Heritage · Faith · Tradition
About the Temple
Introduction
The Sri Nookambika Ammavari Temple – also known as the Sri Nookalamma Ammavari Devasthanam – at Gavarapalem in Anakapalli is one of the most important Goddess temples of north coastal Andhra Pradesh. Nookalamma is a beloved grama devata (village Mother) of the region, and her temple at Anakapalli is the chief seat of her worship. Its month-long Nookalamma Jatara, which begins on Kotha Amavasya – the new-moon day just before Ugadi – draws pilgrims from across Andhra Pradesh and from Odisha, Telangana and beyond.
The Goddess
Sri Nookambika is revered as one of the nine forms of Shakti. According to tradition, she was known in ancient times as Anagha Devi; in the Kakatiya era the temple was renovated and she came to be worshipped as Sri Kakatamba. Over the centuries the name became Nookambika, or, as devotees fondly call her, Nookalamma.
History
The present importance of the temple goes back to the early 17th century, when the Golconda rulers appointed Sri Kakarlapudi Appala Raju Payakarao as the ruler of the Anakapalli region. He renovated the temple, restored its past glory and re-established worship of the Goddess as Sri Nookambika Ammavaru, honouring her as the family Goddess. The temple came under the administration of the Endowments Department in the 1930s and is today one of the larger temples of the region.
Festivals
- Nookalamma Jatara – the temple's greatest festival, beginning on Kotha Amavasya (Phalguna Amavasya, the day before Ugadi; usually March–April) and continuing for about a month. On Kotha Amavasya itself, huge crowds gather to have darshan of the Goddess before the Telugu New Year.
- Dasara / Devi Navaratri – special alankarams and pujas for the Goddess during the nine nights (usually September–October).
- Weekly: Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays are considered the most auspicious days for worship of Sri Nookambika.
Visitor Information
- Daily worship: regular pujas, archanas and deeparadhana are performed every day.
- Timings: official timings are not published; the temple is usually open in the morning and evening, with longer hours during the Jatara. Please check locally before visiting.
- Jatara crowds: expect very large crowds on Kotha Amavasya and on Sundays during the Jatara month.
- Etiquette: traditional dress is recommended; remove footwear before entering.
How to Reach
- By Road: the temple is at Gavarapalem, about 1.5 km from the Anakapalli bus station, on the Chennai–Kolkata highway corridor; Visakhapatnam city is about 37–40 km away.
- By Train: Anakapalle railway station, on the Howrah–Chennai main line, is about 2 km away.
- By Air: the nearest airport is Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport, Bhogapuram (VTZ), about 75 km away by road.
Other Goddess Temples Nearby
In Visakhapatnam, devotees also visit Sri Kanaka Mahalakshmi Ammavari Temple (about 37 km), and further north the Sri Pydithalli Ammavari Temple, Vizianagaram. The hill shrine of Simhachalam is about 41 km away.