Location
Srisailam, Nallamala hills · Andhra Pradesh
॥ ॐ नमः शिवाय मल्लिकार्जुनाय ॥
Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga
दक्षिण का कैलाश - द्वितीय ज्योतिर्लिंग।
The Kailash of the South - the second of the twelve Jyotirlingas, enshrined atop the sacred Srisailam hill in the Nallamala forest on the banks of the Krishna. One of the rarest shrines on earth, where a Jyotirlinga of Shiva and a Shakti Peetha of the Goddess reside together. Plan your darshan, abhishekam, travel and stay with a real coordinator.
Jyotirlinga + Shakti Peetha Atop Srisailam hill On the Krishna river Senior & NRI friendly
2
Jyotirlinga
457m
Hill altitude
75L
Pilgrims / year
श्रीशैलम · The Kailash of the South
Where Shiva and Parvati reside together
Presiding deities: Lord Shiva as Mallikarjuna (Swayambhu Linga) with Goddess Bhramaramba - a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha in one complex.
ॐ नमः शिवाय मल्लिकार्जुनाय
Mallikarjuna is revered as the second of the twelve Jyotirlingas, seated atop Srisailam - called the "Kailash of the South". It is one of the only shrines in India where a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha coexist in the same complex. According to the Shiva Purana, when Kartikeya retreated in anger to the Krauncha mountain, Shiva and Parvati came to console him and manifested here as Mallikarjuna and Bhramaramba. The name joins "Mallika" - jasmine, beloved of Parvati - and "Arjuna", the radiant Shiva. Uniquely, on Maha Shivaratri ordinary devotees are permitted to touch the lingam directly - a privilege found nowhere else among the Jyotirlingas.
Sacred form
Swayambhu (self-manifested) Linga
Goddess
Bhramaramba - one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas
Sacred river
Krishna (Pathala Ganga)
History & heritage
A hill shrine of kings and saints
Srisailam has been a centre of Shaiva worship since at least the 2nd century CE, when it was patronised by the Satavahana dynasty. Across the centuries it drew the Ikshvaku, Chalukya, Kakatiya and Reddi rulers, and the great Veerashaiva saints. The mystic poet-saint Akka Mahadevi is said to have attained union with Shiva in the caves nearby that still bear her name. Adi Shankaracharya is traditionally believed to have composed his "Sivananda Lahari" here in praise of Mallikarjuna.
The temple as it stands today owes much to the Vijayanagara Empire. Harihara Raya I built the great Mukha Mandapa and the towering Prakara walls, and Krishnadevaraya raised the eastern gopuram and the Vira Sironmani gateway in the early 16th century. Reddi kings and later Maratha rulers added shrines and endowments. The mighty stone fortification wall around the hill-top, carved with scenes from the epics and Puranas, remains one of the finest examples of Vijayanagara temple architecture, blending Dravidian form with rich regional sculpture.
One of 12 JyotirlingasBhramaramba Shakti PeethaSatavahana origins · 2nd century CEVijayanagara-era gopurams & walls
Darshan & rituals
Aarti, abhishekam & the rhythm of the hill
The day at Srisailam opens with the Mangala Aarti before dawn and closes with the Shayana (sleeping) Aarti at night. Maha Abhishekam to the Mallikarjuna lingam is performed with milk, honey, ghee, sandal paste and water from the Krishna.
Darshan
| Mangala Aarti | 5:30 AM |
|---|---|
| Morning darshan | 6:30 AM - 1:00 PM |
| Evening darshan | 2:00 PM - 9:00 PM |
| Shayana Aarti | 9:00 PM |
Timings are indicative and change on festival days, Amavasya/Pournami and during the monsoon. Always confirm before travel - message us and we will share the latest schedule and any sheeghra (VIP) darshan arrangements for your dates.
Dress code & what to carry
Modest traditional attire is required. Men - dhoti-kurta or formal trousers with a shirt; women - saree, salwar-kameez or churidar. Shorts, bermudas and sleeveless tops are not permitted inside. Footwear is removed before the temple premises. Photography and mobile phones are not allowed inside the sanctum.
Festivals & special days
Mahashivratri Brahmotsavam & the temple year
The grandest festival is the ten-day Mahashivratri Brahmotsavam - the day Shiva and Parvati are believed to have married here, and the rare occasion when ordinary devotees may touch the lingam. The Goddess Bhramaramba is worshipped through Dasara Navaratri within the same complex.
Spring
- 6 March 2027 (Shivaratri day; the Devasthanam’s full Brahmotsavam programme is announced closer to the date)Mahashivratri Brahmotsavam The grandest 10-day festival; rare lingam-sparsha for devotees. Exact multi-day programme dates are set by the Devasthanam closer to the season - confirm with us before booking.
- 7 April 2027Ugadi Telugu & Kannada New Year; panchanga reading and abhishekam
Monsoon
- July - August 2027 (Mondays of Shravan month)Shravan Somvar abhishekams Krishna-water abhishekams on each Monday of the Shravan month; heavy pilgrim influx
Autumn
- 11-20 October 2026Dasara Navaratri Nine nights of worship at the Bhramaramba Shakti Peetha
- 24 November 2026Karthika Poornami / Deepotsavam Lamp festival; full-moon pilgrimage day
Dates may shift slightly closer to the day. Message us for the latest schedule.
Getting there
Reaching Srisailam by road, rail and air
Srisailam has no railway station or airport of its own - every route ends with a drive up the Nallamala ghat road. We plan the transfer around your dates and the monsoon condition of the road.
By road
NH765 from Hyderabad - ~213 km
About 4.5-6 hours by car via Kurnool and Dornala; APSRTC runs direct buses from Hyderabad MGBS roughly every four hours, taking around 6.5 hours.
By rail
Markapur Road railway station - ~90 km
The nearest railhead, but with limited direct trains. Kurnool Town (~180 km) and Nandyal have far better connectivity and are the better choice for onward road transfer.
By air
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad - ~213 km
The only realistic air option, about 4-5 hours by road; Kurnool has no scheduled commercial flights.
Distances and drive times are approximate and lengthen in the monsoon (July - September) when the ghat road is prone to landslides. Message us and we will plan the safest transfer for your dates.
Divine Yatra, arranged
How DharmikVibes arranges your Srisailam darshan
No online checkout, no chaos. Tell us your dates and a real coordinator arranges every part of your Srisailam yatra - through official Devasthanam channels and verified partners. There are no prices on this page; everything is quoted transparently on WhatsApp before you commit.
Darshan & abhishekam
Guided Mallikarjuna darshan, sheeghra (VIP) slots and Maha Abhishekam seva booked through the Devasthanam.
Bhramaramba Shakti Peetha
Darshan of the Goddess and the Sakshi Ganapati shrine within the same complex.
Stays & dharamshalas
Devasthanam guest houses, APTDC Haritha and verified partner stays with hygiene & transport.
Travel & transfers
Trains, flights and door-to-door transfers from Hyderabad and Kurnool, paced for the hill drive.
Verified guides & pandits
Local guides and pandits for sankalp, puja and the stories of Srisailam, Pathala Ganga and Akka Mahadevi caves.
Senior, NRI & solo-women care
Gentle pacing for the hill climb, a coordinator throughout and timezone-friendly planning for NRIs.
Part of the ecosystem
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संपर्क करें · Get in touch
Plan your Mallikarjuna darshan
Tell us your dates and how many devotees - our coordinators arrange darshan, abhishekam, travel and stay. We are humans, not a booking bot. There is no online checkout and no prices on this site.
+91 92203 52244 - Fastest reply - a real coordinator
Yatra & darshan
dharmikyatra@dharmikvibes.com
Travel & logistics
travel@dharmikvibes.com
Emergency
+91-112 · Police 100 · Tourist Helpline 1363 · Pilgrim Medical 108
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What are the Mallikarjuna temple darshan timings at Srisailam?
The Mangala Aarti is around 5:30 AM, morning darshan is 6:30 AM - 1:00 PM, evening darshan is 2:00 PM - 9:00 PM, and the Shayana Aarti is around 9:00 PM. Timings change on festival days and during the monsoon, so please confirm before you travel.
Why is Srisailam called both a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha?
Srisailam is one of the very few shrines where both coexist in one complex - Lord Shiva as the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga (the second of the twelve) and the Goddess as Bhramaramba, one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas. Pilgrims worship both on the same hill.
How do I reach Srisailam?
The nearest airports are Hyderabad (Rajiv Gandhi International, ~210-232 km) and Kurnool (~185 km). The nearest railheads are Markapur Road (~90 km) and Kurnool (~185 km). The final stretch is a scenic drive through the Nallamala forest - we arrange comfortable transfers.
When is the best time to visit, and what about Mahashivratri?
October to March is most pleasant. The ten-day Mahashivratri Brahmotsavam (February - March) is the grandest festival - believed to be the wedding day of Shiva and Parvati, and the rare occasion when ordinary devotees can touch the lingam. Expect very large crowds; book early.
How do I book my Mallikarjuna yatra through DharmikYatra?
There is no online checkout. Every enquiry opens a pre-filled WhatsApp chat with a real coordinator at +91 92203 52244, or you can email dharmikyatra@dharmikvibes.com. We arrange darshan, abhishekam seva, stays, travel and guides through official Devasthanam channels and quote everything transparently before you commit.
What should I expect on arrival at Srisailam?
Free darshan queues run through barricaded corridors and can take one to three hours depending on the day; sheeghra (paid quick) darshan and Sparsha Darshan (touching the lingam) are separate paid lines, heavier on weekends and festival days. Footwear is deposited at the free cloakroom counters near the queue complex before entry. Mobile phones, cameras and leather items are not permitted inside the sanctum and must be left at the counters provided. Prasadam (laddu) is sold at Devasthanam counters near the temple - avoid unofficial vendors. Photography of the deity is prohibited throughout.
Is Srisailam manageable for elderly or disabled visitors?
The temple sits on a hilltop reached by a paved road, so the approach itself is not a climb, but the queue complex and inner corridors involve walking and some stairs. Wheelchairs and priority movement for the elderly and disabled are reported to be available at the Devasthanam counters, though we could not confirm this against an official accessibility page - tell us in advance and we will request assistance and pace the visit accordingly.