Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/WLEJh6AaMqc
Location: "Sri Radha Govinda Swamy Temple, Meliaputti (V) & (M), Srikakulam Dist., A.P. State protected Monument, Q5FF+873, Meliaputti, Andhra Pradesh 532216"
The temple is in a much changed state from its original ancient looks, thanks to its renovation. The temple, also known as the Khajuraho of the AP, is located in the Meliaputti village, a Mandal in Srikakulam district of AP.
The temple was built by Smt. Vishnupriya
Maharani, wife of Maharaja Sri Veera Veerendra Pratap Rudra Gajapati of
Parlakimidi Gajapati dynasty during 1810 AD (using 2 Lakhs of money received
from her paternal side. It took 10 years to complete.
This Temple (Lord Krishna) ,Venugopalaswamy
or Radhagovindaswamy temple at meliaputti is almost at Orissa border, and has
exquisite carvings of sculptures throughout the walls of the temples, depicting
the messages of the Vedas (including Erotic sculptures). One can find tortoises
roaming around in the temple too.
Meliaputti is an important town in Srikakulam which shares
its boundaries with Odisha State. It is 10 km from the nearest town,
Paralakhemundi (Orissa).
Architecture
The temple is an architectural masterpiece
and is more of a North Indian Nagara styled architecture and could be more of a
Kalinga Style architecture. The temple has a main shikhara, a mandapa, and an
ardhamandapa on immediately looking. A more closer look would reveal it more
closer to Rekha Deul, and Pidha Deuls. The beautiful carvings on the temple
walls are supposed to convey the message of the four Vedas. The dome is
decorated with 108 lotus flowers, and each flower has its own unique shape.
Original Temple
Current
Temple after renovation
Location and Accessiblity
The temple is around 60 KMs from Baruva
beach (which as mentioned in my previous blogs, could be a place for stay) and
around 72 KMs from Srikakulam. A good route to cover (as discussed earlier),
could be
Baruva->Mandasa->Meliaputti->Mukhalingam->Srikurmam->Srikakulam
The temple doesn’t have dedicated parking
space, but with own vehicle, cars can be parked in the kuccha road opposite the
temple.
Approach roads to this temple are brilliant
and very good.
Festivals and Rituals
The Dolo
Festival of Shri Radhagobinda swamy will be held in the month of March every
year for about 7 to 9 days. It starts with the procession of
the Deities in the village streets and later on brought to the Magha Mandapam ,
a place where Kama Dahana programme is performed. Thousands of devotees used to
visit the Temple during the festival days to fulfill their ambitions, by
having Darshan of the Deity in the Temple. Sri Krishna chandra Gajapathi,
Maharajah of Parlakimidi and the first chief Minister of Odisha , have allowed
the public for their entrance in the temple after 1956 only on limited timings
by undertaking a written commitment from the village elders for preventing
untoward incidents, during procession of the Deities in the Village.
Photography and Parking
Photography
is allowed inside the temple and we didn’t find any restrictions. No dedicated
parking available, but opposite the temple entry, there is small gully, where a
bit of a space where vehicle can be parked.
From the
gully on if you want to use, a Drone can be used to capture the temple.
Stay, Location and Accessibility:
Meliaputti
is at a distance of around 72 kms from Srikakulam city and 59 KMs from Baruva
beach. Both Srikakulam and Baruva beach are ideal places for stay. If
travelling on your own, staying in Baruva or Srikakulam, these temples can be
planned together: Meliaputti Venugopalaswamy temple, Mandasa Venugopal temple,
Mukhalingam temples, Srikurmam temple and finally end for a stay at Srikakulam.
Roads are excellent and easily approachable from National Highway 16.
Videos
can be accessed from this site:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UthKouCWd14
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOJ_NDz7VNw