Darshan timings at Mallikarjuna
| Season | Opens | Darshan | Closes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daily (morning) | Approx 4:30 AM (Suprabhatam) | Free line darshan through the morning | 1:00 PM | Open |
| Daily (midday) | 1:00 PM | Sanctum largely closed for rituals and rest | 6:00 PM | Open |
| Daily (evening) | 6:00 PM | Evening darshan and aarti | 9:00 PM (up to 10:00 PM on busy days) | Open |
| Maha Shivaratri and Brahmotsavam | Extended pre-dawn opening | Round-the-clock queues; online seva booking suspended | Late night | Open |
Read the full Timings & Darshan Hours →
How to reach Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga, Srisailam
Srisailam sits deep inside the Nallamala forest, so there is no railhead or airport in the town itself. Most pilgrims arrive by road from Hyderabad or Kurnool; the last stretch climbs through a tiger-reserve ghat road that can close after dark, so plan to arrive in daylight.
| Mode | Point | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air | Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad | Approx 200 km | Best-connected airport; 5 to 6 hours by taxi. Kurnool (Orvakal) airport is nearer at approx 180 km but has limited flights. |
| Train | Markapur Road railway station | Approx 85 km | Nearest station; take a bus or taxi onward. Nandyal and Kurnool stations are farther but better connected for long-distance trains. |
| Road (bus) | Hyderabad / Kurnool / Nandyal | Approx 213 km from Hyderabad | APSRTC and TSRTC run frequent direct buses to the Srisailam bus stand near the temple. |
| Road (car) | From Hyderabad via Kalwakurthy | Approx 213 km | Scenic forest ghat drive; the ghat road through the Srisailam tiger reserve typically restricts night movement. |
Puja & aarti schedule
- Suprabhatam and temple openingApprox 4:30 AM
- Sparsha Darshan window (pre-booked touching of the linga)Approx 5:00 to 7:00 AM
- Samuhika (collective) AbhishekamApprox 6:30 AM
- Maha Nivedana and Mahamangala Harati (main midday offering)Approx 12:00 to 12:30 PM
- Evening Aarti / Rajopachara for Mallikarjuna and BhramarambaApprox 5:20 to 6:00 PM
- Pavalimpu (Ekanta) Seva before the shrine closesNight (after evening darshan)
Read the full Aarti & Puja Schedule →
Dress code & temple rules
Wear decent, modest clothing for general darshan; the temple is a traditional Shaiva-Shakta shrine.
For Sparsha Darshan (touching the Jyotirlinga) the code is strict: men in dhoti/panchakacham with upper cloth, no shirts, trousers, jeans or T-shirts.
Women for Sparsha Darshan must wear saree, half-saree or salwar-kameez with dupatta; jeans, leggings, skirts and western wear are not allowed.
Leather items (belts, wallets, bags) should be removed before the sanctum; footwear is left outside.
Mobile phones and cameras are restricted inside the inner temple; use the cloakroom facilities.
Sparsha and special sevas need photo ID matching the online booking.
Read the full Dress Code & Temple Rules →
Best time to visit & festivals
October to March is the most comfortable window, when the Nallamala hills are cool and the forest ghat drive is pleasant; summers (April to June) are hot on the plains below. The temple is busiest and most electric during Maha Shivaratri and the Bhramaramba Devi Navaratri.
| Festival | When | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Maha Shivaratri Brahmotsavam | February or March (Magha/Phalguna) | The single biggest festival at Srisailam; multi-day Brahmotsavam, Prabhotsavam procession and enormous overnight crowds for Shiva worship. Peak |
| Ugadi | March or April | Telugu New Year, drawing large pilgrim numbers and special sevas at the hill shrine. |
| Bhramaramba Devi Navaratri (Dasara) | September or October (Ashwin) | Nine nights honouring the Shakti Peeth goddess Bhramaramba Devi with alankarams and processions. Peak |
| Karthika Masam | November or December | Auspicious Shaiva month; Mondays (Karthika Somavaram) bring heavy footfall for Shiva abhishekams. |
Read the full Best Time to Visit & Festivals →
Nearby temples & tirths
Ramanathaswamy, Rameshwaram
Another of the twelve Jyotirlingas, at India's southern tip, a natural pairing on a Jyotirlinga circuit.
Kanaka Durga, Vijayawada
Major Andhra Shakti shrine on the Krishna river, often combined with Srisailam by Telugu pilgrims.
Srikalahasti
The Vayu (air) linga and Rahu-Ketu shrine in Andhra, a classic add-on for Shiva devotees.
Read the full Nearby Temples & Tirths →
Where to stay
Most pilgrims stay in Srisailam town within walking or short-auto distance of the temple. The Srisaila Devasthanam runs a large network of choultries, cottages and guest houses (Ganga Sadan, Pathaleswar Sadan and others) bookable online, and APTDC operates Haritha Hotel Srisailam. Private lodges and dharamshalas cluster around the bus stand and temple. Rooms are scarce and rates rise sharply during Maha Shivaratri, Brahmotsavam and Karthika Masam, so book well ahead; online room booking is usually suspended on the biggest festival days.
Frequently asked questions
Srisailam Mallikarjuna temple timings today
Nearest railway station to Srisailam
Is Srisailam open during Maha Shivaratri
How to reach Srisailam from Hyderabad
What is Sparsha Darshan at Srisailam and its dress code
Compiled from public sources including Srisaila Devasthanam (official) - The Temple · Srisaila Devasthanam (official) - Connectivity · Srisailam Temple Timings 2026 - templetimingsnow.com · Wikimedia Commons - File:Srisailam.jpg. Timings and seasonal closures change; confirm with the temple trust before travelling.