Places to visit in Srikakulam
42 places, grouped by kind. Each one shows how well it is verified: an official source, two independent sources, or not yet verified.
Temples and pilgrimage 10
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Arasavalli Sri Suryanarayana Swamy Temple Official source
One of India's two major Sun temples, in the Kalinga style; twice a year the rising sun reaches the deity's feet.
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Sri Kurmanatha Swamy Temple, Srikurmam Official source
Rare temple to Vishnu as Kurma, the tortoise, with two flag posts, a lotus-shaped sanctum and a star-tortoise park.
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Sri Mukhalingeswara Temple, Srimukhalingam Official source
Group of three Shiva temples (Mukhalingeswara, Bhimeswara, Someswara) on the Vamsadhara, at the old Eastern Ganga capital of Kalinganagara.
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Sri Endala Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, Ravivalasa Two sources
The village of Ravivalasa in Tekkali mandal is known for this Shiva temple. History and timings to be researched.
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Sri Kotammathalli Devasthanam, Kotabommali Official source
Village goddess shrine; the 2026 Jatara ran 23-25 September (Incredible India). Your list had this twice; merged here.
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Sri Neelamani Durga Ammavari Temple, Pathapatnam Official source
Guardian goddess of the region; her festival in 2026 ran 10-19 October (Incredible India). Next year's dates to be confirmed.
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ISKCON Temple, Ranasthalam Not yet verified
From your list. No source found yet confirming an ISKCON temple here; verify with ISKCON before listing.
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Sri Chevitamma Thalli Ammavari Gudi, Ampolu Not yet verified
From your list. Ampolu appears to be in Gara mandal; temple details to be found.
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Sri Paala Polamma Temple, Amadalavalasa Not yet verified
From your list. Official details still to be found.
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Sri Venugopala Swamy Temple, Meliaputti Not yet verified
From your list (listed twice; merged here). Official details still to be found.
Buddhist and heritage 6
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Mandasa Official source
Old zamindari town (earlier Manjusha) at the foot of Mahendragiri, with a fort-palace, Vaishnava temples and its famous milk sweet.
Inside: Mandasa Fort (King's Palace), Sri Vasudeva Perumal Temple, Mandasa, Sri Varahaswamy Temple, Mandasa, Mandasa Palakova (Mandasa Kova)
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Salihundam Buddhist Heritage Site Official source
Hilltop Buddhist complex above the Vamsadhara river, active for over a thousand years, with stupas, a chaitya hall and monastery remains.
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Danthapuri Buddhist Site Official source
Stupa site linked by tradition to a tooth relic of the Buddha and a Kalinga king's monument after Ashoka's Kalinga war.
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Dabbaka Vaani Peta Buddhist Site Official source
Listed by Incredible India among the district's Buddhist sites. Location and details to be researched.
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Jagati Metta Buddhist Site Official source
Listed by Incredible India among the district's Buddhist sites. Location and details to be researched.
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Nagari Peta Buddhist Site Official source
Listed by Incredible India among the district's Buddhist sites. Location and details to be researched.
Beaches and coast 6
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Baruva Official source
Former seaport where the Mahendra Tanaya meets the sea, with coconut groves, two old port obelisks and two temples.
Inside: Baruva Beach, Baruva Lighthouse and Historic Port, Sri Kotilingeswara Swamy Temple, Baruva, Sri Janardhana Swamy Temple, Baruva
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Kalingapatnam Official source
Ancient port and beach at the mouth of the Vamsadhara, with a British-era lighthouse and the APTDC beach resort.
Inside: Kalingapatnam Beach, Kalingapatnam Lighthouse, Kalingapatnam Historic Port
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Kaviti and the Uddanam coast Official source
Coastal belt between Sompeta and Ichchapuram known as Uddanam, thick with coconut, cashew and jackfruit groves.
Inside: Chintamani Ammavari Temple, Kaviti, Sri Sitharamaswamy Temple, Kaviti
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Ganagallavanipeta Beach Not yet verified
From your list. No official source found yet; research needed.
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Mogadalapadu Beach Two sources
Beach by a hamlet of Vatchavalasa panchayat, popular with local visitors.
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Sivasagar Beach Not yet verified
From your list. No official source found yet for its location; research needed.
Nature and wildlife 4
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Telineelapuram Bird Sanctuary Official source
Village heronry where pelicans and painted storks nest from September to March; nearest station Naupada, about 3 km.
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Telukunchi Bird Sanctuary Official source
Second nesting site for pelicans and painted storks in the north of the district; nearest station Ichchapuram, about 4 km.
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Dharbakulam Lake Official source
Listed by Incredible India for its calm setting and walking paths, with boating and fishing. Exact location to be researched.
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Nagavali River View Park Not yet verified
From your list. No official source found yet; research needed.
Crafts and food 2
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Budithi Brass and Bell-Metal Craft Village Official source
Village of brass and bell-metal workers whose craft holds a Geographical Indication tag.
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Ponduru Khadi Weaving Centre Official source
Home of ultra-fine hand-spun, handwoven Sanna Khadi.
Other faiths 1
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Jamia Masjid, Srikakulam Two sources
Historic mosque in the old town. Sources record that Sher Mohammad Khan built a mosque in Srikakulam in 1641; confirm that this is the same building.
In depth: Salihundam Buddhist Heritage Site
Salihundam is one of the few places in India where you can walk through every major phase of Buddhism on a single hill. The site looks out over the Vamsadhara a few kilometres before it meets the sea at Kalingapatnam, the ancient port through which, by tradition, Buddhist teaching travelled to Sri Lanka and South-East Asia. It is quiet, open and rarely crowded, which makes early mornings here unusually peaceful.
At a glance
- Type
- Ancient Buddhist monastic complex and stupa site Official source
- Location
- Salihundam village and panchayat, Gara mandal, Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh (PIN 532405) Official source
- Setting
- Hilltop on the south bank of the Vamsadhara river Official source
- Coordinates
- About 18.333° N, 84.050° E (map pin to be surveyed on site) Two sources
- Period
- About 2nd century BCE to 12th century CE Official source
- Distance
- 18 km from Srikakulam town; 5 km west of Kalingapatnam Official source
- Conservation
- Incredible India says the ASI and the Tourism Department conserve the site; legal protection status (ASI or State) still to be confirmed Not yet verified
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 hours on site
History and significance
- Names
- The district portal records two old names: Salivatika, "rice emporium", and Salyapetika, "box of bones or relics". Incredible India gives Salipeteka, "boxes of bones". Both point to the relic caskets found here. Official source
- Discovery
- Identified in 1919 by Gidugu Venkata Rama Murthy, the Telugu scholar and historian. Official source
- Excavation finds
- Relic caskets, four stupas, a chaityagriha (prayer hall), structural temples and many sculptures, including the Buddhist goddesses Tara and Marichi. Official source
- Three phases
- Sculpture and structures span the Theravada (Hinayana), Mahayana and Vajrayana phases; Incredible India notes many Vajrayana Tantric images. Official source
- Inscriptions and trade
- Incredible India reports inscriptions in Brahmi, Kharosthi and Nagari scripts, and rouletted pottery suggesting Roman maritime contact in the early centuries CE. Satavahana coins have also been found. Official source
- Architecture
- Most stupas follow the solid northern form but lack the ayaka pillars typical of southern stupas, so the site blends both traditions. Official source
- Spread of Buddhism
- Official pages say Buddhism spread from here to Sumatra and the Far East. Treat this as a traditional claim: independent scholarly confirmation has not been checked.
What to see
- Maha Stupa
- The main stupa on the hilltop.
- Wheel-pattern brick stupas
- Stupas built in concentric rings, a layout AP Tourism describes as a wheel pattern.
- Chaitya halls
- Prayer halls with rock-cut stupas inside.
- Star-shaped stupa
- Highlighted by Incredible India.
- Vihara remains
- Foundations of the monastery where monks lived and studied.
- Sculpture gallery / site museum
- Incredible India mentions a museum of Buddha, Jain Tirthankara and other sculptures. Confirm whether it is open.
- River view
- The Vamsadhara valley from the hilltop, best in morning light.
Visiting
- Opening hours
- Not published by the district portal or Incredible India as of 26 Oct 2026. Plan a daylight visit and confirm locally. Not yet verified
- Entry fee
- Not published as of 26 Oct 2026. Check at the site. Not yet verified
- Photography
- Personal photography is normal at open heritage sites; confirm on arrival. Commercial shoots need prior permission. Not yet verified
- Drones
- Need permission under DGCA drone rules and from the site authority. Two sources
- Facilities
- Parking, toilets, drinking water and food: to be checked on the field visit. Carry water. Not yet verified
- Accessibility
- Hilltop site with uneven ground; step-free access not confirmed. Not yet verified
Visitor guidelines
- Wear comfortable shoes; the hill path and ruins are uneven.
- Carry water, a hat and sunscreen; there is little shade.
- Do not climb on, touch or write on stupas, brickwork or sculptures.
- Take all litter back with you.
- Remove footwear where signs ask you to, and keep voices low; the site is sacred to Buddhist visitors.
- Get permission before commercial photography, filming or flying a drone.
How to reach Salihundam Buddhist Heritage Site
- From Srikakulam town
- 18 km by road (district portal). Taxi or auto-rickshaw; fares to be collected on the field visit. Official source
- From Kalingapatnam
- About 5 km; easy to combine with the beach and lighthouse. Official source
- By train
- Srikakulam Road (CHE) at Amadalavalasa, 8-10 km from Srikakulam city centre, on the Howrah-Chennai main line. Continue by road through Srikakulam. Official source
- By air
- Visakhapatnam International Airport (VTZ). AP Tourism puts Salihundam about 118 km from Visakhapatnam city; then by road on NH-16 via Srikakulam. Official source
- By bus
- APSRTC buses to Srikakulam (and towards Kalingapatnam); check current routes on the APSRTC website. Official source
- Source conflict
- Incredible India's Salihundam page says the site is about 5 km from Srikakulam town and 5-6 km from CHE. That figure matches the distance from Kalingapatnam, not from the town; the district portal's 18 km is used here. Official source
Month by month
| Month | Temp °C | Sunrise | Sunset | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 10.7-32.3 | 06:28 | 17:36 | Best: cool mornings |
| Feb | 13.3-36.0 | 06:22 | 17:54 | Best |
| Mar | 17.5-39.5 | 06:03 | 18:04 | Good early; hot by noon |
| Apr | 19.7-40.9 | 05:38 | 18:10 | Hot: go at opening |
| May | 19.8-42.1 | 05:21 | 18:19 | Hottest month |
| Jun | 21.2-40.4 | 05:17 | 18:30 | Monsoon begins |
| Jul | 21.5-36.1 | 05:25 | 18:34 | Wet |
| Aug | 21.9-35.1 | 05:36 | 18:22 | Wet |
| Sep | 21.7-35.8 | 05:41 | 17:57 | Wet; birds arrive nearby |
| Oct | 19.2-35.1 | 05:47 | 17:32 | Rain easing; cyclone risk |
| Nov | 14.1-33.3 | 05:59 | 17:17 | Good |
| Dec | 11.0-31.4 | 06:18 | 17:20 | Best: cool mornings |
Suggested plans
- Half day (from Srikakulam)
- Leave by 7:30 AM; Salihundam until about 10:30; Kalingapatnam beach and lighthouse; lunch at the APTDC resort; back by 2 PM.
- Full day: Kalinga heritage loop
- Arasavalli Sun Temple at dawn, Srikurmam, Salihundam, Kalingapatnam for the evening. Check temple timings first.
- Overnight
- Stay at Kalingapatnam to be on the hill at first light; add Srimukhalingam the next morning.
How to reach Srikakulam
- By train
- Srikakulam Road (CHE) at Amadalavalasa, 8 to 10 km from the city centre, on the Howrah-Chennai main line. Others in the district include Naupada, Palasa, Mandasa Road (MMS) and Ichchapuram (IPM).
- By air
- Visakhapatnam International Airport (VTZ), about 115 to 120 km from Srikakulam.
- By road
- NH-16 runs the length of the district. APSRTC buses run from Srikakulam bus station.
- Headquarters
- Srikakulam
- Coast
- about 193 km, the longest of any AP district
Best time to visit Srikakulam
- Best time
- October to March. Bird sanctuaries are best from September to March.
- Climate
- Tropical savanna. May is hottest (mean daily max about 37.9 °C); January is coolest (mean daily min about 15.3 °C). About 1,075 mm of rain a year, mostly June to October.
Dates to plan around in Andhra Pradesh
- Pydithalli Sirimanotsavam — Vizianagaram: Tue 27 Oct 2026, 3-5 PM (Deccan Chronicle)
- Papikondalu boats — Polavaram: running again since 12 Oct 2026; season to Sankranti
- Maredumilli Tourism Festival — Polavaram: 12-15 Dec 2026 (Incredible India)
- Sambara Polamamba Jatara — Parvathipuram Manyam: January 2027, dates to confirm
- Godavari Pushkaralu — Rajamahendravaram: 26 Jun-7 Jul 2027 (PTI)
Where to stay in Srikakulam
Kalinga Patnam Beach Resort (APTDC) Official source
Kalingapatnam, Gara Mandal, PIN 532406; about 5 km from Salihundam
BVR Hill View Resorts Not yet verified
Salihundam area, Srikakulam district
Quick answers about Srikakulam
What is Srikakulam known for?
The old Kalinga coast: Sun and Kurma temples, a thousand years of Buddhist sites, pelican villages and 193 km of shoreline.
What is the one place not to miss in Srikakulam?
Salihundam Buddhist Heritage Site. Hilltop Buddhist complex above the Vamsadhara river, active for over a thousand years, with stupas, a chaitya hall and monastery remains.
Which is the nearest railway station to Srikakulam?
Srikakulam Road (CHE) at Amadalavalasa, 8 to 10 km from the city centre, on the Howrah-Chennai main line. Others in the district include Naupada, Palasa, Mandasa Road (MMS) and Ichchapuram (IPM).
Which is the nearest airport to Srikakulam?
Visakhapatnam International Airport (VTZ), about 115 to 120 km from Srikakulam.
When is the best time to visit Srikakulam?
October to March. Bird sanctuaries are best from September to March.
How many places are there to visit in Srikakulam?
Our guide lists 42 places in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, across temples and pilgrimage, buddhist and heritage, beaches and coast, nature and wildlife, crafts and food, other faiths.
Official links and sources
- Srikakulam district portal ↗
- Incredible India: Srikakulam ↗
- APTDC (state tourism corporation) ↗
- APSRTC ↗
- Srikakulam district portal: Religious places ↗
- Srikakulam district portal: Cultural Tourism ↗
- Srikakulam district portal: Eco Tourism ↗
- Srikakulam district portal: Forest Tourism ↗
- Srikakulam district portal: Where to Stay ↗
- Srikakulam district portal: Ratha Saptami ↗
- Incredible India: Salihundam ↗
- Incredible India: Mandasa ↗
- Incredible India: Srikurmam ↗
- Incredible India: Kottammathalli Jatara ↗
- Incredible India: Sri Neelamani Ammavaru Festival ↗
- AP Tourism: Buddhist Sojourn flyer ↗
- AP Teachers: Srikakulam 30 mandals after 2022 (G.O. 173) ↗
- Wikipedia: Vangara (now Vizianagaram district) ↗
- Wikipedia: Arasavalli Sun Temple ↗
- Wikipedia: Baruva ↗
- Wikipedia: Ravivalasa ↗
- Wikipedia: Mogadalapadu ↗
- Wikipedia: Srikakulam district ↗
- Wikipedia: Srikakulam (city, climate) ↗
- The South First: Mulapeta port progress ↗