Location
Antarvedi is a village in the Sakhinetipalle mandal, or tehsil, located in the East Godavari district of the Andhra Pradesh state in India. The village is situated at the place where the Bay of Bengal and Vashista Godavari, a tributary of the Godavari River, meet. Antharvedi is located at a distance of 130 Kms from Kakinada, 100 kms from Rajahmundry and 65 Kms from Amalapuram.
About the Temple
There is a Temple of Lord Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy is situated opposite of the Vasistra Godavari in Antarvedi. The temple is situated at the place where the Bay of Bengal and Vashista Godavari, a tributary of the Godavari River, meet.[1] It was built in the 15th and 16th centuries. Because of the Temple the pilgrim centre is called as Southern Varanasi by the local public.
Importance
The main attraction of Antarvedi is the sea meeting point of river Godavari (a tributory) to Bay of Bengal. This is one of the place in Kona seema (East Godavari district of Andhrapradesh - India). Vasishta Sevashram is located just nearer to the river Godavari. Hence this tributory is called Vashishta Godavari. Opposite to Vasishta Godavari, Lord Sri Lakshminarasimha Swamy temple is located. Nearer to Lakshminarasimha Swamy temple, Lord Shiva temple is also located (Neelakanteswara, Brahma stapana). Launch facility is available to visit a small island at the other bank of the river Godavari (bank of Brother and Sister). The Mahameru Sahita Sri Kurma pratishtapana of Vasishta devalayam was done during 2005-06.
There will be a fair during January or February (Bhishma Ekadashi day) when Lakshmi Narasimha swamy kalyanam is celeberated. Devotees in huge number attend and take holy dip at the sangamam (Saptha Sagara Sangamam).
Tourists can even travel till the end of the sea and river meeting point if interested. The cost varies depends on the number of people. If limited number of people are willing to visit the island, a nominal amount of INR 350 will be charged. If more number of people are available, INR 50 will be charged for each person. No standard package is available to visit Antarvedi from any of the travel agents. Tourists have to plan their trip personally. Additional places to visit in this area are Palakollu, Bheemavaram, Draksharama, Samalkot. These four places include one each of the Shiva temple considered as the Pancharama temples (Kumara Rama, Daksha Rama, Soma Rama and Ksheera Rama). One more temple is situated in Amaravati at Guntur district (Amara Rama).
How to Reach
Antarvedi is located at the East coast of Andhrapradesh and is remotely situated in East Godavari district of Andhrapradesh - India. People travelling from North India have to reach the main city called Annavaram on National Highway - 5, Kolkata - Chennai connecting road, after Visakhapatnam. Tourists have several choices from Annavaram to reach Antarvedi. Travellers can travel Upto to a place called Kathipudi, 12Kms from Annavaram on NH-5 and take left turn to proceed towards Kakinada (40Kms from Kathipudi). One more way to reach Kakinada is to proceed upto Samalkot and going towards Kakinada. There are boats available to reach Antarvedi from Narasapur. The distance is only 10 Kms.
Tourists willing to visit Pancharama temples can reach Samalkot and Ramachandrapuram ( Draksharama on the way to Kakinada from Samalkot) where both the places have one of Sri Rama temple. Travellers can then proceed towards Yanam (under Pondicerry, an Union Territory, 27Kms from Kakinada). From Yanam, continue the journey towards Mummudipalem (15Kms from Yanam), Amalapuram (16Kms from Mummudipalem), Ambajipit (8 Kms from Amalapuram), Gannavaram and Rajole (30Kms from Amalapuram). From Rajole, Antarvedi is 30Kms. People have to take left turn in the road proceeding to Palakollu to reach Antarvedi.
People travelling from Vijayawada and Krishna district of Andhrapradesh, have to reach the place called Bheemavaram first. Bheemavaram and Palakollu have Sri Rama temples which are considered as Pancharama temples. They can add these two places in their visiting places while visiting Antarvedi. From Palakollu, travel towards Rajole. Before reaching Rajole, take right turn to proceed towards Antarvedi.