The temple of Saraswati at Basar is one of the two famous Saraswati temples in India, the other being in Kashmir. Legend has it that Sage Vyasa during his stay here used to bring daily three handfuls of sand after a bath in Godavari and kept it at a place, which transformed as the images of Saraswati, Lakshmi and Kali.

However, according to Brahmandapuranam, Adikavi Valmiki installed Saraswati and wrote Ramayana here. There is a marble image of Valmiki and his samadhi near the temple.

It is believed that this temple is one of the three temples constructed near the confluence of Manjira and Godavari rivers by Ashtrakutas. According to another school of thought 'Bijialudu' a Kamataka king, who ruled the province of Nandagiri with Nanded as his capital in the sixth century, constructed the temple at Basar.

The image of Lakshmi stands besides Goddess Saraswati in the sanctum sanctorium. Due to the presence of Saraswati, Lakshmi and Kali, Basar is considered the abode of the divine trinity.

How to reach:
State buses and taxis from Hyderabad

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