Deep in the forested Nallamala hills of Andhra Pradesh, on a rocky plateau above the waters of the Krishna, lies one of the most dramatic settings of any Jyotirlinga — Srisailam, home of the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga. Here Shiva and Shakti are worshipped on one sacred hill: Mallikarjuna the Lord, and Bhramaramba the Goddess, making Srisailam a pilgrimage of double grace. This guide covers the shrine’s rare significance, its traditions, the river and ropeway below, and how to reach Srisailam from Hyderabad and beyond.
A Rare Union — Jyotirlinga and Shakti Peetha
Among the twelve Jyotirlingas — the sacred list that includes Somnath, Omkareshwar, Kashi and Kedarnath, and which we set out in full in our article on the 12 Jyotirlingas and their locations — Srisailam holds a distinction no other shrine can claim with the same insistence: it is widely described as the only temple that is both a Jyotirlinga and one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas. The Mallikarjuna linga embodies Shiva, while the shrine of Bhramaramba Devi, within the same temple complex, embodies the Goddess. For pilgrims, this means a single yatra carries a double blessing — a fact the tradition celebrates in the saying that Srisailam is where Parvati and Shiva chose to remain together, approachable to all.
The Mallikarjuna Temple and Its Tradition
The name itself is a story. According to tradition, the site was marked by a jasmine vine — mallika — entwined around an arjuna tree, beneath which the deity manifested; hence Mallikarjuna, the white jasmine-blessed lord of the hill. The most beloved legend of Srisailam concerns the divine family: according to tradition, when Lord Kartikeya left Kailasa after feeling slighted in the matter of his brother Ganesha’s wedding, he settled upon this hill in the south. Shiva and Parvati, missing their son, came here to comfort him — and per tradition, declared that they would dwell on this hill together as Mallikarjuna and Bhramaramba. The temple that grew around the linga is a great complex of gopurams, mandapams and courtyards; darshan is generally available from early morning into the night with a midday pause, but timings change with the ritual calendar, so confirm with temple authorities before planning.
Bhramaramba Devi — the Shakti Peetha
The goddess of Srisailam, Bhramaramba, is enshrined within the same enclosure as Mallikarjuna — a rarity in itself, as most Shakti Peethas stand apart from their Shaiva counterparts. According to tradition, her name comes from bhramara, the bee: the Goddess is said to have manifested or been worshipped here in the form of a bee, and the shrine’s imagery is closely tied to this form. As one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas traditionally counted across the subcontinent, Bhramaramba draws vast numbers of devotees during Navaratri and on Fridays, when the goddess’s shrine carries the festival’s emotional centre of gravity. Most pilgrims take Mallikarjuna darshan first and then Bhramaramba’s — Shiva first, then Shakti, the hill’s own order of grace.
The Krishna, the Nallamalas and the Ropeway
Srisailam’s setting is as memorable as its shrines. The temple town sits amid the Nallamala hills, within one of India’s largest tiger reserves, where the forested slopes drop to the backwaters of the Krishna river. Pilgrims traditionally descend to the river point known as Pathala Ganga — by a long flight of steps or, in recent years, by a ropeway whose availability and schedule vary, so check locally before planning around it. Boats on the quiet water carry visitors to spots such as the Akkamahadevi caves, associated with the twelfth-century Virashaiva saint after whom they are named. Higher viewpoints above the town, such as the Sikhareswaram shrine, offer dawn panoramas across the forested ridge lines — a reminder that this Jyotirlinga, like Kedarnath, belongs as much to its landscape as to its sanctum.
How to Reach Srisailam
| Mode | Route | Approximate Distance / Time |
|---|---|---|
| Road from Hyderabad | Via Dindi / Nagarjuna Sagar road | ~215–230 km, 5–6 hours |
| Road from Kurnool | Direct hill road | ~180 km |
| Rail | Markapur Road station | ~85 km onward by road |
| Air | Hyderabad airport | Then road as above |
State buses run regularly from Hyderabad, and the drive through the reserved forest — with its check posts and hairpin bends — is part of the pilgrimage’s character. Accommodation at Srisailam includes temple choultries and guesthouses; book ahead for festival weekends, and confirm rates at booking.
A South India Jyotirlinga Circuit
For pilgrims drawing a wider arc, Srisailam pairs naturally with Rameshwaram on the opposite coast — the southern Jyotirlinga of the Rama tradition — in the itinerary sketched in our Rameshwaram guide. Those travelling the full Jyotirlinga map will find Srisailam an essential southern anchor, balanced in the west by the seaside shrine of Somnath, the first of the twelve. And for devotees of Omkareshwar, there is a pleasing symmetry: one Jyotirlinga on an island in the Narmada, another on a hill above the Krishna — each guardian of one of India’s great sacred rivers.
Summary
Srisailam’s Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga offers what almost no other shrine can — Shiva and Shakti, Jyotirlinga and Maha Shakti Peetha, on one forested hill above the Krishna. Take darshan of Mallikarjuna and Bhramaramba in a single pilgrimage, descend to the river at Pathala Ganga if the ropeway or steps permit, and allow five to six hours of driving from Hyderabad through the beautiful Nallamalas. Confirm temple timings and ropeway status locally, and travel with the patience the hills ask for. A hill where, according to tradition, Shiva and Parvati chose to dwell together is a hill that welcomes every pilgrim as family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Srisailam special among the 12 Jyotirlingas?
Srisailam is widely described as the only shrine that is both a Jyotirlinga (Mallikarjuna) and one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas (Bhramaramba). This rare union of Shiva and Shakti at a single tirtha draws both Shaiva and Shakta pilgrims to the same hill.
How far is Srisailam from Hyderabad?
Srisailam is approximately 215–230 km from Hyderabad by road, a drive of roughly five to six hours through the Nallamala hills. State buses and private vehicles both ply the route, and travel time varies with road conditions.
Is there a ropeway at Srisailam?
A ropeway has operated at Srisailam in recent years, connecting the hill area with the river point below, but availability, timings and fares change from time to time. Check the current status locally before counting on it for your visit.