Nellore city is around 175 KM from Chennai. Nellore district is famous for the rocket launching station at Sriharikota, bird sanctuary at Nelapattu, famous Kamakshi Temple at Jonnawada, wonderful coastline and many others. I will touch Jonnawada now and write about others later when I find free time.
Jonnawada is around 10-12 KM from the main bus station. Me and my wife started on our bike at around 8 in the morning. The road was narrow, bumpy at places but since there wasn’t much of traffic, we comfortably reached there in 25 minutes. Situated on the banks of river Penna (also known as Pinakini), this serene town fills the mind with boundless joy. The river’s view against the backdrop of a hillock from the temple ghat is breathtaking. The gentle flowing Penna make you feel very pleasant and relieve your stress.
People believe that if anyone is “taken over” by bad spirits then they will be cured here if they sleep in the temple premises for few nights. Also some people sleep in the night here, in case their wishes are fulfilled (for example if they are blessed with children). The main idol was installed by Adi Sankara. An idol of Adi Sankara is also there. The place is supposed to be very divine and the main deity (Kamakshi) is supposed to be very powerful.
After the darshan we proceeded towards the Narasimha konda which is around 5 Km from there. The temple of Narasimha (An avatar of Vishnu) is situated on a hillock and the breeze one get there is phenomenal. A wind power generating unit there is a testimony to the high velocity winds that blow. While coming down the slope of the hillock I switched off my engine, but after touching 50KM I had to apply the breaks. That was a great fun. Then we again returned to Nellore city.
You can see some pics at
https://in.geocities.com/kotasrinivas_2000/