Heritage · Faith · Tradition
About the Temple
Introduction
The Sri Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple at Palakollu, in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, is Ksheerarama – one of the five sacred Pancharama Kshetras of Lord Shiva. It is easily recognised from afar by its magnificent Rajagopuram, about 120 feet tall with nine storeys, one of the tallest temple towers in Andhra Pradesh. The town's very name – Palakollu, from paalu (milk) – is tied to the temple's legend.
Main Deities
The presiding deity is Lord Shiva as Sri Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy, worshipped as a tall Shiva Lingam of a striking milky-white colour. The Goddess is worshipped as Sri Parvathi Devi. The large complex also has shrines for Lord Vishnu, Ganesha, Kartikeya, Surya, Lakshmi, Durga, Veerabhadra, Bhairava, Nataraja and many others, making a visit here a pilgrimage to many deities at once.
Sthala Puranam
According to tradition, a devout boy named Upamanyu prayed to Lord Shiva with great intensity for milk. Pleased with his devotion, Shiva struck the ground with his trident, and a spring of milk (ksheeram) burst forth from the earth. The place therefore came to be known as Ksheerapuri, later Palakollu, and the shrine as Ksheerarama. As one of the Pancharamas, it is also linked to the story of Kumaraswamy's victory over the demon Tarakasura, when the Lingam the demon wore broke into five pieces that fell at five holy places.
History and Architecture
The temple traces its origins to the Eastern Chalukya kings, with its beginnings associated with Chalukya Bhima, the same ruler linked with the Pancharama temples of Draksharama and Samalkot. It continued to grow over the following centuries. Its great nine-storeyed Rajagopuram, about 120 feet tall, was raised in the 14th century under Alladu Reddy. Inside, a mandapam with 72 black stone pillars leads towards the sanctum.
Festivals
- Maha Shivaratri (February–March): the main festival, with special abhishekams, the Kalyanotsavam and thousands of devotees.
- Karthika Masam (October–November): lamps and special worship, especially on Mondays and Karthika Pournami; many devotees visit all five Pancharamas during this month.
- Devi Navaratri (September–October): special worship of the Goddess.
Temple Timings
- The temple is generally open from morning until midday and again in the evening.
- Timings change on Shivaratri and during Karthika Masam; please check locally.
How to Reach
By Road: the temple is in Palakollu town, about 25 km from Bhimavaram, about 10 km from Narasapuram and about 75 km from Rajahmundry. APSRTC buses connect Palakollu with all major towns of the Godavari districts.
By Train: Palakollu railway station, on the Bhimavaram–Narasapuram line, is close to the temple.
By Air: the nearest airport is Rajahmundry Airport (RJA), about 75 km away.
Visitor Information
- Dress code: traditional dress is recommended.
- Gopuram view: the Rajagopuram is best seen from the street in front of the temple, especially in the morning light.
- Pancharama yatra: devotees often combine Ksheerarama with Somarama at Bhimavaram, Draksharama, Kumararama (Samalkot) and Amararama (Amaravathi).
- Nearby temple: the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, Antarvedi, where the Vasishta Godavari meets the sea, is a short journey away across the river.
