South India is a magnificent environment with a lot of stunning and impressive buildings, from huge forts to divine temples, from pillars of Chalukyas to minute stone carvings of Krishnadevaraya. They are all distinct in their history, architecture, buildings, and stories. South Indian architecture has been a notable example of ancient architecture throughout history.
From Dravidian architecture to the Vijayanagara style, there are a variety of temples to explore here. Temples like Virupaksha Temple, Meenakshi Temple, Venkateswara Temple, etc. are only a few names among the variety of temples here. Srikalahasti Temple is a temple that has a long history and has been present since what seems like the beginning of time. Hotels in Kalahasti can be found by going for internet bookings.
About Srikalahasti Temple
This heavenly temple is located in the Chittoor district of the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. Srikalahasti is a temple town renowned among devotees who visit the temple. The Srikalahasti Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is a god with tremendous religious significance for Hindus. It was created in the year 1516 by Krishnadevraya, the king of the Vijayanagara empire. The temple has an ornate construction that takes one’s breath away with its beautiful design right from the entrance. The temple features elaborate carvings of different legendary stories that can be examined in the heavenly surroundings. The temple is often referred to as the Kailasa or Kashi of the south. It is advised to arrange hotels in Kalahasti near the temple to enjoy a great time with friends and family.
The temple is structured in such a way that it represents one of the five elements—air, or vaayu. There is an abundance of heavenly and energetic energy in the air over there. The temple manages to attract visitors from all over the world with its fascinating architecture and beauty. South India has several temples famed for their architecture, but the Srikalahasti Temple stands out from all. The architecture of this temple is to be appreciated,, as the temple has beautifully adorned gopurams with finely carved interiors. This temple is like a treasure trove for anyone who lovess studying and investigating South Indian temple architecture. Book the best hotels in Srikalahasti to make your stay beautiful and memorable.
History of Srikalahasti Temple
The name of Srikalahasti Temple is inspired by a famous mythical legend. The folklore holds that a spider (Sri), a snake (Kala), and an elephant (Hasti) used to worship Lord Shiva in the town to obtain Moksha. Therefore, during the Pallava period in the 5th century, the Srikalahasti Temple was built by Krishnadevraya, the king of the Vijayanagara Empire.
The Chola Kingdom brought about significant changes in the infrastructure of this temple in the 11th century. The temple was further extended by expanding the temple complex, repairs, the installation of some new structures, etc.. throughout the rule of the Chola dynasty as well as the Vijayanagara dynasty in the 16th century. Nakkeerar, a Tamil poet, has cited the Srikalahasti Temple multiple times in his work,, thus demonstrating its existence during the Tamil Sangam Dynasty. Dhoorjati, who was another prominent Telugu poet, composed numerous stanzas on the Srikalahasti Temple, extolling its divine beauty.
The Architecture of Srikalahasti Temple
The Srikalahasti Temple boasts an exquisite Dravidian style of architecture. It was built during the Pallava period in the 5th century. This stately temple has a fantastic perspective for the guests to stare at as it is positioned at the base of a hill. Some people believe that it is a monolithic building, meaning that it is composed of a single big block of stone. Hotels in Srikalahasti near the temple area can be located with a lot of ease since it is a renowned tourist attraction.
The main entrance of the Srikalahasti Temple faces south and the major shrine faces west. The Shiva Lingam inside the temple is made up of white stone and is in the shape of an elephant’s trunk. The primary gopuram of the temple is roughly one hundred and twenty feet high. The temple complex features a mandapa inside, which has over a hundred beautifully carved pillars that were created during Krishnadevraya’s reign as Vijaynagara King in 1516. There is a nine-foot-tall rock-cut shrine dedicated to Lord Ganesha. The temple also has shrines for Jnana Prasanna Mamba, Kasi Viswanatha, Suryanarayan, Subramanya, Annapurna, and Sad Ganapathi. They are all embellished with images of Ganapati, Mahalakshmi Ganapathi, Vallabha Ganapati, and Sahasra Lingeshwara. The temple complex also features two additional mandaps: the Sadyogi Mandap and the Jalkoti Mandap. It also contains two water bodies: Chandra Pushkarani and Surya Pushkarani.
Religious Significance of Srikalahasti Temple
The Srikalahasti Temple is classified as one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalamss, where the presiding deity is worshipped as Air or Vaayu Lingam. This temple is recognized as the Kashi and Kailasa of the South. The temple is mentioned multiple times in the songs written by Saivite saints of the first century. All the other temples close down during the solar and lunar eclipses, save for the Srikalahasti temple,, which is the only temple to remain open on those days in India. Rahu-Kethu pooja is a prominent pooja done here,, and Srikalahasti Temple is famous for the same. People think that if one conducts this pooja, it will safeguard the people from the astrological influences of Rahu and Kethu. Book hotels in Kalahasti near the temple to reduce travel fatigue.
According to Hindu tradition, Brahma had worshipped Kalahatiswara at this spot during all four of the Yugas. The Pandava prince during the Mahabharata, Arjuna, is said to have worshipped the presiding deity sitting here. The hunter who turned into an enthusiastic devotee of Shiva unintentionally, known as Kannappa, is also related to the Srikalahasti Temple. The works of Nakkeerar and the Nalvars, namely Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar, and Manickavasanagar,, also find mention in the temple in the canonical works of Tirumura. The temple is classified as Paandal Petra Sthalam as it is recognized and venerated in Tevaram. It is one of the two hundred and seventy-five temples that are mentioneded in the Saiva canon. Book hotels in Kalahasti near the temple to reduce travel fatigue.
Timings for Visiting Srikalahasti Temple
The temple is open to people from 6:00 in the morning to 9:30 in the evening. But on Tuesday, Wednesday,, and Thursday, the temple is open from 6:00 in the morning to 9:00 in the evening.
The schedules for several types of pujas in the Srikalahasti Temple are mentioned below:
- Temple Abhishekam: The period for this puja is 6:00 in the morning, 7:00 in the morning, 10:00 in the morning, and 5:00 in the evening. The puja is held every day of the week.
- Rahu Ketu Puja: This puja is held from 6:00 in the morning until 6:00 in the evening. It is conducted every day of the week.
- Asservachana Rahu Ketu Kaal Sarpa Nirvana Puja: The timing for this puja is 6:00 in the morning to 6:00 in the evening.
- Special Ashirvachanam Rahu Ketu Kaal Sarpa Nirvana Puja: The schedule for this puja is 6:00 in the morning until 6:00 in the evening.
Ticket Price for Srikalahasti Temple
Although there is no entry fe to attend or worship in the Srikalahasti Temple, there are different entry fees imposed depending upon which puja one is going to watch. The charges for each puja are stated below:
- Temple Abhishekam: The admission fee is Rs.. 600 per person.
- Subrata Seva: There is a modest fee of Rs 50 per person here.
- Archana: The per-person price for the same is Rs 25.
- Gomatha Pooja: There is a payment of Rs 50 per participant.
- Sahasra Namarchana: There is a cost of Rs 200 per person for attending this puja.
- Trisathi Archana: There is a cost of Rs.. 125 per participant.
- Rahu Ketu Puja: There is an entry fee of Rs 500 per person for attending this puja. It is done in the outer courtyard of the temple.
- Kaal Sarp Nirvana Puja: There is an entry fee of Rs 750 for witnessing this puja.
- Ashirvachanam Rahu Ketu Kaal Sarpa Nirvana Puja: There is an entry charge of Rs 1500 per person for the puja. This pooja is done within the temple premises.
- Special Ashirvachanam Rahu Ketu Kaal Sarp Nirvana Puja: There is an admission fee of Rs 2500 for visiting this puja.
Best Time to Visit Srikalahasti Temple
The best time to visit the lovely Srikalahasti Temple is in the winter season, from November to February. This time range is preferable as the weather will be pleasant when visiting the place. Book hotels in Kalahasti near the temple to reduce travel fatigue.
How to Reach Srikalahasti Temple
There are numerous ways in which one can reach the temple:
- By Airways: The nearest airport to the Srikalahasti Temple is the Tirupati Airport, which is about 25 kilometers away. There are daily flights to Tirupati from Hyderabad, Delhi, and Bangalore. The closest major airport isChennai Airport, which is ninety-nine kilometers from Srikalahasti Temple. Book hotels in Kalahasti near the temple to reduce travel fatigue.
- By Railway: There is a railway station at Sri Kalahasti. It is well connected to all the cities in the southern part of India. There are trains from cities like Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Vijayawada.
- via road: It takes around five hours from Bangalore to to reach Tirupati via road. There are state transit buses like KSRTC and APSRTC that operate during the day and night. APSRTC buses travel every half hour to Tirupati. It also offers a customized package named Yatra Darshini and Divya Darshini. Book the top hotels in Srikalahasti to experience a pleasant stay in Andhra Pradesh.
Places to see Near Srikalahasti Temple
If one wants to explore more, there are other attractions to visit around Srikalahasti Temple:
- Sahasra Linga Temple: The word “sahahsara” stands for thousand. It keeps true to its name,, as one can discover thousands ofs of carved Lingas here. Located in a lush green jungle, this site is just like a whole new universe.
- Talakona Waterfall: It is a stunning two hundred and seventy-foot-tall waterfall. Adventure freaks can visit this stunning waterfall to see more of Southern India’s natural splendor.
A touch of South India’s splendor can clearly be appreciated during a visit to the Srikalahasti Temple. If you don’t believe us, experience it for yourself!
