Srisailam–Hampi Trip

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Earlier this year when I was jolting down the Hindu pilgrimage sites, Jyotirlinga’s (12 of them) were one of the places on my to-do list. Sri Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga Temple is number two of total 12 Jyotirlingas, situated in Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh (Now Telangana).

It was a sudden trip to Srisailam, I was just back from Jog Falls trip and was fully energized. Came Thursday, again eagerness to go wild came in mind. I heard a lot about Srisailam, greenery all around, a dam built across River Krishna, Bhramaramba Mallikarjunaswamy Temple (dedicated to Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy, a form of Shiva) and Devi Bhramaramba (a form of Parvati).

I stay away from hotels, off course the budget thing, so had to plan my journey in such a way. So itinerary became like this-

Date – 17-08-2013 to 19-08-2013.

Hyderabad to Srisailam – seat# 30 APSRTC Bus, Departure 23:45, Arrival 08:30.

Srisailam to Markapur Road – Via Bus/Taxi. Unreserved, Departure 18:30, Arrival 21:30.

Markapur Road to Hospet – Unreserved. Train# 17225, Departure 22:20, Arrival 06:30.

Hospet to Hampi n Back – Via Bus. Unreserved.

Hospet to Hyderabad – Unreserved. Train# 17004, Departure 19:20, Arrival 06:30. But later on it became a bus journey; rather a long bus journey, Hospet – Sindhanur – Raichur - Hyderabad.

Went totally unreserved, except the starting journey, this time, coz of last moment plan.



Srisailam, heaven – 2nd Jyotirlinga is here. Shiva's sacred bull Nandi is said to have performed penance at the temple till Shiva and Parvati appeared before him as Mallikarjuna and Brahmaramba. Legends says this Kalyuga will come to an end when Nandi will leave this place. Adi Shankaracharya visited this place and composed Shivananda Lahari, one hundred stanzas Sanskrit poetry. Maratha king Chhatrapathi Shivaji came here and seeing the beauty, he decided to stay here leaving everything behind. Legends says that Bhramaramba devi gave him a sword and said you need to finish what you have started, go on. And Shivaji obeyed Her, won so many battles for a better kingdom ship.



Hampi; the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra river. The ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed as the Group of Monuments at Hampi. The ruins are spread across 25 kms. area. Peace all around, a perfect destination for backpackers like me.

Continued….