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Voykit pocket guide · India
Daksharamam
దక్షారామం
Visit Daksharamam as a half-day temple stop between Rajahmundry and Kakinada: go for the Bhimeswara Swamy Temple and the eight Someswara lingas, then move on.
Daksharamam is a small temple town in central Andhra Pradesh, best known for the 9th–10th century Bhimeswara Swamy Temple built by the East Chalukya king Bhima. The town also holds the Ashta Someswaras — eight Shiva lingas placed in eight directions around the temple. Most travellers visit as a half-day detour between Rajahmundry and Kakinada, or combine it with nearby Dwarakatirumala and Annavaram.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- దక్షారామం
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (very hot), Jul–Sep (heavy rain)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹500–1,000 (half-day visit) · Mid ₹1,500–3,000 (including meals and auto) (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Fire and ambulance 112
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Meal (Andhra thali) | ₹100–200 |
| Bottle of water (1 L) | ₹20 |
| Auto-rickshaw (within town) | ₹50–100 |
| Bus to Rajahmundry | ₹50–80 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- RJA · Rajahmundry Airport
- About 50 km (31 mi); taxis and buses available, checkAbout 31 mi (50 km); taxis and buses available, check
- VGA · Vijayawada Airport
- About 150 km (93 mi); the nearest full-service airportAbout 93 mi (150 km); the nearest full-service airport
Typical fares
- Bus Rajahmundry → Daksharamam
- about ₹50–80, about 1 h (check)
- Auto-rickshaw town tour
- ₹300 for all 8 lingas (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is walkable; the temple and the eight linga sites are within 2 km (1.2 mi). Auto-rickshaws are available for short trips.The town is walkable; the temple and the eight linga sites are within 1.2 mi (2 km). Auto-rickshaws are available for short trips.
See and do
Known for
- Bhimeswara Swamy Temple
- Ashta Someswaras (eight Shiva lingas)
- Mallikarjuna Panditaradhyudu (medieval Telugu poet)
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Rajahmundry | Bus or taxi, about 1 hour | About 1 h |
| Kakinada | Bus or taxi, about 1 hour | About 1 h |
| Dwarakatirumala | Bus or taxi, about 30 min | About 30–40 min |
| Annavaram | Bus or taxi, about 1 hour | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Daksharamam town
- A few basic lodges near the temple; most visitors stay in Rajahmundry or Kakinada.
- Rajahmundry
- About 1 hour by road; wider choice of hotels and restaurants.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | ధన్యవాదాలుdhanyavādālu |
| How much? | ఎంత?enta? |
| Where is the temple? | ఆలయం ఎక్కడ?ālayam ekkada? |
| Please take me to… | నన్ను … కు తీసుకెళ్ళండిnannu … ku tīsukellaṇḍi |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Temple timings vary: check locally for darshan hours.
- The eight Someswara lingas are in different corners of the town — ask a local guide or use a map to find all.
- No ATMs in the temple area; carry cash.
Daksharamam is a quiet temple town with low crime. Watch for stray dogs near the temple and carry water in summer.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Daksharamam yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Bhimeswara Swamy Temple
- Ashta Someswaras (eight Shiva lingas)
- Mallikarjuna Panditaradhyudu (medieval Telugu poet)
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Daksharamam, revision 5275293 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5275293
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/daksharamam). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.