Sri Kodanda Rama Swamy Temple at Vontimitta, in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh on the Kadapa–Rajampet road about 25 km east of Kadapa city, is one of the principal Rama temples of southern India and a Vijayanagara-era architectural set piece. The sanctum is open daily from 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM and from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The temple is administered by the AP TMS Endowments department as a TTD-affiliated shrine. The temple’s most distinctive feature is the unusual installation of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana in a single composite murti (the “Eka Sila”, or single-stone, configuration); pilgrim tradition holds that the three deities were carved from a single stone, and the iconography is shared by only a handful of Rama temples. The annual 11-day Sri Ramanavami Brahmotsavam in March and April is the temple’s largest event. This article covers timings, the unique murti, the Vijayanagara architecture and reaching Vontimitta.
Daily timings
- Morning: 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM
- Evening: 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- Afternoon ritual break: 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM (a short midday closure)
Sundays, Mondays, Ekadashi days and the Karthika Masam window draw the largest crowds. During the 11-day Brahmotsavam in March or April the temple is heavily revised; the Garuda Seva and the Sita Rama Kalyanam days draw crowds in the hundreds of thousands.
The Eka Sila Rama murti
The temple’s defining iconographic feature: Rama, Sita and Lakshmana stand together in a single composite murti, carved (per the traditional account) from a single piece of stone. Rama in the centre holds the Kodanda bow (the bow of Vishnu, hence the deity’s name Kodanda Rama); Sita on his left, Lakshmana on his right. Hanuman is in a separate sannidhi.
The Eka Sila configuration is iconographically rare; most Rama temples have the three deities as separate murtis arranged together. The Vontimitta tradition holds that the murti is the work of a single sculptor in continuous labour, and the single-stone origin is part of the temple’s identifying lore.
The Vijayanagara architecture
The temple is a Vijayanagara-era construction, primarily 16th-century work. The principal Vijayanagara features:
- The Ranga Mandapam: a large open-pillared hall with 32 ornately carved pillars, considered among the finer surviving Vijayanagara pillared halls in Rayalaseema.
- The principal gopuram: three-tiered Vijayanagara-era construction, with the standard ornament of the period.
- The Ratha Mandapam: a chariot-shaped hall in the temple complex.
- The Kalyana Mandapam: where the annual Sita Rama Kalyanam is performed.
The temple is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India for some of its 16th-century structures, while continuing as a living temple under the AP Endowments department.
The Annual Brahmotsavam and Sita Rama Kalyanam
The temple’s principal annual event is the 11-day Sri Ramanavami Brahmotsavam, observed in the lunar month of Chaitra (March–April). For 2026, the festival is observed from 26 March to 5 April. During the Brahmotsavam, Vahana Sevas are conducted daily from 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM in the morning and 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM in the evening. The two principal days within the festival are:
- Garuda Seva (festival day 5): the procession of the deity on the Garuda vahana.
- Sri Sita Rama Kalyanam (festival day 6): the divine wedding, the festival’s centrepiece.
The Sita Rama Kalyanam at Vontimitta is one of the largest single-day events in Andhra’s temple calendar; the temple staff arranges for upwards of 100,000 pilgrims on this day in major years. Devotees travelling from Kadapa and Tirupati book accommodation 6 to 12 months ahead for the Kalyanam day.
For what it’s worth, the Vontimitta Brahmotsavam is the more architecturally distinguished of the major Rayalaseema festivals. The combination of the 16th-century Ranga Mandapam, the Eka Sila Rama murti, and the well-organised vahana sequence makes the festival distinct from the larger but less architecturally focused festivals at Tirumala and Yadagirigutta. Plan around the Sita Rama Kalyanam day specifically if you want the iconographic peak.
Reaching Vontimitta
- From Kadapa (Cuddapah): 25 km east. 45 minutes by car.
- From Rajampet: 25 km west. 40 minutes.
- From Tirupati: about 115 km north. 2.5 hours by car.
- From Bangalore: about 350 km. A long day or overnight.
- By rail: Vontimitta has its own small railway station; Kadapa Junction is the nearest major mainline station.
- By bus: APSRTC buses run from Kadapa, Rajampet and Tirupati to Vontimitta.
Major festivals
- Sri Ramanavami Brahmotsavam (Chaitra, March–April): 11-day annual festival.
- Sita Rama Kalyanam (festival day 6 of Brahmotsavam): the divine wedding.
- Garuda Seva (festival day 5 of Brahmotsavam): the procession.
- Hanuman Jayanti (December–January): for the subsidiary Hanuman sannidhi.
- Vaikuntha Ekadashi (December–January): the principal Vaishnava observance.
Common questions
Is there an entry fee?
General darshan is free. Reserved sevas (kalyanotsavam, abhishekam, archana, Sahasranama Archana) are paid at the temple counter and through the AP TMS portal. The Sita Rama Kalyanam during the Brahmotsavam is open to all devotees for darshan; specific seats and ritual roles are reserved.
When is the next Brahmotsavam?
The Brahmotsavam is observed annually in the lunar month of Chaitra (March or April). For 2026 the festival runs from 26 March to 5 April, with Garuda Seva on 30 March and Sita Rama Kalyanam on 31 March. For subsequent years, the temple’s published Brahmotsavam calendar is the authoritative source; the dates shift on the Gregorian calendar each year as Chaitra moves.
Where to stay overnight?
Limited accommodation in Vontimitta itself; most pilgrims stay in Kadapa (25 km) or Rajampet (25 km), which have a wider range of hotels. The AP TMS maintains a guesthouse for festival-week visitors. For the Brahmotsavam days, all accommodation within 50 km of Vontimitta is booked solid months in advance.
One limitation worth noting
Specific seva fees and the Brahmotsavam schedule are confirmed each year by the AP TMS Endowments department. The 2026 dates above are the published schedule; for subsequent years, the temple’s calendar at booking time is authoritative. The 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM afternoon ritual break is consistent on most days.
For background, see the AP TMS Endowments portal.
