Darshan timings at Srikalahasti
| Season | Opens | Darshan | Closes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekdays (Mon to Thu) | 6:00 am | General darshan runs through the day; abhishekam slots around 6:00 am, 7:00 am, 10:00 am and 5:00 pm | 9:00 pm | Open |
| Weekend and Friday | 6:00 am | Heavier footfall; special darshan and seva queues busiest in the morning | 9:30 pm | Open |
| Maha Shivaratri and Brahmotsavam | Pre-dawn | Round-the-clock darshan on Shivaratri; Lingodbhavam and Rudrabhishekam done in Ekantham (privately) | Late night | Open |
| Solar / lunar eclipse (Grahan) days | 6:00 am | Remains open when almost every other temple closes; the temple is not shut for eclipses | 9:00 pm | Open |
Read the full Timings & Darshan Hours →
How to reach Srikalahasti Temple (Srikalahasteeswara)
Srikalahasti sits in Tirupati district on the Swarnamukhi, tightly linked to the Tirupati-Tirumala circuit, so most pilgrims fold it into a Balaji trip.
| Mode | Point | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | Sri Kalahasti (KHT) railway station | approx 3 km | On the Gudur-Katpadi line; autos and local buses run to the temple. Renigunta Junction (approx 30 km) has more express connections. |
| Air | Tirupati (Renigunta) Airport | approx 25 km | Nearest airport; taxis reach Srikalahasti in under an hour. Chennai airport (approx 110 to 130 km) is the larger hub. |
| Road from Tirupati | Tirupati city | approx 36 km | Frequent APSRTC buses and shared taxis; a 45 to 60 minute drive north. |
| Road from Chennai | Chennai | approx 110 to 130 km | About 3 hours via Tiruttani; many combine it with a Tirupati darshan. |
Puja & aarti schedule
- Temple opening and initial rituals5:30 am to 6:00 am
- Suprabhata Seva (waking the deity) and first abhishekam6:00 am to 7:00 am
- Morning abhishekam slots (about 45 min each, ticket around Rs 1500 per couple)7:00 am, 10:00 am
- Saneeswara (Shani) abhishekam11:00 am to 12:00 pm
- Rahu-Ketu / Kala Sarpa Dosha nivarana puja, performed in batches at the mandapam6:00 am to 6:00 pm
- Evening abhishekam5:00 pm
- Deeparadhana and evening darshan; temple shuts by about 9:00 to 9:30 pmEvening to close
Read the full Aarti & Puja Schedule →
Dress code & temple rules
Dress code is relatively relaxed compared with Tirumala: any decent, modest outfit is accepted, but traditional wear (dhoti/kurta for men, saree or salwar for women) is recommended for the sanctum.
For Rahu-Ketu puja pilgrims traditionally bathe that morning; some observe sleeping on the floor the night before (optional, not mandatory).
All puja material for Rahu-Ketu is supplied at the ticket counter, so you need not buy extra samagri; ignore touts pushing lotus and cloth outside.
After the mandapam puja you carry the silver Rahu-Ketu idols and drop them in the hundi inside, after Shiva darshan.
Photography is restricted inside the inner sanctum; leave footwear and leather items outside, and expect queue and security checks on festival days.
Read the full Dress Code & Temple Rules →
Best time to visit & festivals
October to February brings cooler, drier weather ideal for the temple and the Swarnamukhi. Shivaratri is the spiritual peak but also the heaviest crowd; those coming mainly for Rahu-Ketu puja often prefer Sundays and Tuesdays, the days linked to the two shadow planets.
| Festival | When | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Maha Shivaratri Brahmotsavam | February or March (Magha/Phalguna) | The temple's biggest festival, a roughly 13-day Brahmotsavam with processional deities on vahanas; lakhs attend and Lingodbhavam is observed at midnight. Peak |
| Karthika Masam / Karthika Deepam | November to December (Karthika) | The sacred Shaiva month; devotees throng for lamp-lighting, abhishekams and special darshan on Mondays. |
| Rahu-Ketu / Kala Sarpa Dosha puja season | Year-round, busiest on Sundays and Tuesdays and during eclipses | Not a calendar festival but the temple's defining draw; being the only temple open during grahan makes eclipse days especially significant here. |
Read the full Best Time to Visit & Festivals →
Nearby temples & tirths
Tirupati Balaji (Venkateswara)
The world's most-visited shrine and the natural pairing with Srikalahasti on any pilgrimage.
Kanchipuram Kamakshi
Kanchipuram holds the Earth-element Pancha Bhuta Sthalam, a thematic sibling to Srikalahasti's air linga.
Mallikarjuna, Srisailam
Andhra's Shiva Jyotirlinga on the Krishna, a deeper Shaiva extension of the trip.
Read the full Nearby Temples & Tirths →
Where to stay
Most pilgrims stay in Tirupati (approx 36 km), which has the widest range of hotels and TTD lodges, and day-trip to Srikalahasti; this pairs naturally with Tirumala darshan. In the temple town itself there are AP tourism (APTDC/Haritha) and Devasthanam guest houses plus budget lodges near the bus stand and railway station, only a short auto ride from the gopuram. Standards there are simple and functional. On Shivaratri and eclipse days rooms fill fast, so book ahead or plan an early-morning day trip from Tirupati.
Frequently asked questions
Srikalahasti temple timings today
Srikalahasti Rahu Ketu pooja timings and cost
Nearest railway station to Srikalahasti temple
Is Srikalahasti temple open during eclipse (grahan)
How far is Srikalahasti from Tirupati
Compiled from public sources including Wikipedia: Srikalahasteeswara temple · Wikipedia: Srikalahasti (town) · GoTirupati: Srikalahasti Rahu Ketu Pooja timings and cost · GoTirupati: Srikalahasti temple timings, abhishekam, seva. Timings and seasonal closures change; confirm with the temple trust before travelling.