The historic village of Hemavathi is home to a remarkable group of temples built in the 8th-10th Centuries under the reign of the Nolamba Dynasty.

Overview

The historic village of Hemavathi is home to a remarkable group of temples built in the 8th-10th Centuries under the reign of the Nolamba Dynasty. It was known as Henjeri under the Pallavas.

The Doddeswara Temple houses a 6-ft-tall Shivalinga and a black basalt granite Nandi at the entrance.The stone sculptures here produce a metallic sound upon being tapped.It is believed that the Chola ruler Rajendra Chola was so impressed by the massive, intricately-carved pillars of the temple that he removed 44 of them and erected them at another temple. They depict scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

Significance

The Siddeshwara Temple has an idol of Shiva-not in his usual linga form, but in his seated yoga posture,deep in meditation. Other important shrines are the Virupaksha Temple, located to the southwest of Doddesvara and east of Siddeswara and the isolated Malleswara Temple,located to the east of siddeswara. The temple complex also has a museum displaying sculptures found in and around the shrines.

 

Photos

How to Reach

The closest airport near Hemavathi is in Bengaluru which is 160 kms from Hemavathi. 

Challakere is the nearest railway station to Hemavathi which is 48 kms away from Hemavathi.

Hindupur and Penukonda are two well connected towns from where buses to Hemavathi are available and Hemavathi is 150 kms away from Anantapur city.

Best time to visit

Highlights

Bugga Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple-Is one of the finest architectural legacies of the Vijayanagara Empire because of the precision and finesse with which sculptures have been etched on them.

Chintala Venkat ramana Swamy Temple-Built with black granite stone, is known for its massive gopuram, which has a plethora of engravings at its base. 

Kadiri Laxmi Narashimha Swamy Temple-Most of the inscriptions on the shrine's walls date back to the Vijayanagara Era and are in Telugu in this temple.

Thimmamma Marrimanu-A canopy measuring over 25,000sq m and about 1,200 prop roots, Thimmamma Marrimanu is a natural marvel that is touted as the largest banyan tree in the world.

Lepakshi-The monolithic Nandi, said to be the largest in the world.

Gooty Fort-The fort at Gooty is one of the most impressive citadels in Andhra Pradesh.

Dharmavaram-The handloom silk and cotton sarees of Dharmavaram are famous not only in Andhra Pradesh, but across the country.

Penna Ahobilam-On the banks of the Pennar River stands tall a temple dedicated to Laxmi Narasimha Swamy.

Ratnagiri Fort-Close to karnataka border, stands the mighty Ratnagiri Fort, which stretches across two hill locks.