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Srisailam, Mahanandi & Mantralayam · Jyotirlinga, Shakti Peeth and a Guru's Brindavana

Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga, the nine Nandis of Mahanandi and Sri Raghavendra Swamy's brindavana

4.7521 reviews
3 Nights / 4 Days(3N/4D)
India, Andhra Pradesh
easy pace
Great for family, senior, couples

Destinations: Hyderabad → Srisailam → Mahanandi → Yaganti → Mantralayam → Panchamukhi

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Overview

About this Srisailam, Mahanandi & Mantralayam trip

Srisailam is rare in being both a Jyotirlinga (Mallikarjuna Swamy) and a Shakti Peeth (Bhramaramba Devi), set high above the Krishna river in the Nallamala hills. From Hyderabad the road runs through the Amrabad Tiger Reserve, so we time the drive around the forest-gate hours. You'll have darshan at Mallikarjuna — with help booking the paid Sparsha darshan, where you can touch the linga — ride the ropeway down to Pathala Ganga and see the Srisailam dam. The trip continues to Mahanandi, whose spring-fed kalyani stays crystal-clear and warm year-round, the cave temple at Yaganti with its growing Nandi, and ends at Mantralayam on the Tungabhadra for the brindavana of Sri Raghavendra Swamy.

Hyderabad round trip through the Nallamala forest to Srisailam, Mahanandi, Yaganti and Mantralayam.

Duration: 3 Nights / 4 Days
Stay: Standard hotels / devasthanam cottages
Transport: Private AC sedan or Innova from Hyderabad (forest road gates close at night)
Best time: October to February; Maha Shivaratri at Srisailam is grand but extremely crowded
Departures: 8 upcoming dates

Why families take this circuit

Help booking Srisailam Sparsha or Athi Seeghra darshan online
Forest-road timing planned around the Amrabad tiger reserve gates
Covers Mahanandi and Yaganti, often skipped on rushed trips
Mantralayam stay close to the Matha for morning puja
Clean, family-friendly hotels and vegetarian meals
Round trip from Hyderabad by private car — no bus changes

Trip highlights

Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga & Bhramaramba Shakti Peeth
Pathala Ganga ropeway & Srisailam dam
Mahanandi temple and its clear kalyani
Yaganti Uma Maheswara cave temple
Sri Raghavendra Swamy Matha, Mantralayam
Panchamukhi Anjaneya

Itinerary

Day-by-day plan for Srisailam, Mahanandi & Mantralayam

4 days, planned end to end

D1
- Morning pickup in Hyderabad; drive approx. 5 hrs through the Nallamala forest
- Stop at the Srisailam dam viewpoint and Sakshi Ganapathi (who 'records' your visit)
- Check in near the temple
- Evening darshan of Bhramaramba Devi and Mallikarjuna Swamy
D2
- Early Sparsha / general darshan at Mallikarjuna temple
- Ropeway to Pathala Ganga for a dip in the Krishna river (ropeway closes in heavy release)
- Shikharam viewpoint on the way out
- Drive to Mahanandi (approx. 3.5 hrs); evening darshan and the nine Nandi shrines around Nandyal
D3
- Morning bath in the Mahanandi kalyani and darshan
- Drive to Yaganti (approx. 2 hrs): Uma Maheswara temple, Agastya Pushkarini and the caves
- Continue to Mantralayam (approx. 3 hrs)
- Evening Rathotsava and darshan at Sri Raghavendra Swamy Matha
D4
- Morning prayers at the brindavana and a dip at the Tungabhadra ghat
- Panchamukhi Anjaneya temple (approx. 20 km)
- Lunch at the Matha annadanam hall or a local restaurant
- Drive back to Hyderabad via Kurnool (approx. 5 hrs); drop by night

What's covered

Inclusions & exclusions

Read this before you book — no surprise add-ons later.

Included

1 night in Srisailam, 1 night in Mahanandi/Nandyal, 1 night in Mantralayam (best available hotels / devasthanam cottages)
Daily vegetarian breakfast and dinner
Private AC car Hyderabad round trip (approx. 950 km)
Assistance with Srisailam online darshan booking
Tolls, parking, forest entry fee and driver allowance

Not included

Sparsha / special darshan, abhishekam and seva tickets
Pathala Ganga ropeway tickets
Lunches and prasadam purchases
Personal expenses and tips

Stay & travel

Hotels & transport

Hotel category

Standard hotels / devasthanam cottages

Twin-sharing rooms with daily breakfast unless stated otherwise. Single rooms and upgrades on request.

Transport

Private AC sedan or Innova from Hyderabad (forest road gates close at night)

Airport and station pick-ups, sightseeing and inter-city transfers are arranged by our ground team.

Overnight stops: Hyderabad → Srisailam · Srisailam → Mahanandi · Yaganti → Mantralayam · Mantralayam → Hyderabad

Route

Route map

7 stops from start to finish

HyderabadStart
2SrisailamStop 2
3MahanandiStop 3
4YagantiStop 4
5MantralayamStop 5
6PanchamukhiStop 6
HyderabadFinish

Plan ahead

Best time & what to pack

Best time to visit

October to February; Maha Shivaratri at Srisailam is grand but extremely crowded

Things to carry

Traditional dress for Sparsha darshan — dhoti/kurta for men, saree or churidar with dupatta for women
Original Aadhaar card matching your darshan ticket
Towel and change of clothes for Pathala Ganga and Mahanandi
Slip-on footwear
Light jacket for Srisailam mornings in winter

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is Sparsha darshan?

Srisailam is one of the few Jyotirlingas where devotees may touch the linga. Sparsha darshan is a paid, timed slot booked on the Srisailam Devasthanam website; traditional dress is compulsory. On very busy days it may be suspended and only alankara (view) darshan is offered.

Why can't we drive at night?

The Hyderabad–Srisailam road passes through the Amrabad Tiger Reserve, where the forest gates close to traffic overnight. We plan departures so you are through before closing.

Is Mantralayam in Andhra Pradesh or Karnataka?

Mantralayam is in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, right on the Karnataka border across the Tungabhadra. Panchamukhi is on the Karnataka side.

Can seniors manage this trip?

Yes, it is mostly temple visits with long drives. Yaganti's caves involve steep steps — seniors can skip them and visit the main temple only.

Reviews

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Policy

Cancellation & refunds

Refund by days before departure
When you cancel	Refund
30+ days before departure	90% refund
15–29 days before	75% refund
7–14 days before	50% refund
Less than 7 days	No refund

Cancel 30+ days before departure: 90% refund · 15–29 days: 75% · 7–14 days: 50% · under 7 days: no refund. Refunds go back to the original payment method within 7–10 working days. Cancel any time from My Trips — the refund is calculated instantly.

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