From visiting the Shiva temple, seeing the Mahachaitya, to having a jolly boat ride on river Krishna, Amaravati has a lot to offer to the tourists. Earlier known as Dhanyakataka, Amaravati got its present name after the Amaraas who lived here. Visitors throng the lofty temple of Amareswara to see the sacred linga believed to have been installed here by Lord Indra in the Dwaparyuga. However, the Buddhists assert that the temple belongs to the time of the Buddha as the temple edifice is in typical Buddhist style of architecture. It is believed that a complete picture of the temple is depicted in the Skanda Purana.
Legends associated with the linga are many.
According to Sthala Purana, between the fag end of dwaparyuga and the beginning of kaliyuga, the Saunakadi rishis once sought the advice of Narada Muni for attaining salvation. Narada advised them to appease Lord Shiva by doing penance along the banks of river Krishna. The Shiva lingam here, is in the form of five lingas - Pranavesvara, Agastesvara, Kosalesvara, Somesvara and Parthivesvara. There is a strong conviction that whoever stays at Amaravati for three days and worships Amareswara, attains salvation. The temple walls have a number of inscriptions that throw light on the different dynasties that reigned over this place.