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Andhra Pradesh

Srisailam

Jyotirlinga above the Krishna gorge inside Nallamala forest

SpiritualHeritage

Best time to visit Srisailam

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: November to February
  • Shoulder: March and August to October, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: April to June

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryNovemberDecember

Srisailam season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Nov-Feb is the window: 28 C, the Krishna gorge clear from the Patalaganga ropeway and darshan queues manageable midweek.

Summer March to May Shoulder

Apr-Jun the Nallamala road bakes near 45 C and the reservoir drops, so the gorge views go to dust and haze.

Monsoon June to September Shoulder

Jun-Sep the forest is at its best and the dam often spills, but ghat buses crawl and hill mist closes the views.

Autumn October to November Prime time

Oct-Nov the reservoir is full after the rains and the forest is green, with pilgrim numbers still manageable.

What Srisailam is actually like

Big pilgrim town with devasthanam dorms, cheap meals and buses at all hours; easy and safe to arrive alone

Things to do in Srisailam

The local places worth your time in and around Srisailam, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple

    Temple · in town

    The jyotirlinga and shakti peetha in one compound; the free queue can run hours, the paid darshan ticket saves most of it.

  • Patala Ganga

    Ghat · 2 km out

    The Krishna river ghat below the temple where pilgrims take a dip; ropeway down, or about 500 steps back up in the heat.

  • Srisailam Dam

    Reservoir · 8 km out

    Big gated dam holding the Krishna inside a forested gorge; the road crosses the crest and photography on it is not allowed.

  • Akkamahadevi Caves

    Cave · 10 km out

    Limestone cave with a natural lingam up the Krishna backwaters; only reachable by launch from Patala Ganga, about 3 h return.

  • Sakshi Ganapati Temple

    Temple · 3 km out

    Small Ganesha shrine on the Hyderabad road where pilgrims record their visit; five minutes, done on the way out of town.

  • Paladhara Panchadhara

    Shrine · 4 km out

    Spring channels in a rock hollow where Adi Shankara is said to have written the Sivananda Lahari; a long flight of steps down.

  • Sikhareswaram Temple

    Temple · 8 km out

    Highest point of the Srisailam hill, a plain Shiva shrine with forest falling away on all sides; late afternoon is quietest.

  • Mallela Theertham

    Waterfall · 58 km out

    Forest waterfall down 350 steps inside the tiger reserve; the Nallamala gate shuts by late afternoon, so leave Srisailam early.

Getting to Srisailam

Road only: 210 km from Hyderabad or 180 km from Kurnool through Nallamala forest, 5-6 h by RTC bus

Practical ways in: road

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Busy at its peak
Solo travel
Easy solo
Altitude
470 m
State
Andhra Pradesh
Coordinates
16.0833, 78.8667

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Srisailam?

November to February is peak season in Srisailam. March and August to October is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid April to June. Oct-Nov the reservoir is full after the rains and the forest is green, with pilgrim numbers still manageable.

How many days do you need in Srisailam?

2 days is the usual stay. Big pilgrim town with devasthanam dorms, cheap meals and buses at all hours; easy and safe to arrive alone.

How do you get to Srisailam?

Road only: 210 km from Hyderabad or 180 km from Kurnool through Nallamala forest, 5-6 h by RTC bus. Practical ways in: road.

Is Srisailam expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs busy at the busiest time of year. Easy solo.

Is there a festival in Srisailam?

Feb/Mar: Maha Shivaratri Brahmotsavam. Time a trip around it and you see the place at its loudest, but book beds early.

What are the best things to do in Srisailam?

Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, Patala Ganga, Srisailam Dam, Akkamahadevi Caves, Sakshi Ganapati Temple and Paladhara Panchadhara, and more. The jyotirlinga and shakti peetha in one compound; the free queue can run hours, the paid darshan ticket saves most of it.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Andhra Pradesh

All 31 destinations in Andhra Pradesh