Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Varla Devasthanam
Srisailam, Nandyal district · Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy (Shiva as a Jyotirlinga) and Goddess Bhramaramba Devi (Parvati)
A Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha in one walled complex, high in the Nallamala forest above the Krishna gorge.
Srisailam is the only shrine where one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Shiva and one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas of the Goddess stand in the same complex. It sits on a plateau of the Nallamala hills inside the Nagarjunasagar–Srisailam Tiger Reserve, about 213 km from Hyderabad, above the Krishna river (Pathala Ganga). A unique tradition here is Sparsha Darshan: in set slots, devotees of any caste can touch the Jyotirlinga with their own hands.
Timings
- Temple opens: approx. 4:30 AM (Mangala vaidyams and Suprabhatam)
- Morning darshan: approx. 6:00 AM – 3:30 PM (exact slots vary)
- Alaya Suddhi (cleaning, closed): approx. 4:00 – 5:30 PM
- Evening darshan: approx. 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Sparsha Darshan slots: Three slots on weekdays (reported Dec 2024: approx. 7:30–9:30 AM, 11:45 AM–1:30 PM, 8:30–10:00 PM); on Saturday, Sunday and Monday only the night slot (Aug 2026 report). Check official site.
Darshan types and costs
- Sarva (Free) Darshan – Free
- Seeghra Darshan – approx. ₹150
- Athi Seeghra Darshan – approx. ₹300
- Sparsha Darshan (touching the Jyotirlinga) – approx. ₹500 (some sources list lower/free slots; Check official site)
- Bhramaramba Devi darshan – Free / approx. ₹200 – ₹500 for quick queues
Sevas and costs
- Samuhika Abhishekam (group Rudrabhishekam) – approx. ₹1,500 per ticket (Check official site) (Morning batches from about 6:30 AM (also an afternoon/evening batch on some days))
- Garbhalaya Abhishekam – approx. ₹5,000 (Check official site) (Early morning (pre-booked))
- Vruddha Mallikarjuna Abhishekam – approx. ₹200 – ₹500 (Check official site) (Morning hours)
- Kumkumarchana (Bhramaramba Devi) – approx. ₹1,000 (inside the shrine) / ₹500 (outer mandapam) (Check official site) (Morning sessions (approx. 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM) and evening)
- Leela Kalyanotsavam – approx. ₹1,000 (Check official site) (Evening, approx. 7:30 PM)
- Rudra Homam – approx. ₹1,500 (Check official site) (Morning, approx. 7:30 AM)
- Chandi Homam – approx. ₹1,500 (Check official site) (Morning, approx. 9:30 AM)
- Mrityunjaya Homam – approx. ₹1,500 (Check official site) (As per temple schedule)
- Ganapathi Homam – approx. ₹1,116 (Check official site) (Morning, approx. 9:00 AM)
- Valli Devasena Subrahmanya Swamy Kalyanam – approx. ₹1,000 (Check official site) (Morning, approx. 9:30 AM)
- Gau Puja – approx. ₹300 (Check official site) (Morning, approx. 6:00 – 8:00 AM)
- Laksha Kumkumarchana (Pournami) – approx. ₹1,116 (Check official site) (Full moon days)
How to book darshan
Darshan tickets, Sparsha Darshan, sevas and Devasthanam rooms are booked on the official Srisailam Devasthanam website (a maximum of about 5 tickets per transaction has been reported). Carry the printout and original photo ID.
Srisailam Devasthanam online booking
Dress code
Traditional dress is compulsory for Sparsha Darshan, abhishekams and sevas: men in dhoti/pancha with upper cloth (shirts and banians may need to be removed in the sanctum), women in saree or churidar/salwar with dupatta. Jeans, shorts and T-shirts are not allowed for these. Modest clothing is expected for general darshan.
Best time to visit
October – February for pleasant weather. Weekdays (Tuesday–Friday) are calmer and are the only days Sparsha Darshan is fully available. Karthika masam (Oct–Nov) Mondays, Maha Shivaratri and Ugadi bring enormous crowds.
How to reach
- air: Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (~200 km, about 5 hours by road). Kurnool (Orvakal) airport is about 190 km.
- rail: Markapur Road (~85–90 km) is the nearest station; Kurnool City (~180 km) and Nandyal are other options with more trains.
- road: From Hyderabad via Kalwakurthy–Mannanur–Domalapenta through the Amrabad Tiger Reserve; forest check posts on this route are closed to traffic at night (approx. 9 PM – 6 AM). From Vijayawada/Guntur via Vinukonda–Markapur–Dornala, and from Kurnool via Atmakur–Dornala. APSRTC and TGSRTC run frequent buses.
Festivals
- Maha Shivaratri Brahmotsavam – 11 days in Feb/March (Maha Shivaratri 2027: expected early March; check)
- Sankranti Brahmotsavam – 7 days in January
- Ugadi Mahotsavam – March/April (Telugu-Kannada new year)
- Kumbhotsavam – Chaitra (April), on a Tuesday/Friday after Chaitra Pournami
- Dasara Navaratri – Sep/Oct
- Karthika Masam – Oct/Nov
- Sravana Masam – July/August