Draksharamam Bhimeswara Temple Timings 2026: Darshan Hours, Sevas, the Two-Storey Linga and How to Reach
Last verified: September 2026. Timings and seva prices are set by the temple’s Executive Officer under the Andhra Pradesh Endowments Department and shift on festival days — confirm at the temple office before you travel.
Draksharamam is the most important of the five Pancharama Kshetras of Andhra Pradesh and one of the few temples in India where the main linga is viewed from two floors. The Bhimeswara Swamy linga is about 2.6 metres tall, a crystal (spatika) linga, and rises through the sanctum so that the upper portion is worshipped from a first-floor gallery reached by stairs inside the temple. It is also a Shakti Peeth — Manikyamba’s shrine is in the same complex — and the town has been called Dakshina Kasi, the Kasi of the south, since the Chalukya period. Despite that, it sees a fraction of the crowds of the big Andhra temples, which makes it one of the easiest major shrines in the state to visit properly.
Temple Timings
| Session | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Morning | 6:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Afternoon closure | 12:00 PM – 3:30 PM |
| Evening | 3:30 PM – 8:00 PM |
| Suprabhatam / first abhishekam | Around 6:00 AM |
| Evening aarti | Around 7:00 PM |
On Karthika Masam Mondays, Mahashivaratri and Bhishma Ekadasi the temple opens earlier and stays open late; the schedule is posted at the gate.
Darshan and Sevas
Darshan is free and, outside festivals, takes 15–30 minutes. The upper-floor darshan of the linga’s crown is included; follow the stairs on the inner prakaram.
| Seva | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Abhishekam (individual) | ₹300–₹500 |
| Rudrabhishekam | ₹1,000 upwards |
| Kalyanam (festival days) | Announced by the temple |
| Special darshan on festival days | Small fee, at the counter |
Tickets are sold at the counter inside the outer gopuram. Bring your own abhishekam materials or buy the kit at the counter.
What to See Inside
- Bhimeswara Swamy linga — ground-floor darshan of the base, first-floor darshan of the crown. The upper gallery is usually quiet.
- Manikyamba shrine — one of the Ashtadasa (18) Shakti Peethas; her image is carved in saligrama stone.
- Sapta Godavari pushkarini — the tank outside, fed by seven streams of the Godavari according to tradition.
- Inscriptions — the walls carry hundreds of Chalukya, Chola and Kakatiya inscriptions; the temple is a protected monument.
- The four gopurams — the west gopuram is five-tiered; the outer prakaram has entrances on all four sides.
Festivals
- Mahashivaratri (February/March) — the year’s biggest day; temple open through the night.
- Karthika Masam (November) — Monday crowds and the Jwala Thoranam lamp ceremony.
- Devi Navaratri (October) — nine days at the Manikyamba shrine.
- Bhishma Ekadasi (January/February) — Swamy Vari Kalyanam.
- Subrahmanya Shasti (December).
How to Reach
- Air: Rajahmundry Airport, about 50 km, 1.5 hours. Vijayawada 200 km, Visakhapatnam 190 km.
- Rail: Rajahmundry station, 50 km; Kakinada Town, 28 km; Samalkot Junction on the Chennai–Howrah main line, about 35 km.
- Road: Kakinada 28 km, Rajahmundry 50 km, Amalapuram 25 km. APSRTC buses run every 10 minutes from Ramachandrapuram (6 km), with connections from Kakinada and Rajahmundry.
The Pancharama Circuit
The five Pancharama Kshetras — Draksharamam, Amararama (Amaravathi), Somarama (Bhimavaram), Ksheerarama (Palakollu) and Kumararama (Samarlakota) — are traditionally done together. Samarlakota is 35 km from Draksharamam; Palakollu and Bhimavaram are across the Godavari, about 60–80 km. A two-day circuit from Rajahmundry covers all five.
Where to Stay
The temple runs a basic choultry for pilgrims; Ramachandrapuram has small lodges. Kakinada (28 km) has proper hotels and is the practical base for a day trip; Rajahmundry works if you are doing the Pancharama circuit.
Best Time to Visit
October to February. Summer is very hot on the coast; monsoon (July–September) is manageable but the road from Kakinada can flood. Weekday mornings are near-empty; Karthika Mondays and Mahashivaratri are the only days you will queue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Draksharamam temple timings?
Typically 6 AM–12 PM and 3:30–8 PM, with extended hours on festival days.
Why is the linga seen from two floors?
The linga is about 2.6 metres tall; the base is worshipped on the ground floor and the crown from a first-floor gallery.
Is there an entry fee?
No. Darshan is free; sevas are ticketed at the counter.
Is Draksharamam a Shakti Peeth?
Yes — Manikyamba’s shrine in the complex is one of the 18 Ashtadasa Shakti Peethas.
Which is the nearest railway station?
Kakinada Town (28 km) is closest; Rajahmundry (50 km) has more trains.
How far is it from Rajahmundry?
About 50 km, 1.5 hours by road.
Verified against the East Godavari district administration’s temple information and recent pilgrim reports, September 2026. Spotted a change? Email info@themandiryatra.com.
Editor at The Mandir Yatra. Covers the Himalayan and northern yatras (Kedarnath, Vaishno Devi, Govardhan, Narmada Parikrama) and the southern and eastern temples (Tirupati, Kanyakumari, Srikalahasti, Draksharamam, Jagannath Puri, Kamakhya). Every guide is checked against the temple trust’s official schedule before publishing and carries a last-verified date.
