District: Kurnool, State: Andhra Pradesh, India Area: 0 Languages Spoken: Telgu Long Distance Code: +91-8524 Importance: Famous for one of the 12 Jyotirlingams. Best Time to Visit: September to February
Description
On the south bank of the river, on a 457 metre high hill, is the Bhramarambha Mallikarjunaswamy Temple. Sri Mallikarjunaswamy, the presiding deity, is one of the 12 'Jyotirlingams' in India. A massive fort, with walls 6 metre high encloses the temple. A cluster of minor shrines within the temple enclosures include the 'Sahasra Linga' 'Panchapandava Temples' and 'Vata Vriksha'.<br />The highest of the Srisailam hills, is Sikhareswara Swamy, at Sikharam. The 512 meter long Srisailam dam along with the hydel power project is also worth seeing.
Location
Srisailam is situated in the thick and inaccessible forests of the Nallamalai hills, in the northeastern portion of the Nandikotkur Taluk of Kurnool District. It lies on a straight line west of Vijayawada, right as it were in the centre of South India. It is 73 miles north of Nandyal Railway Station. Situated on the banks of River Krishna, in the Nallamalai forest, Srisailam is 232 km south of Hyderabad.
The ancient and sacred temple of Srisailam is of great historical and religious significance. Situated on the south bank of the river Krishna, in the Nallamalai forest, on a 457-meter high hill is the Bhramaramba Mallikharjunaswamy temple, one of the 12 Jyothirlingas in the country. There are three famous Linga Kshetrams (Draksharamam and Nagarjunamo are the other two), it is also known as "Sri Mallikharjunam" and "Sri Parvatham". The temple is also the seat of Mahakali in the form of Bhramaramba. The most appealing feature of this temple is that any one of any cast or creed can touch the deity and worship here.
The Saivaite temples of Srisailam, celebrated in devotion, tradition and history from the second century A.D., stand on a plateau on the top of a hill named Srisailam, Sriparvata or Srigiri, in the Nallamalai ranges in Kurnool district. Countless devotees hold the Lord, Mallikarjuna, and His Consort, Bhramaramba, in great veneration. \r\nA distinctive feature of the temples is that they are located in a large prakara enclosed by sculptured walls. In fact, the temple area looks like a fort, The walls are 8.5 m high and, north to south 183 m long and, east to west 152 m broad. They are made of huge blocks of stone reverted to each other. There are sculptures in Profusion on the northern, eastern and southern walls, and fewer ones on the western. \r\nThere are five regular rows of sculpture on the walls from above the base. The first contains figures of the elephant in many postures. The next has reliefs of the horse, the warrior, the hunter and the dancer. The next three are full of superb sculpture representing Deities and scenes from Saivaite traditions. Above these there are occasional reliefs of Deities, birds and animals. On the copings of the walls are Lingas, nandis, and the lion, the swan. "From a distance these walls look like a well arranged picture gallery".\r\n
At Sikharam, the highest of the Srisailam hills, is Sikhareswara Swamy, a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Another beautiful temple is Sri Ganapathi temple, dedicated to Lord Ganesh. Srisailam wildlife sanctuary, which covers areas in five adjoining districts, has tigers, panthers, spotted deer, giant squirrels, great lizards, pangolins, crocodiles, civets and a variety of snakes.
The famous sanctuary of Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh covers area of 5 adjoining districts of Guntur, Prakasam, Kurnoor, Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda districts. This area has dry decidous mixed forests along the river Krishna that cuts through a picturesque gorge of the Nallamalai hills with deep valley on sides. The wild life includes the spotted deer, mouse deer, black buck, sambars, chousingha nilgai, tree straw, mugger crocodile, and wolfs, panthers, tigers, sloth beer & wild dogs.\r\nThe best season to visit the sanctuary is from Oct-May.\r\n
Srisailam is located 98-km from Markapuram. The Srisailam dam is constructed across river Krishna. This dam is situated in a deep gorge in the Nallamalai hill range. The dam is surrounded by natural beauty. It is 300m above the sea level and is 512m long and is one of the twelve largest hydroelectric projects in the country. It has 12 radial crest gates.\r\nThe construction of this dam has paved the way for providing irrigation water to about 80,000 hectares in Kurnool and Cuddapah districts in the chronically drought-prone Rayalaseema region from Srisailam project. One requires special permission to go on to the main dam.\r\n
The ancient and sacred temple of Srisailam is of great historical and religious significance. Situated on the south bank of the river Krishna, in the Nallamalai forest, on a 457-meter high hill is the Bhramaramba Mallikharjunaswamy temple, one of the 12 Jyothirlingas in the country. There are three famous Linga Kshetrams (Draksharamam and Nagarjunamo are the other two), it is also known as "Sri Mallikharjunam" and "Sri Parvatham". The temple is also the seat of Mahakali in the form of Bhramaramba. The most appealing feature of this temple is that any one of any cast or creed can touch the deity and worship here.
The Saivaite temples of Srisailam, celebrated in devotion, tradition and history from the second century A.D., stand on a plateau on the top of a hill named Srisailam, Sriparvata or Srigiri, in the Nallamalai ranges in Kurnool district. Countless devotees hold the Lord, Mallikarjuna, and His Consort, Bhramaramba, in great veneration. \r\nA distinctive feature of the temples is that they are located in a large prakara enclosed by sculptured walls. In fact, the temple area looks like a fort, The walls are 8.5 m high and, north to south 183 m long and, east to west 152 m broad. They are made of huge blocks of stone reverted to each other. There are sculptures in Profusion on the northern, eastern and southern walls, and fewer ones on the western. \r\nThere are five regular rows of sculpture on the walls from above the base. The first contains figures of the elephant in many postures. The next has reliefs of the horse, the warrior, the hunter and the dancer. The next three are full of superb sculpture representing Deities and scenes from Saivaite traditions. Above these there are occasional reliefs of Deities, birds and animals. On the copings of the walls are Lingas, nandis, and the lion, the swan. "From a distance these walls look like a well arranged picture gallery".\r\n
At Sikharam, the highest of the Srisailam hills, is Sikhareswara Swamy, a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Another beautiful temple is Sri Ganapathi temple, dedicated to Lord Ganesh. Srisailam wildlife sanctuary, which covers areas in five adjoining districts, has tigers, panthers, spotted deer, giant squirrels, great lizards, pangolins, crocodiles, civets and a variety of snakes.
The famous sanctuary of Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh covers area of 5 adjoining districts of Guntur, Prakasam, Kurnoor, Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda districts. This area has dry decidous mixed forests along the river Krishna that cuts through a picturesque gorge of the Nallamalai hills with deep valley on sides. The wild life includes the spotted deer, mouse deer, black buck, sambars, chousingha nilgai, tree straw, mugger crocodile, and wolfs, panthers, tigers, sloth beer & wild dogs.\r\nThe best season to visit the sanctuary is from Oct-May.\r\n
Srisailam is located 98-km from Markapuram. The Srisailam dam is constructed across river Krishna. This dam is situated in a deep gorge in the Nallamalai hill range. The dam is surrounded by natural beauty. It is 300m above the sea level and is 512m long and is one of the twelve largest hydroelectric projects in the country. It has 12 radial crest gates.\r\nThe construction of this dam has paved the way for providing irrigation water to about 80,000 hectares in Kurnool and Cuddapah districts in the chronically drought-prone Rayalaseema region from Srisailam project. One requires special permission to go on to the main dam.\r\n