About Sri Raja Rajeswara Temple, Vemulawada
The Sri Raja Rajeswara Swamy Temple is the heart of Vemulawada, a temple town in Rajanna Sircilla district of Telangana, about 38 km from Karimnagar. Lord Shiva is worshipped here as Raja Rajeswara, known affectionately to local people as Rajanna, in the form of a large Shiva linga. The goddess Raja Rajeswari Devi is enshrined on his right and Lakshmi with Siddhi Vinayaka on his left. Revered as Dakshina Kashi, the Kashi of the south, the temple draws pilgrims from across Telangana and from neighbouring states such as Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
Vemulawada was the capital of the Vemulawada Chalukyas, a medieval dynasty who ruled this region between roughly the 8th and 10th centuries, and their inscriptions call the town Lembulapataka. The temple is generally dated to this Chalukya period. Today it is administered by the Telangana Endowments Department. Local belief also holds that the Bathukamma flower festival, so dear to Telangana, has its origins in Vemulawada. Crowds swell above all on Maha Shivaratri, when devotees travel from far and wide, and again for Sri Rama Navami, when the town fills with pilgrims, stalls and processions, and the queues for darshan stretch far beyond the temple gates.
Built in the Dravidian style, the complex contains the main sanctum along with separate shrines for Ananta Padmanabha Swamy, for Rama with Sita and Lakshmana, for Anjaneya and other deities. Before darshan, pilgrims bathe in the Dharma Gundam, a temple tank whose waters are considered holy and healing. The most distinctive custom here is the kode mokku: a devotee who has made a vow leads a bull, the vahana of Shiva, around the temple as an offering. The town also has other old temples, including those of Bheemeshwara, Nagareshwara and Pochamma.
Sri Raja Rajeswara Temple, Vemulawada timings
Usually open from early morning to night, with a break around midday. Times may vary; check locally before visiting.
Timings change on festivals, eclipses and special days. Please confirm locally before you travel.
How to reach Sri Raja Rajeswara Temple, Vemulawada
By air
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad is the nearest major airport.
By train
Karimnagar railway station is about 38 km away.
By road
Vemulawada is about 38 km from Karimnagar by road, and buses run from Karimnagar, Sircilla and Hyderabad.
Festivals at Sri Raja Rajeswara Temple, Vemulawada
- Maha ShivaratriFeb/Mar
- Sri Rama NavamiMar/Apr
- BonaluJul/Aug
- BathukammaSep/Oct
- DasaraSep/Oct
Visitor tips
- Dress code
- Traditional dress is advised: dhoti or kurta-pyjama for men, saree or salwar-kameez for women.
- Entry
- Free general darshan. Arjitha sevas and other offerings can be booked through the devasthanam, including online.
- Take a holy dip in the Dharma Gundam before darshan, as pilgrims traditionally do.
- If you plan a kode mokku vow, ask at the temple office about the procedure.
- Expect huge crowds on Maha Shivaratri; arrive the day before if possible.
- Visit the Bheemeshwara and other old temples in the town as well.
Places to visit near Sri Raja Rajeswara Temple, Vemulawada
- Bheemeshwara TempleOld Shiva temple in Vemulawada town
- Nagareshwara Swamy TempleSub-temple of the devasthanam in Vemulawada
- KarimnagarDistrict city and rail head, about 38 km away
Frequently asked questions
What is kode mokku at Vemulawada?
It is a vow in which a devotee leads a bull, the vahana of Shiva, around the temple as an offering.
Why is Vemulawada called Dakshina Kashi?
Because the Raja Rajeswara temple is revered as being as holy as Kashi, for pilgrims of the south.
How far is Vemulawada from Karimnagar?
It is about 38 km from Karimnagar.
What is the Dharma Gundam?
It is the temple tank where pilgrims bathe before darshan; its water is considered holy and healing.
What are the Sri Raja Rajeswara Temple, Vemulawada timings?
Usually open from early morning to night, with a break around midday. Times may vary; check locally before visiting.
Is there a dress code at Sri Raja Rajeswara Temple, Vemulawada?
Traditional dress is advised: dhoti or kurta-pyjama for men, saree or salwar-kameez for women.
Visited recently and noticed something has changed? Suggest an update — Sevaks help keep every temple guide accurate.
