Rayachoti Veerabhadra Swamy Temple

The Veerabhadra temple itself is 1000-years old. It is said that the great King Krishnadevaraya used to camp at Rayachoti whenever he visited Srivari temple at Tirupati. In old Rayachoti near the river to the west of the town is a stone very conspicuously set up, with a Tamil inscription dated S.S. I155 which corresponds to A.D. 1233. It records a grant to a temple by a certain king, but none of the names given can be identified with any place in the vicinity. The king is called Nissankapratapa Raya, lord of Karkatapura. Another inscription of the same date at Abbavaram, a village included in the Rayachoti constituency, mentions the name of another king, Thomba, who was ‘first ruling from Kalukatayapuram and then Marujavaduyandapuram his capital.’ It is probable that Karkatapura and Kalukatayapuram refer to the same place and it is possible that Thomba who ‘was first ruling’ there was expelled there from by Nissankapratapa who calls himself ‘lord of Karkatapura.’ It is not known to Rayachoti what dynasties these kings or chiefs belonged.

The Veerabhadra Swamy temple is situated in Rayachoti which is the third biggest town in Kadapa District. This temple is built during the era of Vijayanagar Empire by the Vijayanagar Kings. The temple of Veerabhadra Swamy is considered to be 1000 years old and is supposed to be constructed during 12th century A.D. The renovation work of this temple is recently completed and it is attracting devotees in large numbers from all over the State. Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagar used to visit this temple to offer prayers. 

How to Reach this Temple
Rayachoti is on NH 18 and is well connected to Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore. The nearest railway station is Kalikiri on the Pakala-Dharmavaram line twenty-eight miles to the south. The distance to Kadapa on the north is 33 miles (48 KM), and Rajampet and Kadiri lie some thirty five miles east and west respectively.

Timings:
Open on all days except for Grahanam. 5 am to 12 noon and 5pm to 9pm Archana is regular & Abhishekam is done every morning.

Events and Festivals
Every year Sivarathri and Karthika Pournami celebrations are held on a grand scale. Devotees from far off places especially from Karnataka, visit the shrines regularly.

Lodging and Boarding
Temple guest houses near temple and few hotels near bus stand

Travel Advice
This place is very hot in summers

Importanat Places Around
Visit old sivalayam in patha Rayachoti on the other side of the river