TOURIST SPOTS IN KHAMMAM

LAKSHMI NARASIMHA TEMPLE

The stone image of sage Moudgalya is to be seen in this hill shrine. A tank on the hill-top has a variety of aquatic life in it.

PALAIR

The palair project reservoir, spread over 7,598 hectares, is a place of scenic beauty. The famous Kailash Sugars Ltd is situated at Rajeswarapuram near here.

SOMAVARAM

The Wyra Dam, built across the River Wyra, is located close to this village.

KHAMMAM FORT

History reveals that during Kakatiyas'regime, Khammam Fort was constructed in the year 950 AD with the active involvement of the them Army Chiefs Velma Reddy and Laksham Reddy. Subsequently, Golconda Sultans took over the regime from Kakatiya Administration and strived hard for development of Khammam Fort and other parts of the region. So, it has become manifested that Khammam Fort is the reciprocation both hands and Muslim culture can be observed.

BHADRACHALAM

Historical legend goes that Lord Sri Rama spent all his Aranyavasa in the the Dandakaranya and Parnasala situated at Bhadrachalam. Thousands of devotees from length and breath of this state and from other parts of the country visit the temple of Lord Sree Seetharama Chandra Swamy at Bhadrachalam throughout the year. The important occasions where large number of pilgrims are attracted to the temple town are - Swamy vaari Kalyanam on SREE RAMA NAVAMI day and - Theppotsavam (Chariot on Launch) and Vaikunta Dwaara Darshanam on MUKKOTI EKADASI. The Kalyana Mahotsavam of Lord Sri Seetha Ramachandra Swamy is celebrated every year at the marble Kalyanamandapam, on the occasion of Sri Ramanavami Festival.

It is said that Lord Sri Rama made his abode on Bhadragiri of Bhadrachalam situated at a distrace of 49 Kms. From Kothagudem. Kancharla Gopanna, popularly known as Bhakta Ramadas, was a great Devotee of Lord Sree Rama and Disciple of Kabirdas - a Muslims ascetic and Devotee of Lord Rama. Bhakta Ramadas, when he was a Tahsildar of Burgampad, he spent a part of Revenue of the Tahsil over the construction of Rama's temple and purchased Jewels to Sri Rama and his consort Seetha and Laxmana. Enraged by his act of spending the Government Revenue, he was imprisoned by Nawab with an ultimatum that he would be sentenced to death if the money was not made good by a certain date. Just before the expiry of the date, Lord Rama and Lakshmana appeared before Taneesha, the Nawab of Golconda, claiming to be the servants of Bhakta Ramadas and paid the full amount due from the Devotee. The Jewels are still preserved and shown to the pilgrims. The GuestHouses at Bhadrachalam belonging to Tourism department named as PARNASALA AND PANCHAVATI have to be renovated to full-fledged standards for the facility of the Tourists.

PARNASALA

It is the most attractive tourist spot backed by mythological heritage. It is also said the Lord Sri Rama spent his 14 years of exile at Parnasala village situated at 32 Kms. away from Bhadrachalam. It is believed that Sitha, the beloved consort of Lord Sri Rama took bath in the stream here and dried her clothes on Radhagutta. It is said that Ravana, the unscrupulous demon King, before abducting Seetha parked his Pushpaka on this hillock. An carthen ditch reportedly caused when Ravana removed earth to carry off Seetha to Lanka can be seen here. The legendary story goes that this was the place where Rama killed Maareecha, who came in disguise of a golden deer to deceive Seetha.

NELAKONDAPALLY

Nelakondapalli is known for its historic glory. At a distance of one mile from Nelakondapalli, the Mandal Headquarters, there are certain archaeological glimpses known as Virataraju dibba and Keechaka Gundam claiming importance in the days of Mahabharatha.

Virata Raju was the king of Virata Nagaram and it was under him that the Pandavas worked incognito after their twelve years of exile in the forests. Keechaka, the brother-in-law of Virata who tried to misbehave with Draupadi, the wife of Pandavas, was killed by BHEEMASENA, working in disguise as a cook (VALALUDU). The old Relics unearthed at these places strengthen the belief that this place was noted as far back the days of Mahabharata. Some Buddhist Stupas and idols found in the excavations in 1977 had further supported the belief that this district had mythological and historical past.

Nelakondapalli is also famous of being the Birth Place of Kancharla Gopanna, popularly known as Bhakta Ramadas. There are some very ancient temples also in the village. The old Residence of Bhakta Ramadas was named as Bhakta Ramadas Dhyana Mandir.

KINNERASANI PROJECT

The River Kinnerasani was elegized by the great Poet Viswanatha Satyanarayana. A Dam was constructed across the Kinnerasani River at Yanambile, which provides water to KTPS at Paloncha for power generation. It also provides irrigation facilities to the nearby farmers through lift Irrigation. The Scenery of Kinnerasani Dam is very beautiful with greenery and natural land-scape. There is a Deer Park also set up by the Forest Department to attract the tourists. A Glasses Rest House constructed by Singareni Collieries at Kinnerasani has given a boost to attract the tourists in this regard.

KOTHAGUDEM & PALONCHA

The District plays a very important role in the power generation with the Kothagudem Thermal Power Station (KTPS) with a generation capacity of 1000 MW at Paloncha and with the Singareni Collieries Company Limited, which is the major source of coal for generation of thermal power in the district and the State. So far as the tourist spots are concerned in Khammam District, it is strongly felt that major units of KTPS and Singareni Collieries can be visited by tourists. As such, the places have been suggested to be visited by the Tourist visiting the district from outside.

PERANTALAPALLY PAPI HILLS

Khamman District is treasure of natural wealth and resources with delightful scenaries appearing in the major part of its agency areas. A remote tribal village Prentalapalli will prove this fact and remain as an excellent example atrracting the tourists to have the glimpses of glorisious beautiness hidden in its fold. Keeping in view, the importance of the place, the District Tourist Department has recently started a package tour from Bhandrachalam to Papi hills through Perantalapally.

Perantalapalli village in Velairpadu mandal is situated 80 K.Ms from Bhandrachalam. There is some historical background behind the formation of this remote village. The region of this place was under darkness eidht decades ago with full of thickened forest containing trees and bushes that none could reside. During the year 1927, the Saint Sri Swamy Balananda Yogi visited this place and strived hard for its development and for ameliorating the living standards of tribals here. At present, 30 tribal families are residing in the village and they have taken up the 'Podu' cultivation. The village is a Prohibition-free one.

The existing Ashram named after Sri Ramakrishna Muni Vatanm of Sri Balananda Swamy will reciprocate the mythological atmosphere and keep us in a stage of peace and pleasure. The Ashram is being maintained by Women here and the tourists from the districts of Khammam, East and West Godavary use to visit the place daily through launch ride on Godavary river. The water falls lakes and greenery taht surrounded the ashram gave a boost to the natural beautiness and it is an enchanting scenario that one can enjoy and cherish the memory forever. The divine atmosphere prevalent at the Ashram immenses the visitors in an expressible joy and gives a sweetful experience.

The history reveals the fact that Bhakta Sabari had been turned as river and mixed in Gowtami nearby. At about 3 K.Ms away from the place, two mountains named after Vali and Sugreeva will appear. At the time of searching for Sita, Lord Rama Killed Vali and entrusted the kingdom to Sugreeva and the mountains have remained as the symbols of the ancient episode. Apart from this, the historians say that Goddess Sita threw the ornaments on the hills while she was being snatched away by Ravana and hence this place was used to be called as Sitampet in this regard.

During the launch journey from Kunavaram to Kolluru, the width of Godavary in between the two banks will be less than one K.M. thereby getting narrowed upto the nearest minimum at Papi hills. A kind of sweetful experience that journey goes on in a brisky way in between the two towers will be enjoyed at the spot.

During the return journey, one can have the darshan of Lord Yoga Rama at the pilgrimage centre Sri Rama giri. People believe that Lord Rama used to be under Yoga Samadhi while he was spending the days in Dandakaranya.

The bird JATHAYUVU was stated to have fought aginst Ravana nearer to Sri Ramagiri and fell tired getting its wings broken While Sita was being taken away. Hence this place was used to be tarmed as "Sokkanapalli at first and later as Rekhapalli.

At the outset, the package tour from Bhadrachalam to Papi Hills will be an enchanting one and gives us sweetful memories to be cherished forever.