Sri Bhimeswara Swamy Temple (Draksharama)
Draksharamam, near Ramachandrapuram, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district · Lord Shiva as Bhimeswara Swamy, with Goddess Manikyamba (a Shakti Peetha)
Pancharama, Shakti Peetha and one of the three Trilinga shrines – a two-storey sanctum around a giant linga where Daksha held his ill-fated yagna.
Draksharama is the largest and most important of the five Pancharamas. Here Shiva is worshipped as Bhimeswara, a very tall linga (about 2.6 m per the AP Endowments portal) that rises through a two-storey sanctum, so devotees worship its base on the ground floor and its crown on the upper floor. The same complex holds the shrine of Goddess Manikyamba, counted as the 12th of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas, and the town is one of the three Trilinga kshetras (with Srisailam and Srikalahasti). Its walls carry one of the largest collections of medieval inscriptions in Andhra Pradesh.
Timings
- Darshan (official portal): 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM. The portal's 'About' page gives 5:30 AM – 9:00 PM; older visitor reports mention a midday break – confirm locally.
- Suprabhata Seva: 5:00 – 6:00 AM
- Pratyaksha abhishekams: 6:00 – 10:30 AM
- Kumkumarchana: 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM (evening kumkuma poojas 3:00 – 6:30/7:00 PM)
- Karthika Masam / Masa Shivaratri: Abhishekam hours are usually extended; check at the temple.
Darshan types and costs
- Sarva (general) darshan – Free
Sevas and costs
- Laghunyasa Abhishekam – ₹100 (Daily, 6:00 – 10:30 AM)
- Ekadasa Rudrabhishekam – ₹200 (Daily, 6:00 – 10:30 AM)
- Sahasra Kumkumarchana (Manikyamba) – ₹100 (Daily, 6:00 AM – 7:00 PM)
- Evening Kumkumarchana / Kumkuma Pooja – ₹100 (Daily, 3:00 – 6:30/7:00 PM)
- Sri Subrahmanya Swamy Abhishekam – ₹100 (Daily, 6:00 – 10:30 AM)
- Paroksha Abhishekam / Kumkumarchana (one day) – ₹100 (2 persons per ticket, max 1 ticket) (Abhishekam 8:00 – 9:00 AM; kumkumarchana 9:00 – 10:00 AM)
- Rahukala Kumkumarchana (one day) – ₹500 (2 persons per ticket) (Daily during 10:30 AM – 12:00 noon slot)
- Chandi Homam (paroksha) – ₹1,000 (Daily slot 10:00 – 11:00 AM)
- Nitya Abhishekam / Kumkumarchana – 365 days – ₹1,000 (Once a day for a year (8:00–10:00 AM))
- Chandi Homam / Rudra Homam – 365 days – ₹5,000 (Daily slot for a year)
- Rudrabhishekam with 3 priests (private, about 3 hours) – approx. ₹2,000 – ₹3,000 plus samagri and dakshina (unofficial; not on the portal) (Morning, by arrangement)
How to book darshan
In-person (pratyaksha) sevas are sold at the temple counter. Paroksha (remote) sevas, the darshan calendar and accommodation are on the AP Endowments portal tms.ap.gov.in under Sri Bhimeswara Swamy Vari Devasthanam, Draksharamam.
AP Endowments portal (tms.ap.gov.in)
Dress code
Traditional dress preferred, and expected for abhishekam. Men: pancha/dhoti or kurta-pyjama. Women: saree, half-saree or churidar with dupatta.
Best time to visit
October–February. Karthika Masam (10 Nov – 8 Dec 2026) is the peak; Karthika Mondays, Karthika Pournami and Maha Shivaratri (6 Mar 2027) are very crowded. Devi Navaratri and Dhanurmasam are also major festivals per the temple.
How to reach
- air: Rajahmundry (Madhurapudi) airport, roughly 55–60 km.
- rail: Kakinada Town (about 28 km), Samalkot Junction (about 35 km) or Rajahmundry (about 50 km).
- road: 28 km from Kakinada, 25 km from Amalapuram, 50 km from Rajahmundry; frequent APSRTC buses via Ramachandrapuram.
Festivals
- Karthika Masam – 10 Nov – 8 Dec 2026
- Karthika Pournami and Jwala Thoranam – 24 Nov 2026
- Maha Shivaratri – Saturday 6 March 2027 (Maha Shivaratri; panchang dates can differ by a day locally)
- Sri Swamy vari Kalyanam – Bhishma Ekadasi, Magha masam (Feb)
- Devi Sarannavaratri – Sep/Oct (Ashvayuja)
- Dhanurmasam – mid-Dec – mid-Jan
- Swamy vari Jayanti and Subrahmanya Shashti – Dec