- Deity
- Mallikarjuna Swamy (Shiva) and Bhramaramba
- Nearest airport
- Hyderabad (about 195 km)
- Location
- Nallamala hills, Kurnool district, on the Krishna river
- Ideal time needed
- 1–2 days
Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple
The temple stands on a flat hilltop and is dedicated to Lord Shiva as Mallikarjuna, with his consort Bhramaramba also worshipped here. It is counted among the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams praised in Tamil Shaiva hymns. Mondays, Mahashivaratri and other holy days draw very large crowds, so expect queues.
Other places to see
A day or two is enough to see the main sights beyond the temple.
- Srisailam Dam, built across the Krishna in a deep forested gorge, with a viewpoint above the spillway
- Patalaganga, the river ghat below the temple, reached by steps or ropeway
- Paladhara and Panchadhara, forest springs linked to Adi Shankaracharya's meditation
- Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, the forest that surrounds the town
Legends and spiritual sites
Many pilgrims take a dip at Patalaganga, and the water is popularly believed to help with skin ailments. One story connects the spot to the Mahabharata, saying Arjuna's arrow pierced the earth here to bring up water for Bhishma.
At Paladhara and Panchadhara, steps lead down to quiet springs where images of Adi Shankaracharya and Goddess Sharada have been installed. Shankaracharya is believed to have composed hymns to Mallikarjuna here.
Wildlife
The Nallamala forest around Srisailam forms part of India's largest tiger reserve, which also takes in the Nagarjunasagar area. Tigers, leopards, sloth bears, dholes, several kinds of deer and many reptiles live here, and a crocodile breeding programme operates in the region.
How to reach
Hyderabad airport, about 195 km away, is the most convenient gateway, with frequent buses running to Srisailam. Buses also connect the town with other cities in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. There is no railway station in Srisailam itself, so most visitors come by road. The ghat road through the reserve may close to traffic at night. We can arrange Srisailam as a standalone trip or as part of a wider temple circuit.
Also nearby
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