• Jan 25 2016
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Achanta Rameswara Swamy Temple

Located at Achanta, Rameshwara Swamy temple is a famous and ancient temple dedicated to Rameshwara Swami, one of the form of Lord Shiva. Popularly called as Achanteswara Swami and Achannuteswarudu, the Shiva Lingam in this temple is said to be self-manifested. There are about six Shiva lingas in this temple compound namely Lakshmaneswara Linga, Someswara Linga, Markandeya Linga, Bhimalinga, Skanda Linga and Indra Linga. It is believed that this temple was built during the reign of Eastern Chalukyas.According to the legends, once two shaivites started travelling to Kasi to worship Lord Shiva during Lingodhbava time. On their way, they met a prostitute and one of the devotee got attracted to her and dropped the plan of Kasi while the other continued the journey. The other person reached Kasi and started worshipping the Lord but he got distracted by thinking about the pleasures of his friend. At that time, the devotee who went with the prostitute started regretting his decision and  assumed Prostitute's breast as Linga and started worshipping with devotion during Lingodhbava time. Impressed by his devotion, Lord Siva self-manifested here. Hence the Lord got the name Achanteswara (Aa Channu to Eswara) as it looks like a female breast.The temple has a huge gopuram with five storeys at the entrance. On the top of this gopura, two lions are standing over the head of elephant and there are five kalashas in between these two lions.  A tall Dwajastambham can also be seen in front of the mukha mantapam inside the temple. There are sub-temples of Lord Vigneshwara (Lord Ganapati), Goddess Saraswati and Saptamatrukulu inside the main temple. The temple has a sacred Pushkarini beside the temple.The district is well known for its wool-pile carpets and hand woven products. There are many landmarks and tourism destinations in the district. Eluru is the largest city of the district with many destinations related to Buddhists and Archeological importance such as Guntupalli Caves near the city.Eluru city hosts 74 feet high Buddha statue in the heart of the city.Buddha Park at Eluru.Some of the religious destinations include, Dwaraka Tirumala known with the name as Chinna Tirumala,Pancharama Kshetras of Palacole and Bhimavaram etc.Other destinatins of tourism importance are Perupalem Beach at Narasapuram, the Kolleru Lake being the largest fresh water in the country and a bird sanctuary,Dowleswaram Barrage and Godavari river.