10 Best Tourist Attractions in Alam
A popular tourist destination, Yanam is a district in the Pondicherry State (Federal Territory) in Konasima, Andhra Pradesh. It is a small town on the banks of the Godavari River, a major tributary of the Godavari River. The Godavari River joins the Bay of Bengal at Yanam. The French ruled it for about 300 years; hence it is commonly known as “French Yanam”. Yanan has natural beauty such as Godavari River, coconut palms and beautiful mangroves, making Yanan a famous tourist destination. This article presents the best tourist attractions in and around Alam.
Best tourist attractions in Alam:
1. Ferry:
The Ferry Road is a small road along the beach that stretches for 1.7 kilometers in Alam. It is the best tourist destination in Alam and its beauty will captivate you. It has two elephants painting the giant Shiva at the entrance (commonly known as the Shiva bath), and the Bharat Mata statue and Jesus statue (which is a replica of the Brazilian Christ statue) along the beach are picturesque. The model ship Nagur Meera Sahib Mandir has you covered. There is a park and food stalls where people can relax with family and friends. This is a great place for a morning or evening walk. You can also enjoy boating here.
2. St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church:
St. Ann’s Catholic Church is a famous place to visit in Anam, and many believers come to worship Maryma from different places. It was built in 1846 by the French rulers. Here, furniture, decorations and plants around the church will grab your attention. Most of the furniture and decorations are imported from France. The Temple of the Mountain is another notable attraction of this church. You can visit this temple every year when major festivals are celebrated in March.
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3. Alam Botanical Garden:
The botanical garden at the entrance of Yanam is a great place for tourists to visit. It’s a pleasant and nice place with plants and trees to hang out with the family or just relax and get some fresh air. Special attractions here are the 16-foot Gandhi statue, the glass house, and the laser show at night.
4. The Great Mosque:
The mosque was built in 1978 and expanded in 2000 to become the Grand Mosque. Originally, a small mosque was built in 1848 on land donated by the French government. Ramadan and Eid al-Adha are the main festivals celebrated here every year.
5. Obelisk:
The Obelisk Tower is located on the Yanan-Savitri Nagar Road, 10 kilometers from the city of Yanan, and is a replica of the Eiffel Tower. It is a 100m high tower from which there is a beautiful view of Godavari blending into the sea. It has the best view of Yanam sightseeing and mangroves. The Obelisk is a must-see when visiting Yanan.
6. Meesala Venkanna Temple:
This is a very famous temple in Yanam town which is now under renovation. This temple is dedicated to a mustache Venkate Swara Lord like Anavaram Satyaanarayana Swami, so this god is called Meesala Venkanna, in any Venkate None in the Swara temples. Venkannababu Kalyanotsavam, Rathotsavam and Brahmotsavam are held here every year. Every year about 150,000 devotees from different parts of Andhra Pradesh and Pondicherry attend these festivals to pray to Lord Venkateswara.
7. Yanan Sivarayan:
It is a very old temple in Yanam dedicated to Lord Shiva known as Sri Rajarajeswara, built in the 15th century by King Chalukya of Rajamahendravaram on the river Godavari. Sri Rajarjeshwara Kalyanotsavam is celebrated here every year.
8. Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary:
Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is a stunning mangrove forest about 15 kilometers from Yanam. It is the third largest mangrove forest in India and a beautiful place near Yanam. The beautiful wooden entrance and “I Love Coringa” sign will attract you even more. Mangroves are trees or shrubs that grow in coastal wetlands, so there is a boardwalk 4 feet above the ground to visit the forest. There are aerial viewpoints to witness the beauty of the mangroves, and boating is the best way to see birds and animals in the Kolinga Wildlife Sanctuary, which is located in the backwaters of Kolinga to Godavari and is A must for every tourist. There are 24 species of mangroves and 120 species of birds in the reserve, including golden foxes, sea turtles, fishing cats, otters, etc… It’s such a blessing to see them.
how can I get there:
- Every bus from Yanam to Kakinada goes through the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary Road entrance on NH 216. Then walk 2 kilometers.
- Or you can choose taxi or car to reach your destination.
time: 9:00am to 5:00pm daily, closed on Tuesdays.
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9. Sri Veereswara Swamy Temple:
Sri Bhadrakali Sametha Sri Veereswara Swamy Temple is located in Mulamala, Konasima, about 10 kilometers from Alam, and is a must-see near Alam. This is a beautiful temple dedicated to Sri Veerabhadra Swamy, the terrible image of Lord Shiva. It is very special that Ritwiks perform Kalyanam to Sri Veereswara Swamy every day in this temple like a Vishnu temple. Many devotees from different parts of Andhra Pradesh participated in this Kalyanam. It is believed that unmarried devotees will marry by performing Kalyamm to this god.
how can I get there:
- Every bus from Yanam to Amalapuram stops at the village of Muramalla, from where it is possible to take a car to the temple.
- Or you can choose to reach the temple by taxi or car.
10. Draksharamam Bhimeswara Swamy Temple:
Draksharamam Bhimeswara Swamy Temple is located in the town of Draksharamam, Konaseema, about 20 kilometers from Yanam. It was built in the 10th century by King Chalukya Bhima and combines Chola and Chalukyan styles. The beautifully built temple gopuram and walls and the pond next to the temple will fascinate you. The peaceful atmosphere surrounding this temple will give you peace of mind. Lord Bhimeswara (Lord Shiva worships Bhimeswara Swamy, a 14-foot-tall Spatika linga), Goddess Manikyamba, Virupaksha, Nataraja, Anjaneya and Lord Ganesha are enshrined in this temple complex. Many tourists visit this temple every day, this Draksharama temple is a popular tourist attraction near Yanam as it is both Pancharama Kshetra and Shakti Peetha.
It is believed that Daksha Prajapati performed Yajna at Draksharamam, where Sati Devi sacrificed himself.
how can I get there:
- There are bus facilities from Yanam to Draksharamam Temple.
- It is best to drive or self-drive to this temple.
How to get to Alam:
The bridge called GMC Balayogi Varadhi is part of NH 216 and spans the Gautami Godavari river, connecting Yanam and Yedurlanka, and is the main route to Yanam. Thousands of people cross the bridge every day. It is named after GMC Balayogi, the former Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
- bus: From nearby cities such as Kakinada, Visakhapatnam and Amarapuram, there are several buses to reach Alam.
- train: The nearest train station is in Kakinada, where there are many buses to Yanam. It is about 30 kilometers away from Yanan.
- Air: The nearest airport is Rajahmundry, 90 km away, and you can choose to take a bus or taxi to your destination, Yanam.
Read: Must-see places in Pondicherry
Where to stay in Yanan:
- Hotel Sarvainn, GVS Residency, The Regency Hotel and Pondicherry Government Guest House all offer Yanam accommodation at affordable rates.
Complete your Yanam tour by visiting the places mentioned here. As I said in the introduction, this is a small town so you can do the tour in one day. Oh! I forgot to mention the Tuesday market, go to the market if possible. Yanam is a must-visit tourist destination to experience the affection of Yanam people, the taste of seafood, the natural beauty of lush green fields, abundant coconut palms and the mighty Godavari.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Was Yanam a French colony? Do the French live here?
answer: Yes! Yanam was one of the 5 French colonies in India. Some in Yanam still hold French citizenship.
2. What is the famous place in Alam?
answer: Known for its beaches and natural beauty, Yanam is also known for its delicious seafood varieties such as pulasa, seeramenu, prawns and many non-vegetarian dishes. As it is a federal territory, the prices of electricity, petrol, diesel and alcohol are lower compared to Andhra Pradesh.
3. When is the best time to visit Alam?
answer: The best time to visit Yanam is during winter and spring (December to February).