Srikalahasti Temple Andhra Pradesh: Explore The Temple Closest to Lord Shiva

Srikalahasti Temple Andhra Pradesh is one of the most beautiful temples in India. It is a center of spirituality and an architectural marvel, boasting the intricately detailed gopuram, which is a common feature among the temples in the south. 

Visiting this temple is said to cure dosh and get rid of planetary defects; due to this, the temple attracts millions of devotees from all over the world. 

In this guide, we will discuss its history, significance, timings, ticket price, poojas, and more. Make your visit a blissful one by finding out all the essentials of visiting the Sri Kalahasti temple.

Srikalahasti Temple Andhra Pradesh History

Located in Andhra Pradesh, Srikalahasti Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is considered a must-visit Shiva temple in India. The temple has been around since the 5th century and is rich in history. The name ‘Srikalahasti’ itself is derived from the tale of the spider, serpent, and elephant, where all three of them attained moksha (liberation) at the temple. 

According to the tale, the spider (Sri), serpent (Kala), and elephant (Hasti) are all devotees of Lord Shiva. The legend narrates a conflict between the animals due to their devotion. 

The spider resides in the inner sanctum of the temple and worships the lingam by weaving intricate webs around it, giving it the shape of a temple. Meanwhile, the serpent brings precious gems from Nagaloka (the mythical land of serpents), and offers them to the Shiva Lingam. 

Lastly, the elephant bathes the Shiva Lingam with its trunk daily by bringing water from the nearby river. However, the cooperation soon turned into competitiveness, resulting in a violent outbreak. 

Out of spite, the serpent poisoned the elephant, causing havoc, during which, the spider perished as well. In the resolution, Lord Shiva, being the most generous of all gods, granted them liberation for their utmost devotion to him.

This tale stands as an epitome of the power of devotion, and every year, bhakts from all over the world come to visit this sacred pilgrimage site. 

What is Srikalahasti Temple Famous For?

Srikalahasti Temple Andhra Pradesh is famous for many things, including the Rahu-Ketu pooja and the Vayu and Jyoti Lingam present in the sanctum sanctorum. When visiting the temple, make sure you are on the lookout for these attractions:

• Vayu Lingam: With the Srikalahasti Temple being one of the five Pancha Bhoota Sthalams, it has its own Shiva Lingam, which depicts Lord Shiva as the Wind God. 

• Rahu-Ketu Pooja: The temple is widely renowned for the divine ceremonies held to worship Rahu and Ketu, which is believed to cure negative planetary effects associated with them. A big proportion of the visitors at the temple take part in this pooja to alleviate the troubles in their lives. 

• Legend of Sri-Kala-Hasti: The temple has its own origin story of the Sri (spider), Kala (serpent), and Hasti (elephant). This tale remains to be an example of selflessness and devotion, and stands as an inspiring tale for the worshipers of Lord Shiva. 

• Dravidian Architecture: Built in the 5th century, it boasts a rich architecture built under the Dravidian style. Throughout the temple, you will find intricate carvings and structures like Gopurams, a 100-pillared hall, and much more. 

While there is a lot more for you to explore, these four are the most important aspects that make Srikalahasti Temple, Andhra Pradesh, such an important place to practice devotion. 

Srikalahasti Temple Timings for Visiting and Pooja

Srikalahasti Temple is open throughout the year for devotees. These are the morning and evening Srikalahasti Temple darshan timings :

• Morning Timings: 6:00 AM to 12:30 PM
• Evening Timings: 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Rahu Kalam Kalahasti Timings:

Monday	7:30 AM to 9:00 AM
Tuesday	3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Wednesday	12:00 PM to 1:30 PM
Thursday	1:30 PM to 3:00 PM
Friday	10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Saturday	9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
Sunday	4:30 PM to 6:00 PM

What are Srikalahasti Temple Ticket Prices?

When visiting Srikalahasti Temple Andhra Pradesh, you must spend some money on the tickets to get the darshan of the main lingam and participate in the pooja. These are the entry ticket prices:

General Darshan	Free
Special Darshan	₹200

Check the Srikalahasti Temple Official Website for any changes in the ticket prices.

Rahu-Ketu Pooja:

Common Seating	₹500
Near The Main Temple	₹750
Inside Temple Premises	₹1,500
VIP Area	₹2,500
Special VIP Pooja	₹5,000

Since the Srikalahasti Temple Rahu Ketu Pooja tickets online booking is not operational as of now, you can only book the tickets on-site. To ease the darshan process, reach the temple early in the morning to skip long queues.

What are the best Things to do in Srikalahasti Temple?

Srikalahasti Temple remains to be a cultural hub for Shiva’s devotees since time immemorial. Offering more than just solitude, the temple has a variety of spiritually enriching and culturally significant activities that people should know about, for example:

• Take part in Rahu-Ketu Pooja: Rahu-Ketu Pooja is one of the most famous rituals performed at the temple. The purpose behind it is to eliminate the negative effects of the planetary positions.

• Witness the Abhishekam: The abhishekam process is performed multiple times throughout the day and includes bathing the deity to preserve the lingam. It is a goosebump-inducing sight with the mantras being chanted in unison and therefore must be witnessed!

• Bathe in the Swarnamukhi River: Walk out anew after taking a holy dip in the refreshing water of the Swarnamukhi River. The river is said to have been brought to earth by the Sage Agastya. 

• Explore the Temple’s Architecture: The prime characteristics of the South Indian temples are incorporated in the Srikalahasti Temple Andhra Pradesh. For example, the Gopuram towers, intricate carvings that depict mythological stories, and the 100-pillar hall built by Krishnadevaraya.

• Visit Pathala Vinayaka Temple: There’s so much to explore at the temple, from deciphering the carvings, to being spellbound by the underground Pathala Vinayaka, which is a shrine dedicated to lord Ganesha!

• Offer prayers to Kannappa Shrine: You can also visit Kannappa Shrine, a small temple dedicated to Bhakta Kannappa, a devotee who offered his eyes to Lord Krishna. 

• Observe the Akhanda Deeparahana: Witness the burning lamp in the temple’s inner sanctum, which is believed to signify the presence of the Vayu Lingam. 

• Attend Special Pooja: Srikalahasti Temple hosts many special poojas throughout the day, like Go Pooja, Suprabhata Seva, Nithya Kalyanam, etc. 

Srikalahasti Temple is full of attractions and areas that you need to explore. Taking part in these activities will enrich your soul and make your journey to Srikalahasti worth the effort and time. 

Srikalahasti Temple Photos

Here are a few mesmerizing images of Srikalahasti Temple Andhra Pradesh. 

To get a better view of the temple, watch this vlog by BikeMyBuddy about a visit to Srikalahasti Temple:

Rules and Regulations to Follow at Srikalahasti Temple

To maintain the sanctity of the temple, devotees are required to adhere to certain rules and regulations. By following the basic temple etiquette, you can have a pleasant experience for yourself and others.

Here are the key rules and regulations you need to follow:

• Dress Modestly: Wear traditional attire when visiting the temple. Revealing clothes are not a suitable option, and both men and women should wear modest attire.

• Take Off Your Shoes: Deposit your shoes outside the temple, as wearing shoes inside the temple is not allowed. 

• Do not Click Pictures: Photography inside the temple is strictly prohibited. Mobile phones are not allowed inside the temple, and visitors need to deposit their phones at the counters outside the temple. 

• Maintain Silence: During pooja and darshan, you should maintain silence to create a peaceful environment. Refrain from taking part in conversations or any disruptive behaviour. 

• Do Not Litter: Devotees should dispose of pooja materials after the pooja is done. Avoid any littering inside or outside the temple.

• Fasting Before the Pooja: Before taking part in Rahu-Ketu pooja, devotees can fast and refrain from eating non-vegetarian food for at least a week. 

Being mindful of these rules and maintaining temple etiquette, you can ensure a respectful and spiritually rewarding experience for yourself and also be a good guest at the Srikalahasti Temple. 

How to Reach Srikalahasti Temple?

Located in the town of Srikalahasti in Andhra Pradesh, the temple is named after its place of origin. Visiting the temple requires many visitors to travel long distances and properly plan the voyage. Being a cultural hub for Lord Shiva worshippers, the Srikalahasti Temple is well-connected to the world and is accessible by various modes of transport. 

By Road

• From Chennai: Srikalahasti is 120 km away from Chennai by car. You can take the NH16 highway to reach Srikalahasti.

• From Bangalore: Bangalore is 275 km away from Srikalahasti, and you can take the NH75 and NH716 highways to reach your destination.

• From Hyderabad: To reach Srikalahasti from Hyderabad, you need to cover a distance of approximately. 550 to 600 km and take the NH44, NH65, and NH16 highways. 

• From Tirupati: Tirupati is only 42 km away from Srikalahasti, and you can reach the temple from the NH140 highway.

By Air

Those who want to take a flight can either book a ticket to Tirupati Airport or the Chennai International Airport. Here is how much you need to travel.

• Tirupati Airport: Tirupati Airport is only 24 km away from the Srikalahasti Temple. After landing at the airport, you can take a taxi to the temple. 

• Chennai International Airport: You can also take a flight to Chennai International Airport, which is 120 km away from Srikalahasti Temple, and then book a cab to the temple. 

By Train

• Srikalahasti Railway Station: Only 3.1 km away from the temple, Srikalahasti Railway Station is the nearest. 

• Tirupati Railway Station: Located at a distance of 41 km from the Srikalahasti Temple, Tirupati Railway Station is the second-closest station.

Places to Visit Near Srikalahasti Temple

Srikalahasti Temple Andhra Pradesh, being an important point of worship, has some other notable spiritual attractions around the city. After being done with Srikakahasti Temple, you can visit these notable places:

• Bharadwaja Teertham (650 m)
• Sri Subrahmanya Swamy Temple (1 km)
• Pathala Vinayaka Temple (1.8 km)
• Bhakta Kannappa Temple (6.8 km)
• Sahasra Linga Temple (7.9 km)
• Veyilinga Kona Waterfall (7.9 km)
• Swarnamukhi River (14.8 km)
• Ubbalamadugu Falls (39 km)
• Tirupati (42 km)
• Chandragiri Fort (52 km)
• Kailasakona Waterfalls (64 km)

When planning your visit, make sure to keep these places in mind to ensure that you have visit to Srikalahasti Temple happens without any misses. 

Wrapping Up

Srikalahasti Temple Andhra Pradesh, offers a profound spiritual experience to the devotees, leaving them feeling closer to Shiva. The temple wears its history in the walls, carvings, and sacred shrines dedicated to everybody who played a part in enhancing the cultural significance of Kalahasti.

So, whether you are looking for some peace or want to grow your devotion towards Lord Shiva, you should visit the Srikalahasti Temple and witness marvels such as Rahu-Ketu pooja, the Dravidian architecture, and everything the temple has to offer.