This was a journey we had wanted to undertake for years. Then, one day, we finally made it happen.
According to legend, when Goddess Parvati asked Lord Shiva which place, apart from Kailash, he loved most in the universe he had created, Shiva chose the eternally beautiful Srisailam, nestled amidst picturesque natural surroundings and believed to represent the sacred Sri Chakra. Here, Shiva and Shakti are worshipped together as Sri Mallikarjuna (lord Shiva) and Bhramaramba (Parvati as Shakti), blessing devotees who come to this holy land.
Srisailam has been known by several ancient names, including Srigiri, meaning the sacred hill or mountain, and Sriparvatam, meaning the holy mountain. It has also been referred to as Srinagam.
The unique significance of Srisailam is that both Shiva and Shakti are worshipped within the same temple complex—making it one of the most sacred Shiva-Shakti pilgrimage sites in India.
How to reach
Srisailam can be reached from Hyderabad by direct private or Volvo buses; the distance is about 230 km.
Alternatively, take a train to Markapur Road (MRK), about 85 km from Srisailam. Since the forest route closes after 8 PM, it is advisable to stay overnight in Markapur. The railway station is about 8 km from the bus stand, with autos and taxis available even at night. There are no hotels near the station.
The next morning, taxis or government buses to Srisailam are available between 6 and 8 AM. The journey takes about 2.5 hours by taxi or 3.5 hours by bus.
Location
Srisailam is a clean and pleasant town, surrounded by the beautiful Nallamala Hills of Telangana, South India.
Srisailam, home to one of India’s 12 Jyotirlingas. It is about 230 km from Hyderabad and 250 km from Vijayawada. The nearest major airport is Hyderabad, while the nearest railway station is Markapur Road (MRK), about 85 km away.
Where to stay
We reached Markapur railway station around 11 PM and took an auto to our pre-booked hotel, arriving close to midnight. To our surprise, the staff had already gone to sleep and didn’t respond to our calls. We climbed the stairs and, luckily, found the reception door unlocked. We checked in without any trouble. The room was reasonably comfortable for four people—perfectly adequate for the 5–6 hours we planned to sleep.
If you have difficulty finding accommodation, I can recommend this hotel. One thing to note: there are several Muslim-owned hotels in the area, so if you have specific dietary preferences or restrictions, it’s worth checking the food options beforehand.
How Much Time Is Enough?
One full day is sufficient to explore Srisailam. The temple darshan generally takes no more than two hours, and local transport is readily available. There are also plenty of hotels and lodges in the town.
Deposits
Visitors are not allowed to take any electronic items, cameras, or mobiles inside. These are to be deposited at separate windows, and a long queue is there.
Walk inside for darshan
Walk is not much inside. The only thing we have to do is stand for 2-3 hours. There is no sitting provided during the queue.
How is the Srisailam town
It is a very neat and clean and very well-planned town. Lots of dormitories, lodges, and hotels are there. Autos are available for local transport.
What to see in Srisailam
There are a few temples in vicinity of 8-10 km. Since we had only one full day, our taxi driver showed us these temples
Mallikarjuna Temple – Bhramaramba Temple – Pathala Ganga – Srisailam Dam → Sakshi Ganapati – Shikaresvara – Shivaji Memorial, Srisailam
We should start our return journey at the latest by 7 PM, as the forest entry gate closes by 8 PM.
We hired a Swift Dzire taxi through the hotel for ₹3,800, including the return journey to Markapur railway station in the evening. It seemed a little expensive, but with no convenient alternative, we decided to go ahead.
We could have taken a bus from the nearby city bus stand, but returning to Markapur the same day would have been quite hectic. So, we opted for the taxi and started our journey to Srisailam at 9:30 AM.
The drive was very pleasant. The road was excellent, and a considerable part of the route passed through the forest. The greenery and fresh air were refreshing, so we switched off the car’s AC and enjoyed the cool breeze through the open windows. By noon, we reached Srisailam.
At the temple, however, things became rather confusing. There were different types of queues and tickets, and it took us almost an hour to understand the system. I was particularly disappointed with the attitude of some of the temple staff at the ticket counter, help desk, and security points. There was no major rush, yet the way pilgrims were guided was often rather rude and unhelpful.
Photography is not allowed inside the temple, and mobile phones and cameras are not permitted in the temple premises. We finally completed our darshan in about two hours.
Devotees
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