Sri Chalukya Kumararama Bhimeswara Swamy Temple (Kumararama)
Samalkot (Samarlakota), Kakinada district · Lord Shiva as Kumara Bhimeswara (Chalukya Bhimeswara), with Goddess Bala Tripura Sundari
The Pancharama installed by Kumaraswamy himself – an Eastern Chalukya masterpiece with a 14-ft linga rising through two storeys.
Kumararama at Samalkot is where Kumaraswamy (Kartikeya), the slayer of Tarakasura, is said to have installed his piece of the shattered linga himself. The temple, built by the Eastern Chalukya king Chalukya Bhima I around 892–922 CE, is a near twin of Draksharama: a very tall limestone linga rises from the ground floor through the ceiling into a second storey, where its top (Rudrabhaga) is worshipped. It is usually the last stop on the one-day Pancharama circuit.
Timings
- Morning (official portal): 6:00 AM – 12:00 noon
- Evening (official portal): 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Nitya Annadanam: 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM
- Abhishekam / Kumkuma pooja: 8:00 – 11:00 AM
- Karthika Masam: Daily abhishekams through Karthika and Margasira; hours may be extended.
Darshan types and costs
- General darshan – Free
Sevas and costs
- Pratiroju Abhishekam – ₹100 (Daily, 8:00 – 11:00 AM)
- Pratiroju Kumkuma Pooja – ₹50 (Daily, 8:00 – 11:00 AM)
- Pournami Navavarnarchana – ₹300 (Every Pournami, 8:00 – 11:00 AM)
- Karthika Masam 30-day scheme – ₹500 (Through Karthika (30 days), 7:00 – 9:00 AM)
- Ganapathi Navaratrulu (9 days) – ₹500 (Vinayaka Navaratri, 8:00 – 10:00 AM)
- Devi Navaratrulu (9 days) – ₹500 (Devi Navaratri, 7:00 – 8:00 PM)
- Maha Shivaratri Lingodbhava Pooja gotranamam – ₹200 (Maha Shivaratri night (6 Mar 2027))
- Saswatha Abhishekam (one day a month) – ₹1,500 (One fixed day each month, 8:00 – 9:00 AM)
- Nitya Gotranamamulu – ₹3,000 (Daily, 8:00 – 9:00 AM)
- Paroksha Pratiroju Abhishekam – ₹100 (Daily, 8:00 – 11:00 AM)
- Paroksha Kumkuma Pooja – ₹50 (Daily, 8:00 – 11:00 AM)
- Paroksha Rudrahomam – ₹500 (Tuesdays, 8:00 – 10:30 AM)
- Kalyana Mahotsavam (festival) – Free to watch; sponsorship – check at temple office (Magha Bahula Ekadasi (Feb/Mar))
How to book darshan
In-person sevas at the temple counter. The AP Endowments portal lists the temple's sevas and paroksha sevas, but in Oct 2026 its online booking showed 'No sevas available' – book at the temple or check again. On the APSRTC/APTDC Pancharama tours, buses usually reach Samalkot last.
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, especially Mondays) is the peak season; Maha Shivaratri (6 Mar 2027) and the Kalyana Mahotsavam are major festivals.
How to reach
- air: Rajahmundry (Madhurapudi) airport, about 45–50 km.
- rail: Samalkot Junction on the Howrah–Chennai main line, about 1–2 km away.
- road: About 12 km from Kakinada, 52 km from Rajahmundry; frequent buses.
Festivals
- Karthika and Margasira abhishekams – 10 Nov 2026 – early Jan 2027
- Maha Shivaratri – Saturday 6 March 2027 (Maha Shivaratri; panchang dates can differ by a day locally)
- Kalyana Mahotsavam – Magha Bahula Ekadasi (Feb/Mar)
- Devi Navaratrulu (Dasara) – Sep/Oct
- Ganapathi Navaratrulu – Aug/Sep