Srisailam Yatra

There are prominent Shiva and Vaishnava shrines in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh in the south, just like the shrines in Kedarnath, Badrinath, Panchabadri and Panchakedar in the state of Uttarakhand in the north. All the shrines in Kurnool district can be visited in a span of fourteen to twenty days. Just as mountain trek to Yamunotri and Kedarnath shrines in Chota Char Dham Yatra, a mountain trek by walk/ dholi requires in Srisailam Yatra to visit some of the temples among the Nine Nrusimha shrines in Ahobilam. The temples and shrines that are visited in the Srisailam Yatra are all unique and each temple being innovatively popularized with local myths and legends.

Srisailam Pilgrimage starts from Nandyal town in Kurnool district. In Nandyala pilgrims can visit the second Jagajjanani Temple in the country and three Nandeeswar temples among the nine Nandi Shrines. Medium and high class hotels are available in Nandyal for accommodation and lunch. On the way from Nandyal pilgrims can visit three Nandi shrines and travel to Mahanandi at a distance of 17 km and visit three Nandeeswara temples including Mahanandi. There are choultries and hotel owned by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Corn on rent-paying basis in Mahanadi. Pilgrims has to reach Nandyal visiting the temples in Mahanadi to visit the rest of the shrines.

The Nine Nrusimha Shrines at Lower and Upper Ahobilam can be visited within a period of three days stay reaching Ahobilam  in a private vehicle from Nandyal. Accommodation and meals are available at Ahobilam. Pilgrims may reach Yaganti from Ahobilam and visit the famous Basavanna (Nandi), Umamaheswara and Sri Venkateswara temples.

Arya Vaisya Satram available for accommodation with free dining facility at Yaganti along with other Satrams. On the way back from Yaganti, pilgrims can reach Nandyal or Kurnool by visiting Potuluru Sri Veerabrahmendraswamy Math at Banaganapalle, and Chowdeshwari Devi popularly known as Vishalakshidevi in the village of Nandavaram.

From Kurnool or Nandyal pilgrims can reach Srisailam to visit Mallikharjuna Swamy, the second Jyothir Ling in the 12 JyothirLingas and Brahmarambika Devi, the sixth Shakti Peeth in the 18 Shakti Peethas. One can stay for two days in Srisailam and visit temples and holy places. During the month of Chaitra, pilgrims can visit Shaileswaram on the other side of the river Srisailam, which is preceded by the full moon. Afterwards, pilgrims can visit Raghavendra Swamy Math in Mantralayam, Sri Venkateswara Swamy in nearby Gobbur village and Jogulamba, the 5th Shakti peeth at Alampuram. Pilgrims can return home from Kurnool by visiting the seldom-seen holy Sangameshwara Temple at the confluence of the seven rivers Krishna, Veni, Tungabadra, Bhinradhi, Malapahini, Sangameshwara and Bhavanashani in the district of Kurnool.

Pilgrims may travel by train to Nandyal and Kurnool well connected with all the Towns and Cities in the country. The inter-shrines of the Srisailam Pilgrimage has to be performed in private vehicle or bus since the shrines are not connected with train.