Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple at Srisailam, on the Krishna river in Nandyal district of Andhra Pradesh, is the second of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. The temple offers a full schedule of abhishekam sevas through the day, beginning with the pre-dawn Garbhalaya Abhishekam at 4:30 AM and continuing in slots through 8:00 PM. Fees range from approximately ₹500 for a standard Rudrabhishekam to ₹5,000 for the inner-sanctum Garbhalaya Abhishekam. Online booking is operated by the Srisailam Devasthanam at srisailadevasthanam.org. This article covers the abhishekam schedule, ticket costs, booking flow, and the dress code for the inner-sanctum sevas.
Abhishekam timings
- First Abhishekam (Garbhalaya): 4:30 AM
- Morning Rudrabhishekam: 7:30 AM
- Mid-morning slot: 9:30 AM
- Forenoon slot: 11:00 AM
- Afternoon slot: 3:00 PM
- Evening slot: 6:30 PM
- Last Abhishekam: 8:00 PM
Slot times are fixed; arrival 30 minutes before slot time is required to complete the ritual purification and the pre-pooja briefing. Slot windows shift on festival days, particularly during Maha Shivaratri week and on the principal Karthika Masam Mondays.
Abhishekam types and fees
- Garbhalaya Abhishekam: ₹5,000. The most sacred ritual, conducted inside the inner sanctum (garbhagriha). Limited slots; advance booking essential. Strict dress code: traditional dhoti for men, saree for women.
- Rudrabhishekam: ₹1,500. Conducted at 7:30 AM. Vedic-recitation abhishekam, performed in the outer sanctum.
- Standard Abhishekam ticket: approximately ₹500. Multiple slots through the day.
- Sparsha Darshan: ticketed touch-darshan, typically ₹500 to ₹1,000 depending on slot.
- Pancha-amritha Abhishekam: abhishekam with the five-fold offering (milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar). Mid-tier fee.
Cost ranges shift periodically; the Devasthanam website carries the current rates and the online booking confirms the fee at checkout. Walk-up ticketing at the temple counter is also possible on most days; reserved-slot tickets are sold during the morning at the temple counter only if online slots are unsold.
Online booking
The official online portal is srisailadevasthanam.org, operated by the Srisailam Devasthanam. Booking is open up to 60 days in advance for most sevas. The flow is:
- Register a user account on the portal
- Select the date and seva type
- Choose a slot from the available windows
- Enter pilgrim details (name, gotra, photo ID for each ticket)
- Pay online (UPI, net-banking and major cards accepted)
- Save the booking PDF; carry a print and the original photo ID to the temple
A maximum of five tickets can be booked in a single transaction. Garbhalaya Abhishekam slots are released two weeks in advance and typically sell out within days for weekends and festival weeks. Weekend and festival booking should be done at least three to four weeks ahead.
Dress code for abhishekam
The dress code at Srisailam is enforced strictly for reserved abhishekam sevas, particularly the Garbhalaya:
- Men: traditional white dhoti and angavastram. Many pilgrims also remove the shirt for the inner-sanctum sevas.
- Women: saree or salwar-kameez. Jeans and trousers are not accepted for the Garbhalaya.
- Children: traditional dress for the formal sevas.
- Footwear: removed at the outer prakara entrance.
- Phones and cameras: deposited at the security counter before entering the inner darshan area.
An opinion on choosing the slot
For what it’s worth, the 4:30 AM Garbhalaya slot is the most rewarding window for a pilgrim who has come specifically for the inner-sanctum experience. The temple is quiet at that hour, the priests have the time to follow the full ritual sequence, and the inner-sanctum atmosphere is at its calmest before the day’s crowds arrive. The 7:30 AM Rudrabhishekam is the more practical compromise for pilgrims who do not want a pre-dawn start; it is the most heavily booked slot and the most accessible in terms of fee. The 9:30 AM and later slots can run later than schedule on weekends, so plan extra time.
Festivals when slots are hardest to get
- Maha Shivaratri (February–March): the central festival. All-night abhishekam slots and continuous darshan. Book 60 days ahead.
- Karthika Masam (October–November): all four Mondays of the month see surges. Book 30 days ahead.
- Ugadi (March–April): Telugu New Year, with special abhishekam on the day.
- Brahmotsavam: the annual nine-day festival in Phalguna.
- Sravana Masam Mondays: July–August Mondays.
Reaching Srisailam
- By road from Hyderabad: 220 km, about 5 hours via NH 765. APSRTC and TSRTC buses operate direct services.
- By road from Vijayawada: 290 km, about 6 hours.
- By road from Kurnool: 180 km, about 4 hours.
- By rail: Markapur Road station (90 km) is the nearest; from there, road transport.
- By air: Hyderabad (230 km) is the nearest major airport.
- Helicopter service: APSRTC operates a chopper from Hyderabad on selected days, subject to weather and demand.
Common questions
Can I cancel an online abhishekam booking?
The Devasthanam’s online cancellation policy is restrictive; most reserved-seva bookings are non-cancellable once confirmed. Some sevas allow rescheduling within a 7-day window through the user account on the portal. The portal’s terms-of-use page at the time of booking is the authoritative source. Walk-up bookings are non-refundable.
Where to stay overnight?
The Devasthanam operates a network of guesthouses and dormitories on the temple hill itself, bookable through the official portal. Private hotels and lodges operate along the Srisailam road and in the new town. The Devasthanam choultries are budget-friendly; mid-range private hotels are increasingly common. For Maha Shivaratri, book accommodation 60 days in advance.
Are children permitted in the inner sanctum?
Yes. Children are admitted to all darshan windows including the inner sanctum sevas. For the Garbhalaya Abhishekam, each child requires a separate ticket. Infants are admitted free at general darshan. The temple administration does not enforce a minimum age, but the inner-sanctum heat and incense can be uncomfortable for very young children; parents may prefer the outer sanctum slots.
One limitation worth noting
Abhishekam fees and slot timings are revised periodically by the Srisailam Devasthanam. The figures above are the temple’s currently published version. The Devasthanam portal at the time of booking is the authoritative source for fees and slot availability. Slot windows shift on festival days. Helicopter service to Srisailam is operated only on certain days and is subject to weather cancellation; pilgrims who plan to use the chopper should keep a road-trip backup.
For background, see the official Srisailam Devasthanam website and Srisailam Temple on Wikipedia.
