Papikonda National Park - It Has Rich Bio-Diversity And Densely Forested Hills

PAPIKONDA NATIONAL PARK

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WEST GODAVARI

PICTURE SOURCE -HANS INDIA

Papikonda National Park is located in East Godavari and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh and Khammam district of Telangana.

Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuary was established in the year 1978. Total area of the Sanctuary is about 591 km2. Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuary declared as a National Park in 2008. Total area of the National Park is about 1012.86 km2.

The park lies on the left and right banks of the river Godavari and cuts through the Papikonda hill range of Eastern Ghats. The River Godavari enriches the Papikonda Park with its natural beauty.

Papikonda National Park is one of the main tourist destinations of the state of Andhra Pradesh. The park is the best place to observe nature in her pious form. The park gives the wildlife to regenerate and develop.

Papikonda Wildlife Sanctuary is not only the homeland of the animals but a wide variety of plants and shrubs grow and that make the vegetation of the place rich and vibrant. The birds found in the region are both resident and migratory.

The mythological significance attached to the Park is that it was the kingdom of the apes, during the epic time of holy Ramayana. The erstwhile name of the area was Kishkinda, whose residents had helped Lord Rama to bring back Sita from Lanka.

The topography of Papikonda supports dense forested hills, deep gorges, valleys, flowing streams and ponds, where the avifaunal life can be sighted.

The sight of mighty Godavari meandering through densely Forested hills with deep gorges & valleys provides an unforgettable experience.

The vicinity of the Park extends to the Rekapalle hills in Khammam district. The floral variety of the Park is mainly Eastern Ghats vegetation. The area consists of dry deciduous tropical forests. A variety of plants and shrubs grow in the Park, adding color to the environment.

Multifarious and varied streams exhaling from the top of the hill makes the forest of Papikonda a fertile vegetative land. All these constitute to make the area into a typical ecological, facinal and geomorphological zone.

The Park lies in the River Godavari basin. The forests of the Park cut through the Papikonda hill range. The nearby cities to the Park are Khammam, Suryapet and Warangal.

Many unique species of flora and fauna is found in the park.

By Air 

Nearest airport is Visakhapatnam airport located About 100 km from the Papikonda National Park. Visakhapatnam has direct flight connectivity with Delhi, Mumbai Chennai and Hyderabad. Visakhapatnam airport is well connected by road to Papikonda National Park.

By Train

Nearest railway station is Rajahmundry railway station, lies on Chennai-Kolkata and Chennai-Delhi main line. Rajahmundry railway station is well connected by road to Papikonda National Park.

By Bus

Papikonda National Park is well connected to Major Cities and Places by road network. There are a number of government and privately operated vehicles that go to Papikonda National Park at frequent intervals.

By water 

There is only one way to reach Papikonda by boats From Rajahmundry.

Accommodation

Forest rest houses at Rajahmundry, Maredumilli and Kannapuram. The hotels available in Rajahmundry are River Bay and Anand Regency Hotel.

Important contact

Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife Management), Rajahmundry

Phone:- 0883-2478643

Forest Range Officer, Rampachodavaram

Phone:- 08864-243705.

Dwaraka Tirumala Temple - Devotees Accept Truely That Their Desires Are Completed By Worshiping This Lord

DWARAKA TIRUMALA

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WEST GODAVARI

Dwaraka Tirumala” is an ancient holy place and a popular pilgrim center in Andhra Pradesh of South India. Dwaraka Tirumala is nearer to 'Eluru', the head quarters of West Godavari District, which is 42 KM away from Eluru.

Andhra Pradesh is a land of famous temples and popular pilgrimage centers. Dwaraka Tirumala is a village cum mandal situated in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, which is renowned for the temple of Lord Venkateswara.

The place is also referred to as ‘Chinna Tirupathi’. Dwaraka Tirumala Devasthanam is situated here atop Seshachala Hill and where the god is manifested as Swayambhu. The feet of Lord Venkateswara at this temple is believed to be in Valmikam (Ant-hill).

During the period of Tretayuga, Emperor Aja, the grandfather of Lord Shri Rama is believed to have worshipped the presiding deity. According to legend, Sage Dwaraka had unearthed the Lord here from Valmikam (Ant-hill) and worshipped this deity, and hence it was named as Dwaraka Tirumala.

As the feet of Swayambhu is in Valmikam, nearly 400 years ago, another idol was reportedly brought from Tirupathi and installed here on the back of Swayambhu, the pratishta of which was done as per agama sastram.

The temple here has a unique feature where two idols are worshipped in the same sanctum sanctorum and as a result, two annual Bramhotsavams are performed, one during Vaisakhamasam (May) for Swayambhu while the other is done during Aswayuja Masa (October) to the deity.

 Moreover, it is believed that since Sage Dwaraka had performance penance in Northward direction, the Lord had appeared before him in Southwards direction and therefore the temple here is located facing South.

Devotees believe strongly that their desires are fulfilled by worshiping this deity.  The devotees fondly call Lord Sri Venkateswara as Kaliyuga Vaikunta Vasa.  The region covered by Dwaraka Tirumala temple is considered to be the commanding position in India, garlanded by two great rivers of South India Krishna and Godavari, according to Brahma Purana.

Those who are unable to visit Tirumala Tirupati, fulfill their wishes her, make donations and worship the lord in Dwaraka Tirumala temple. Devotees also tonsure their head at this temple. The historic temple continues to attract devotees from all over the world who consider the divine destination as the one offering a complete spiritual experience and believe that the Lord will relieve them of problems and bestow his blessings.

Dwaraka Tirumala is situated at 15KM distance from Bhimadole Junction, which is in between Vijayawada and Rajahmundry State Highway and Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam main Railway line.