I was not aware of the several important temples in and around Rajamundry except the Sri Satyanarayana Swami temple in Annavaram, a ninety minute drive from our hotel. It also came as a revelation that the town is replete with history and can boast of several luminaries and freedom fighters who hailed from this cultural capital of Andhra.The leading light is Andhra Bheeshma Sri Nyapathi SubbaRao Pantulu of whom our former President the late Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan had observed 
‘whenever I think of Rajamundry two things come to my mind. One is the river Godavari and the second is Nyapati Subba Rao Pantulu’.
By way of paying tribute to this iconic figure the grandsons who continue to live in Rajamundry have got a bronze statue installed in the midst of the town which was unveiled last May.
Among his several contributions in various fields SubbaRao Pantulu was one of the founders of The Hindu. Hence the square is called ‘The Hindu Square’.
Among the various temples situated outside Rajamundry, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Antarvedi, Draksharamam temple and Sri SatyaNarayana Swami temple in Annavaram are a must see both from the historical /mythological point of view and the religious aspect. Antarvedi is at the tip of the confluence of Godavari River and the Bay of Bengal. After a visit to the temple we could not however reach the spot of the sagara sangamam since the approach by road was blocked. We had to contend ourselves by viewing the river and the sea separately from two different points. It is popularly believed that Treta Yuga episode of Ksheera Sagara Mathanam took place in Antarvedi.
The sanctum of the two storeyed Bhimeswara temple in Draksharamam with ivory coloured gopuram is unique for the form of the Linga here.
Bhimeswara is enshrined in the second storey as a ten feet high Shiva linga which appears like marble. Shiva’s consort here is Manikyamba.
Annavaram is famous for Sri Satyanarayana Swami temple which is considered second only to Tirupathi in Andhra Pradesh.The deity is Lord Veera Venkata Satya Narayana Swamy, seated on either side are Sankara and Anantha Lakshmi Satyavathi Ammavaru.
At the end of our four day stay which included enjoying the hospitality of Nyapati Narasimha Rao’s family(he is the grandson of Subba Rao Panthulu) we left Rajamundry stocked with the famous Rajamundry Kaja and Pootharekulu, a delicacy available only in Andhra.
Why not Rajamundry for a holiday? Is my refrain now.
n.meera raghavendra rao
Just Li'Es 
I am totally surprised. How a writer/author/journalist can put his/her travel experience in such a beautiful way. Along with me my wife also surprised to read all the four parts of your Why Rajahmundry? you scetched every moment well. goodluck.–Bhaskar, The Hindu. Rajahmundry.
Thanks Bhaskar couple for your compliments and good wishes.
A reader of this post wishes me to include the following historical background of Rajamundry.
Rajamundry was founded in 11th.century by Raja Raja Narendra .It is the birthplace of AdiKavi Nannayya ,earliest known Telugu author who is held in high regard as a person who revived Telugu language.
Sri Kandukuri Veeresalingam Pantulu ,who is known as the South Indian Raja Ram Mohan Roy belonged to Rajamundry.
Rajahmundry is a very interesting place to shop actually. Especially Sarees..:)
A busy market going by the name of kota Gummam ( FORT GATE ), hosts many saree shops.
In summer Devi Chowk, a center for Mangoes and Watermelons..People coem from very far and buy. Yes why not Rajahmundry for Holiday!!
Thanks Srinivas. I think Rajamundry merits a second visit .
Wow, Meera! Read all the four parts. Only you could have brought alive the beauty of Rajamundry in such a captivitating way. I remember my several journeys by train on the old bridge over Godavari, when we used to fling coins into the river. These journeys were all the more exciting because the train moved on the old structure designed to create that kind of a rhythmic, metallic rumbling echo. Sadly today, one doesn’t get that feel on the new multi tier bridge. To this day, my mother aged 83 , sparkles with renewed energy when she reminisces about her dear Rajamundry (where she hails from) and the Godavari river!
Your description of travelling on the old bridge over Godavari brings back my memories of the exciting journey we had as children .We used to eagerly wait to toss a coin in the holy river!
Atha,
This is Raghu (Venu’s son). Just read your blog on Rajahmundry. In 2009, Suma and kids went to almost all the places you mention. They had a wonderful time. I stayed back in U.S for work related reasons. Anyway, hope all is well.
Regards
Raghu
Thanks Raghu for your reply which came as a pleasant surprise. Rajamundry is certainly worth visiting. Hope you will be able to make it sometime when you visit Hyderabad next.