Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, Srisailam
Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh
Srisailam, on the Nallamala hills above the Krishna river, is home to the Mallikarjuna Swamy temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva. The temple stands inside tall stone walls carved with reliefs, with golden gopurams over its gates, and it is one of the best-known Shaiva pilgrimages of the Telugu states. The Goddess Bhramaramba is worshipped in the same complex, and pilgrims usually visit both on one trip.
What to see and do
- Have darshan of Lord Mallikarjuna, the Jyotirlinga
- See the carved stone walls and the golden gopurams
- Walk to Sakshi Ganapati and the nearby shrines in the town
- Combine the visit with the Bhramaramba Devi shrine in the same complex
Ideal for
- Shiva devotees completing the twelve Jyotirlingas
- Pilgrims travelling the Telugu-country temples
- Families and elders making a pilgrimage from Hyderabad
Good to know
- It is about 215 km from Hyderabad, a drive of roughly 4.5 to 5 hours, through the Nallamala forest
- One source says private vehicles are not allowed on the forest road at night (about 7 pm to 6 am), so plan to travel in daylight and confirm locally
- Sources give different temple hours, with breaks for rituals, so check locally
- Darshan can take 2 to 3 hours, and special darshan tickets may be available, so ask at the temple office
- Dress modestly, and expect queues on weekends and festival days
Spiritual significance
Srisailam holds one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, where Shiva is worshipped as Mallikarjuna. For many pilgrims, a visit here is a high point of a Telugu-country pilgrimage.
Why it matters
- A Jyotirlinga: one of the twelve sacred lingas of Shiva
- A temple of carved stone: tall walls and golden gopurams
- A forest hill pilgrimage: the Nallamala hills and the Krishna river add to the visit