Antarvedi

Antarvedi is a coastal temple village in Sakhinetipalle mandal. It lies where the Vasishta Godavari, one of the river’s main delta branches, flows into the Bay of Bengal. The sea is to the east, the river to the west and the Raktakulya to the north. At the heart of the village is the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple. Local tradition says Sage Vasishta kept an ashram here and installed the deity. The present temple was rebuilt by the Kopanati family of Bendamurulanka, and a stone inscription inside records their work.

Most visitors pair darshan with a visit to Sagara Sangamam, where the river meets the sea. Many also climb the lighthouse, a red-and-white tower 26 metres tall that was commissioned in 1971. It stands about 3 km from the temple. The busiest time is the Telugu month of Magha, usually January or February. Pilgrims from across the delta come then for the deity’s kalyanam and the chariot festival on Bhishma Ekadasi.