the many other major cities of India like Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, Kadapa Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Bangalore, Chennai, and Delhi. Air India, TruJet, Jet Airways, Jet Connect, SpiceJet, and Air Costa are the airliners, which will prove you with a comfortable journey.

By Train: Vijayawada has its own railway station and it is the second highest railway junction in India. It connects many other major cities of India and also it is an important connectivity hub for South India’s railway network. Shatabdi Express, Bangalore Mail, Chennai Express, Coromandal Express, Guwahati Express, and Jaipur Express stop here, and you can comfortably reach Vijayawada by train. After reaching the railway junction, you can easily hire taxis, cabs, or take buses to reach your preferred destinations because it’s a short distance between Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam and Vijayawada city (around 6 km).

By Road: Three national highways connect Vijayawada directly with other parts of the country. The Pandit Nehru bus station has more than 450 city buses as well as state buses including Metro Express, Deluxe, A/C, Non-A/C, Sleeper, etc. Among the interstate buses, privately owned buses such as Deluxe, Ultra-Deluxe, A/C, and Volvo buses play a very satisfactory role. As Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam is only around 6 km away from the city center, so it’s not difficult to reach there by cabs, taxis, or local buses.

FAQ

Que-01: Is this place safe to visit?

Ans: Yes, It is safe to visit.

Que-02: Is photography allowed in this place?

Ans: Yes.

Que-03: Who is main Goddess of Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam Temple?

Ans: Kanaka Durga.

Que-04: Who built the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Temple?

Ans: Arjuna.

Que-05: Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Temple is located on with hill?

Ans: Indrakeeladri hill.

Que-06: Whose idol is next to Goddess Kanaka Durga?

Ans: Sri Chakram and Lord Ganpati.

Que-07: Is there any locker facility available at or near the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam to keep the luggage?

Ans: Yes. But it is at the bottom of the hill, near the prasadam and office complex, on the way to the stairs and also at the begining of the queues on the top of the hill.