Are you excited to know famous tourist places in Yanam? Before that, let’s know about Yanam. Yanam is a beautiful town on the banks of Gautami Godavari with ample greenery. Gautami Godavari River, one main branch of the Godavari River, joins the Bay of Bengal at a distance of 14 km from Yanam. Yanam is bordered by the districts of Andhra Pradesh, Konaseema and Kakinada and is one of the regions in the Union Territories of Puducherry. French people ruled it for about 300 years; hence, it is popularly known as “French Yanam”.
This popular tourist spot Yanam is surrounded by the natural beauty of the Godavari River, coconut trees and beautiful mangroves, making Yanam a popular tourist destination. This article presents the best tourist places to visit in and near Yanam.
యానాం Tourism: 10 Best Yanam Tourist Places you Must Visit:
Here you can check the list of top 10 Yanam tourist places with photos and detailed information.
1. Yanam Beach:
Ferry Road is the pathway along the river beach that stretches for a length of 1.7 km in Yanam. It is the best tourist place in Yanam which will attract you with its beauty. It has two elephants anointing a massive Shiva lingam (popularly known as Shivam Bath) at the entrance, a Bharat Mata statue and a Jesus Statue ( It is a replica of Brazil’s Statue of Christ) along the river beach has a picturesque view. And the ship model Nagur Meera Sahib Mandir attracts you. There is a park and food stalls where people chill with their family and friends. It is a beautiful place for a morning or evening walk. You can also enjoy river boating here.
2. St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church:
St. Ann’s Catholic Church is a famous place to visit in Yanam, where many devotees come from different locations to worship Mary Maa. It was built in 1846 by french rulers. Here the furniture, decorations and plants around the church will attract your attention. Most of the furniture and decorations were imported from France. The hill temple is another notable attraction of this church. You can visit this temple in March when a major festival is celebrated every year.
Read: Tourist Places in Andhra Pradesh for Couples
3. Yanam Botanical Garden:
The Botanical Garden at the entrance of Yanam is an excellent place to visit for tourists. It is a pleasant and nice place with plants and trees to hang out with family or to get some peace of mind and fresh air. The special attraction here is the 16 feet statue of Gandhi, Glass house and the evening laser show.
4. Grand Mosque:
The Mosque was built in 1978 and expanded to become the Grand Mosque in 2000. Initially, a small mosque was constructed in 1848 on land donated by the French government. Ramadan and Eid al-Adha are the main festivals celebrated here every year.
5. Obelisk Tower:
Obelisk Tower, located 10km away from Yanam city on Yanam – Savitri Nagar road, is a replica of the Eiffel Tower. It is a 100m tall tower from which one can enjoy beautiful views of Godavari merging into the sea. And it has the best views of Yanam sightseeing and mangroves. Obelisk tower is a must-visit place when visiting Yanam.
6. Meesala Venkanna Temple:
It is a very famous temple in Yanam town which is now under renovation. This temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateswara who has a moustache, like Annavaram Satyanarayana Swamy, so this deity is known as Meesala Venkanna, which is not found in any Venkateswara temple. Venkannababu Kalyanotsavam, Rathotsavam and Brahmotsavam are held here every year. Every year around 1.5 lakh devotees from different parts of Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry attend these festival days to pray to Lord Venkateswara.
7. Yanam Sivalayam:
It is a very ancient temple in Yanam dedicated to Lord Shiva known as Sri Rajarajeswara, built on the banks of river Godavari by the Chalukya kings of Rajamahendravaram in the 15th century. Sri Rajarjeshwara Kalyanotsavam is celebrated here every year.
8. Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary:
Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary is a fascinating mangrove forest about 13 km from Yanam. It is the third largest mangrove forest in India and is a beautiful place to visit near Yanam. The beautifully made wooden entrance and “I Love Coringa” logo will attract you more. Mangroves are trees or shrubs that grow in coastal wetlands, so there is a wooden walkway 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 Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, which is located in the backwaters of Coringa to the Godavari and is a must-try for every visitor. The sanctuary has 24 species of mangrove trees and 120 species of birds, including golden fox, sea turtle, fishing cat and smooth-coated otter etc…, you are really lucky if you see them.
How to Reach:
- Every bus from Yanam to Kakinada passes through Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary road entrance, which is located on NH 216 highway. And then a 2 km walk.
- Or you can opt for a cab or auto to reach your destination.
Timings: Every day, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and closed on Tuesdays.
Read: Famous Temples in Vizag
9. Sri Veereswara Swamy Temple:
Sri Bhadrakali Sametha Sri Veereswara Swamy Temple is located at Muramalla in Konaseema, about 10 km from Yanam, which is a must-visit place near Yanam. It is a beautiful temple dedicated to Sri Veerabhadra Swamy, the fearsome form of Lord Shiva. It’s special that, Ritwiks perform Kalyanam to Sri Veereswara Swamy in this temple like a Vishnu temple every day. Many devotees from different parts of Andhra Pradesh attend to perform this Kalyanam. It is believed that unmarried devotees will get married by performing Kalyanam to this god. The important festivals here are Mahashivaratri, Laksha Rudraksha Archana and Brahmotsavam festival celebrated yearly with grandeur.
How to Reach:
- Every bus from Yanam to Amalapuram stops at Muramalla village, and autos are available to go to the temple from there.
- Or you can opt for a cab or auto to reach the temple.
10. Draksharamam Bhimeswara Swamy Temple:
Draksharamam Bhimeswara Swamy Temple is located in Draksharamam town, Konaseema, about 20 km from Yanam. It is one of the aged temples in India and was built by King Chalukya Bhima in 10th century in a blend of the Chola and Chalukyan styles. The beautifully architectured temple gopuram and walls and the pond next to the temple will leave you spellbound. The peaceful atmosphere around this temple will give you peace of mind. In this temple complex worshipping Lord Bhimeswara (Lord Shiva is worshipping as Bhimeswara Swamy, a Spatika linga which rises 14 feet), Goddess Manikyamba, Virupaksha, Nataraja, Anjaneya and Lord Ganesha. Many tourists visit this temple every day and this Draksharama temple is a popular tourist spot near Yanam as it is both Pancharama Kshetra and Shakti Peetha.
It is believed that Daksha Prajapati performed Yajna in Draksharamam and Sati Devi immolated herself here.
How to Reach:
- Buses are available to reach Draksharamam temple from Yanam.
- Or you can choose auto to reach the temple.
How to Reach Yanam:
Bridge named GMC Balayogi Varadhi is a part of NH 216 over river Gautami Godavari connecting Yanam and Yedurlanka and is the main route to reach Yanam. Thousands of people travel across this bridge every day. It was named after former Lok Sabha Speaker GMC Balayogi.
- Bus: Several buses are available to reach Yanam from nearby cities like Kakinada, Visakhapatnam and Amalapuram.
- Train: The nearest railway station is at Kakinada, where plenty of buses are available to reach Yanam. It is about 30 km from Yanam.
- Air: The nearest airport is Rajahmundry, which is 90 km away, where you can opt for a bus or cab to reach your destination Yanam.
Read: Must See Places in Pondicherry
Where to Stay in Yanam:
- Hotel Sarvainn, GVS Residency, The Regency Hotel and Pondicherry Government Guest House are available for accommodation in Yanam at affordable rates.
Complete your Yanam trip well with your family and friends by visiting the places mentioned here. As I said in the introduction, it is a small town so you can complete your trip in one day with affordable accommodation and travel prices. It is the cheapest and best tourist destination. Oh! I forgot to mention Tuesday market, visit the market if possible. Yanam is a must-visit tourist place to experience the affections of Yanam people, seafood tastes, natural beauty of lush green fields, abundant coconut trees and mighty Godavari.
1. Was Yanam a French Colony? Do French Nationals live Here?
Yes! Yanam was one of the 5 French colonies in India. Some people of Yanam still hold French citizenship.
2. What is Famous in Yanam?
Yanam is famous for its beach and natural beauty and delicious seafood varieties like pulasa, seeramenu, prawns and Konaseema specialty foods and non-vegetarian dishes served by various restaurants and dhabas here. Also, being a union territory, the prices of electricity, petrol, diesel and liquor are lower compared to Andhra Pradesh.
3. What is the Best Time to Visit Yanam?
The best time to visit Yanam is during winter and spring (December to February).
4. What festivals are celebrated in Yanam?
- Venkannababu’s Kalyanotsavam and Rathotsavam are celebrated with grandeur in Yanam.
- The festival of Our Lady of Lourdes is celebrated in March every year.
- Yanam Praja Utsavalu (Yanam People Festival) is a cultural festival organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Puducherry for 3 days every year in January.
Dates in 2023: 6 January 2023 to 8 January 2023.
