Sri Kalahasteeswara Swamy Vari Devasthanam (Srikalahasti Temple)
Srikalahasti, Tirupati district, on the banks of the Swarnamukhi river · Lord Shiva as Sri Kalahasteeswara (Vayu Lingam – air), with Goddess Gnana Prasunambika Devi
The air element – a linga whose lamp flickers in a windless sanctum, and India's most famous temple for Rahu-Ketu pooja.
Srikalahasti, about 36 km from Tirupati, is the Pancha Bhoota Sthalam for air (vayu) and the only one of the five in Andhra Pradesh. The west-facing temple is built against a hill on the Swarnamukhi river and is called Dakshina Kailasam, the Kailasa of the South. Its name joins three devotees – Sri (spider), Kala (snake) and Hasti (elephant) – who worshipped the linga. Today it is best known for the Rahu-Ketu Sarpa Dosha Nivarana Pooja, performed for thousands of devotees every day.
Timings
- Temple open: approx. 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM (approx. 9:30 PM on Mon, Sat, Sun) – check official site
- Suprabhatha Seva: approx. 5:00 AM
- Rahu-Ketu Sarpa Dosha Nivarana Pooja: 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily (official site); performed in batches through the day
- Abhishekam slots: Usually around 6:00 AM, 7:00 AM, 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM (official site)
- Eclipses: The temple stays open during solar and lunar eclipses
Darshan types and costs
- Sarva Darshanam (free) – Free
- Special Entrance Darshan – ₹50
- Seeghra (quick) Darshanam – ₹200
- Antaralaya Darshanam (inner sanctum) – ₹500
- Rules – —
Sevas and costs
- Rahu-Ketu Sarpa Dosha Nivarana Pooja – ₹500 / ₹750 / ₹1,500 / ₹2,500 / ₹5,000 (tiers differ mainly in the venue and how close you sit to the sanctum) (Daily, 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM, in batches (many devotees prefer Rahu Kalam on the day))
- Paroksha Rahu-Ketu Sarpa Dosha Nivarana Puja (remote) – ₹500 (On the date booked)
- Suprabhatha Seva – ₹200 (Daily, approx. 5:00 AM)
- Go Pooja – ₹200 (Daily, early morning)
- Sri Swamy Ammavarla Abhishekam – ₹1,000 (Abhishekam slots (approx. 6, 7, 10 AM and 5 PM))
- Mahanyasapurvaka Ekadasa Rudrabhishekam – ₹1,500 (Morning abhishekam slots)
- Rudra Homam – ₹1,116 (Daily, approx. 10:00 – 10:30 AM)
- Chandi Homam – ₹1,116 (Daily, approx. 10:00 – 10:30 AM)
- Nitya Kalyanam – ₹1,116 (Daily, late morning)
- Sri Mrutyunjaya Swamy Vari Abhishekam – ₹1,000 (Abhishekam slots)
- Sri Saneeswara Swamy Vari Abhishekam – ₹300 (Abhishekam slots)
- Sri Guru Dakshinamurthy Swamy Vari Abhishekam – ₹300 (Abhishekam slots (Thursdays are popular))
- Swarna Pushpa Archana – ₹1,000 (During darshan hours)
- Archana at the Utsava Murthis – ₹50 (During darshan hours)
- Maha Shivaratri Brahmotsavam – Free to attend (13 days around Maha Shivaratri (February–March))
How to book darshan
Darshan tickets, Pratyaksha (in-person) sevas, Paroksha (remote) sevas and accommodation are booked through the Devasthanam's links to the Andhra Pradesh Endowments temple services portal; counters at the temple also sell same-day tickets.
Srikalahasti Devasthanam – sevas
Dress code
Hindu traditional wear is required for anyone offering seva (no modern clothes or sleeveless dresses), and Antaralaya darshan is only for devotees in traditional dress. Men: dhoti/pancha with shirt or upper cloth; women: saree, half-saree or churidar with dupatta.
Best time to visit
October to February for pleasant weather. Weekdays are less crowded; weekends, Mondays, eclipse days and Maha Shivaratri see very heavy crowds. Many devotees time the Rahu-Ketu pooja to Rahu Kalam.
How to reach
- air: Tirupati Airport (Renigunta), approx. 29 km; Chennai Airport approx. 96 km.
- rail: Srikalahasti station (on the Tirupati–Vijayawada line, about 3 km from the temple); Renigunta Junction approx. 25 km has trains from across India.
- road: APSRTC buses run very frequently from Tirupati (approx. 36 km, about 1 hour). Chennai is about 3 hours by road; Bengaluru about 5–6 hours via Tirupati.
Festivals
- Maha Shivaratri Brahmotsavam – February–March (13 days)
- Karthika Masam – October–November
- Eclipse days – Solar and lunar eclipses
- Swarnamukhi Pushkaram – Magha Pournami (February)
- Navaratri – September–October
- Pradosham and Masa Shivaratri – Monthly