Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple at Srisailam is the second of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and one of the eighteen Maha Shakti Peethas. The temple sits on a flat hilltop above the Krishna river in the Nallamala hills of Nandyal district, Andhra Pradesh. The sanctum is open from approximately 4:30 AM to 10:00 PM with abhishekam slots through the day. Srisailam is 230 km from Hyderabad and is reachable by road; the nearest rail head is Markapur Road, 90 km away. This article covers the temple’s significance, darshan options, festivals and how to reach Srisailam.
A Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha together
Srisailam is unusual in the Hindu sacred geography because it carries two distinct sacred identifications in the same complex:
- Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga: the second of the twelve Jyotirlingas, after Somnath and before Mahakaleshwar in the traditional sequence.
- Bhramaramba Shakti Peetha: one of the eighteen principal Shakti Peethas, associated with Sati’s neck. The Bhramaramba sannidhi is adjacent to the Mallikarjuna sanctum.
This dual identification makes Srisailam one of the most condensed pilgrimage sites in South India; a Shaiva pilgrim and a Shakta pilgrim can complete their respective shrine darshan in the same morning. The traditional account is that Shiva and Parvati settled here after a quarrel with their son Ganesha; Mallikarjuna is Shiva in his form as the bridegroom who came searching for Parvati, and Bhramaramba is Parvati taking the form of a bee (bhramara) to defeat the demon Mahishasura’s son.
Daily timings
- Daily window: 4:30 AM to approximately 10:00 PM
- First Abhishekam: 4:30 AM (Garbhalaya, inner-sanctum)
- Morning Rudrabhishekam: 7:30 AM
- General darshan (Sarvadarshanam): through the day
- Sparsha Darshan: ticketed touch-darshan, multiple slots
- Last Abhishekam: 8:00 PM
Sarvadarshanam is free. Reserved darshan (Sparsha and the various abhishekam tiers) is ticketed through the official Srisailam Devasthanam portal at srisailadevasthanam.org. The dress code for inner-sanctum sevas is strict: traditional dhoti for men, saree or salwar-kameez for women.
The Mallikarjuna linga and the Bhramaramba sannidhi
The Mallikarjuna linga is set in the principal inner sanctum (garbhagriha), facing east. The linga is approximately a metre tall, in a polished dark stone, and unadorned in the traditional Jyotirlinga style. The sanctum is small; the inner darshan is at close range, and the Sparsha Darshan ticket entitles the pilgrim to a touch-darshan that is unusual at Jyotirlinga shrines.
The Bhramaramba sannidhi is in a separate enclosure adjacent to the Mallikarjuna sanctum. The goddess is in a stone murti adorned with floral and metal coverings. The sannidhi has its own daily ritual sequence, with abhishekam, archana and kumkum offerings. Devotees typically visit both sanctums in sequence.
Festivals at Srisailam
- Maha Shivaratri (February–March): the central annual festival, with all-night abhishekam and continuous darshan. Pilgrim attendance routinely exceeds 500,000 on the peak night.
- Brahmotsavam: annual nine-day festival, with daily processions on different vahanas.
- Ugadi (March–April): Telugu New Year, with special abhishekam.
- Karthika Masam Mondays (October–November): each Monday of the Karthika month sees a major surge.
- Sravana Masam Mondays (July–August): weekly observance.
- Bhramaramba Devi Navaratri (September–October): the Bhramaramba sannidhi observance.
An opinion on planning the visit
For what it’s worth, the most rewarding window for a first-time Srisailam visit is October to March, on a non-festival weekday. The Nallamala hills are cool and pleasant, the queue at the inner-sanctum is manageable, and a pilgrim can comfortably complete both the Mallikarjuna and the Bhramaramba darshan in a single morning, with time in the afternoon for the Patala Ganga ropeway and the Akka Mahadevi caves boat ride. Maha Shivaratri is the canonical day for the Jyotirlinga but the queue can be five to seven hours; an off-season visit is more comfortable and more reflective.
Reaching Srisailam
- By road from Hyderabad: 230 km, about 5 hours via NH 765. APSRTC and TSRTC operate direct buses.
- By road from Vijayawada: 290 km, about 6 hours.
- By road from Kurnool: 180 km, about 4 hours.
- By road from Bangalore: 470 km, about 9 hours.
- By rail: Markapur Road (90 km) is the nearest station; from there, road transport.
- By air: Hyderabad (Rajiv Gandhi International, 230 km) is the closest major airport.
- Helicopter: APSRTC operates a chopper from Hyderabad on selected days, weather permitting.
Nearby attractions
- Patala Ganga: the Krishna river at the base of the hill, accessible by a ropeway from the temple complex. The ropeway descends about 250 m to the ghat.
- Akka Mahadevi Caves: caves of the 12th-century Veerashaiva saint-poet Akka Mahadevi, reached by boat from the Patala Ganga ghat.
- Srisailam Dam: the major hydroelectric dam on the Krishna, with viewpoints open to the public.
- Bhramaramba Vana: the wooded surroundings of the Bhramaramba sannidhi, with smaller shrines.
- Sikharam: the highest point of the Nallamala range, a 10 km drive from the temple.
Common questions
Can I do Sparsha Darshan without booking?
Sparsha Darshan is a ticketed seva, available through the online portal and at the temple counter. On weekdays, walk-up tickets are usually available; on weekends, festival days and during the Karthika Mondays, the slots sell out, often online before the day. Booking through srisailadevasthanam.org at least three to four weeks in advance is the safe option. Sparsha tickets are typically priced in the ₹500 to ₹1,000 range.
Where to stay?
The Devasthanam operates an extensive network of guesthouses and dormitories on the temple hill, bookable through the official portal. The Pathala Ganga side has more accommodation. Private hotels operate along the Srisailam main road and in the older town. For Maha Shivaratri and the Karthika Mondays, book at least 60 days in advance. Off-season weekday availability is generally good with a few days’ notice.
Is the temple part of the Pancha-Aaraama or Pancha-Bhuta circuit?
Srisailam is not part of the Pancha-Aaraama (the five Andhra Pradesh Pancharama Kshetras like Amaravati and Draksharamam) and is not part of the Pancha-Bhuta Sthalams (the five Tamil-Nadu Shiva temples representing the five elements). It is in its own category as the second Jyotirlinga and one of the eighteen Maha Shakti Peethas. Pilgrims combining circuits sometimes pair Srisailam with the Pancharamas for an extended Andhra Pradesh Shaiva visit.
One limitation worth noting
Timings, abhishekam fees and Sparsha Darshan slot availability are revised by the Srisailam Devasthanam periodically. The figures above are the temple’s published version. Helicopter service is operated on selected days only and is subject to weather cancellation. The road from Hyderabad through the Nallamala forest is normally safe but is closed at night during some seasons because of wildlife traffic; for night travel, check the current advisory. The Devasthanam’s official portal at the time of booking is the authoritative source.
For background, see the official Srisailam Devasthanam website and Srisailam Temple on Wikipedia.
