If you have ever wondered whether a single temple can hold the power of both Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti together, Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga in Srisailam is your answer. Mallikarjuna is one of only three temples in India that is both a Jyotirlinga – one of the 12 sacred Shiva abodes – and a Shakti Peetha, one of the 18 sacred Goddess seats. This rare dual sanctity makes it unlike any other temple in the country.
Located in the picturesque Nallamala Hills of Andhra Pradesh, this ancient temple is dedicated to Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy, a powerful form of Lord Shiva, and Sri Bhramaramba Devi, who is worshipped as one of the fiercest forms of Goddess Shakti.
Among the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva in India, Mallikarjuna Temple holds the second position. It is located in Srisailam, a town nestled in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh, on the banks of the sacred Krishna River.
Every great temple has a story. Srisailam’s story begins with a family dispute among the Gods.
According to ancient lore, Srisailam Temple is where Lord Shiva manifested as Lord
Mallikarjuna Swamy to calm his son Lord Kartikeya, who was upset after losing a divine contest.
Moved by Kartikeya’s deep meditation on Mount Krauncha, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati appeared here to bless him.
The place where they stayed came to be known as Srisailam. It was at this place that devotees started worshipping Shiva with jasmine flowers, which led to him being called Mallikarjuna. In Sanskrit, Mallika means jasmine and Arjuna refers to the white Arjuna tree – both symbols of purity and devotion.
The name Bhramaramba for the Goddess also has a beautiful origin. The Sanskrit word Bhramar means a bumblebee. Devi took the form of a bee to worship Lord Shiva at this site and came to be known as Ma Bhramaramba. Even today, many devoted pilgrims claim to hear the mysterious humming of a bee from within the Goddess’s shrine.
The Mallikarjuna temple is regarded as one of the 18 Shakti Peethas, which tells the story of Sati, the consort of Shiva. Upon Sati’s immolation by fire, Shiva was distraught and commenced the Tandav dance. Lord Vishnu intervened on behalf of the Gods and severed Sati’s body into 18 pieces. The places where these pieces fell are revered as Shakti Peethas.
The Mallikarjuna temple was established at the spot where Goddess Sati’s upper lip is believed to have fallen. This is why the Goddess here is not just Parvati – she is Bhramaramba, the fierce, independent cosmic force of Shakti. Visiting Srisailam, therefore, is not just a Shiva pilgrimage. It is simultaneously one of the most powerful Devi pilgrimages in India.
The word Jyotirlinga is made up of two parts – Jyoti meaning light and Linga meaning the symbolic form of Lord Shiva. This is such a Shivling in which Shiva himself is established in the form of fire or light. According to the Puranas, when Brahma and Vishnu had a dispute over superiority, Lord Shiva appeared in the form of a huge pillar of fire and made them realize his infinity. Jyotirlingas were established at 12 places as a symbol of that divine pillar.
The Jyotirlinga at Srisailam is Swayambhu – self-manifested, not installed by humans. Touching such a divine manifestation is considered one of the highest blessings in Hinduism, equivalent to centuries of penance.
The ancient Skanda Purana says it beautifully:
“Srisaila sikharam drushtwa punarjanma na vidyat”
Meaning: Just the sight of the Srisailam temple top liberates the soul from the cycle of birth and death.
For every Shiva devotee, visiting all 12 Jyotirlingas is a lifetime ambition. Here is the complete list:
Mallikarjuna at Srisailam is also uniquely known as Dakshina Kailasam – the Kailash of the South. Ancient texts say if Kailash is first, Srisailam is the second most important Shiva abode.
I visited Srisailam by plane and this is exactly the route that works best. There is no airport in Srisailam itself.
Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad is the closest airport to Srisailam. The travel distance between Hyderabad Airport and Srisailam is around 196 km. From the airport, you have two good options:
Book a cab directly from Hyderabad Airport to Srisailam. The Hyderabad airport to Srisailam distance is 196 km and it takes around 4.5 hours to reach. The drive passes through the scenic Nallamala forest ghat roads – beautiful, but winding. Ensure your cab driver has experience on ghat sections. Savaari
The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) provides daily bus services from Hyderabad to Srisailam. Buses leave from Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station and the journey takes 5.5 to 7 hours. Fares are typically between ₹400 and ₹800, depending on the type.
My Personal Tip: If you are flying from Delhi, Mumbai or Bangalore, fly into Hyderabad (HYD). Once you land, pre-book a cab for Srisailam. Avoid traveling by public bus if you are carrying luggage or traveling with elderly family members. The ghat roads after Nandyal are quite winding and a private cab is far more comfortable.
Nearby railway stations are at Marakpur (62 km), Vinukonda (120 km) and Kurnool (190 km). There is no direct rail connectivity to Srisailam. From any of these stations, hire a cab or take a local bus to Srisailam.
Srisailam is well connected to Hyderabad, Kurnool, Nandyal, Vijayawada and Guntur by road. If you are driving from Hyderabad, take the NH-44 route via Jadcherla and then NH-565 through the Nallamala Hills. The forest ghat road is stunning but keep your fuel tank full – petrol stations are sparse inside the forest zone.
The temple offers four types of darshan. You can book online at srisailadevasthanam.org or through aptemples.ap.gov.in. Carry your original ID proof (Aadhaar, PAN, Voter ID, or Driving Licence) without fail – no ID means no entry, no refund.
This is the free darshan open to every devotee without any ticket. There is no booking required – simply join the general queue. The catch is waiting time. On weekends, expect a wait of 4 to 8 hours in the Sarva Darshanam queue. On weekdays the crowd is lighter and the wait is more manageable. If you have time and patience, this is a perfectly valid option.
Seeghra Darshanam is priced at ₹150 per person. This is the most popular paid darshan among pilgrims. You get a dedicated faster queue that skips the very long free line. Waiting time is roughly 30 to 60 minutes depending on the day. This is the right choice if you are on a budget but still want to avoid the hours-long free queue. A maximum of 5 tickets can be booked in one online transaction.
Athi Seeghra Darshanam is priced at ₹300 per person. This gets you into a much shorter and faster-moving queue with a considerably closer and clearer view of Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy. This darshan is also described as Alankara Darshan – meaning you get to see the deity in full decorated form. Recommended for families with elderly members, small children, or anyone visiting for the first time who wants a more peaceful and meaningful experience without waiting long.
This is the most sacred darshan at Srisailam – the only one where you physically touch the Swayambhu Jyotirlinga with your own hands.
Sparsha Darshan is available:
Tuesday to Friday only, between 2:00 PM–3:00 PM and 6:30 PM–7:30 PM.
It is not available on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, or public holidays.
The actual touch time per person is 10 to 30 seconds, and the total queue and darshan time is approximately 1 to 2 hours.
There is also a free Sparsha Darshanam via computerized token, reintroduced from July 2025, available Tuesday to Friday between 1:45 PM and 3:45 PM. Tokens are distributed on the same day – arrive by 10:00 AM to secure a token.
Important rules for Sparsha Darshanam:
Online Booking: srisailadevasthanam.org or aptemples.ap.gov.in
| Occasion | Opening Time | Closing Time |
| Regular Days | 6:00 AM | 10:00 PM |
| Maha Shivratri | 4:30 AM | 10:00 PM |
This is the official Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation hotel at Srisailam and the most recommended stay for pilgrims.
Hotel Haritha is well-connected, just a short distance from the bus stand and Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple. The distance from Hotel Haritha to the temple is just 400 meters – roughly a 3-minute walk.
The hotel offers two-bed non-AC rooms, two-bed AC rooms, and AC suite options. A two-bed non-AC deluxe room costs approximately ₹1,232 per day. AC rooms and suites go up from there. Executive AC rooms are available around ₹2,700 to ₹3,890 per night.
The hotel includes free breakfast, air conditioning in rooms, TV, hot water, blankets, and a helpful staff. The mess/restaurant is open throughout the day.
Booking: Book via the official APTDC website or through yatradham.org. Walk-in rooms can be available, but advance booking is highly recommended during weekends and festivals.
Important Note: The building has recently been renovated. Rooms are spacious, bed linen is clean. However, there is no lift facility even though rooms are allotted till the 3rd floor – this can be difficult for senior citizens and those with mobility issues.
The temple authority (Srisaila Devasthanam) runs several guest houses on and near the premises. The temple runs many guest houses such as Mallikarjuna Sadana, Patala Sadana, Ganga and Gauri Sadana, and Ganesh Sadana. These are managed by the devasthanam. Rooms are mostly allotted to families. Single travelers often do not get temple rooms.
These are very affordable – often ₹200 to ₹600 per room, but online booking availability is limited. Go in person to the devasthanam counter and check availability upon arrival.
Several dharamshalas and community satrams operate near the temple offering free or very low-cost accommodation. The Karikala Satram, Sri Krishna Devaraya Charitable Trust, and Haritha Hotel are among the most visited options walkable from the temple. These are typically managed by communities and trusts.
Don’t leave Srisailam without visiting these spots:
Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga can be visited throughout the year, but the time from October to March is considered the most suitable. During this time the weather is pleasant and the mountain paths are easy.
Online Booking: Book all darshan tickets, sevas and accommodation in advance at srisailadevasthanam.org. Walk-in tickets are available but queues on weekends can be several hours long.
I reached Srisailam by flying into Hyderabad and then taking a cab for around 4.5 hours through the Nallamala forest roads. Honestly, the drive itself is quite an experience – the ghat section is beautiful, winding through dense forest with occasional views of the valley. Keep your eyes open on this stretch.
The temple is well organised for pilgrims. The queue system is clear, the cloakroom facility near the entrance is convenient, and the staff at the devasthanam counters are helpful if you ask them directly. I would suggest reaching the temple early in the morning – the crowd is manageable and the atmosphere before 8 AM is genuinely peaceful.
I opted for Sparsha Darshanam and it was worth planning around. Booking it in advance online saved a lot of time and confusion on the day itself. The Hotel Haritha stay worked out well – clean, close to the temple, and practical. Nothing fancy, but everything you need for a pilgrimage trip.
One thing I will say – do not rush this visit. Most people try to finish it in a single day. If you can stay one night, do that. The evening aarti, the walk to Pathala Ganga, and the quieter early morning darshan together make for a far more complete experience than a rushed one-day trip. Srisailam is a place worth taking your time with.
Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga is one of the rarest spiritual sites in all of India. It is one of only three temples in the entire country where both a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha exist together in the same complex. When you stand inside this temple, you are simultaneously at the second Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva and the sixth Maha Shakti Peetha of Goddess Parvati. No other pilgrimage in India offers this dual divine blessing in one visit. That is why it is called Dakshina Kailasam – the Kailash of the South.
According to Hindu scriptures and the Shakti Peetha tradition, the upper lip of Goddess Sati fell at Srisailam. This is the reason why the Goddess here is worshipped not simply as Parvati but as Bhramaramba – a fierce, independent and powerful form of Shakti. The Shakti Peetha tradition connects all 18 (or 51, depending on the text) sacred spots across India through the story of Sati’s self-immolation and Shiva’s grief-stricken wandering.
After Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati came to this hill to be near their son Kartikeya, the local devotees began worshipping Shiva with jasmine flowers – Mallika in Sanskrit. Shiva also resided here in the form of the white Arjuna tree, entwined with jasmine creeper symbolising Parvati. From this union of Mallika and Arjuna came the name Mallikarjuna. The Goddess became Bhramaramba – the one who took the form of a bumblebee (Bhramar) to worship Shiva at this very spot.
Yes, and this is one of the most extraordinary experiences this temple offers – something very few Jyotirlingas permit. It is called Sparsha Darshanam. You can either book the paid ticket of ₹500 online in advance at srisailadevasthanam.org, or collect a free computerised token on the same day between 1:45 PM and 3:45 PM, Tuesday to Friday. The Jyotirlinga here is Swayambhu – self-manifested, not installed by human hands – which makes physically touching it an act of immense spiritual significance. Arrive early, carry your original ID proof, and wear traditional Indian attire. This is the one experience at Srisailam you should not miss if you can help it.
On regular days the temple opens at 6:00 AM and closes at 10:00 PM. During Maha Shivratri the temple opens as early as 4:30 AM. The most spiritually powerful time to visit is early morning before 8:00 AM when the temple is relatively quieter and the atmosphere is deeply meditative. Evening aarti is equally beautiful and should not be missed if you are staying overnight.
The Skanda Purana says it directly: Srisaila sikharam drushtwa punarjanma na vidyat – meaning even the mere sight of the Srisailam hilltop liberates the soul from the cycle of birth and death. Ancient scriptures further say that simply taking birth or dying in Srisailam grants instant moksha. Hindu tradition holds that visiting with sincere devotion cleanses accumulated karma across lifetimes. Whether you interpret this literally or symbolically, the spiritual atmosphere of Srisailam – the forest, the river, the ancient stone, the sound of bells – does something to a person that is genuinely hard to explain in words.
October to March is the ideal window. The weather is pleasant, the ghat roads are safe, and the forests of Nallamala are green and alive. Maha Shivratri is the grandest time spiritually – lakhs of devotees descend on the town – but crowds are intense and accommodation fills up months in advance. Karthika Masam (October–November) is deeply auspicious for Shiva worship and the temple sees beautiful decorations and special rituals throughout the month. Avoid May and June due to extreme heat, and use caution during peak monsoon months when ghat roads can be risky.
Fly into Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad – the nearest major airport, approximately 196 km away. From the airport, book a pre-paid cab directly to Srisailam. The drive takes roughly 4.5 hours and passes through the breathtaking Nallamala forest ghat. There is no direct train to Srisailam – the nearest railheads are Markapur (62 km) and Cumbum, from where cabs are available. If you prefer a bus, APSRTC runs daily services from Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station in Hyderabad. The bus journey takes 5.5 to 7 hours and costs between ₹400 and ₹800.
Yes. APTDC Hotel Haritha is the official government hotel, just 400 metres from the temple – literally a 3-minute walk. It offers non-AC rooms from around ₹1,232 per night and AC rooms going up from there, with free breakfast included. The temple’s own devasthanam guest houses – Mallikarjuna Sadana, Patala Sadana, Ganga and Gauri Sadana, Ganesh Sadana – offer rooms at very affordable rates, primarily for families. Advance booking is strongly recommended, especially for weekends, Shivratri, and Karthika Masam. Walk-in rooms do exist but availability is unpredictable during peak season.
Shorts, sleeveless tops, and western-style clothing are not permitted inside the temple premises. Men should wear dhoti with angavastram, or kurta-pyjama. Women should wear saree or salwar kameez. For Abhishekam or any seva inside the inner sanctum, Hindu traditional wear is strictly mandatory. Leather items – belts, bags, shoes – must be left outside. A free footwear counter, cloakroom, and mobile deposit counter are available near the queue entrance.
Absolutely, and this is one of the great joys of Srisailam. The Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga and the Bhramaramba Devi shrine are both within the same temple complex. Devotees traditionally first take darshan of Lord Mallikarjuna chanting the Panchakshari Mantra Om Namah Shivaya, and then proceed to seek the blessings of Goddess Bhramaramba. In one visit, one queue, one sacred hill – you receive the complete grace of both Shiva and Shakti.
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