The historical town of Srisailam, surrounded by the verdant Nallamala Hills, welcomes each visitor with a serene atmosphere and revitalising natural beauty. Srisailam, blessed to be one of the 12 jyotirlingas and a shaktipeeth, is home to numerous important temples.
How to reach Srisailam?
By Air: The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad is the closest international airport and is about a five-hour drive from Srisailam. Through Air India, Indigo, Jet Airways, Jet Konnect, and Spice Jet, the airport has good connections to several important cities, including Delhi, Goa, Indore, Jaipur, Jammu, Kochi, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Madurai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, and Chennai.
By train: The closest train station is Markapur, which has connections to all of Andhra Pradesh’s major cities via the Kacheguda, Tungabhadra, Prasanthi, Amaravathi, Howrah, and Hwh Sspn Expresses, among other trains.
By road: Srisailam is well connected via the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) and some private travel services. It is located 49 kilometres from Dornala, 81 kilometres from Markapur, 107 kilometres from Kurichedu, 115 kilometres from Konakanametla, 128 kilometres from Vinukonda, 213 kilometres from Hyderabad, 221 kilometres from Vallur, 266 kilometres from Vijayawada, and 531 kilometres from Bangalore.
Srisailam tourist places you should visit
There are numerous additional attractions to view in Srisailam in addition to the Bhramaramba Devi Shrine and the major temple of Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy. The following is a list of some of the Srisailam tourist attractions.
Siva Mallikarjuna Temple
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One of India’s 12 fortunate jyotirlingas is the Mallikarjuna temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to the myth, Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati descended upon Srisailam to harass their older son Kartike, who had left the Kailash mountain dejected after losing a competition to his sibling Ganesh. He made the decision to leave Srisailam and head out of town after learning that his parents were pursuing him.
Shiva and Parvati, however, lingered in Srisailam under the identities of Arjun and Mallika to be closer to him; as a result, the temple’s name is Mallikarjuna. The Jyotirlinga is located in the garbhagriha, where worshippers offer their prayers and feel the most connected to the Lord at that precise moment. This is one of the best Srisailam tourist places to visit.
Timings: 5.30 am – 1 pm, 3 pm – 7 pm
Nagarjunsagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve
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Any adventurous person should visit Srisailam. When considering Srisailam tourist places, the Nagarjuna Sagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve is a must-see destination. You must choose an activity that involves a bumpy jeep journey through the wild while keeping an eye out for dangerous tigers.
Every day from 7 am to 5 pm; tourists are permitted access to the woodland. From 7 am to 4 pm daily, you may take a 1.5-hour jeep ride for roughly Rs 800 for 6 people. Photographers, nature enthusiasts, and young explorers can enjoy the splendour while capturing images of tigers and various other creatures, including deer, wild boar, elephants, and more.
Price: Rs 800 (for 6 jeep passengers)
Timings: 7 am – 5 pm
Sri Bhramaramba Devi Temple
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For devotees, this blessed Shakthi Peetha is another must-see Srisailam tourist place. The Sri Mallikarjuna temple is home to the Bhramarambika Temple. The goddess idol in the shrine has eight arms.
Timings: 4:30 am – 10 pm
Octopus Viewpoint
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Mother Nature’s masterpiece is located about 36 kilometres from Srisailam. The octopus viewpoint offers a bird’s-eye view of the Krishna River and the surrounding woodlands. It is so named because it appears like the lush trees are octopus’ tentacles.
People like it because it provides a respite from the stress of the city and fills the space with a wildly gorgeous image. The distance between the vantage point and the Domalapenta forest checkpoint is around 6 kilometres. Renting a private vehicle is advised because public transportation is available until the Domalapenta checkpoint, after which you must drive a 6-kilometre route.
Srisailam Dam
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In the Kurnool district, near the Srisailam temple, the Srisailam dam is constructed across the Krishna River. If you haven’t been to a dam, this is your chance to witness how it operates. The second-largest operational hydroelectric facility in India is the Srisailam dam.
As a result, as you observe the pouring water, you can also see how the world has changed and developed. You can also visit the backwaters of the Srisailam dam after your dam tour; it is a tranquil, peaceful delight.
Timings: 12 am – 7:30 pm
Akka Mahadevi caves
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The Akka Mahadevi caves should be included in your schedule as one of the most exciting Srisailam tourist places. It’s much cooler because of the experience of going into the cave. Visitors must board the basket boat and cross the river’s verdant course to get to a place closer to the caverns. Then, a 10-minute hike across a narrow, steep terrain is required to reach the caverns. Because of this adventure, the caverns are one of the most popular tourist destinations in Srisailam.
Visitors can tour the caves any time of day. To reserve the boat ride, you must organise your trip in advance. The boat ride begins at 10.30 am, and the entire outing will run you about Rs 350. With torch lights and sticks to help you cross the caves, you can explore the caves late at night or in the middle of the night to maximise your experience.
However, you can travel the 5 km mud road accessible from the Hyderabad-Srisailam highway if you don’t want to go on an adventure or are travelling with an elderly passenger who is comfortable utilising the route.
Nagalooty temple
The Nagalooty temple is located 28 kilometres from Srisailam, in a forested environment. The temple’s architecture reveals the length of its history, the number of dynasties and Gods it has housed, and its age. The Reddy kings are thought to have built the temple in 1326 AD, allowing pilgrims to easily travel on foot to Srisailam.
Pathala Ganga
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The river Krishna’s backwaters, Pathala Ganga, are located a kilometre from the Mallikarjuna temple. Devotees usually bathe in the holy river to symbolise atoning for their transgressions. This is a Srisailam tourist place that you ought to check out. It takes 500 steep steps to get to Pathala Ganga, or you may take a daring rope ride down to the river, all of which are fantastic experiences.
You could also take a nice basket boat ride down along the river. The basket boat, river, and hills in the background provide a picturesque setting for a fun family picnic photo. You can also increase the duration of your boat ride.
Price: Rs 50 (adults), Rs 35 (children)
Timings: 6 am – 5.30 pm
Chenchu Lakshmi Tribal Museum
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Take a cultural diversion to the Chenchu Lakshmi tribal museum in the middle of a religious trip. It is among the intriguing locations in Srisailam. The Chenchu tribe, the predominant group, living in the Nallamala hills, is highlighted by exhibits in the museum.
Ishtakameshwari Devi Temple
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A famed temple to the goddess Istakameswari, an avatar of Goddess Parvati, is located in Andhra Pradesh 20 kilometres from Srisailam. The temple, located in the heart of a lush green forest and enjoys a gorgeous environment, dates back to sometime between the 8th and the 10th century. The temple is frequented not just by believers but also by history and architectural fans because of its stunning architecture and exquisite embellishments.
Paladhara Panchdhara
In Andhra Pradesh, 4 km from Srisailam, is the lovely scenic area known as Paladhara Panchadara. A set of steps that leads to an infusion of numerous streams can be used to get to the location. The area is the most ideal place to ponder and unwind due to the gurgling of streams and the beautiful natural surroundings.
Additionally, it has important religious significance because Lord Shiva inspired the name of the primary stream, Paladhara Panchadara. It is thought that the stream’s name, which combines the words “pala” and “dhara,” which both indicate “stream,” was inspired by the one that flowed from Lord Shiva’s brow.
FAQs
What are the best tourist attractions in Srisailam?
Pathala Ganga, Srisailam Tiger Reserve, Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, Akkamahadevi Caves, Srisailam Dam, and Shikaresvara Temple are the prominent tourist attractions in Srisailam.
How can I get about Srisailam?
For those who enjoy the outdoors, Srisailam offers great enjoyment because it allows for travel through extensive forests. There are buses and taxis available. You can, however, easily get around on foot.
