Srisailam, a place for heritage and nature

The place that never bores me...

Srisailam occupies a special place in my heart, not just the temples or the dam, but it’s the forest and the climate that takes closest to nature that makes it my favorite. I have been to this place couple of times with friends and family, but this time, it is special and unforgettable since this is the first trip I made on the bike after purchasing the beast Meteor 350. Dad accompanied me on this 600+km round trip journey.

Srisailam is a town in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, that is surrounded by dense Nallamalla forests. It is around 300 km from Hyderabad is the best go-to place on weekends, the road from Hyderabad is in very good condition and you can remain at the top speed for most of the journey. Since it is a forest area, the road after Mannanur remains closed at night.

Two days is the ideal time for visiting all the places nearby. However, our idea of the trip was to have fun on the journey and not the destination exactly. So, we started at 8.00AM on a Sunday morning and it took us 4 hours to reach Mannanur. The forest area starts from Mannanur, and you will find very few Dhaba or hotels on the way. The beautiful curves of the ghat sections, fog, and the dew through the journey, pleasant atmosphere, and the fresh air not just are refreshing, but gives you a lot of mental energy.

The place also has a wildlife sanctuary, though it is operational for very little time. It is always good to do the inquiry if you are planning for a safari. If you are planning for a two-day stay, I would strongly suggest booking the Harita hotel in Eegalapenta, which gives you a beautiful river view. The RTC operates a bus service few times a day from the bus stand that covers most of the tourist places.

Few best places on the way and near Srisailam:

Dindi reservoir: Small break on the journey is not a bad idea, this reservoir doesn’t need you to take any deviation, and also grab freshwater river fish at low costs. The scenic beauty is worth your time.

Mallela Theertam waterfalls: You have to deviate from Mallapur village for 10km to visit this place, though the road is not in good condition and one has to take more than 400 steps to reach the waterfalls, it is worthy of time and energy.

 Srisailam Dam: 8 km from the Eegala Penta, the dam offers you the best view.

Paaladhaara, Panchadhaara: A small waterfall and the temple very near to the temple town. It is believed to be from the forehead of Lord Shiva.

Paatalaganga: Very near to the temple, you can experience the ropeway here that takes you to the breathtaking view.

Akkamahadevi Caves: It takes around 30mins on the boat to reach this place. The boating around the hills to reach this place offers you a great experience, and has a small temple and a rock sculpture.

Mallikarjun Swamy Temple: Lord Shiva temple of Srisailam is very famous, and attracts tourists from across the country. The Brahmaramba peetam is considered one of the 18 shakti peetams.