Konaseema, slice of Kerala in Andhra Pradesh, with it's lush green paddy fields, coconut groves, canals, some great cuisine, the backdrop for most Telugu movies with a rural setting.
It’s literal meaning is land in a corner, flanked by the Bay of Bengal on the East, and the Godavari delta, with it's tributaries and canals, creating a network of backwaters, canals and lagoons, that resembles Kerala in many ways.
After Rajahmundry, the Godavari splits into two distributaries- Vashista and Gautami. Vashista further splits into Vasishta and Vainateya,while Gautami splits into Gautami and Nilarevu, forming a 170 km long delta called Konaseema.
Ravulapalem is often regarded as the entrance to Konaseema. It is famous for it's wholesale banana market, as well as the Kunda Biryani here.
Atreyapuram is the main center of manufacture of the delicious Pootharekulu , very much a cottage industry here. It basically comes with sugar or jaggery fillings.
Pootharekulu literally means "sheet( reku) with a coating(pootha)". It is so called, as the sweet is wrapped in a thin wafer layer made of rice starch, and usually stuffed with sugar/jaggery, dry fruits or nuts. Atreyapuram was where these Pootharekulu originated, and today it's a cottage industry there, with around 400 families in that village involved in it's making. Currently the Govt is trying to get GI tag for this sweet.
The making of the Pootharekulu is quite a laborious process. It's made from a particular kind of rice batter like jaya biyyam mixed with ghee and powdered sugar. To make the rice batter, coarse rice is ground for two hours. The thin cloth is then dipped in the solution, put on an inverted pot, and heated on an inverted pot, with a hole in it. The edible film which is formed, is wrapped with sugar or jaggery, coated with ghee.
Atreyapuram is also famous for it's mamidi tandra( mango jelly). The village itself is quite picturesque with it's paddy fields, canals, trees.
Ryali is famous for the Jaganmohini Keshava Swamy Temple, a very unique temple, that has Vishnu in the Jaganmohini form. The murthy carved out of single saligrama stone, has Keshava Swamy in front and Mohini in the rear.
As per the Sthala Purana, this was where Vishnu appeared in the form of Mohini, when the Devas and Asuras were fighting over their share of nectar. Mohini skillfully distributed the Amrit only to Devas, and disappeared. It's believed a flower from Mohini's hair fell at the place, which also accounts for the name, Ryali means to fall. The temple itself is a beautiful one, with colorful sculptures carved on it's walls.
Another famous temple in Konaseema is the Ainavilli Siddhi Vinayaka Temple, which has a swayambhu murthy of Ganesha. The oldest Ganesha temple in Andhra, that predates the Kanipakam Vinayaka Temple. Interestingly the Kanipakam temple connects with the Ainavilli one. It's believed there were 3 Atheists, who once mocked Ganesha, and were cursed to be born as 3 brothers who were blind, deaf and dumb. These brothers discovered the Ganesha in Kanipakam while digging the well.
On discovering the Ganesha murthy in a well in Kanipakam, they built a temple for it and were redeemed of their curse. Ainavilli is quite a popular temple in Konaseema, and is worth a visit, with it's picturesque surroundings.
Vadapalli Venkateswara Temple, called as Konaseema Tirupathi, that draws large number of devotees. It's believed this temple was founded by Narada himself. The main deity here is made of Errachandanam( Red Sandalwood) here, and he is called as Kalyana Venkateswara here.
Amalapuram is the largest town in Konaseema, as also it's main educational and commercial hub. It's original name was Amritpuri, and it later changed to Amlipuri, that in due course of time became Amalapuram.
Amalapuram is also called as Panchalingapuram, there are 5 temples dedicated to Shiva here- Amaleswara, Siddheswara, Ramalingeswara, Chandramouleswara and Chennamalleswara. There is also a Venkateswara temple here.
The beautiful village of Pasarlapudi is close to Amalapuram, lying on the banks of the Godavari. There is a resort there, where you can relax and enjoy the views.
Famous Telugu movie director Vamsy known for such movies like Sitara, Anveshana, Ladies Tailor, grew up in Pasarlapudi. He sets most of his movies in Konaseema, and has written a series of stories Maa Pasalapudi Kathalu, set in that village.
Another famous temple in Konaseema is the Appanapalli Bala Balaji Temple, situated on banks of Vynateya, surrounded by the river on 3 sides, it's believed Shri Venkateswara appeared as a child here, on the request of his mother Vakula Devi.
Dindi is where you get to see the beauty of Konaseema to it's fullest, with it's backwaters, coconut groves, lush greenery. There are a lot of resorts now here, where you can bask in nature's beauty.
One of the most famous persons of Konaseema is Dokka Seethamma, who served poor people and travellers rice and food free of cost, a truly noble lady, also called as Andhra Annapurna.
And Razole on the banks of the Godavari river, with it's lush greenery, that is the venue for most of the Telugu movies with a village backdrop. Again many resorts here to relax in the beauty of the surroundings and a great view of the Godavari.
With it's lush green paddy fields, coconut groves, great cuisine, canals, easy going, hospitable people, and some great temples, Konaseema is one of those places that you need to visit at some time.