Kanipakam Tourist Attractions

Kanipakam is a village in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, about 11 km from Chittoor town and around 70 km from Tirupati. It is famous for the Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka Swamy temple, one of the most popular Ganesha temples in South India. The idol is believed to be self-manifested and is said to be slowly growing in size. Most pilgrims visit Kanipakam as part of a Tirupati trip.

Top places to visit in Kanipakam

You can see the temple and the smaller shrines around it in two to three hours.

• Kanipakam Temple - the main Vinayaka temple, first built by the Chola kings and later expanded. The idol sits in a well that is said to always hold water.
• Bahuda river - the temple stands beside this river, which is linked to an old story of a miracle.
• Manikanteswara and Varadaraja Swamy temples - smaller Shiva and Vishnu shrines near the main temple.

Local people also come to the temple to take oaths before the deity to settle disputes, an old tradition here.

Best time to visit Kanipakam

October to February is the most comfortable time. The annual Brahmotsavam starts on Vinayaka Chavithi, in August or September, and runs for about three weeks. The temple is very crowded then.

How to reach Kanipakam

The nearest airport is Tirupati Airport at Renigunta. The nearest railway station is Chittoor, about 12 km away, while Tirupati has more trains. Buses run often from Tirupati and Chittoor.

Plan your trip

From Tirupati, book our Kanipakam Temple Darshan Tour. Many pilgrims combine it with the Tirupati Balaji Temple and the Srikalahasti Temple.