This was a long awaited trip for me. I hope this blog guides for those who want to plan the budget trip with family or friends. Total travel distance (Mantralayam to Srisailam) covers approximately 700 kms in 4days, Hyderabad - Hyderabad covers 1200 kms approximately in 5-6 days . Here i go about my travell experiences in detail.
Day 1 - Hyderabad.
I started my journey from Hyderabad by train (as i prefer train, based on availability) to Mantralayam. There are few trains which stops at Mantralayam Road (MALM) railway station. I choosed one among those trains based on availability and comfort.
Train name: TATA YPR express which is available only on Fridays .
Boarded the train at 22:25 into AC coach as that was winter I preferred AC coach as we can control the temperature. The same train stops at Lingampalli at 23:03. Got my birth and had a comfortable and warm sleep.
Distance travelled: Overnight - 270 kms
Day 2:
Morning 6:00 am train stopped at Mantralayam Road railway station. I was ready with my luggage and eager enough to start my trip. Jumped on the platform with full energy and had a glance at railway station. What an amazing station south central railways has came up with. This is a newly constructed railway station with accommodation facilities available for the pilgrims visiting Mantralayam.
Mantralayam temple is at the distance of 12 kms from the railway station. You have RTC bus / auto rickshaws available at railway station.n
Frequency of bus: every 30 mins. @₹10 per head
Auto rickshaw: mostly available @ ₹20 per head.
Early morning ride to Mantralayam was so mesmerising. Two sides of the road is covered with green fields and witnessed the sunrise with clear sky.
After 30 mins of auto ride, we reached Mantralayam. Mantralayam has good accommodation and locker facilities. As we not planned to stay in Mantralayam, choosed lockers to keep the luggage. One can find lockers on the left side to the temple. They charge ₹10 per head and can avail washroom facilities. Believe me, wash rooms at railway station was much better compared to these. We also had an alternate to take a holy dip in river Thungabadra which is just behind the temple. But, terms and conditions- based on availability of water.
After refreshing at the locker zone we had a walk towards Thungabadhra river and found many stalls serving breakfast and other pooja related items. As the water level was poor that day, we came back and went for darshan.
For darshan we entered Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt (temple building) and had darshan of Manchalamma devi and continued to the main temple which is also called as Samadhi. It was so pleasant to meditate near Samadhi. Yes, you are allowed to meditate in front of Samadhi for a while if the crowd is less.
Bichalai is the place located on the bank of river Thungabadra where bikhsa (food/prasadam) was prepared with out fire , and Panchamukha anjaneya is the place where Sri Anjaneya Swami guided Sri Raghavendra Swami way to Mantralayam. These two are the places covered mostly by the travelers.
It is believed that the upper jaw with tooth of Devi fell here at this place.
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| Mantralayam road (MALM) railway station- 6:30 AM |
Mantralayam temple is at the distance of 12 kms from the railway station. You have RTC bus / auto rickshaws available at railway station.n
Frequency of bus: every 30 mins. @₹10 per head
Auto rickshaw: mostly available @ ₹20 per head.
Early morning ride to Mantralayam was so mesmerising. Two sides of the road is covered with green fields and witnessed the sunrise with clear sky.
After 30 mins of auto ride, we reached Mantralayam. Mantralayam has good accommodation and locker facilities. As we not planned to stay in Mantralayam, choosed lockers to keep the luggage. One can find lockers on the left side to the temple. They charge ₹10 per head and can avail washroom facilities. Believe me, wash rooms at railway station was much better compared to these. We also had an alternate to take a holy dip in river Thungabadra which is just behind the temple. But, terms and conditions- based on availability of water.
After refreshing at the locker zone we had a walk towards Thungabadhra river and found many stalls serving breakfast and other pooja related items. As the water level was poor that day, we came back and went for darshan.
For darshan we entered Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt (temple building) and had darshan of Manchalamma devi and continued to the main temple which is also called as Samadhi. It was so pleasant to meditate near Samadhi. Yes, you are allowed to meditate in front of Samadhi for a while if the crowd is less.
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| Samadhi inside the Temple Complex |
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| Attractions at temple complex |
Had a pleasant darshan in 30 mins and came out of the mutt. It was Ekadashi. So, no prasadam counters open. One should go out of mutt to have some food. After darshan, next plan is to cover the near by visiting places like bichalai and pancha mukha anjaney temple. Auto rickshaw facilities are available near temple area to cover this places and drop back to temple. Total distance covered will be 45kms approx.
Bichalai is the place located on the bank of river Thungabadra where bikhsa (food/prasadam) was prepared with out fire , and Panchamukha anjaneya is the place where Sri Anjaneya Swami guided Sri Raghavendra Swami way to Mantralayam. These two are the places covered mostly by the travelers.
With these places covered we are done with Mantralayam and have proceeded to Kurnool.
We have very few buses available from Mantralayam to kurnool. So, one have to go Yemiganuru, which is on the way to kurnool, and find a connecting bus to Kurnool.
So its Mantralayam-> Yemiganuru -> kurnool.
Alampur :
About:
Alampur Jogulamba Temple is a cluster of temples dedicated to Nava Brahmas. Bala Brahmeswara is the presiding deity here. This place is also called as southern Kashi, as the temple has the most matching features of Khashi.
Alampur Jogulamba is considered the Shakti of Bala Brahmeswara Swamy and the actual construction of the temple dates back to 6th century.
One among the attractions of this temple is its architecture and cluster of temples for nava bramha names as Bala Bramha, Kumara Bramha, Arka Bramha, Veera Bramha, Vishwa Bramha, Taraka Bramha, Garuda Bramha, Swarga Bramha and Padma Bramha.
This temple is also called as Sangama Kshetra ( Krishna and Tungabadra Samgamam).
Journey:
Those details are much enough to make Alampur as our next destination. Nearest way to reach Alampur is from Kurnool. It was almost evening, we started to Alampur from Kurnool bus stand. Frequent buses are available to Alampur from Kurnool which is just 22 kms. It took 45 mins to reach Alampur.
It was getting dark each passing minute and finally reach Alampur bus stand by the time light disappeared. Its walk-able distance to temple from Alampur bus stop. So, we started walking to Jogulamba temple which is one of the 18 shakthi peetams.
Fortunately the time we reached is the time for Sandya Harathi, last harathi in the temple.
With the pleasant darshan followed by journey back to Kurnool and check-in to the hotel concluded the journey on Day 2.
With the pleasant darshan followed by journey back to Kurnool and check-in to the hotel concluded the journey on Day 2.
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