36 Best Pilgrimage Sites in South India

At a distance of 160 km from Nandyal, 181 km from Kurnool, 229 km from Hyderabad, 263 km from Vijayawada and 527 km from Bangalore, Srisailam is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva situated on the banks of River Krishna in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the most important pilgrimage centers of Lord Shiva in India and also one of the top Places to visit in Andhra. Srisailam is also one of the most popular weekend getaways from Hyderabad.

Srisailam is famous for Srisailam Dam & Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The sanctum enshrines Lord Mallikarjuna in the form of a linga protected by a three-hooded cobra. This ancient temple built in the Dravidian style with lofty towers and sprawling courtyards is one of the finest specimens of Vijayanagara architecture. Though the exact origins of the temple are not available, the Satavahanas of the 2nd century AD have referred to it. The Kakatiyas and the Vijayanagara kings have made several endowments here.

The unique feature of this kshetram is the combination of Jyothirlingam and Mahasakthi (in the form of Bhramarambika) in one campus, which is very rare and only one of its kind. The great religious leader Aadi Sankara is said to have visited this shrine and composed his immortal Sivananda Lahiri here.

Srisailam is ...

Murudeshwar is one of the most famous places to visit in Karnataka and among the popular places of Pilgrimage in India. It is about 162 km from Mangalore & 497 km from Bangalore.

Murudeshwar is the abode of Lord Shiva. The temple town is famous for the world's second tallest Shiva statue (123 ft) & tallest temple tower (249 feet). The sea on three sides surrounds the Murudeshwar Temple towering on the small hill called Kanduka Giri. This is a great place to watch the sunset. Murdeshwar Beach, Kollur Temple are popular sites to visit as part of Murudeshwar tour packages. Gokarna, Karwar, Kollur, Udupi, Jog Falls, Sirsi & Sringeri are the nearby attractions.

Maha Shivaratri during February is the important festival celebrated here with much devotion and religious rituals. The best time to visit Murudeshwar is from November to February. Explore our Murudeshwar Travel Guide for complete details on the beautiful and sacred placce. Murudeshwar can also be visited along with Gokarna tour packages.

Udupi is one of the most famous Pilgrimage Sites in Karnataka and well known for it's beautiful beaches. Located between the verdant mountains of the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, Udupi is the land of breathtaking beauty. It is about 403 km from the city of Bangalore.

Udupi is famous for Sri Krishna Temple which attracts pilgrims from all over India. This temple has a fascinating idol of Lord Krishna that is richly adorned with jewels. Apart from the temple, Malpe Beach, Kaup Beach & St Mary's Island are the top places to visit as part of Udupi tour packages.

It is also the source of renowned Udupi cuisine, which is served all over India in the efficiently-run Udupi restaurants, famous for dosas, idlis and other snacks. The tradition of this cuisine started in the great kitchens of the Krishna Temple which serve meals in the form of prasad to the thousands of devotees who come to pray at the holy shrine. Explore our Udupi Travel Guide for complete details on the holy shrine. Udupi can also be visited along with Murudeshwar tour packages.

At a distance of 66 km from Nandyal, 137 km from Kurnool, 114 km from Kadapa, 348 km from Vijayawada, 350 km from Hyderabad and 407 km from Bangalore, Ahobilam or Ahobalam is an important pilgrimage center located in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. Ahobilam is one of the most famous pilgrimage sites in Andhra Pradesh and also one of the best Places to visit in Andhra Pradesh.

Ahobilam is the holy abode of Lord Narasimha, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu in man-lion form. According to legend, this is the place where Lord Narasimha killed Hiranyakasipu and saved Prahalada. Though the initial temples were built by Chalukyas in 8th century, most of the current structures were rebuilt by Vijayanagara kings around 15th century.

Situated amidst dense Nallamala Forest, Ahobilam is one of the 108 Divya Desams. This place is also called as Nava Narasimha Kshetra since Lord Narasimha is worshipped in 9 different forms and separate temples exist for all the forms within a radius of 5 km from the main temple. Jwala Narasimha, Ahobila Narasimha, Malola Narasimha, Kroda Narasimha, Kaaranja Narasimha, Bhargava Narasimha, Yaogananda Narasimha, Chathravata Narasimha and Paavana Narasimha are the nine forms of Lord Narasimha in Ahobilam. Few of these temples have easy access, but most of them have to be reached by difficult treks through thick forest and rocky paths.

The town is divided ...

At a distance of 84 km from Rajahmundry, 123 km from Vizag, 234 km from Vijayawada and 483 km from Hyderabad, Annavaram is a village situated on the banks of river Pampa in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. Annavaram is famous for Sri Satyanarayana Swamy temple and is one of the famous Places to visit in Andhra Pradesh. It is believed that all the wishes of devotees will be fulfilled when Satyanarayana Vratam is performed here.

It is believed that the presiding deity of the place blesses the devotees with anina varam (pronounced or wanted boon), the place is called Annavaram. According to history, Sri Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagar used the secret underground passages in the hills to attack the enemy from both sides during his invasion of Kalinga. The Andhra revolutionary late Alluri Seetharama Raju used the secret quarters in these hill ranges, when he rebelled against the British Rule.

The shrine of Lord Veera Venkata Satyanarayana Swamy is situated on Ratnagiri hill top. The name of the Goddess is Ananta Lakshmi Satyavathi Devi. Meruvu the Lord of the hills and his consort Menaka did great penance and got two sons by the grace of Lord Vishnu. One was Bhadra and the other Ratnakara. Bhadra pleased Lord Vishnu with his devotion and penance, became Bhadrachalam on which Lord Sri Rama had permanently settled. Ratnakara ...

At a distance of 71 km from Tirupati, 13 km from Chittoor, 175 km from Chennai, 181 km from Bangalore, 50 km from Vellore, 59 km from Sripuram, 420 km from Coimbatore and 575 km from Hyderabad, Kanipakam is a village and pilgrimage center located in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. Famous for the Varasiddhi Vinayaka Temple (Kanipakam Temple), Kanipakam is one of the top Andhra Pradesh places to visit. This is one of the ideal weekend getaways near Bangalore & Chennai for a day trip and a major pilgrimage site in Andhra Pradesh.

This village lies close to Karnataka & Tamil Nadu border on the banks of Bahuda River. The temple was constructed in the 11th century by Chola king Kulothunga Chola I and was expanded further in 1336 by Vijayanagara Kings. Kanipakam temple is a rare temple with a self-manifestation (swayambhu) idol of Lord Ganesha.

The striking feature of the idol is that it is still growing in size. According to a legend, there were three handicapped brothers, Dumb, Deaf and Blind. They were farmers and used to draw water for farming from a well nearby. One day the well got dried and they could no longer continue cultivation. One of them got into the well and started digging it up. He was shocked to see blood coming out of the well. Within in a few seconds the entire water turned red. All the three became normal getting rid ...

At a distance of 125 km from Anantapur, 124 km from Bangalore City Junction, 225 km from Tirupati, 478 km from Hyderabad & 569 km from Vijayawada, Lepakshi is a small village which lies 14 km east of Hindupur in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh. It is the one of the important heritage sites in Andhra Pradesh highlighting the legacy of Vijayanagara Dynasty. It is one of the famous Tourist places in Andhra Pradesh and also one of the popular one day trip from Bangalore.

Lepakshi was founded in the 16th century during the reign of the Vijayanagara king, Aliiya Rama Raya. Virupanna, the royal treasurer was accused of drawing funds without the king's permission from the state treasury to build the Veerabhadra temple at Lepakshi. However, he blinded himself to avoid the king's punishment. Even today one can see two dark stains upon the wall near the Kalyana Mandapa, which are said to be the marks made by his eyes. Hence the village is called 'Lepa-akshi', means a village of the blinded eye.

Lepakshi is the centre of some of the finest temple architecture and paintings. Lepakshi consists of three important shrines dedicated to Shiva, Vishnu and Veerabhadra, of which Veerabhadra temple is the most important place to visit in Lepakshi (this ...

At a distance of 19 km from Nandyal, 93 km from Kurnool, 135 km from Kadapa, 306 km from Hyderabad, 316 km from Vijayawada and 360 km from Bangalore, Mahanandi is a holy Shivaite pilgrimage center located in Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh. This is also one of the famous Andhra Pradesh places to visit.

Located to the east of Nallamala Hills, Mahanandi is a picturesque village surrounded by thick forest. Within 15 km radius from Mahanandi, there are nine Nandis (Bulls) known as Nava Nandis. Mahanandi is famous for the Mahanandiswara Temple and foremost shrines of Nava Nandis. The nine Nandi temples are Mahanandi, Shivanandi, Vinayakanandi, Somanandi, Prathamanandi, Garudanandi, Suryanandi, Krishnanandi and Naganandi.

The 7th century Mahanandiswara Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is very famous and sacred place. Though the initial structure was built by Chalukyas in 7th century, several additions were done in 10th and 15th centuries. The gopuram over central sanctum is built in Badami Chalukyan style of architecture and other structures in the temple are in Vijayanagara style. According to the legend, the local kings known as Nandas ruled here in the 10th century AD and they built a number of temples and worshipped their ancestral deity the Nandi, hence the name Mahanandi.

The remarkable feature here is the crystal clear water in Pushkarini which flows throughout the year. ...

At a distance of 74 km from Kurnool, 148 km from Nandyal, 49 km from Adoni, 43 km from Raichur, 253 km from Hyderabad, 301 km from Hubli, 402 km from Bangalore and 416 km from Vijayawada, Mantralayam, also known as Manchale or Mantralaya is situated in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. This is the place where the Vaishnava saint Sri Guru Raghavendra took Jeeva Samadhi (tomb) and is also one of the popular Places to visit in Andhra. Mantralayam is situated near the border of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh along the banks of River Tungabhadra, a chief tributary of River Krishna.

Mantralayam is associated with the famous saint Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy, renowned Hindu saint and philosopher. Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy, lived between 1595 and 1671 was an influential saint in Hinduism. Followers of the saint consider him to be an incarnation of Bhakta Prahallada, who was saved by Vishnu in the avatar of Narasimha. Sri Raghavendra Swamy is said to have performed many miracles during his lifetime and has a large following even today. Mantralayam is a small and peaceful town situated on the banks of the River Tungabhadra and gets thousands of devotees from all over the country. He also served as the head of Sri Mutt of Kumbakonam from 1621 to 1671.

Mantralayam is also popular for Manchalamma Temple located near the Samadhi Temple, inside the Mantralayam ...

At a distance of 37 km from Tirupati, 113 km from Chennai, 291 km from Bangalore, 375 km from Vijayawada and 552 km from Hyderabad, Srikalahasti, popularly known as Kalahasti is one of the ancient and most important Shiva Kshetras situated in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. Srikalahasti is famous for Srikalahasteeswara Temple (referred as Srikalahasti Temple) built in 10th century. The entire temple was carved out of the side of a huge stone hill. Srikalahasti is among ideal weekend getaways from Chennai city for a two day trip and also one of the top places to experience AP Tourism.

Srikalahasti got its name from three words - 'Sri' meaning a spider, 'Kala' meaning a serpent and Hasti meaning an elephant, as these three creatures are believed to have worshipped Lord Shiva at this place and attained salvation. It is located on the banks of the River Swarnamukhi, which is a tributary to River Pennar, one of the major rivers in South India. The ancient Shiva temple of Srikalahasti finds reference in the three ancient epics the Skanda Purana, Shiva Purana and the Linga Purana. According to Skanda Purana Arjuna came to this place to worship Kalahasteeswara (Lord Shiva) and met Rishi Bharadwaja on the peak of a hill.

The temple of Kalahasteeswara is one of the most impressive Siva temples in India. This ...

At a distance of 22 km from Tirupati, 87 km from Chittoor, 435 km from Vijayawada, 574 km from Hyderabad, 785 km from Vizag, 155 km from Chennai and 271 km from Bangalore, Tirumala, located in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, is one of the most famous pilgrimage centers in India and also one of the top places to experince Andhra Pradesh tourism. Tirumala is commonly referred as Tirupati by devotees, but they are 22 km apart and the sacred Balaji Temple is situated in Tirumala.

Tirumala, adobe of Sri Venkateswara (also known as Balaji - an incarnation of Lord Vishnu) is one of the most celebrated pilgrimage centers in India and it attracts millions of devotees every year. The Tirumala Temple is situated atop the Tirumala Hills which consists of seven peaks known as Sapthagiri at an altitude of 3,200 feet. The seven peaks represent the seven hoods of Adishesha, the serpent on whom lies Lord Vishnu.

The temple of Lord Venkateswara was built by the Tamil king Thondaimaan. The Pallavas of Kanchipuram (9th century), Cholas of Tanjore (10th century), Pandyas of Madurai and Vijayanagara Kings (14th & 15th centuries) regularly visited the temple and made large contributions towards its development. ...

At a distance of 37 km from Guntur, 273 km from Hyderabad, 354 km from Vizag, 453 km from Chennai and 643 km from Bangalore, Vijayawada, also known as Bezawada, is the second largest city in Andhra Pradesh State and also one of the top Places to visit in Andhra Pradesh. It is located on the banks of the Krishna River to the South, Budameru River on the north and the Indrakiladri Hills on the west. This is the largest railway junction of the South Central Railway, situated along the Chennai-Howrah and Chennai-Delhi rail route.

Legend says that Goddess Durga took rest in this sacred place after destroying a Rakshasa and since then the name 'Land of Victory' or Vijayawada came into existence. The discovery of Stone Age artifacts along the banks of River Krishna from Machilipatnam to Nagarjuna Sagar indicates that this area was inhabited long before. The Chalukyas once conquered this place and it was later part of Vengi Kindom, Eastern Gangas, Vijayanagaras and Reddy Dynasty. Finally it came under British Madras presidency.

The major attractions of Vijayawada are Kanaka Durga temple and Mangalagiri temple. Apart from these, other tourist attractions include Prakasham Barrage, Gandhi Hill, Mogalarajapuram Caves, Victoria Museum, Hazarat Bal Mosque, Rajiv Gandhi Park and Bhavani Island. The Kondapalli Reserve Forest in the western outskirts that sprawls over an area of 121.5 sq. km is ...

At a distance of 55 km from Nandyal, 80 km from Kurnool, 308 km from Hyderabad, 359 km from Vijayawada & 11 km from Banaganapalle, Yaganti in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh is famous for Sri Yagantiswamy Temple (also called Uma Maheshwara Temple) dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Yaganti is one of the most famous Shiva Temple is Andhra Pradesh and also one of the popular places to experince AP Tourism. The temple dates back to 5th and 6th centuries with contributions from Pallavas, Cholas, Chalukyas and Vijayanagara rulers. The temple received significant contribution from Vijayanagara Kings Harihara & Bukka Rayalu, who finished the construction of several structures in and around the temple.

The Uma Maheshwara Temple at Yaganti houses the idol of Shiva & Parvathi (Ardhanareeswara) carved out of a single stone. This is probably the only place where Lord Shiva is worshipped in an idol form instead of Shiva Linga. It is believed that Sage Agastya performed penance for Lord Shiva at this place and requested Shiva to appear in Ardhanareeswara form which is worshipped here. Another unique feature of the temple is Nandi statue which has been growing in the size.

Yaganti is located in Yerramala hills that offer immense natural beauty and unique setting to the locality. There are a several natural caves in the hills around the temple which were home for several saints throughout the ages, ...

Sringeri is a renowned pilgrimage center located in the Chikmagalur district of Karnataka. About 88 km from Chikmagalur, and 318 km from Bangalore, it is one of the important pilgrimage centers in South India, and also one of the most famous tourist places to visit in Karnataka.

Sringeri is well known for Sharada Peetham, among the must-visit places as part of the Sringeri Tour Packages. Sringeri Sharada Peetham is the first and foremost of the 4 Peethams established by the renowned 8th-century saint Sri Adi Shankaracharya.Vidyashankara Temple, Chennakeshava Temple, Sharadamba Temple, and Sri Parswanath Jain Tirthankara Temple are the other prominent places to visit in Sringeri.

Adi Shankara Temple, Kere Anjaneya temple, Malayala Brahma Temple, Mallikarjuna Temple, Torana Ganapati Temple, Kigga, Sirimane Falls, Agumbe, Kudremukh are other attractions here. Sringeri can be visited along with Udupi Tour Packages.

Srirangapatna or Srirangapattana is a historical town in the Mandya district of Karnataka. About 18 km from Mysore, and 124 km from Bangalore, it is among the popular tourist places in Karnataka owing to its cultural, religious, and historic importance.

Srirangapatna is one of the top places to visit near Bangalore. The entire town is surrounded by the river Kaveri to form a river island. Srirangapatna is among the must include place in your Mysore tour packages. Ranganathaswamy Temple, Daria Daulat (Palace of Tipu Sultan) and Gumbaz (Mausoleum of Tipu Sultan) & Sangama are the must include places in Srirangapatna Tour Packages.

Laksha Deepotsava, Ratha Sapthami, and Brahmotsavam are the famous festivals celebrated with much fanfare at Srirangapatna.

Kottayam is a city located in central Kerala and is also the administrative capital of Kottayam district. It is one of the well known places to visit as part of Kerala Tour Packages. About 63 km from Kochi and 155 km from Trivandrum, the city is an important trading center of spices and commercial crops, especially rubber.

Being a mountainous region with scenic landscapes, backwaters, bird sanctuaries, temples, and churches make this place an attractive tourist destination. The Poonjar Palace, Thirunakkara Mahadeva Temple, Pallippurathu Kavu, Thiruverpu Temple, Mary Church (Cheriyapally), and Thazhathangady Juma Masjid are the must include places in Kottayam tour packages. It is also a gateway to the famous Sabarimala Temple.

Bounded by the Western Ghats on the east and the Vembanad Lake on the west, Kottayam is well known as a beautiful Kerala backwaters destination with stunning landscape and beauty. Kumarakom, the most famous backwater destination of Kerala is situated very close to Kottayam (13 km). Kottayam is the first town to have attained 100 percent literacy in India.

At a distance of 119 km from Kochi, 67 km from Alleppey, 62 km from Kottayam, 96 km from Tenkasi, 109 km from Trivandrum, 162 km from Tirunelveli, 197 km from Kanyakumari and 238 km from Madurai, Pathanamthitta is a beautiful town and the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. Also known as the pilgrim capital of Kerala, Pathanamthitta is the main transport hub to the famous pilgrim center - Sabarimala and also one of the popular tourist places in Kerala.

It is situated in Central Travancore region of Kerala, close to the Western Ghats. Pathanamthitta town is located on the banks of Achankovil and three major rivers of Kerala - Achankovil, Pamba & Manimala flow through the district. Pathanamthitta is a combination of two words Pathanam and Thitta which means an array of houses on the river side.

Pathanamthitta was formerly under the rule of a Pandalam king who had links with the ancient Pandya kingdom from Tamilnadu. These regions became part of this district when Pandalam was added to the princely state of Travancore in 1820. The district was formed on 1st November 1982 and it was carved out of Idukki, Alappuzha and Kollam districts.

Pathanamthitta is close to the Western Ghats and is endowed ...

Thrissur, also known as Trichur, is one of the famous places of pilgrimage in Kerala, and among the must include places in Kerala tour packages. Situated about 81 km from Kochi, and 279 km from Trivandrum, this is one of the ideal weekend getaways around Kochi & Coimbatore.

Thrissur is also known as the Cultural Capital of Kerala because of its cultural, spiritual, and religious leanings throughout history. Vadakkumnathan temple, Thiruvambadi Sri Krishna Temple and Paramekkavu temple, and Guruvayur Temple, Our Lady of Lourdes Syro-Malabar Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral, Athirapally Falls, Thrissur Zoo, Shakthan Thampuran Palace, and Kerala Kalamandalam are the most popular places to visit as part of Thrissur tour packages.

Thrissur hosts the world-famous Thrissur Pooram, the most colorful and spectacular temple festival in Kerala. UNESCO has awarded Thrissur Pooram as the most spectacular festival event on the planet. Thrissur is also the home town of the great Hindu Saint, Adi Shankara.

Kumbakonam is an ancient temple town located amidst the two rivers Cauvery and Arasalar in the Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. About 235 km from Madurai, and 282 km from Chennai, it is one of the famous places of pilgrimage in Tamilnadu, and among the popular places to visit near Chennai.

Kumbakonam is known for its temples and mutts (monasteries). There are around 188 Hindu temples within the municipal limits of Kumbakonam. Adi Kumbeswarar Temple, Nageswaraswamy temple and Kasi Viswanathar temple are the prominent temples to visit as part of Kumbakonam tour packages. Sarangapani temple is the largest Vaishnava shrine present in Kumbakonam. Patteeswaram, the Oppiliappan Kovil, the Swamimalai Murugan temple and the Airavateeswarar Temple are the other temples located in the vicinity of Kumbakonam.

The town is well - known for its prestigious educational institutions and carved Panchaloha idols, silk products, brass, and metal wares. The important festival of Kumbakonam is the Mahamaham festival. It takes place once in 12 years during the Tamil Month of Masi (February/March) and lakhs of pilgrims visit Kumbakonam and takes a holy bath in the sacred Mahamaham Tank.

At a distance of 56 km from Tirunelveli, 109 km from Trivandrum, 160 km from Madurai, 100 km from Kollam, 132 km from Kanyakumari & 625 km from Chennai, Tenkasi is a popular tourist destination situated on Madurai - Kollam highway and also one of the top Tamilnadu places to visit. Tenkasi is famous for numerous waterfalls spread around the region including the famous Courtallam Falls.

It is the second largest town in Tirunelveli district surrounded by the Western Ghats on three sides. A river called Chittar flows through the town. Tenkasi was founded by Pandyan kings who ruled Southern Tamil Nadu for long time. The Word Tenkasi means Kasi of the South referring to Kasiviswanathar temple situated in the town. The temple was built by Parakrama Pandyan, but was shattered by lightning. In the 1990s, the temple was restored and it was given a fresh coat of paint again in 2006. The main deity here is Kasi Viswanathar (Lord Shiva).

Tenkasi has another magnificent Kulasekaranathar Temple, which has been closed for longtime. There is also a temple pond in middle of the town, adjoining the Kannimaramman Temple. Anggalap Parameshwari Temple is in Malayan Street and it is famous for 10 days festival, with Sivarathiri and Alaghu. Esakki Amman Kovil is also located in Malayan street.

Tenkasi has train connectivity with Chennai, ...

At a distance of 53 km from Thoothukudi, 84 km from Kanyakumari, 158 km from Madurai, 291 km from Trichy and 623 km from Chennai, Tirunelveli is a city situated on the banks of the river Thamirabarani in Tamilnadu. Also known as Nellai, Tirunelveli is the administrative headquarters of the Tirunelveli district and also the sixth largest city in Tamilnadu. Tirunelveli is the most popular pilgrimage places near Madurai and also one of the top tourist places to visit in Tamilnadu.

Tirunelveli is positioned close to the southern tip of India and is very eminent for various geographical features. It comprises of 5 geographical territories which include mountains, forests, paddy fields, coastal and deserts. The name Tirunelveli is derived from three Tamil words, thiru, nel and veli, meaning 'sacred paddy hedge'. The freedom fighters of 18th to 20th century Veera Pandiya Kattabomman, Pulithevan Veeran AzhagumuthuKone and Vanachinathan were born in Tirunelveli district.

Tirunelveli is believed to be an ancient settlement. This town was once the capital of the Pandiyas and it has a history that goes back 2000 years. It has been ruled at different times by the Early Pandiyas, the Medieval and Later Cholas, the later Pandiyas, the Malabar and Tirunelveli Sultanates, the Vijayanagara Empire, the Madurai Nayaks, the Carnatic kingdom and the British. The early Pandiyas named the city Thenpandiyanadu, the Cholas Mudikonda Cholamandalam ...

At a distance of 218 kms from Hyderabad, 22 Kms from Kurnool, 126 Kms from Mahbubnagar & 200 kms from Srisailam, Alampur is a historical place located in Mahbubnagar district of Telangana. Alampur is famous for Jogulamba Temple (a Shakti Peetha), Navabrahma temples and Sangameswara Temple built in 7th century. Alampur is considered as the western gateway to the famous pilgrimage town Srisailam. The temple consists of several inscriptions dated between 7th and 16th centuries. Alampur is one of the famous places to visit near Hyderabad.

Situated on the banks of River Tungabhadra close to the place where the mighty rivers of Krishna and Tungabhadra merge, Alampur has rich historical and pilgrimage importance. Several dynasties ruled this place including Satavahanas, Chalukyas, Kakatiyas, Bahamani sultans, Vijayanagara kings and finally falling under Hyderabad. Alampur is one of the top attractions you must include in Hyderabad tour packages.

As per history of this place, Lord Brahma, after losing his powers due to a curse of a saint, performed penance for Lord Shiva. It is believed that Lord Shiva appeared in nine different forms, thus nine different temples to celebrate each form. The shivalinga in the main temple of Bala Brahma ...

At a distance of 39 km from Kothagudem, 115 km from Khammam, 178 km from Rajahmundry, 182 km from Vijayawada, 352 km from Vizag and 312 km from Hyderabad, Bhadrachalam is a pilgrimage town in Khammam district of Telangana State, situated on the banks of the River Godavari. Bhadrachalam is renowned for the famous Sri Rama Temple built in 17th century and is one of the best tourist places near Hyderabad.

The temple for Lord Rama was built by a devotee called Kancherla Gopanna popularly known as Bhakta Ramadasu in the 17th century. Gopanna was the Tasildar of Bhadrachalam and constructed the temple using public donations. But the Golconda Sultans were misled and felt that Gopanna had misused the government funds to build the temple. He was imprisoned in a dungeon at Golconda Fort. Lord Rama is said to have miraculously appeared before the Sultan and paid the money spent by Gopanna, after which he was released. Gopanna then became Bhadrachala Ramadasu and went on composing several songs in Telugu in praise of Rama. Kabirdas, the famous Muslim saint and poet, was also closely associated with this temple. This is another popular attraction to visit as part of Hyderabad tour packages.

This holy town with beautiful landscapes provided by River Godavari attracts several devotees throughout the year from different parts ...

At a distance of 35 km from Nizamabad, 158 km from Adilabad and 212 km from Hyderabad, Basara is a popular pilgrimage site located in Adilabad district of Telangana. This is also one of the top Places to visit in Telangana.

Basar or Basara is situated on the banks of River Godavari. It is a popular tourist and pilgrimage site because of the famous Saraswathi temple. The Basara temple in is a unique temple of Goddess Saraswati, the Hindu Goddess of Knowledge and Learning. Children are brought here to do the learning ceremony called Akshara Abyasam. It is believed to be one of the two oldest temples of Goddess Saraswathi in India, the other being located in Kashmir. Basara is one of the top attractions you must include in Hyderabad packages.

According to mytholpgy, Maharishi Vyas, his disciples and sage Viswamitra decided to settle down in a cool and serene atmosphere after the Kurukshetra War. In the quest for a peaceful abode, he came to Dandaka forest and pleased with serenity of the region, selected this place. Since Maharishi Vyasa spent considerable time in prayers, the place was then called 'Vasara' and turned into Basara due to the influence of the Marathi language in the region.

It is also considered to be one among the three temples created near the holy confluence of the Manjira and Godavari Rivers by the ...

At a distance of 36 km from Karimnagar, 127 km from Nizamabad and 151 km from Hyderabad, Vemulawada is one of the most famous pilgrimage sites in Telangana and also one of the popular one day trip from Hyderabad.

Vemulawada is famous for the temple of Rajarajeshwara Swamy, an incarnation of Lord Shiva. It was built by one of the governors of Kalyani Chalukyas by name Rajadithya between 11th and 12th centuries. The presiding deity is locally popular as Rajanna who is accompanied by the idols of Sri Raja Rajeswari Devi and Siddi Vinayaka. It houses several temples dedicated to other deities including Anantha Padmanabha Swamy, Bhimeshwara Swamy, Kodanda Rama and Kasi Visweswara. Apart from these there is a tomb of Muslim saint.

Located on the banks of Mulavagu stream, Vemulawada was once the capital city of Vemulawada Chalukyas dynasty between 750-973 CE. The remains of the temples and sculptures show the great architecture of Chalukyas. There are several inscriptions available that refer the reign of Chalukyas. It was earlier known as Lemulavatika, Lembulavade, and finally transformed into Vemulawada.

According to the legend, Lord Siva after having stayed at Kashi, Chidambaram, Srisailam and Kedareswar chose to reside at Vemulawada. Vemulawada ...

At a distance of 66 km from Hyderabad, 85 km from Nalgonda & 91 km from Warangal, Yadagiri Gutta is a popular pilgrimage town in Nalgonda district in the state of Telangana situated close to Warangal highway. It is famous for Yadagirigutta Temple, abode of Narasimha Swamy, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This cave temple is situated at an altitude of 300 feet on a large hillock. Yadagirigutta was earlier known as Vedagiri because it is believed that Lord Vishnu kept all the Vedas at this sacred place. This is one of the top tourist places to visit near Hyderabad and also one of the popular one day trip from Hyderabad. The official name of this place was recently changed to Yadadri by Telangana government.

This temple has five forms of Narasimha. According to the legend, Sri Yadava Maharishi son of Sri Rushyashrunga Maharishi had performed great penance for Lord Narasimha Swamy. Impressed with his penance, Lord Narasimha appeared before the sage and took five Avatars known as Jwala Narasimha, Yogananda Narasimha, Ugra Narasimha, Gandaberunda Narasimha and Lakshmi Narasimha. They later manifested themselves into finely sculpted forms that later came to be worshiped as Pancha Narasimha Kshetram.

In the sanctum of this hill temple Jwala Narasimha, Gandaberunda ...