Annavaram is a small town in Kakinada district, on the Pampa river and below Ratnagiri hill. The Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy temple on top is among the most visited Vishnu shrines in Andhra Pradesh, and it is usually described as second in standing only to Tirumala. The town has almost no other tourist trade: it exists for the temple, and a visit here means going to the temple.
The shrine is known for the Satyanarayana vratam, a one-hour ritual that families book at the temple and perform in a hall, often to mark a wedding, a new home or a vow fulfilled. The temple's own accounts say the first small shed over the idol went up in 1891, and the present stone temple was built in 1933-34 and reconstructed again around 2011-12. It is built in the form of a chariot with four wheels. The deity is worshipped in a three-part form, with the base linked to Brahma, the middle to Shiva and the top to Vishnu.
Getting up is the main planning question. There are around 460 stone steps from the foot of the hill, but vehicles can also go up the ghat road and park near the top, so the climb is a choice, not a requirement. Allow one to two hours for a normal darshan outside festival days, and more on weekends, Karthika month and wedding-season days when queues are long.
Most visitors treat Annavaram as a stop between Visakhapatnam and Rajahmundry, or as a day trip from Kakinada. A calmer way to do it is to arrive early, finish darshan and the vratam by midday, rest, and add one or two nearby shrines such as Talupulamma Lova on the way towards Tuni.
Before you plan
Annavaram at a glance
- Best months
- November to February: warm days and…November to February: warm days and cool nights on the coast. April to June is hot, and June to October is the wet season, with heavy rain and some cyclone risk around October.
- Ideal trip length
- Half a day to one day for the templeHalf a day to one day for the temple; add a second day only if you combine nearby shrines like Pithapuram or Lova
- Airport
- Rajahmundry AirportRajahmundry Airport (RJA) at Madhurapudi, about 1.5-2 hours by road; Visakhapatnam (VTZ) is also used, about 2-2.5 hours by road
- Railway station
- AnnavaramAnnavaram (ANV), on the Howrah-Chennai main line, a few kilometres from the temple; Tuni, about 18 km north, has more services
- Getting around
- Autos and shared vehicles run from…Autos and shared vehicles run from the station and bus stand to the foot of the hill; the temple also runs a ghat road for vehicles up the hill
- Daily budget
- ModestModest. Darshan is free; paid fast-track darshan, vratams and prasadam are priced by the temple and change, so check the official rates before you go
- Senior comfort
- Workable if you go up by road:…Workable if you go up by road: darshan involves queues and some standing, but a vehicle takes you near the top and the steps are optional
- Language
- Telugu locallyTelugu locally; Hindi and some English are understood around the temple and at hotels
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Annavaram: January, February, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Annavaram itinerary
One good day
1 day in Annavaram
Reach the foot of Ratnagiri hill soon after the gates open so you are in the queue before the crowd builds. Go up by road if anyone in the group cannot manage the steps, and walk down the steps afterwards if you wish. Take darshan of the main deity, then the Rama shrine and the Vana Durga temple. If you have booked a vratam, schedule it for the morning. Collect prasadam from the counters before leaving, rest through the hot afternoon, and finish with the Pampa river viewpoint at the foot of the hill.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Annavaram
Spend the first morning on darshan, the vratam and the shrines around the main temple, then rest. In the late afternoon, walk some of the steps down for the view over the village and the river, or sit near the Pampa river as the light drops.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Annavaram
Darshan, vratam and prasadam, with a long break after lunch. Avoid trying to add other sights.
Day-by-day plan →
