Kakinada is a well-planned city in Andhra Pradesh located 168 kilometers from Vizag, 64 kilometers from Rajahmundry and 459 kilometers from Hyderabad. It is also a municipal corporation and a port city on the Bay of Bengal. The city was originally called Kakanandivada. This also developed after the Europeans came to settle in the region. The Britishers perhaps called this place, Co Canada and the name got changed to Kakinada after 1947, the year of Indian independence. Due to the numerous fertilizer plants here the city is called the Fertilizer City.
1. Annavaram
The Annavaram village stands of the bank of the Pampa river, at a distance of 48 kilometers from Kakinada. The shrine of Venkata Sathyanarayana Swamy atop a hill is one of the most important features of the village that is reputed for pilgrimage. This temple gains much popularity and importance apart from the Tirupati temple. Festivals are held at the temple ground all through the year and celebrated with great gusto. The serene atmosphere of the temple and the surroundings will attract the tourists in no time.
2. Antarvedi
Antarvedi is referred to as South Kashi. This place is famous for it has the tributary of the river Godavari that it meets at the Sagar Sangam. The Meeting point is where the temple of Lakshmi Narsimha is also located on the banks of river Godavari. Here the Varshitha Sevashramam and the temple of Lord Shiva are the major attractions. There is also this beautiful island nearby which is also located on the banks of the river Godavari. Tourists can take a journey till the end of the meeting point of the river and of the sea and get ecstatic about the exquisite journey.
3. Draksharama Bheemeshwara Swamy Temple
Draksharama Bheemeshwara Swamy temple is located in Draksharamam village and it is one of those Pancharamas temple located at a distance of 28 kilometers from Kakinada. The most unique feature of this temple is the crystal lingam. This is a very ancient temple and thousands of pilgrims come to the temple all throughout the year. This is also a protected monument under the department of archeology and is a must visit place in Kakinada.
4. Coringa Sanctuary
Coringa sanctuary is located around 20 kilometers from Kakinada. The place is an instance of dynamic ecosystem and is exceedingly rich and eloquent in flora and fauna. There is lush vegetation all around and even dense mangroves that make this into an evergreen forest. The place is ideal for bird watching and also for fishing. We get to see sea gulls, pelicans and other birds and also crocodiles and other wild animals. This is a place avidly liked and visited by tourists.
5. Sri Bhavanarayana Swamy Temple
Sri Bhavanarayana Swamy temple is located only at a short distance of three kilometers from Kakinada and the temple architecture is noted for a blend of the Chalukya and the Chola styles. Pitahpuram is one of the major pilgrim centers that consist of a plethora of such temples and these are located on the eastern coast of India. The port came into being due to the geographical phenomenon of the Sand Split at Godavari and these are the major tourist attractions in Kakinada.
The city of Kakinada has a lot of historical significance, natural scenic beauty, rich tradition, pilgrimage centers, stunning landscapes and so on. There are a great number of temples that catch the tourists’ attraction. Besides the wild life sanctuaries, the Hope Island and the delta islands at Godavari have a great part to play in beckoning the tourists to the prominent places. The Buddhist site of Adurru is also a very interesting site to be reached by the tourists. The stunning landscapes, the hillocks, the exquisite beaches, the pilgrimage spots all add to the city of Kakinada’s becoming one of the most favorable and prominent tourist spots in India. Kakinada is easily reachable by air, road or by train, the airport at Vizag being close and trains connecting the place all so easily. The best time to visit Kakinada is between October and March.
