International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666; Vol.5, Issue-2, February, 2018 Impact Factor: 6.023; Email: [email protected]

Research Scholar Dept. of History & Archaeology Acharya Nagarjuna University Guntur.

Lecturer in History, VSR Govt Degree College, Mova, Krishna.

The is designed to southern-most district of the Rayalseema dissolve the boundaries between man and region of . While the divine. Religion tourism is a popular agriculture remains the most important trend among the tourists. Rayalaseema economic activity of the district, it is comprises of four southern-most districts characterised by high levels of instability -, Chittoor, and and uncertainty. Being located in the Kadapa- in Andhra Pradesh. The region rain-shadow region of Andhra Pradesh, got its name because it was under the the district is drought-prone. the rule of Krishna Deva Raya and is a methodology consists of a combination of mineral rich region. While the tourism secondary data analysis and primary there is not as highlighted as the other surveys, interviews and consultation with districts in the erstwhile united Andhra a cross-section of people. While an Pradesh; there are many places that one analysis of secondary data on Anantapur must see in the region. This paper tries to District provides a macro-picture of bring out some of the unfamiliar temples changes in the district as a whole, the situated in the districts of Anatapur and personal interaction with key informants Kurnool in order to cater the needs of provides an insight into specific local pilgrimage tourists who visit both concerns. Despite the fact that this districts. drought prone district has rich tourism potential, many places do not find their place as tourist centers in the tourism map of the AP with the exception of Ananthapur District is the Lepakshi and Timmamma Marri Manu. biggest district of Andhra Pradesh. It is Tourism potential if properly harnessed situated in the western part of Deccan can bring about prosperity and platue and forms the southernmost part development to the district where the of Rayalaseema. Anantapur District was alternative for development are non- formed in the year 1882 having been existing. Only a few which require huge separated from Bellary district. investment and take a long time to Ananthapur district has fairly good recoup. elevation which provides the district with tolerable climate. Anantapur is the International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666; Vol.5, Issue-2, February, 2018 Impact Factor: 6.023; Email: [email protected]

This place is well known for its The village is at the northern end waterfall 25 to 30 feet in height. It is 4 of the Anantapur tank and is believed to miles from Tadipatri. This waterfall and have been constructed by Chikkappa picturesque surroundings with hills and Odeyar, Bukka I's-Minister. A fort to the trees all around is worth a visit for picnic north of the village is now in ruins. The goers though the track is not easy to temples of Veerabhadra and Bhadrakali negotiate. From the Ranganathaswamy greet the visitors at the entrance. On top temple, the view is enchanting. There are of the Devarakonda hill there is a temple a number of mantapas at the foot of the of Kondameedarayudu. A car festival for waterfall. The temple of Ranganatha", is this deity in Magha (January-February) to the western edge of the mountain attracts a large concourse from the stream. The car festival of the temple neighboring villages. This is a railway deity comes off in chaitra (April-March) junction on the - Guntakal on the full moon day and is well attended. line. The festival is conducted at Aluru and the idols are then brought from the temple to the village. This spot can be The village 16 miles north of converted into a tourist centre by Uravakonda is widely known for the constructing of swimming pool. Samadhi (Tomb) of Bheema Lingeswara Kavi. Bheemakavi is a legendary figure whose life appears to be similar to that of This place is about 28 miles from Vemulavada Bhima Kavi of E.G. District Kalyandurg and is named after Bhyrava and Vemulavada of Karimnagar District. whose temple lies on the hillock nearby. A massive temple in granite was built This otherwise insignificant village is the over the Samadhi of the poet at this site of the Bhairavanithippa project place. The local 'Besthas' officiate as which harnesses the water of the Hagiri. priests at the shrine. The original village at the foot of the hillock was evacuated to facilitate the construction of the dam. Katarupalle the village is situated 10 miles east of Kadiri, the place owes its importance mainly to the existence of the The village is 18 miles north east tomb reputed to be that of Vemana a of Penugonda on the eastern bank of great telugu poet and philosopher,' who Chitravathi River at the foot of lies buried at Katarupalle. A Mantapam Mallappakonda range of hills. The has also been built near the Samadhi. A hillocks around the tank here are full of five day festival is held in memory of temples of which the important are Saint on Chaitra Suddha Navami (March- Vajragiri Venkataramana Swamy, April). Anjaneya Swamy, Ahobila Swamy and Thirumalaraya. The car festival of Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy is held This place is about 21 kms. South-East of during March / April and draws piligrims Kadiri. There is a Banyan Tree, perhaps from different parts of the district. the biggest of its kind in the South, its branches spreading over nearly 5 acres, locally called "Thimmamma Marrimanu" International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666; Vol.5, Issue-2, February, 2018 Impact Factor: 6.023; Email: [email protected] after the name of Thimmamma, who is said to have committed " Sati" in 1434 A.D at this spot, where this Banyan Tree The district of Kurnool has sprouted. occupied a special place in our state Hemavathi especially in spirituality. Many temples that attract even foreign pilgrims are Hemavathi is located at a distance of located in the district. It is being praised 140kms from Anantapur. It is famous for as the main tourist centre especially with Doddeswara Swamy temple built during the’ temples of Lord Siva. The historical the Pallava Reign. The stone used in evidences are available to show that making the idols sounds like metal when many great spiritual leaders visited the stuck and is also remarkably polished. A temples of our district. Here are the Nandi made of black basalt granite, 8 feet Nallamalla Forests, the centre of in lenght and 4 feet in height sits at the attraction with the natural wealth trees entrance. There is a 6 feet tall and the forest. In this region we have installed inside the sanctum sanctorum. Srisailam, Mahanandi, Ahobilam and The temple area houses two other ‘Yagant’ as main visiting places. temples dedicated to Lord called the Siddeswara Swamy temple and Mallikarjuna Swamy temple. There is a Museum in side which has rare idols of ‘Roja Darga’ located on the banks historical importance of display. of river Tungabhadra in Kumool town is Jambu Dweepa at Konakondla the symbol of unity between Hindus and Muslims. Though it is the temple of The Jain Mythical Muslims, more Hindus visit the place and cosmographical diagram of Jambu worship). As the people have the strong Dweepa engraved on a stone on the top of conviction that their desires will be the hill Alchemists at Konakondla village realized when they visit the Darga, many in Vajrakarur Mandal which was Hindus and Muslims visit the Darga on identified by Sri R.V. Chakravarthy, every Thursday and Friday. It’s the Head Master, Parishad High School, opinion of some Muslim Peetadhipathees Konakondla in the year 1966. The that it is due to the power of this Darga pilgrims, especially south Indian Jain that the floods of the river Tungabhadra pilgrims are mostly attracted by this do not affect the region and the people. Jambu Dweepa which is 70 kms from Anantapur or 10 kms from Guntakal Railway Station. Adjacent to this, there A well known story of this region are Kambam Narasimha Swamy Hills, that Baba Hajarat Syed Shaw Ishhak Rasasidda hillock and Kari Basappa Sanavulla Khadri who came from hillock. There is a Thirthanka Temple Bagdad’ when he was eighteen and did with idols of Thirthankaras (high priests) (relay fasting) in village called Bamala’ on Rasasidda hillock. This may belong to for 50 years. Later he went to Bagdad’ 13 th Century A.D. once again and got married and gave birth to Syed Shaw Taj Mohammad Kahdri. International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666; Vol.5, Issue-2, February, 2018 Impact Factor: 6.023; Email: [email protected]

It was known that his son Khadri visit this God and receive his blessings came to Kumool and settled in a small before he begins his Vijaya Yatra. village called Boja’. He promoted the feeling of brotherhood by being close to both Hindus and Muslims and people started calling him as Baba’. It is in This is located at the heart of popularity that his name and fame had Kurnool beside K.C. Canal in Sapthagiri spread as his fortune telling also could Colony on the main road. This is become real. It is the opinion of some evergreen with ever visits of tourists, and Muslim elders that it is due to the glory devotees. The atmosphere is always of Baba the natural calamities were colorful with every Pujas, Abhishekam stopped in the region. and special weekly Pujas. The Statue of Swamy was dedicated on Nov 28, 2001 which has become-the crown of Kurnool as well as Rayalaseema. The temple of ‘Gattu Mallappa’ is We can visit Varasiddi Vinayaka located near by the village ‘Neradi’, in at the edge of K.C. Canal, Vigneswara, ‘plolaguna’ mandal of Adoni Revenue Subhramanya, and Ayyappa at the division, on a hill, 800 ft above the entrances ever green garden on both seashore. It is also known as the temple sides of the way. The romantic statues in of ‘Harihara’. It also teacher the religious difference angles of dance please our harmony that ‘Hariharas’ are the one. hearts. It is appreciable that the temple is For every Vijaaya Dasami’ the annual very convenient to Ayyappa Maladharas, celebrations' are conducted in hilly rich devotees and tourists as well. manner.

“Sri Lakshmi Jagannada Swamy It is located in “Yadagir’ of Gattu” is very holy and glorious temple ‘Adorn’ mandal. This is the historical among the temples of our holy . It is background of the temple belied by most located at the village of Lakshmi Puram of the people. The great hermit Vyasa in Kalluru Mandal of . It was on the visit to the southern part of is 10 k.m. away from Kurnool by the side India, especially Yadagiri of Adoni of N.H. 7. The specialty of this temple is mandal along with his disciples. That that this Sri Lakshmi Jagannada Swamy was the afternoon and the time of was self existed in the shape of linga. The worship when he could ‘not find any other visiting places of this particular temple or God in that place, with his temple are the temples of Govinda power of penance and wealth of his Rajulu, and Anjaneya Swamy, tomb of philosophical thought pours down some Sadhu Narayana, Tamarind tree, etc. water on a particular stone from his pot which was changed as the statue of Anjaneya. It was worshipped greatly by 1. Bhatia, A.K., Tourism in India - Vyasa and his disciples. It is a well known History and Development, New belief that Sri Krishnadevaraya used to Delhi: Sterling, 1978. International Journal of Academic Research ISSN: 2348-7666; Vol.5, Issue-2, February, 2018 Impact Factor: 6.023; Email: [email protected]

2. Chopra, P.N., India - An Encyclopedic Survey, New Delhi, 1984. 3. Kaiser Jr. & Helber, Tourism Planning and Development, Boston CBI Publishing Company, 1977. 4. Karan Singh, Indian Tourism - Aspects of a Great Adventure, Department of Tourism, Govt, of India, 1976. 5. PATA., An Introduction of Marketing and its Application to Tourism. A PATA Marketing Development Handbook, 1973. 6. Usha Bala, Tourism in India, Policy 8s Perspectives, New Delhi: Arushi Prakashan, 1991. 7. Census of India 1981. District Census Handbook. Anantapur. Village and Town Directory. Series 2. Part XIII A and B. ———. 1991. District Census Handbook. Anantapur. Village and Town Directory. Series 2. Part XII A and B. 8. Government of Andhra Pradesh (GoAP). 1993. Anantapur District Gazetteer. Originally published in 1905. District Gazetteers Department. Hyderabad. Chief Planning Officer (CPO). 2006–07. Hand Book of Statistics 2006-07. Anantapur District. Chief Planning Officer. Anantapur. 9. http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in 10. https://www.ixigo.com/temples-in- kurnool-lp-1097283