Godavari · District

East Godavari తూర్పు గోదావరి

Centred on Rajamahendravaram (Rajahmundry), the cultural capital of the Telugu language and the first city on the Godavari's delta. Sir Arthur Cotton's Dowleswaram barrage, the Kadiyam nurseries and the Papikondalu boat trips all start here.

RajamahendravaramHeadquartersGodavariRegion2027 (expected)Next Pushkaralu

Discover

Places in East Godavari

All tourism

River

Papikondalu

A day on the Godavari through the Papi hills

East GodavariDay trip

Heritage

Dowleswaram Barrage

Sir Arthur Cotton's 1852 anicut that turned the delta green

East GodavariDay trip

Heritage

Kadiyam Nurseries

Hundreds of plant nurseries in one green village

East GodavariDay trip

Where people live

Cities & towns

Rajahmundry

East Godavari district

Cultural capital of Telugu on the banks of the Godavari

Taste & craft

Born in East Godavari

Non-veg

Pulasa

Hilsa that swims up the Godavari during the monsoon floods (July–September) is called pulasa, and Godavari people pay extraordinary prices for it. Cooked as a pulusu with tamarind and left overnight, it is the most celebrated seasonal dish in the state.

🌶🌶seafood

Calendar

Events & festivals

festival

Godavari Pushkaralu 2027

The twelve-yearly Godavari Pushkaralu returns in 2027 when Jupiter enters Leo — twelve days of holy dips, pinda pradanam and cultural events on the river ghats, with Rajahmundry at the centre. The 2015 edition drew several crore pilgrims; expect large-scale arrangements and advance planning.

Expected July–August 2027 (once in 12 years; dates announced by the state)Godavari ghats — Rajahmundry, Kovvur, Dowleswaram, Bhadrachalam

Pride of the district

Famous people

Nannaya Bhattaraka

Poet — 'Adikavi' of Telugu · 11th century

Court poet of the Eastern Chalukya king Rajaraja Narendra at Rajahmundry, Nannaya began the Telugu translation of the Mahabharata, the first major literary work in the language.

Kandukuri Veeresalingam

Social reformer · 1848–1919

Championed widow remarriage and women's education from Rajahmundry, founded the first Telugu novel and a string of schools — the father of the Telugu renaissance.

M. Balamuralikrishna

Carnatic musician · 1930–2016

A child prodigy who became one of the most celebrated Carnatic vocalists of the 20th century, composer of new ragas and recipient of the Padma Vibhushan.

Practical