🚩 Third Jyotirlinga Yatra – Srisailam 🕉️
Namaste fellow travellers and devotees 🙏,
You can also read:
👉 First Jyotirlinga Yatra: Kashi
👉 Second Jyotirlinga Yatra: Rameshwaram
Let me take you through my spiritual journey to our third Jyotirlinga yatra – Srisailam, one of the most revered Shiva temples in India. This trip was not just a pilgrimage but an experience full of devotion, nature, and a bit of adventure! 🌄🚌
✨ Significance of Srisailam Jyotirlinga 🕉️
The power and presence of divinity here are truly palpable. The temple is a symbol of both Shiva and Shakti, and visiting this sacred site is believed to wash away sins and grant spiritual peace. 🛕🌺
🚌 Journey Begins – From Bangalore to Srisailam
Our trip started from Bangalore. We boarded a KSRTC Non-AC Sleeper Bus from Majestic at 8:00 PM. It was our first time travelling in a sleeper bus! 😄🛏️
The bus was clean and the berth was comfortable to sleep on. But… the road conditions, especially in the ghat section, made it feel like we were on a roller coaster ride! 🎢😅 Sitting upright was nearly impossible, so we just decided to lie down and enjoy the bumpy ride as much as we could.
The bus had another pickup stop near Esteem Mall, Hebbal. After that, the next official stop was at Chikkaballapur for dinner. We had already eaten our dinner at home, so we just rested. 🍱
☕ Early Morning Vibes
By early morning, the bus made a short stop somewhere near Kurnool for a tea/coffee break🌅☕
Finally, we reached Srisailam at around 8:30 AM. The divine town welcomed us with fresh mountain air, chirping birds, and a strong spiritual vibe. 🏞️🙏
🏨 Our Stay in Srisailam – Homely Comfort 🙏
Before reaching Srisailam, we had already booked our accommodation online via YatraDham. There are many options available on YatraDham, or you can also book directly through the official Srisaila Devasthanam portal. 🖥️🛏️
We chose Akhil Bharatiya Brahman Karivena Satram as it offered 24-hour check-in facility, was well-maintained, had a lift for convenience, and provided free lunch and dinner. 🍛✨ The food truly felt like home-cooked meals – simple, warm, and satisfying. 🏠
🚶♂️ The satram was located approximately 600 meters from the bus stand and around 800 meters from the Mallikarjuna Temple – easily walkable if you're not carrying heavy luggage. 🛕
After freshening up, we had our packed breakfast that we brought from home and set out to explore the nearby sacred spots.
🙏 Visit to Sakshi Ganapathi Temple & Pathala Ganga 🌊
We took an auto from our accommodation to Sakshi Ganapathi Temple, which is about 3.5 km away. This temple is significant as it is believed that Lord Ganesha here keeps a record (Sakshi) of all the devotees who visit Srisailam. 📝🐘
After seeking blessings there, we headed towards the Ropeway to Pathala Ganga. 🎢 The ropeway ride offers mesmerizing views of the Krishna River and the surrounding forested hills – truly a must-do experience for every visitor. 🌄
At the base lies the sacred Pathala Ganga. Though we didn't take a full bath, we sprinkled the holy water on our heads, which is considered highly purifying. 💦🙏 The waters are believed to have the power to cleanse one's sins and prepare the devotee for the divine darshan of Lord Mallikarjuna.
🍽️ Back to Room, Meals & Rest
We returned to our satram for lunch, which again felt very homely. As we had time before our darshan, we rested for a while to recharge. 🛌
🔱 Divine Darshan – Garbalayam Abhisheka Experience 🙏
Our darshan was scheduled for 6:00 PM, and we had booked the ₹5000 Garbalayam Abhisheka ticket. This is a special and rare opportunity to perform Abhisheka to Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy inside the Garbalayam (Sanctum Sanctorum). Only a single person or a couple with kids below 10 years is allowed per ticket. 🔱🕉️
Participating in this sacred ritual was truly divine – an experience of a lifetime! 💖 We performed the abhisheka ourselves, right on the Jyotirlinga. This opportunity is available through the temple’s official booking system or at the counter (subject to availability)
💡 More on Darshan Options
For others in our group who were single, we booked the ₹500 Sparsha Darshan for the next day. Sparsha Darshan means you can touch the Linga directly, which is very rare in most temples. 🙌
There’s also a Free Sparsha Darshan (details below):
- 🕒 Timings: is available Tuesday to Friday from 1:45 PM to 3:45 PM
- 👥 Limited to: First 300–500 devotees (varies by day and crowd)
- 🛑 System: Similar to Tirupati’s compartment system – devotees are allowed in groups for darshan with waiting areas in between.
Some in our group attempted the Free Darshan and managed to complete it in just 45 minutes since it was less crowded that day. 🧘♂️🧘♀️
💎 There are few Jyotirlingas which allow Sparsha Darshan
Did you know? Among the 12 Jyotirlingas, only few allow Sparsha Darshan (touching the Linga):
- 🕉️ Srisailam (Mallikarjuna Swamy)
- 🕉️ Grishneshwar, Maharastra
- 🕉️ Nageshwar, Gujarat
- Few more ...
This makes Srisailam extra special and spiritually unique. 💫
🌙 Ekadashi Night – Light Dinner
After the divine darshan, we returned to our satram. As it was Ekadashi, there was also tiffin option for dinner.🍲😋
With hearts full of divine energy and minds at peace, we ended the day with a good night’s sleep. 😴🌌
🌄 Last Day at Srisailam – Exploring More, Leaving with Memories 🙏
Our final day at Srisailam began early. We had booked the 7:30 AM Sparsha Darshan for some members of our group. Since my husband and I had already done the divine Garbalayam Abhisheka the previous day, we thought of going for the Free Darshan while waiting for others. 💭🕉️
🚶♂️ Attempt at Free Darshan – A Surprise Wait
We entered the Free Darshan queue at 7:00 AM and were locked inside one of the temple compartments – similar to the Tirupati queue system. They were offering free Pongal and coffee, which was thoughtful. 🍛☕
We initially thought we’d be done in an hour, but suddenly there was an announcement that darshan would start only at 10:30 AM! 😱
Some people around us had buses to catch at 10:00 AM and were visibly anxious. Like them, we didn’t want to miss out on other spots, so we spoke to a kind guard who agreed to unlock the gate and let us out. Though we missed our second darshan, we were grateful for the previous evening’s divine experience. 🙏
As it was Shravana Masa, the temple was more crowded in the morning than the previous day. By 7:00 AM, already 4 compartments were full – so plan accordingly if you’re visiting during festival time or special months. 📅🛕
🍽️ Breakfast & Shivaji Museum Visit 💂
This museum is a must-visit! It beautifully portrays the heroic life of Shivaji Maharaj through detailed carvings, sculptures, and murals. From childhood to the reformation of the Hindu Samrajya, his journey is brought to life in vivid detail. We truly felt goosebumps seeing the stories unfold – it felt like stepping into a different world! 💥
According to local belief, Goddess Bhramaramba Devi - one of the 18 Mahashakti Peethas—appeared before Shivaji Maharaj during his visit and presented him with a divine sword. This act symbolized empowerment and blessing for his quest to uphold dharma.
More interesting information of Spoorthi Kendra can be found here.
💧 A Waterfall En Route & Breathtaking Dam Visit 🌊
On the way to the museum, we also stopped briefly at a small seasonal waterfall, around 1.2 km from our stay. Though not massive, it was a refreshing natural surprise, especially in the monsoon. 🌿🚿
Next, we visited the stunning Srisailam Dam, located about 3.5 km from the temple area. To our delight, 10 dam gates were open that day – offering a spectacular view of roaring water gushing through. The experience was surreal! 🌉💦
🔹 Quick facts about Srisailam Dam:
- Built across the Krishna River
- One of the largest dams in South India
- Provides irrigation, hydroelectric power, and drinking water to surrounding regions
🚌 Journey Back to Bangalore
After enjoying the scenic dam and clicking some pictures, we returned to our room, had lunch, freshened up, and checked out. We reached the bus station by 3:30 PM for our 4:00 PM KSRTC bus back to Bangalore. 🧳🚌
We had a dinner stop at Kurnool and reached Bangalore by 4:15 AM the next day, carrying with us the blessings of Lord Mallikarjuna and memories to cherish forever. 🌙💖
🌿 Other Attractions in and Around Srisailam
If you have more time on your hands, here are a few other places worth visiting near the temple:
- 🌱 Eco Tourism Park (Haritha Vanam) – Ideal for nature lovers and family picnics
- 🌊 Shikharam – The highest point in Srisailam, about 8 km away, with panoramic views
- 🔬 Science Observatory – For astronomy lovers and kids
- 🧘♀️ Phaladhara Panchadhara – A serene spot with spiritual significance and natural streams
- 🛕 Mahanandi Temple – Located ~80 km from Srisailam, dedicated to Lord Shiva, known for its sacred pond
🔚 Wrapping Up
Our third Jyotirlinga Yatra was a perfect blend of spiritual fulfillment, scenic beauty, historical insight, and divine darshan. Each moment in Srisailam was a step closer to inner peace. 🕉️
If you’re planning a pilgrimage, don’t miss this divine destination. And remember – plan your darshans in advance, especially during Sravana Masa or festivals! 🙏
Har Har Mahadev! Om Namah Shivaya! 🚩
👌👌👌
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