VANAMCOVE 
Kodandarama temple of the Ramayana
Why this weekend?
The day-by-day plan
Half day · The pillared hall
- Morning drive from Kadapa
- 100-pillar hall
- Sanctum darshan
- Courtyard walk
- Tank corner, return
Geography & terrain
Vontimitta stands 24 km from Kadapa on the Kadapa–Rajampet road in Rayalaseema — a village temple site of the plains anchored by one of Andhra's grandest Rama temples, the Kodandarama complex, its famous 100-pillar mandapa gleaming in the dry landscape.
History & culture
Built under the Reddy and Vijayanagara sovereigns in the 16th century — the century's epigraphs credit the structure's completion to the Vijayanagara court — the Kodandarama temple became famous for its monumental mandapa of a hundred lathe-turned pillars; the site's ruined elegance hints at a grander pilgrim-city that the centuries pared back.
Where to stay
Budget
₹800–2,000/night
Mid-range
₹2,000–4,000/night
Comfort
₹4,000+/night
Things to do
- 100-pillar mandapa
- Kodandarama shrine
- Pillar friezes
- Temple tank
- Rayalaseema light
Eat & drink
- Hyderabadi biryani
- Gongura pachadi
- Pesarattu with upma
- Rayalaseema chicken curry
- Pootharekulu sweets
Getting there
- Fly
- Visakhapatnam (VTZ) / Vijayawada (VGA)
- Train
- Vijayawada & Visakhapatnam junctions
- Road from Hyderabad
- varies by region — 250–600 km
- Getting around
- Auto-rickshaws, city buses, app taxis in cities
Budget snapshot
- Total
- ₹4,000–9,500 (2 days)
- Per day · Stay
- ₹800–4,000/night
- Per day · Food
- ₹600–1,000
- Per day · Transport
- ₹500–900
- Per day · Activities
- ₹400–800
Month by month
- Jan · Best
- 20–31°C · None rain
- Feb · Best
- 21–33°C · None rain
- Mar · Hot
- 23–35°C · None rain
- Apr · Hot
- 25–36°C · Moderate rain
- May · Pre-monsoon
- 26–35°C · Moderate rain
- Jun · Monsoon
- 24–32°C · Heavy rain
- Jul · Monsoon
- 23–31°C · Heavy rain
- Aug · Monsoon
- 23–31°C · Heavy rain
- Sep · Monsoon tail
- 24–32°C · Heavy rain
- Oct · Good
- 24–33°C · Moderate rain
- Nov · Best
- 22–32°C · Light rain
- Dec · Best
- 20–31°C · None rain
Practical info
- Language: Telugu (English understood in tourist spots)
- Best window: Sep–Mar
- Connectivity: good 4G in towns
- UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops
Practical tips
- The late-afternoon sun rakes the pillars beautifully — arrive before golden hour
- The temple is an ASI-protected site; check opening hours before a festival closure
- Pair with Kadapa's forts or the pushkarini circuits for a full day
Frequently asked questions
What is Vontimitta known for?
The 16th-century Kodandarama temple and its famous mandapa of a hundred lathe-turned stone pillars.
How long is the visit?
An hour at the temple plus driving — the whole detour fits comfortably in a half-day.
Is it worth the Kadapa detour?
For temple architecture and photography, yes — few Andhra sites match the mandapa's pillared drama.
Kodandarama temple of the Ramayana
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