ONGOLE
| Location |
In Prakasam District |
| Famous For: |
Bullocks |
| Attractions: |
Chennakesavaswami Temple, Venugopalaswami Temple, and Anantasitaramaswami Temple |
Ongole is the headquarters for Prakasam district in Andhra Pradesh. It is situated on the Chennai-Howrah Grand Trunk Road 109-km away from Guntur. The town was originally called 'Vangalaprolu', 'Vangavolu' and 'Vangolu' after the astrologer bearing the surname 'Vangolu' in the court of the Addanki kings. The earliest reference to this place is found in the inscriptions of the Pallava rulers, Vijayaskandavarma and Simhavarman, whose period of rule was assigned to the last quarter of the 3rd and the first quarter of the 4th centuries AD.
A Business Center: Ongole is a good business center. Food and other items like Butter, Ghee, Cigar, Cereals, Pulses, Groundnut, and Pepper etc are being exported from here to different parts of the country. Bullocks from Ongole known as "Ongole Gitta" are renowned in the state. It is a prestige to have Ongole Bullocks in one's flock of cattle.
PRIME ATTRACTIONS
Among the temples dedicated to 'Chennakesavaswami', 'Kasivisweswaraswami', 'Venugopalaswami', 'Veeranjaneyaswami', 'Prasannajaneyaswami', 'Annantasitaramaswami', 'Rajarajeswaraswami', 'Kanyaka Parameswari', the first two are presumed to relate to the 18th century AD.
The main idol of Chennkesavaswami with his consort Lakshmi is beautifully sculptured and quite inspiring. The shrine of Kasivisweswaraswami, which is situated by the side of the Chennakesavaswamy temple on the same hill, is famous for its "Addala Mandapam" constructed in 1945 by a local philanthropist.
The Muslims have a number of mosques and Dargas at the place for their religious congregation and the festivals like Muharram, Bakrid and Ramzan are celebrated on grand scale.
HOW TO GET THERE
Rail: Ongole has a railway station and is well connected by rail with all the important places within the state.
Road: Private and State run buses connect Ongole to all the important places of the state.
FESTIVALS AND FAIRS: The annual Kalyanotsavam celebrated in the temples of Rajarajeswaraswamy and Sitaramaswami during the month of 'Jyeshtha' (May-June) attracts a sizeable congregation.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Climate: Tropical
| Temperature (degrees c): |
Max. |
Min. |
| Winter |
30 |
15 |
| Summer |
44 |
29 |
| Clothing |
Light cottons |
| Rainfall: |
1753 MM. |
| |
|
NEARBY CITIES
Guntur: 109-km |
