Amareswara Swamy Temple (Amaralingeswara Swamy Temple)
అమరేశ్వరస్వామి దేవాలయం
Shiva (Amareswara / Amaralingeswara) temple · Amaravathi, Palnadu, Andhra Pradesh, India
Photo: Krishna Chaitanya Velaga · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
The Amareswara Swamy Temple, also called the Amaralingeswara Swamy Temple, is a Shiva temple in the old town of Amaravathi, Andhra Pradesh (Incredible India; Palnadu District Administration; The Hans India). It stands on the bank of the Krishna river, and the town lies about 35 km north-west of Guntur (Palnadu District Administration; Deccan Chronicle). The presiding deity is Shiva worshipped as Amareswara, or Amaralingeswara Swamy (The Hans India; Palnadu District Administration).
The temple is counted among the Pancharama Kshetras, a group of five ancient Shiva shrines in Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority; Deccan Chronicle; Incredible India). It draws pilgrims through the year, with the largest crowds on Maha Shivaratri (Palnadu District Administration; The Hans India).
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Amareswara Swamy Temple (Amaralingeswara Swamy Temple)
According to tradition, the linga here was installed by Indra, king of the gods, and Indra and the devas are believed to have worshipped Shiva at this spot (Incredible India; Deccan Chronicle). The Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority describes the shrine as celebrated as one of the Pancharamas (Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority). Deccan Chronicle reports that devotees hold the place sacred for the Krishna river, for the temple's sthala mahatmyam (local sacred legend) and for its Mahalinga (Deccan Chronicle).
The Krishna is part of worship here: on festival days many devotees bathe in the river near the temple before going in for darshan (The Hans India). Devotees believe that abhishekam to the deity eases troubles attributed to the planets (The Hans India). The temple has its own bathing ghat on the river, which was one of the ghats used during the Krishna Pushkaralu in 2016 (Deccan Chronicle).
Incredible India notes that the name Amaravati is read as 'the place of the immortals', and that some people believe the town takes its name from this temple, while others link it to the Amaravati stupa (Incredible India).
Heritage
History of Amareswara Swamy Temple (Amaralingeswara Swamy Temple)
Sources differ on when the temple was first built. Incredible India's temple page says it is believed to date to the Satavahana period and has been renovated and enlarged over the centuries (Incredible India), while the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority's historical timeline attributes its construction to the Eastern Chalukya period (Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority). These are best read as differing accounts rather than a settled date.
In 2015 Deccan Chronicle reported that workers digging foundations for a new gali gopuram (entrance tower) at the temple found an old wall, a marble Shiva linga and clay vessels, which archaeology officials linked to the Satavahana and Buddhist periods, and that the archaeology department planned further excavation (Deccan Chronicle). The same report said idols found earlier, when the old gali gopuram was taken down, had been moved to the government museum at Amaravati (Deccan Chronicle).
Architecture and sacred features
Incredible India describes the temple as combining Dravidian and Nagara features, with a tall gopuram, carved pillars and detailed stonework (Incredible India), and notes that the complex also has smaller shrines to other deities (Incredible India). The Palnadu district administration describes the presiding deity as about 15 feet tall (Palnadu District Administration).
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
On major festivals such as Maha Shivaratri the temple has run separate queue lines and set up showers on the river bank for devotees who bathe before darshan (The Hans India). Timings and arrangements change, so confirm current arrangements with the temple authorities or the Andhra Pradesh Endowments Department before travelling.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with the temple administration before travelling. Last reviewed 11 October 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Festivals at Amareswara Swamy Temple (Amaralingeswara Swamy Temple)
Maha Shivaratri
The temple's main festival, when large numbers of pilgrims gather to worship Shiva (Palnadu District Administration; Incredible India). Devotees keep an all-night vigil, and the temple is decorated with pandals and queue lines for the crowds (The Hans India).
Karthika Somavaram
On the Mondays of Karthika the temple holds special pujas, including Ekadasa Rudrabhishekam and Laksha Bilwarchana for the presiding deity, and many devotees bathe in the Krishna first (The Hans India).
Location
How to Reach Amareswara Swamy Temple (Amaralingeswara Swamy Temple)
Amaravathi is about 35 km north-west of Guntur on the Krishna river (Palnadu District Administration). The Ministry of Tourism names Vijayawada International Airport as the nearest airport and Vijayawada railway station as the nearest railhead (Incredible India).
Location: Amaravathi, Palnadu, Andhra Pradesh, India
Nearest airport: Vijayawada International Airport
Nearest railway station: Vijayawada
More in Hindu temples in Andhra Pradesh · Shiva (Amareswara / Amaralingeswara) temples · Temples in Palnadu District
Questions
Amareswara Swamy Temple (Amaralingeswara Swamy Temple): Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Amareswara Swamy Temple?
It is in Amaravathi, on the Krishna river, about 35 km north-west of Guntur in Andhra Pradesh (Palnadu District Administration; Incredible India).
Is Amareswara the same as Amaralingeswara Swamy?
Yes. The Shiva of this temple is called both Amareswara and Amaralingeswara Swamy in official and news sources (Palnadu District Administration; The Hans India; Deccan Chronicle).
Is the temple one of the Pancharama Kshetras?
Yes. It is counted among the five Pancharama Kshetras, a group of ancient Shiva temples in Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority; Deccan Chronicle; Incredible India).
What legend is linked with the temple?
According to tradition, the linga was installed by Indra, and Indra and the devas worshipped Shiva here (Incredible India; Deccan Chronicle).
How old is the temple?
Its founding date is not settled. Incredible India links it to the Satavahana period, while the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority attributes it to the Eastern Chalukya period (Incredible India; Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority).
When is the main festival?
Maha Shivaratri is the main festival and draws large crowds of pilgrims (Palnadu District Administration; The Hans India). Karthika Mondays are also marked with special pujas (The Hans India).
How do I reach Amaravathi?
The nearest airport is Vijayawada International Airport and the nearest railway station is Vijayawada (Incredible India). Amaravathi is about 35 km from Guntur (Palnadu District Administration).
Sources and attribution
- © OpenStreetMap contributors — location data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
- Wikidata Q4740189 — structured data (CC0)
- Wikipedia — Amararama — text facts from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) — Amaralingeswara Temple
- Incredible India (Ministry of Tourism, Government of India) — Amaravati
- Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority — History of Amaravati (historical timeline)
- Palnadu District Administration — Culture Tourism
- Palnadu District Administration — Tourism: Amaravathi
- Deccan Chronicle — Ancient Amaravati lacks basic facilities
- Deccan Chronicle — Buddhist era relics found in Amaravati
- Deccan Chronicle — Drainage water pollutes Amaravati Pushkar ghat
- The Hans India — Trikoteswara Swamy, Amaralingeswara Swamy temples decked up for Maha Sivaratri festivities
- The Hans India — Devotees throng Siva temples to mark Karthika Somavaram in Guntur
Further reading: Amareswara Swamy Temple (Amaralingeswara Swamy Temple) on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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