Arasavalli Sun Temple

The Arasavalli Sun Temple is a shrine of Surya, the sun god, in Arasavalli on the northern coast of Andhra Pradesh. Wall inscriptions ascribe its founding to Devendra Varma of the Eastern Ganga dynasty of Kalinga in the 600s CE, making it one of the oldest surviving sun temples in India.

The Padma Purana credits the sage Kashyapa with installing the Surya image, while a local sthalapurana tells how Indra, struck blind by the sun god after an affront to Shiva's gatekeeper Nandi, regained his sight by worshipping the icon here.

The temple is built in the rekha deula form of Kalinga architecture. It later fell into ruin and was reconstructed in 1778 by Elamanchili Pullaji Panthulu, with further repairs paid for by the Dusi family. At the Ratha Saptami festival, pilgrims greet the rising sun at the temple gate.