Sri Lakshmi Chennakesava Swamy Temple is located at Markapur in
Prakasam District. It was built by the Vijayanagar rulers during the 15th century.
The temple houses a 40-pillered mandapam with carvings of
Lord Krishna, Hanuman , Garuda, Lakshmi, and Vigneshwara with their relevant vahanas. The temple has a Kalyana Mandapam with 6 musical pillars and it produces musical notes when tapped. Sri Lakshmi Chennakesava Swamy Temple is the only one of its kind where the sun’s rays enter the sanctum sanctorum through specially placed windows at dawn. The sun’s rays falls at the feet of the deity and this happens from the 16th December to 14th January of every year.
Markapur is situated on the banks of the
Gundlakamma River and is about 94 km from Ongole. Frequent buses are available from Ongole.
