About Ghatika Siddeswaram Temple
It is located at Siddeshwara Kona in the Sitaramapuram Surrounded by large hills. Siddha’s were performed penance here. Hence called Lord Shiva as Siddheshwara Swamy.
Ghatika Siddeswaram (also written Ghatika Siddheswaram or Ghutika Siddeswaram) is a Shiva temple in a forested, hilly area of Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh, reached through Udayagiri and Sitaramapuram. Telugu Wikipedia places it at Siddeswara Kona in Sitaramapuram mandal, about 110 km from Nellore, with large hills and greenery all around. A 2016 tourism study (IJCRT) places the site between Udayagiri and Sitaramapuram, about 8 km off the main road, and calls it a place where great rishis are said to have meditated.
History and significance
The age of the temple is uncertain. Telugu Wikipedia records a sthala purana (temple tradition) date far in the past, and notes a 1406 CE enclosure mandapam and a restoration in 1974. The 2016 IJCRT study places the temple in the 13th century CE. No Endowments Department or ASI page was found to settle this, so treat any single date as tradition rather than established fact.
Both sources agree on the modern revival: the temple had fallen into disrepair and was restored under Kashinayana (Avadhuta Kashinayana, a saint of the region), with the work carried on by his followers. The IJCRT study says a tarred road, buildings for pilgrims to stay, electricity and daily free meals (nityannadanam) came after this. It describes water flowing from the hill over the Shiva Linga and then downhill, and notes shrines to the goddess (Ammavaru) and to Kashinayana in the same area.
The earlier version of this page named the goddess as Ishtakameshwari Devi, said to appear in different forms during Dussehra (Sharannavaratri). That detail is carried over from that version and was not found on the sources above.
Timings to visit
06:00 AM – 06:00 PM
Timings are not confirmed on an official website; check with the temple before travelling.
Festivals celebrate at Ghatika Siddeswaram Temple
Shivratri, Karthika Masam, Dussehra, Ugadi.
How to Reach
By Air: Tirupati International Airport – 212 km
By Train: Nellore Railway Station – 124 km
By Bus: Udayagiri – 35 km, Nellore – 122 km
Distances differ between sources (Telugu Wikipedia gives about 110 km from Nellore), so treat the figures above as approximate. The last stretch is a hill road inside forest; confirm the route and road condition locally before travelling, particularly in the rains.
Address
Ghatika Siddeswaram Temple, Near Ghutika Siddeswaram, Andhra Pradesh, 524226, India.
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