Vontimitta Sri Rama Navami marks Lord Rama’s birth at the Sri Kodandarama Swamy Temple in Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh. It is Andhra Pradesh’s state-sponsored festival, run as a nine-to-eleven-day Brahmotsavam rather than a single day. The centrepiece is the Sita Rama Kalyanam, the divine wedding that draws lakhs of devotees to this 16th-century Vijayanagara shrine. This guide gives you the date, the day-wise schedule, darshan timings, travel routes, and the practical details most pages skip.
Sri Vyasa Pooja is an independent devotional guide. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Sri Kodandarama Swamy Temple or Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). We do not sell tickets or take bookings, donations, or payments. Use the official TTD channels and the Andhra Pradesh Endowments Department for all reservations and confirmed timings.
Vontimitta Sri Rama Navami at a Glance
- Temple: Sri Kodandarama Swamy Temple, Vontimitta, Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh.
- Administered by: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD).
- Rama Navami 2027 date: Thursday, 15 April 2027 (Chaitra Shukla Navami).
- Festival length: a 9–11 day Brahmotsavam, usually across March–April.
- Main highlight: Sri Sita Rama Kalyanam, held a few days after Rama Navami.
- Entry: free general darshan; no online ticket needed for the public celebrations.
When Is Vontimitta Sri Rama Navami in 2027?
Rama Navami falls on Thursday, 15 April 2027, on Chaitra Shukla Navami. Because the festival follows the lunar calendar, the date shifts every year across March and April. At Vontimitta the Brahmotsavam usually opens on or just before Rama Navami day. It then runs for about nine to eleven days, so the celebrations extend well beyond the single tithi.
The date moves noticeably from year to year. Rama Navami fell on 26 March in 2026 and on 6 April in 2025. For the exact tithi and the auspicious madhyahna window, cross-check a trusted source like Drik Panchang closer to the date. Local temple observance can vary slightly from the India-baseline calendar.
Why Vontimitta Hosts the State Celebration
Vontimitta became Andhra Pradesh’s official Sri Rama Navami venue after the 2014 state bifurcation. Bhadrachalam, the traditional Sita Rama Kalyanam site, now sits in Telangana, where sevas run through the Bhadrachalam online pooja booking portal. So the Andhra Pradesh government chose the Kodandarama Swamy Temple at Vontimitta as its replacement venue. Each year on the festival day, the Chief Minister presents silk vastralu (Pattu Vastra Samarpana) to the deities.
This shift is why Vontimitta now draws crowds it never saw before the bifurcation. Devotees already revered the temple as “Dakshina Ayodhya.” Yet the state patronage turned its Rama Navami into one of Rayalaseema’s largest gatherings. If older pages still point to Bhadrachalam as Andhra’s venue, treat that as outdated.
The Vontimitta Sri Rama Navami Brahmotsavams Schedule
The Brahmotsavam follows a fixed sequence of rituals, not a loose set of events. It opens with Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam, a temple purification, and Ankurarpanam, the sowing of sacred seeds. Dhwajarohanam, the flag hoisting, then formally launches the festival. Each night the deities ride a different celestial vehicle, and the festival closes with Chakra Snanam and Pushpayagam.
TTD announces the exact day-wise dates roughly a month before the festival. So the temple will publish the 2027 timetable closer to April 2027. For reference, here is the most recent announced schedule, from the 2026 Brahmotsavam. That festival ran from 26 March to 5 April 2026.
| Date (2026) | Ritual / Event | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 24 March | Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam (temple purification) | Morning |
| 26 March | Ankurarpanam (festival commencement) | Morning |
| 27 March | Dhwajarohanam (flag hoisting) | 9:30 AM |
| 27 March | Sri Rama Navami Asthanam | 11 AM – 12 Noon |
| 27 March | Pothana Jayanthi & Kavi Sammelanam | 4:00 PM |
| 1 April | Sri Sita Rama Kalyanam (divine wedding) | 6:30 – 8:30 PM |
| 5 April | Pushpayagam (flower offering, finale) | 6:00 – 9:00 PM |
Between these milestones, the temple holds nightly Vahana Sevas. The deities ride vehicles such as the Sesha, Hamsa, Simha, Hanumantha, Garuda, and Aswa vahanas, plus the grand Rathotsavam chariot festival. Morning processions in 2026 ran from about 7:30 to 9:30 AM. Treat these 2026 dates as a template only, and confirm the 2027 timetable on the official source before you travel.
Sita Rama Kalyanam: The Heart of Vontimitta Sri Rama Navami
The Sri Sita Rama Kalyanam is the single most important ritual. It is the ceremonial wedding of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita, performed with full Vedic honours. Devotees are free to watch the celestial marriage, and no ticket is needed for the public Kalyanam. The state’s silk offering to the deities usually coincides with these celebrations.
Here is a correction worth noting, because many pages get it wrong. At Vontimitta the temple does not perform the Kalyanam on Rama Navami day itself. By a custom dating to Vijayanagara times, it holds the wedding a few days later, in the evening.
In 2026 the Kalyanam fell on 1 April, five days after Rama Navami. Plan your stay around the announced Kalyanam date, not the Navami date, if the wedding is your priority. Our companion guide to the Vontimitta Seetha Rama Kalyanam timings covers the evening ceremony in more detail.
Darshan Timings During Vontimitta Sri Rama Navami
On normal days the temple opens for darshan in two sessions. These run roughly 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with a midday break. During the Brahmotsavam the temple usually extends these hours, and queues grow long as crowds swell into the lakhs. Arrive early in the morning for a calmer darshan before the processions begin.
Timings do shift year to year and on major ritual days, so treat the hours above as indicative. Always confirm the schedule at the temple entrance on the day you visit. Special events like the Kalyanam and Rathotsavam reshape the daily routine.
Planning Your Vontimitta Sri Rama Navami Visit
Vontimitta sits about 25 km from Kadapa city, close to Rajampet, on the Kadapa–Chennai route. The village has its own small railway station barely 1.5 km from the temple. So rail becomes the easiest approach for many pilgrims. Below is how to reach it by each mode.
By Train
Vontimitta railway station lies on the Chennai–Mumbai line, only about 1.5 km from the temple. Larger trains stop at Kadapa (around 25 km) and Rajampet (around 15 km). Both junctions connect well to Tirupati, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. From either one you can hire a taxi or take a local bus to the temple.
By Road
APSRTC runs regular buses along the Kadapa–Tirupati route that passes through Vontimitta. During the Brahmotsavam, extra special buses operate from Kadapa, Nandalur, Rajampet, and Tirupati. The temple has ample parking, so driving your own vehicle is comfortable outside peak festival hours.
By Air
Kadapa Airport is the nearest, roughly 30 km away, though it has limited regional flights. For wider connections, Tirupati Airport (around 90–125 km) and Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport serve most major cities. From any airport, a taxi or onward bus then completes the journey.
Where to Stay Near Vontimitta
Vontimitta itself is a small village with limited lodging. Most pilgrims stay in Kadapa or Rajampet and travel in for darshan. Budget lodges and mid-range hotels in Kadapa typically run ₹800–₹2,500 per night, though rates rise sharply during the festival. Book well ahead, because rooms in Kadapa and Tirupati fill quickly once TTD announces the Brahmotsavam dates.
For any temple guesthouse or seva enquiry, use the official TTD channels rather than private agents. Prices are indicative and change often. Confirm current tariffs directly with the property or the official portal before you pay anything.
Dress Code, Safety, and What to Carry
Wear modest, traditional attire, since this is an active place of worship. Men usually wear a dhoti or trousers with a shirt, while women wear a saree or salwar kameez. You will remove footwear before entering, so carry a small bag for your shoes.
A brief safety note matters here, because the festival falls in the hot Rayalaseema summer. Carry water, wear a cap, and keep any medication with you. Queues can be long, and shaded space is limited.
Elderly pilgrims, pregnant women, and anyone with a health condition should avoid the midday heat. If you plan to fast for Rama Navami, break it sensibly, and consult a doctor first if you have any medical concern.
About the Kodandarama Swamy Temple
The temple dates to the 16th century and reflects Vijayanagara-era Dravidian architecture. It has three towering gopurams and a famous 32-pillar Madhyaranga Mandapam, and it ranks as a centrally protected monument of national importance. Local legend says two devotees, Vontudu and Mittudu, built it in a single day. That story is how the village earned its name.
The sanctum holds a rare Ekasila Vigraham, the idols of Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana carved from a single rock. Unusually, Hanuman does not appear in this main idol group. Instead a separate Sanjeevaraya (Anjaneya) shrine stands within the complex.
The poet Bammera Potana composed his Telugu Maha Bhagavatam here and dedicated it to Rama. That is why the temple observes Pothana Jayanthi during the festival.
Insider Tips Most Guides Miss
First, aim for the Kalyanam evening rather than only Rama Navami day, because the wedding is the true spectacle. Second, take the train to Vontimitta’s own station if you can. It drops you almost at the temple and skips the festival road traffic. Third, reach the temple before sunrise on ritual days to secure a good darshan.
One more thing: ignore any app or website that claims to sell “Vontimitta darshan tickets” online. Because the public celebrations are free, no official online ticketing exists for general Rama Navami darshan here. Paying such a site risks your money and your data for something that costs nothing at the temple.
Common Myths About Vontimitta Sri Rama Navami
Several errors circulate on other pages, so it helps to clear them up. The Kalyanam is not held on Rama Navami day; the temple performs it a few days later by custom. Bhadrachalam is no longer Andhra’s state venue after the 2014 bifurcation, since Vontimitta took that role. And there is no genuine online booking portal for general Vontimitta darshan, whatever booking apps may claim.
Before You Go
Vontimitta Sri Rama Navami rewards pilgrims who plan around the full Brahmotsavam, not just the single festival day. Fix your travel around the announced Kalyanam date. Confirm the 2027 timetable on the official source once TTD releases it.
Carry water and medication for the summer heat, reach early, and dress modestly. Treat every “online ticket” claim with suspicion. Do that, and you will experience one of South India’s grandest Rama festivals at its best.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the date of Vontimitta Sri Rama Navami in 2027?
Rama Navami falls on Thursday, 15 April 2027, on Chaitra Shukla Navami. The Vontimitta Brahmotsavam typically opens on or just before this day and runs for about nine to eleven days. So confirm the exact day-wise schedule on the official source closer to the date.
Can I book Vontimitta Sri Rama Navami darshan online?
No. General darshan during the celebrations is free, and no official online ticket portal exists for it. Avoid any app or site charging for “Vontimitta darshan tickets,” as these are not genuine. For temple sevas, use the official TTD channels only.
Is the Sita Rama Kalyanam held on Rama Navami day?
No. By a long-standing temple custom, the temple performs the Sita Rama Kalyanam a few days after Rama Navami, in the evening. In 2026 it fell on 1 April, five days after the festival. Plan your visit around the announced Kalyanam date.
Who manages the Vontimitta Kodandarama Swamy Temple?
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) administers the temple and conducts the annual Brahmotsavam. The Andhra Pradesh government also patronises the celebration, and the Chief Minister offers silk vastralu to the deities on the festival day.
How do I reach Vontimitta temple?
Vontimitta has its own railway station about 1.5 km from the temple, on the Chennai–Mumbai line. Larger trains stop at Kadapa (25 km) and Rajampet (15 km). APSRTC buses run on the Kadapa–Tirupati route, while Kadapa Airport is the nearest airport at about 30 km.
How many days does the Vontimitta Brahmotsavam last?
The Brahmotsavam usually runs for nine to eleven days. It moves from Ankurarpanam and Dhwajarohanam through nightly Vahana Sevas to the closing Pushpayagam. The 2026 festival ran from 26 March to 5 April, and TTD will announce the 2027 dates closer to April.
What should I wear and carry for the festival?
Wear modest, traditional attire and be ready to remove footwear at the entrance. Carry water, a cap, and any medication, because the festival falls in the hot summer and queues can be long. Elderly and unwell pilgrims should avoid the midday heat.
