Srisailam visit on Janmastmi Day

Srisailam: 12-15 Aug 2017

Some pictures at https://www.flickr.com/photos/drprithviraval/albums/72157685208314920

‘Indira - the rain god’ was with me on this trip to Srisailam, AP.  When it poured everywhere including Bangalore, I did not face a drizzle on this Janmashtmi - Independence day trip !

(As per my prayer!!)

Left Bangalore on Saturday 12th morning by 9 am after breakfast and was at Kurnool by 3 pm (371 KM). Saw the Konda Reddy Fort, Baba Mandir and walked around town. Next day left to Srisailam. The Ghat road is lovely going through the forests. Took me 4 and half hours for the 185 KM trip.

Srisailam was full of people, to the brim and there is no other private accommodation available there.  I was lucky to get a dormitory, which was a nice experience. Had not slept in one, since the YMCA school days!  Could see the Krishna River from a distance.  People at the temple town were really enjoying themselves. The Srisailam temple is the abode of one of the 12 Jyothirlinga’s.

Janmashtmi evening was at Puttaparthi. Young college girl students did a play on ‘Meera Bai’ which was exceptional. Left on Tue 15^th morning by 11 am and was home by 2 pm.

In the evening it rained like hell !

Total distance 1125 KMs:

Bangalore > Kurnool > Srisailam > (556 Kms)

Kurnool > Ananthapur > Dharmavaram > Puttaparthi  > Bangalore (569 Kms)

Avenger motorcycle about 39 Kms / litre.  Underlined = Overnight stay

History Srisailam:

The earliest known historical mention of the Hill-Srisailam can be traced in Pulumavi’s Nasik inscription of 2nd Century A.D. Malla Satakarani, an early member of he Satavahanas got his name after ‘Mallanna’ the deity on this sacred hill.

The Vishnukundis (AD 375-612) were the devotees of God Sriparvatha Swamy who was none other than Mallikarjuna Swamy, the presiding deity of Srisaila Kshetram. The Telagunda inscription of Kadamba Santi Varma proves that the Srisailam region was originally included in the Pallava Kingdom (AD 248-575) and subsequently formed the first independent principality of Kadambas (AD 340-450).

The period of Reddi Kings (AD 1325-1448) is the Golden Age of Srisailam that almost all rulers of this dynasty did celebrated service for the temple. Prolaya Vema Reddy, the Reddi King constructedstepped path way to Srisailam and also Pathalaganga.

In the year 1674 AD Chatrapathi Sivaji the great Maratha King visited Srisailam, restored the festivals of the temple under protection of his officers and taken up some renovations. According to tradition the north gopuram of the temple was caused by him.
Later the Moghal Emperors conqured this region and this place was given as Jagir to Nawabs of Kurnool. After the fall of Moghal Emperors this place came under the control of Nizam of Hyderabad. When the Nizam cede the Kurnool District to the British East India Company in 1800 AD, Major Manro took procession of the District and entrusted the management to the authorities of the District Court.
In 1929 a committee was constituted by the British Government for the management of the temple.  In 1949 the temple came under the control of Endowments Department and attained its past glory after it was opened by the road during the year 1956.