Annavaram
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Annavaram is a village in the
Kakinada district Kakinada district is a district in the Coastal Andhra Region in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. With Kakinada as its administrative headquarters, it was proposed on 26 January 2022 to become one of the resultant twenty six districts in the ...
of the Indian state of
Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (ISO 15919, ISO: , , AP) is a States and union territories of India, state on the East Coast of India, east coast of southern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, seventh-largest state and th ...
, renowned for its religious and cultural significance. The village is best known for the Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy Temple, dedicated to Lord Satyanarayana, an incarnation of
Vishnu Vishnu (; , , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation ( ...
. Situated on Ratnagiri Hill, the temple, constructed initially in 1891 and rebuilt in 1933–34, is a major pilgrimage site in Andhra Pradesh and is second only to the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple in terms of prominence. The temple's unique rituals, especially the collective Satyanarayana Vratam, attract thousands of devotees, particularly during the Karthika month. Annavaram is located approximately 18 km from Tuni, 51 km from
Kakinada Kakinada (; formerly known as Cocanada) is a Port, port city and municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Situated along the Bay of Bengal, it serves as the headquarters of Kakinada district and is a prominent economic and c ...
and 120 km from
Visakhapatnam Visakhapatnam (; List of renamed places in India, formerly known as Vizagapatam, and also referred to as Vizag, Visakha, and Waltair) is the largest and most populous metropolitan city in the States and union territories of India, Indian stat ...
, with access via National Highway 16 and a B-category railway station on the Howrah–Chennai main line. According to the 2011 Census, the village has a population of 6,865. The village hosts a range of educational facilities and basic healthcare services, although more comprehensive medical care is available in nearby towns.


Etymology

The name ''Annavaram'' is derived from the Telugu word ''Anna'', meaning ''food'', symbolizing the village's longstanding reputation as a centre for food distribution. Another explanation suggests the origin from ''Anina varam'' (bestowed boon), referring to the divine blessings said to be granted by the presiding deity of the temple.


Location

Annavaram is located 18 km from Tuni, 51 km from
Kakinada Kakinada (; formerly known as Cocanada) is a Port, port city and municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Situated along the Bay of Bengal, it serves as the headquarters of Kakinada district and is a prominent economic and c ...
, 72 km from
Rajahmundry Rajahmundry ( ), officially Rajamahendravaram, is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and district headquarters of East Godavari district. It is the fifth most populated city in the state. During British rule, the district of Rajahmu ...
, and 120 km from
Visakhapatnam Visakhapatnam (; List of renamed places in India, formerly known as Vizagapatam, and also referred to as Vizag, Visakha, and Waltair) is the largest and most populous metropolitan city in the States and union territories of India, Indian stat ...
. The town is accessible via National Highway 16 (NH16), which connects
Chennai Chennai, also known as Madras (List of renamed places in India#Tamil Nadu, its official name until 1996), is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Tamil Nadu by population, largest city of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost states and ...
and
Kolkata Kolkata, also known as Calcutta ( its official name until 2001), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of West Bengal. It lies on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary ...
. Annavaram bus station serves the town. Regular bus services operated by the
Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (abbreviated as APSRTC) is the state-owned road transport corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Its headquarters is located at NTR Administrative Block of RTC House in Pandit Ne ...
(APSRTC) connect Annavaram with nearby cities, including buses running every 30 minutes from Tuni,
Kakinada Kakinada (; formerly known as Cocanada) is a Port, port city and municipal corporation in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Situated along the Bay of Bengal, it serves as the headquarters of Kakinada district and is a prominent economic and c ...
and
Rajahmundry Rajahmundry ( ), officially Rajamahendravaram, is a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and district headquarters of East Godavari district. It is the fifth most populated city in the state. During British rule, the district of Rajahmu ...
. The Annavaram railway station, situated on the Howrah–Chennai main line, is a B-category station under the
Vijayawada railway division Vijayawada railway division is one of the six railway divisions under South Coast Railways of the Indian Railways. The headquarters of the division are located at Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, India. History It was formed as one of the eig ...
of the
South Central Railway zone South Central Railway (abbreviated SCR) is one of the 19 zones of Indian Railways. The jurisdiction of the zone is spread over the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka. It has three divisions under its administration, wh ...
. Located about 3 km from the temple, it lies on the broad-gauge railway line between
Vijayawada Vijayawada ( ), formerly known by its colonial name Bezawada, is the second largest city and a major commercial hub in the Andhra Pradesh state of India. The city forms an integral part of the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region and is situated on th ...
and Visakhapatnam. Many trains on the Kolkata-Vijayawada route have a scheduled stop at Annavaram.


Demographics

According to the 2011 Census of India, Annavaram spans an area of 324 hectares with a population of 6,865, encompassing 1,835 households. The male population totals 3,458 and the female population is 3,407, resulting in a nearly balanced sex ratio. The village includes 269 individuals from Scheduled Castes and 5 from Scheduled Tribes. The PIN code for Annavaram is 533406. As per the Census 2011, the literacy rate of Annavaram is 75.1%. The male literacy rate is 81.09% and the female literacy rate is 69.05% in Annavaram village.


Religious Significance

Annavaram is widely known for its religious significance, primarily due to the Sri Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy Temple located atop Ratnagiri Hill. Dedicated to Lord Satyanarayana, an incarnation of the Hindu god
Vishnu Vishnu (; , , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation ( ...
, the temple was initially constructed in 1891 and later reconstructed in stone during 1933–34. The temple features unique iconography and attracts numerous visitors, making it one of the most frequented and wealthiest religious sites in Andhra Pradesh. It is considered the second most important pilgrimage centre in the state after the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple. The temple's location on Ratnagiri Hill provides a scenic view overlooking the Pampa River and the surrounding landscape. Pilgrims can reach the temple via a ghat road or by climbing a series of steps. The temple is particularly known for the collective performance of the Satyanarayana Vratam, a ritual observed by hundreds of devotees at once, which fosters a strong sense of community. The month of Karthika is notable for drawing large numbers of worshippers who participate in special rituals and celebrations. A legend associated with the temple recounts the story of Meru, a great mountain, and his wife Menaka, who were blessed by Vishnu after performing penance. Their sons, Bhadra and Ratnakara, were transformed into
Bhadrachalam Bhadrachalam is a census town in Bhadradri Kothagudem district in the Indian state of Telangana. It is an important Hindu pilgrimage town with the Bhadrachalam Temple of Rama, situated on the banks of Godavari River. It is located east of sta ...
Hill, dedicated to
Lord Rama Rama (; , , ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the seventh and one of the most popular avatars of Vishnu. In Rama-centric Hindu traditions, he is considered the Supreme Being. Also considered as the ideal man (''maryāda'' ...
, and Ratnagiri, where Lord Satyanarayana manifested. This legend underlines the temple's significance, with devotees believing in the blessings (anina varam) received from the deity, enhancing Annavaram's religious importance.


Education

Annavaram hosts a range of educational institutions, including one private kindergarten, three government primary schools, two private primary schools, one government upper primary school, one private upper primary school, one government secondary school, and one private secondary school. Higher education is available at one government junior college, one private junior college, and one private arts and science degree college. The nearest engineering, medical, management, and polytechnic colleges are located in Kakinada. Vocational training centers are accessible in Jaggampeta, while specialized schools for differently-abled students are available in Kakinada.


Healthcare

Public healthcare facilities in Annavaram are limited. The village has two sub-centers without doctors but staffed by paramedics. The nearest primary health center is located within a 5–10 km radius. Other healthcare options include veterinary and mobile health services within the same distance. More comprehensive medical facilities, such as community health centers, maternal and child health services, allopathy hospitals, and centers for alternative medicine, are located more than 10 km away. Annavaram has two private healthcare facilities and three unqualified practitioners providing services. There are ten pharmacies to meet the needs of the local population.


Gallery

File:Annavaram railway station board.jpg, Annavaram railway station File:Annavaram bus stand.jpg, Annavaram bus stand File:Dam view from Annavaram temple.jpg, Ratnagiri mountain range File:Annavaram-pushkarini.jpg, Pushkarini at the temple File:Annavaram hill view from Ratnachal Express on a cloudy day.jpg, Annavaram hill view File:Entrance arch on new Ghat road in Annavaram.jpg, Entrance arch on new Ghat road File:Paddy fields near Annavaram.jpg, Paddy fields near Annavaram


References


External links

{{Commons category, Annavaram Villages in Gandepalle mandal Villages in Kakinada district Hindu holy cities Tourist attractions in Andhra Pradesh