Srikakulam: Discover the city, river and culture

The Nagavali flows through the city; historical references go back to Jamia Masjid. The district is home to other temples, coastal towns and craft traditions. Considering these geographical levels separately can help you narrow down the focus you want for your trip.

Srikakulam city: the Nagavali and history

The Nagavali flows through Srikakulam. It meets the sea near the villages of Kallepalli and Bonthalakoduru, five kilometres from Srikakulam. The Nagavali River View Park is also associated with Srikakulam. These place references offer different points of orientation to help you distinguish the city from its surroundings.

Jamia Masjid was built in 1641 and is believed to be the oldest surviving structure in Srikakulam. The garden around the mosque gave the city its former name, Gulshanabad, meaning “city of the garden”. The history of the name is therefore directly linked to a named place in the city.

The Sun God Temple is located in the village of Arasavalli, about one kilometre east of Srikakulam. Arasavalli is therefore a distinct place outside the city.

Cultural sites in Srikakulam district

The wider travel destination, Srikakulam district, is home to other places with a variety of cultural highlights. The Sri Suryanarayana Swamy Temple in Arasavalli is considered one of only two ancient sun temples in India. Twice a year, in March and September, sunlight falls on the deity’s feet there. Ratha Saptami is celebrated at the temple in February; as the festival date can vary, check the dates for the relevant edition when planning a specific trip.

Another religious site is Srikurmam: the village is considered a pilgrimage destination, and the Sri Kurmanatha Swamy Temple is 14.5 kilometres southeast of Srikakulam City. It is considered the only temple of its kind in India and contains inscriptions dating from the 11th to the 19th century AD. The Nagavali, Suvarnamukhi and Vegavati rivers meet at Sangam. The Sangameswara Temple there is one of the five Linga Kshetras; Sangam is a pilgrimage destination in Srikakulam district.

Coast, rivers and seasonal nature

Srikakulam district has a 193-kilometre coastline. Kalingapatnam Beach is located where the Vamsadhara flows into the Bay of Bengal. A historic lighthouse from the British era still stands near the former port of Kalingapatnam. Baruva also recalls the district’s maritime history: two obelisks mark the former port. Each rises 50 feet above sea level; one is black and the other white.

Telineelapuram is a seasonal natural attraction: between September and March, more than 3,000 pelicans and painted storks from Siberia visit the area. March therefore falls both within this stated period and among the two months when sunlight falls on the deity’s feet at the temple in Arasavalli. This provides a concrete seasonal reference without equating the different places.

Crafts and regional specialities

Crafts also distinguish the places in the district. Ponduru is known for producing high-quality khadi; Ponduru khadi is entirely hand-spun. Budithi’s bronze craftsmanship is popular with tourists and locals, and visitors from India and abroad order items there to their own specifications. Mandasa, meanwhile, is known for its traditional medicinal sweet, Mandasa Palakova. These topics show that, in addition to temples and coastal towns, the district also offers distinctive craft and culinary attractions.

Getting there and choosing a location

Srikakulam Road railway station is the nearest station. It is nine kilometres from Srikakulam City and lies on the Vizag–Bhubaneswar route. The nearest airport is Visakhapatnam, 117 kilometres from Srikakulam. Check the relevant timetables when planning your journey.

City, village and district are not interchangeable destination descriptions: Arasavalli, Srikurmam, Sangam, Kalingapatnam and Baruva each refer to a different place.

For the wider travel overview: Srikakulam.