Srisailam

Lord Shiva’s Mallikarjuna temple is one of the 12 auspicious jyotirlingas found in India. As per the legend, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati came down to Srisailam to pester their elder son Kartike who left the Kailash mountain disheartened that he lost a contest to his brother Ganesh. Aware of his parents following him he decided to flee from Srisailam and move ahead of town. However, to stay closer to him Shiva and Parvati stayed at Srisailam with the names Arjun and Mallika and hence, the name of the temple falls to be Mallikarjuna. The garbhagriha has the Jyotirlinga where the devotees perform their prayers and believe that they are the closest to the Lord at that moment. This temple is a very important and precious place for every pious Hindu according to the Hindu mythology. Location: Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh, IndiaTiming:  5.30 am - 1 pm, 3 pm - 7 pm (everyday)Best time to visit: October to February

Srisailam is genuinely a go-to destination for any adventurer. A must visit place when you think of the Srisailam visiting places is the Nagarjuna Sagar Srisailam tiger reserve. A bumpy jeep ride amidst the wild looking out for ferocious tigers is an activity you must opt for. Tourists are allowed to go into the forest from 7 am to 5 pm everyday. You can also experience a one and a half hour jeep ride from 7 am to 4 pm for about Rs 800 for 6 people everyday. Nature lovers, photographers and young adventurers get to witness the beauty while they capture pictures of the tigers and many other animals such as deer, wild boar, elephants and more. However, the best time to visit the reserve is between the months of June to October.Location: Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, IndiaPrice: Rs 800 ( for 6 jeep passengers) Timing: 7 am - 5 pmBest time to visit: 7 am - 11 am

This auspicious Shakthi peetha is another must visit tourist place in Srisailam for devotees. The temple of Goddess Bhramarambika houses in the Sri Mallikarjuna temple. The temple has the idol of the Goddess with eight arms. There are a number of tales associated with the temple of Bhramarambha, one of which speaks of the time when Goddess Sati disheartened with the insult by her father towards her husband jumps into a holy pyre and ends herself, Lord Shiva losing his calm kills the King and performs the tandav of destruction, a dance carrying the corpse of the Goddess. Lord Vishnu intervenes to stop the tandav and to the universe from Lord Shiva’s destruction. He releases the Sudharshan Chakra towards the corpse to split it into pieces and as the story goes the neck of the Goddess fell at the Bhramarambha Shakthi Peetas at the temple spot. Location: Srisaila Devasthanam, Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh, IndiaTiming: 4:30 am - 10 pm Best time to visit: During Navratri or the Kumbham festival

About 36 kms away from Srisailam is this mother nature’s creation, just as a modern art sculpture, the octopus viewpoint is the bird-eye view of the river Krishna and the forests around. Called so, the sight of the octopus viewpoint is as if the green forests are the tentacles of an octopus. It is well liked by people as the view gives the tourists a break from the city chaos and fills it in with a wild yet beautiful image. The view point is about 6 kms away from the Domalapenta forest checkpoint. Tourists usually opt to visit the view point after their stop over at the Farahabad viewpoint Safari. It is suggested to rent a private commute as you have public services available till the Domalapenta checkpoint after which you have to drive a 6 km road way. Location: Domalapenta (+ 6 km), Srisailam, Andra Pradesh, IndiaPrice: Rs 10Timing: 8:30 am - 6 pmBest time to visit: Early morning hours of the day or post 3.30 pm when the weather starts to get cooler and the day isn’t as hot.

The Srisailam dam is built across the river Krishna in the Kurnool district close to the Srisailam temple. If you haven’t visited a dam this is your chance to catch the working of it. The Srisailam dam is the second largest working hydroelectric station in India. So, while you watch the gushing water you can also witness the dynamics and development that has taken over in today’s world.After your dam visit you can also visit the backwaters of Srisailam dam, it is a serene calm delight. Location: Srisailam Reservoir, Mahbubnagar, Telangana, IndiaTiming: 12 am - 7:30 pmBest time to visit: 9 am - 6 pm

Add Akka Mahadevi caves to the Srisailam must-visit places in your itinerary as this is one of the most adventurous experiences in Srisailam. The experience of visiting the cave makes it much cooler. Visitors have to board the basket boat crossing the lush green river route to arrive at a closer point near the caves. After which a 10 min trek across a thin steep is done to arrive at the caves. This journey is what makes the caves one of the top-visited tourist places in Srisailam. The caves are open to visitors throughout the day. However, it is important to plan your visit prior in hand to book the boat ride. The boat ride starts from 10.30 am and the overall experience would cost you around Rs 350. To amplify your experience at the caves, you can make a late night or a midnight visit with torch lights and sticks to help you cross over to the caves.  However, If you are not up for an adventure or have a senior passenger along who’d be comfortable using the road, opt to take the 5 km mud road that can be accessed via Hyderabad - Srisailam highway. It is suggested to enquire about the road before you begin your journey as it isn’t open to use when it’s damp. Location: 10 km from Srisailam, Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh, IndiaPrice: Rs 350Timing: 12 am - 11:59 pmBest time to visit: Anytime of the day

Amidst the forest area, 28 kms away from Srisailam is the temple of Nagalooty. The structure of the temple speaks of its aging and the number of dynasties and Gods associated with it. It is believed that the temple was made during the 1326 AD by the Reddy kings paving way to the devotee to reach Srisailam with ease on foot. Although the pathway houses a temple complex of Veerabhadra Swami. In the Garbhagriha of the temple is Goddess Bhadrakali. About a hundred meters away is also a small Ganesha shrine of a ten handed Ganapati. Timing: 12 am - 11:59 pm Best time to visit: 7 am - 6 pm

A kilometer away from the Mallikarjuna temple is Pathala Ganga, the backwaters of the river Krishna. Traditionally, the devotees take a dip in the sacred river as a sign of washing away their sins. This is one of the places you should visit in Srisailam. The two ways to reach Pathala Ganga is to either walk down the steep 500 steps or to take an adventurous rope ride down to the river, both of which are a great experience. At the river, you could also jump into a basket boat for some fun. With the background of the hills, the river and the basket boat it is certainly a good spot for a fun family picnic picture. You can also extend your boat ride experience to visit the Akka Mahadevi caves. Location: Near Siva Mallikarjuna temple, Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh, IndiaPrice: Rs 50 (adults), Rs 35 (children) Timing: 6 am - 5.30 pm Best time to visit: The best time to visit Pathala Ganga is during the early morning hours.