Srisailam Temple – It Is Placed At A Pinnacle Of 457 Meters On The Southern Bank Of Krishna River

SRISAILAM TEMPLE 

AT

KURNOOL

The holy town of Srisailam is located on top of the Nallamala Hills in Kurnool District. It is situated on the banks of Krishna River, about 212 kilometres south of Hyderabad. Because of its forest sanctuary, the town is a popular weekend getaway destination.

However, it also is known for its Shiva shrine. Bhramaramba Mallikarjunaswamy Temple, which is dedicated to Mallikarjuna Swamy, is located in Srisailam.

The temple is placed at a height of 457 metres, on the southern bank of Krishna River. It was constructed about six centuries ago, during the reign of King Harihara Raya from the Vijayanagar Dynasty.

The temple is built in the typical Vijayanagar architecture and what makes it special is that it is home to one of the twelve Jyothirlingas found in India. The sanctum sanctorum is shaped like a shell and enshrines Lord Mallikarjuna.

The presiding Deities of this Kshetram God Mallikarjuna Swamy is one of the twelve Jyothirlingas and Goddess Bhramaramba Devi is one of the eighteen Mahasakthis and both are believed to be self-manifested.

The unique feature of this Kshetram is the co-existing of Jyothirlingam and Mahasakthi in one Temple complex, which is the rare and only of its kind.

At this place the river Krishna flows through a deep narrow valley, approximately 100 meters wide and nearly at a depth of 1000 meters from the hill top.

The river flows at a distance of 70 Km to the up of Srisailam and continues to flow in the same valley for a further distance of 80 Km to the down till it reaches Nagarjunasagar.

The narrow flow of the river at such deep valley is fine looking and more pleasant near Srisailam where it is called as Pathalaganaga. Actually the river takes two repeated bends at Pathalaganga with in a short distance and makes a large stretch of high Plateau in each bend.

The right part of it we have Srisailam and whereas on the left there is ruined Chandraguptanagara which is mentioned in the Skandapurana and also some of the celebrated Literary works of 12th to 16th centuries.

By Air

Nearest airport is Hyderabad which is from 232km

By Train

Trains come up to Markapur (on the Guntur-hubli line), 85 km from srisailam, from where you can get a taxi or bus.

By Bus

State Transport buses and the local Devasthanam buses ply regularly.