Nookambika Temple

About the temple
How to reach
Nearby attractions
History of the temple

PHOTOS

A General Idea About The Nookambika Temple

Sri Nookambika Ammavaru is one of the famous forms of Nine Shakti. The deity is popularly known as Sri Anagha Devi in the primeval days. It is located in Gavarapalem, Anakapalle. It is also famous as the Nookalamma temple and Kakatambika temple. Kakarlapudi Appalaraju, the diwan of the Arcot Nawab, built this temple for their family goddess Kakatambika in 1611 AD. Later the goddess got the name of Nookambika.

Cultural and Spiritual Significance Of The Temple:

The temple is the finest example of Indian sculpture and beauty. The idol of the deity is also very beautiful. The Nookambika Temple Vishakhapatnam is one of the famous tourist places in the state. The deity is so famous among the local people that the town Anakapalli is named after goddess Anagha Devi. It is believed that the goddess always protects her devotees from all kind of woes, and offer them peace and prosperity. It is also believed that devotees; especially girls come here to get married to the person of their choice, and Goddess Nookambika fulfills their desires. Married women also come here to pray for the health and prosperity of their husbands. Various festivals are observed by the devotees to celebrate the spiritual significance of Devi Nookambika.

Some More Facts About The Deity:

Devi Nookambika is a local goddess who is one of the forms of the Nine Shaktis. The Goddess has few other names as Nookalamma or Kakatambika. The local people believe that the deity is always present there to protect the villagers from all kind of hazards in their life. In the era of Kakatiya dynasty, the temple was renovated. The local people worshiped the same goddess with the name Sri Kakatamba. Pujas and other rituals were performed on the daily basis. As the Kakatiya kings started losing their dynasties, the daily rituals were intermittent. As a result, the temple and the goddess have lost their previous glory.

More Details Of The Idol:

The idol of the goddess is very vibrant. She has a kind of glow in Her face that can encourage the devotees. The idol has four hands like most of the Hindu goddess. She is holding a Trishul in one of her hands as well as a sword in her another hand, which is the sign of protection from the evil. She is also holding a purna Kalash and a damaru in her other two hands. The deity has vibrant eyes that can see the universe and protect the needy. The deity is decorated with flower ornaments on special occasions.

Other Significant Shrines:

The temple does not have any other important shrines inside the complex. It is solely dedicated to Devi Nookambika.

Usual Daily Rituals:

Daily pujas, deeparadhanas are performed in this temple. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays are considered auspicious days for performing puja to Devi Nookambika Ammavaru. If you want to visit this temple, then you are asked to get information about the Nookambika Temple timing before going there. This will help you to know which is the right time to visit the temple. The temple remains open for the devotees daily from 7 am to 7 pm. Devotees come with garlands and incense sticks to offer their prayers to the Devi.

Some Special Occasions:

The local devotees take part in the daily pujas and archanas to offer their homage to the Goddess Nookambika. However, there are some special festivals, which are observed for the deity. The biggest festival of Sri Nookambika Temple is Nookalamma jathara. This held for one month long. The festival begins on Kottha Amavasya, which is a day before the Telegu New Year or the Ugadi festival.

The Nookambika Devi has great significance among the local devotees, but the goddess is famous among the religious people of the entire state of Andhra Pradesh. Not only the Andhra Pradesh but also the neighboring states like West Bengal and Orissa has devotees of this goddess who come to this temple to join the jathara during the Ugadi. The festival is celebrated every year in the month of March or April as per the Telegu calendar. On the last day of the festival, there is a festival known as “Nela Pandaga.” People from all across the world come to this place to seek the blessings of the Devi during this auspicious occasion. The devotees also observed other festivals like Vinayakachavithi, Sri Devi navaratrulu. Apart from that special pujas are performed on “Makara Sankranti”.

Significance of the pilgrimage:

With so many big and small festivals, the Nookambika temple receives the visits of thousands of pilgrimage every day. On the special occasions, the number of the visitors increases automatically. They come here for Nookambika Temple darshan and to offer their prayers to the deity. The devotees come here with the belief that the goddess will listen to their prayers and fulfill them.

Ways of reaching the temple

This famous temple in Visakhapatnam can be reached in various ways. If you are in the state of Andhra Pradesh, then you should not miss the chance to visit their marvelous temple of Devi Nookambika. There are many ways of transportation to this temple. You can get the Nookambika Temple image along with the route details on the internet.

By Road: You can travel by bus. There are plenty of buses available from all over Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to go to the temple of Sri Nookambika Ammavari in Anakapally. There are taxi services as well that can help you in reaching the temple is a safe and easy way.
By Rail: The nearest railway station of this temple is Anakapalle Railway Station. It is just 25 km away from the temple. From the railways station, you can avail local taxis or bus to go to the temple to visit the goddess.
By Air: The temple has the nearest airport in Visakhapatnam, which is just 22 km away from the place. You can hire a private taxi from the airport to go to the temple. Or else, you can avail the local buses to reach the temple at Anakapally.

Some other famous temples nearby

Once you have completed your visit to the temple of Sri Nookambika, you may want to visit some more religious places in the local area. The place has lots of other temples and shrines, which depicts the spiritual and cultural enhancement of the state. The place has a beautiful lake known as the Kondakarala lake, which has a picturesque view.

Devipuram: It is a famous tourist place in Anakapalle, comes under the category of religious places. This place pulls massive crowds from the adjacent areas of Hyderabad, Tirupathi, Karimnagar, Nellore, Srisailam, Vizag, Vijayawada, Basara, Warangal, and Kadapa.
Bojjanna Konda: The place is locally known as Bojjannakonda, Sankara. It is situated about 40 kilometers to the south of the Vizag city. Sankaram is one more famous Buddhist location near the city. You can find the three major phases of Buddhism here. They are Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana and they have boomed here for years. The place has numerous relics which also includes a Maha Stupa. It is capitulated a relic casket, votive platforms, 3 chaitya halls, sculptures, gold coin, which were belonged to the mighty King Samudragupta during the 4th century AD.
Kanyaka Parameswari Temple: This temple can is another famous religious place in Anakapalle. It is also a popular tourist attraction of this city. This Kanyaka Parameswari Temple get a huge number of visitors from the nearest places of Tirupathi, Srisailam, Karimnagar, Vizag, Vijayawada, Hyderabad, Nellore, Kadapa, Warangal, Basara. Even if you are not a very religious person, then also you cannot ignore these tourist spots in Anakapalle area because of their historical and cultural values. The place has lots of to offer to the tourists who like to visit places with great religious and historical values.

Some historical facts for you

Before you wish to visit the temple, you should be aware of the Nookambika Temple history. This guidance will help you to understand what you are visiting and why. The information will help you in having a meaningful visit to the temple. You can enjoy your visit. The legends say that in late 1611 AD, approximately 450 years ago, the Nawab of Arcot appointed Sri Kakarlapudi Appalaraju as his Diwan of chief for the Anakapalli city. He then defeated the local kings and confined their kingdoms, which he gifted to the Nawab of Arcot. Then the Nawab became satisfied with the service of his diwan and in return gifted the Sabbavaram region. The Diwan ruled the place making Anakapalle as its headquarters.

Appalaraju built a fort in that area and constructed a Temple to its south. The temple was dedicated to their family deity Kakatambika. The daily pujas and deeparchanas were performed in that temple to pay homage to the deity. It is believed that the deity will protect the family from all kind of evils. They confidently believed that ailments such as chicken pox and measles etc. can be cured with the blessings of the deity.

Later the temple has lost its glory with the passing course of time. Appalaraju died, and the daily pujas were interrupted because of the decline of the fame and fortune of that family. After few years, the rulers of Vizianagaram took possession of the kingdom as well as the fort. They renovated the temple and gave the goddess a new name, Nookambika. The Goddess Nookambika Ammavaru soon came to be known as Nookalamma in local parlance and protected the village.