Sri Kodandarama Swamy Temple, Vontimitta
Rama (as Kodandarama), with Sita and Lakshmana temple · Vontimitta, YSR Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India
The Sri Kodandarama Swamy Temple at Vontimitta, in YSR Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh, is a 16th-century temple dedicated to Rama, worshipped with Sita and Lakshmana. The district administration notes that the three images in the sanctum are carved from a single rock.
The temple is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India and has been run by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) since 2015. Its annual Sita Rama Kalyanam is celebrated as an official state festival, according to Deccan Chronicle.
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Sri Kodandarama Swamy Temple, Vontimitta
According to a local tradition retold on the YSR Kadapa district website, Rama, Sita and Lakshmana stayed in the forest here during their exile. When Sita was thirsty, Rama shot an arrow into the ground and sweet water sprang up; the spring is said to have become the two tanks, Rama Theertham and Lakshmana Theertham, which Wikipedia places within the temple precincts.
Vontimitta is linked with Telugu devotional literature. The district website says the poet Bammera Pothana, author of the Telugu Sri Madandhra Bhagavatam, is said to have come from this place, and Wikipedia records that he dedicated the work to Rama here. Wikipedia also notes that Vavilakolanu Subba Rao, known as Andhra Valmiki for his Telugu Ramayana, spent time here, and that the poet-saint Annamacharya is said to have sung in praise of Rama at the temple.
Local legend, recorded by Wikipedia, says the temple was built by two robbers-turned-devotees named Vontudu and Mittudu, who are said to have turned to stone afterwards. Unusually for a Rama shrine, Hanuman is not part of the main group in the sanctum, though he has a separate shrine at the temple.
Heritage
History of Sri Kodandarama Swamy Temple, Vontimitta
The district administration states that the temple was built under the Chola and Vijayanagara kings, and Wikipedia dates it to about the 16th century in the Vijayanagara style. The French traveller Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, who passed through in the 17th century, called it one of the grandest pagodas in the whole of India, a remark quoted on the district website.
After Andhra Pradesh was divided in 2014, the Bhadrachalam temple, where the state had traditionally held its official Sri Rama Navami celebrations, went to Telangana. Wikipedia records that Vontimitta was chosen as the new venue for the official celebrations in 2015. The TTD board passed a resolution in July 2015 to take over the temple's administration, and TTD has managed it since then, while the ASI protects the monument.
Architecture and sacred features
The district website describes a towering entrance gateway, a sculpted hall of 32 pillars called the Madhya Ranga Mandapam, an inner chamber and the sanctum, and singles out the carvings and finish. Wikipedia adds that the temple has three gopurams, with the five-tiered eastern tower as the main entrance, and that the mandapa pillars carry figures of apsaras, Krishna lifting Govardhana, Rama and Lakshmana, and yalis.
In the sanctum, Rama, Sita and Lakshmana form a single composite image cut from one rock. The ASI lists the temple as a centrally protected monument (N-AP-50, as recorded by Wikipedia), so restoration work is subject to ASI rules.
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
Crowds are heaviest during the annual Brahmotsavams around Sri Rama Navami and on the night of the Sita Rama Kalyanam, when TTD and the district administration put special arrangements in place. The temple is an ASI-protected monument, so treat the carved halls with care. Confirm current darshan timings and festival arrangements with TTD before you travel.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (since 2015) before travelling. Last reviewed 1 November 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Festivals at Sri Kodandarama Swamy Temple, Vontimitta
Sri Rama Navami Brahmotsavams
TTD conducts the temple's annual Brahmotsavams, with vahana processions including Garuda Seva.
Sri Sita Rama Kalyanam
The celestial wedding of Rama and Sita is held at night and is celebrated as an official state festival; TTD reported about 80,000 devotees at the 2026 Kalyanam.
Sita Jayanti
TTD celebrates Sita Devi Jayanti Mahotsavam at the temple.
Location
How to Reach Sri Kodandarama Swamy Temple, Vontimitta
The district administration gives the temple as about 25 km from Kadapa (Cuddapah) city, on the state highway towards Tirupati. Wikipedia notes that it is close to Rajampet and about 16 km from Sidhout via Bhakarapeta. Kadapa is the nearest large town for rail and bus connections.
Location: Vontimitta, YSR Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India
More in Hindu temples in Andhra Pradesh · Rama (as Kodandarama), with Sita and Lakshmana temples · Temples in Vontimitta · Temples in YSR Kadapa District
Questions
Sri Kodandarama Swamy Temple, Vontimitta: Frequently Asked Questions
Who manages the Vontimitta Kodandarama temple?
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has administered the temple since 2015. The monument itself is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Why is there no Hanuman with Rama at Vontimitta?
The sanctum holds a single-stone image of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana without Hanuman. Hanuman has a separate shrine at the temple.
Is the Vontimitta Sita Rama Kalyanam a state festival?
Yes. The annual Sita Rama Kalyanam is celebrated as an official state festival of Andhra Pradesh, and it is held at night.
How old is the Vontimitta temple?
It is dated to about the 16th century and is in the Vijayanagara style. The district administration says it was built under the Chola and Vijayanagara kings.
What is the link between Vontimitta and Pothana?
The poet Bammera Pothana, author of the Telugu Bhagavatam, is said to have come from Vontimitta and to have dedicated his work to Rama here.
How far is Vontimitta from Kadapa?
About 25 km, on the state highway from Kadapa towards Tirupati.
Sources and attribution
- District Administration, YSR Kadapa (Government of Andhra Pradesh) — Vontimitta
- District Administration, YSR Kadapa (Government of Andhra Pradesh) — Religious Tourism
- Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD News) — Highlights of Sri Sita Rama Kalyanam at Vontimitta (1 April 2026)
- Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD News) — TTD news search: Vontimitta (Brahmotsavams, Garuda Seva, Sita Jayanti releases)
- Deccan Chronicle — TTD to Make Gold-Plated Kavachams for Vontimitta Temple Deities (4 August 2026)
- Wikipedia — Kodandarama Temple, Vontimitta
Further reading: Sri Kodandarama Swamy Temple, Vontimitta on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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