Vijaywada

 

Vijayawada — a vibrant coastal city nestled on the banks of the sacred Krishna River, is often referred to as the heart of Andhra Pradesh. This city, blessed with spiritual significance, houses the Kanaka Durga Temple atop the Indrakeeladri hill — a site of immense devotion and grandeur. At night, the temple illuminates the skies, casting its golden glow on the Krishna Barrage, creating a surreal scene of peace and divinity.

The first time I visited Vijayawada turned out to be the most adventurous and unforgettable trip of my life.

We began our journey early morning from Hyderabad, packed into a classic tempo traveler, unaware of the wild ride ahead. The weather forecast warned of heavy rainstorms, but being our usual spirited selves, we chose to go ahead — rain or shine.

As we crossed into the Andhra Pradesh border around 9:30 AM, we were welcomed by a torrential downpour and news of a red alert due to rising floodwaters and closed highways. But nothing could stop us — not when Ammavaru (Goddess Kanaka Durga) was waiting for us.

With umbrellas in hand and determination in our hearts, we ran towards the Kanaka Durga Temple, completely soaked but spiritually uplifted. This temple, dedicated to Goddess Durga, is believed to be one of the 108 Shakti Peethas and is revered in the Devi Bhagavatam as a place where the Goddess annihilated the demon Mahishasura. The divine presence, amplified by the rain hitting the hilltop shrine and the Krishna River flowing fiercely below, made it feel like nature and divinity were performing in sync. The darshan was beyond magical — every drop of rain felt more like a blessing than an obstacle.

Our trip wasn’t supposed to end there. We had a 4-day itinerary covering Panjakala Narasimha Swamy Temple and Dwaraka Tirumala. Undeterred by the weather, we headed next to Panjakala Narasimha Temple, located near Vemulawada. This ancient temple, dedicated to Lord Narasimha, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is set against the backdrop of a serene hill with lush greenery. As per legends, Lord Narasimha here is in a calm, post-roar form — Panjakala means five times of worship offered to the deity. Despite the rain, the towering temple arch amidst dark clouds gave the site a divine and powerful aura, as if Lord Narasimha himself was watching over us.

Lunchtime came with its own set of challenges — pouring rain, no proper shelter, and rumbling stomachs. We finally found refuge in a temple ground and sat cross-legged, enjoying simple home-packed food. The locals were incredibly warm and welcoming — proving once again that kindness shines brightest in adversity.

By nightfall, we reached Dwaraka Tirumala, also known as Chinna Tirupati — a temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, a manifestation of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that sage Dwaraka had performed penance here and was blessed with the darshan of the Lord himself. The atmosphere was surreal. Our hotel gave us cozy hill station vibes, and as we settled into our rooms, we were served piping hot rice with tangy tomato curry — simple yet soul-satisfying.

The next morning, we woke up to the gentle sounds of birds and the soft rustle of forest leaves. A cool breeze swept through our room windows. The view outside — misty hills and dew-covered leaves — called us for a walk. Our hotel was around 1.5 km from the temple’s back entrance, and the walk felt straight out of a dream. The path led us down ancient stone steps carved into the hill, revealing a panoramic view of the temple perched majestically ahead. We sat there, soaking it all in — peace, prayers, and nature in perfect harmony.

We had a blissful darshan of Lord Venkateswara in an almost empty temple, thanks to the weather. We circumambulated the temple, offered our prayers, and chanted peacefully — it was one of those moments where you just want time to pause forever.

But the adventure wasn’t over yet.

As we prepared to leave for Hyderabad, we were informed that the city of Vijayawada was now completely under red alert. All main highways were closed due to floods, and we were left stranded, unable to return. With Monday commitments looming, we decided to take an alternate route, not knowing where it would lead us. Eventually, our journey was cut short by a completely blocked highway. With no choice, we started looking for shelter.

After two hours of searching, we finally found a tiny roadside lodge — the only option in the middle of nowhere. Though cramped, it was a relief to have a roof over our heads. But now came another crisis — food.

There were no restaurants nearby, and the lodge didn’t have a kitchen. Ironically, a Zudio store stood nearby — fashionable, yes, but not edible! After 9 PM, we got into our tempo again, braving rain and flooded streets, and after 45 minutes of searching, found a small restaurant 13 km away. We devoured a humble dinner and returned, hoping for better news in the morning.

At 3 AM, the call we were waiting for finally came — the bridge was open, and we could now head back to Hyderabad.

The drive back was silent yet full of reflection — of temples that stood strong for centuries, of divine moments in drenching rain, of friendship, faith, and food, and of course, a lot of unexpected chaos. But in the end, that’s what made it so memorable.

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If life is a journey, this one was a rollercoaster through storms, blessings, and temples that touched our souls. We left with wet clothes but full hearts, grateful for every twist and turn.