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-   -   Hyderabad to Srisailam : Route Queries (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-travel-queries/26150-hyderabad-srisailam-route-queries-8.html)

Thank you - I agree, at most of the pilgrimages like Shirdi/Vaishno Devi etc, the best time for darshan is very early morning. I am a little confused as my parents are here for just about 2 weeks with only 1 weekend and I want to show them around a bit more than the last time - Was thinking of doing 2 nearby places over that weekend. :)

I think you should lay the options in front of them and ask them to decide. :)

Maybe seeing one place and seeing it well is better than seeing multiple places and not spending anytime at all.

Did that - they are my parents, I got my traits from them - They are more confused than me :uncontrol

Kidding, we are narrowing down to Srisailam on Friday and Bidar on Sunday.

If you're driving to Srisailam for the first time, beware of unmarked speed-breakers, especially in the forest area.

Also bear in mind that the temple is closed from 130 pm to around 4 pm. This apart, there is a restriction on night-driving.

When I went last, I stayed at Ganga Sadan or Gouri Sadan, which was very basic, but just about ok. They also had a restaurant attached. I paid around 600 INR for a double room (non-AC), with attached bath. But that was in Dec, 2007.

I am not sure if Haritha is a new tourist resort there.

Sir,

Yes I am going to Srisailam for the first time and got the basic information from this thread, thank you again.

Haritha is the resort by APTDC which is supposed to be good(based on my exp in nagarjuna sagar). I think Gouri/Ganga Sadan are run by the temple trust itself, found the info on the trust's website but couldn't find the way to book.

Anyway, after speaking to the family we have decided not to stay and will drive on Friday early morning(say 5), should reach by 9:30-10 max and will start by 2, reach home by 7.

Thanks for the update. Good to know there is a decent stay option there now.

The journey can easily be done in a day, but elders might find it a bit tiresome.

Srisailam was the first long drive I had with my Fiesta, and it was around 2.5 months old then. I crossed the 2000 mark on my odo during that trip, after which I felt free to gun the engine.

We took the longer route while going (via Sagar route, turned right at Mallepalle and then merged at Dindi). No particular reason why we took that route, just wanted to explore. It was around 265 kms.

The return via the shorter route was better and shorter--around 235 kms.

Remember to place your footwear near the exit of the temple--to avoid hot surface of the floor when you exit. In our case, we had to make a complete 180 degrees round flanking the temple to reach our footwear.

There is a stay option there, yes. But it can hardly be called decent for the price. The food is terrible as well. My wife and I had stayed there a couple of years ago.

Thank you very much sir, those tid bits really count clap:

I got the same feedback from people about the food - carrying mouth watering mom made aloo puri from home :D. Looked at the rooms which were nowhere near what we get in Sagar, two rooms were costing us 4K, we get a pretty good suite in Sagar for 3K. But yeah thats how it is. For the same reason, we dropped the plan to stay. We might as well cover Bidar on Sunday.

Drove to Srisailam on Friday, started at 6 in the morning from my place, reached at 10 sharp, including a breakfast break of 15 mins and a detour of around 25 mins (I missed the critical right turn towards Srisailam after kalwakurthy). Road is fantastic overall, except a few very brief bad patches here n there.

Started with the darshan at 10:45 after another tea break and came out at 11:40 - took the Rs. 50 coupon, there wasn't much rush there.

Burnt our feet, it was terribly hot and there was a small girl who was selling something and kept blocking our way continuously while we were running for cover :uncontrol.

Leisurely strolled around for about half an hour, sweating like a pig and finally started back at 12:30. Stopped again at the stream which flows out of Srisailam Dam for another 45 mins, making my poor Fiesta do some offroading. Sat half in half out of water for sometime and started again to stop at the Sai Baba Temple. Completed the darshan and ate home cooked food in its garden.

Finally started the journey back at 2 and reached the doorstep at 5:20, including a tea break of 15 mins.

ODO read 478 kms, overall FE - 14.22. All in all, a very nice day trip, which I think was not worth making a night stay due to the temperature there - wouldn't have enjoyed much. Family specially enjoyed the drive through the forest and ofcourse the temple.

Hi everyone,

Am planning to visit Srisailam followed by Nagarjuna Sagar somewhere between 15th to 18th of this August.

Have really gained a lot of specific info from this thread in particular and other ones on the TBHP, thanks. And thus have been able to make a tentative to do list for the places.

However, accommodation for Srisailam remains undecided. Primarily as it seems that there is nothing more worthwhile than the Haritha. However, the reviews on trip advisor seem rather disappointing.(http://www.tripadvisor.in/Hotel_Revi...a_Pradesh.html):Shockked:

As I am travelling not for religious purpose only but also for a break along with my wife, 2 young kids and mother.

Have tried to find out a lot but still confused, please:so here are my specific queries:

1) Are there something called as Punnami cottages also of APTDC ?, If yes, then:

a) How are they compared to the Haritha ?

b) How does one book them, since one does not find any mention of APTDC site?

2) Are there some forest accommodation too nearby?, if yes then:

a) How good are they? Are the accommodation in Srisailam better in terms of scenic view?

b) How does one book them ?

c) Are they a feasible option with respect to carrying out the itinerary of Srisailam ?

3) There are a lot of accommodation listed of temple refer http://srisailamtemple.com/Srisaila_...mmodation.html. How good are they, esp the cottages? also location with reference to scenic value? Which ones among these are best, rather better, if any one knows ?

4) Also the temple site mentions on line booking for various schemes (sic) of Darshans etc. ?, Is online booking really required?, Which Darshan time wise is better, any tips? (http://srisailamtemple.com/Srisaila_...m/darshan.html)

5) Does the APTDC run Rope way, and ride to Akka Mahadevi Caves too have pre booking facility?, how much total time does it take for a round trip to Akka Mahadevi caves?

6) What all among the Fareehabad view point, Malleatharam Falls, Istha Kameweshawari Temple and Akka Mahadevi caves is open in light of the Supreme Court ban and the rainy season?

7) Also the APTDC site for Vijay Vihar at Nagarjuna Sagar (http://aptdc.gov.in/accommodations.html) mentions two blocks viz. Sarovar and Samagamam, which one is better consedering scenic location wise?

8) What are the lighting timings of Ethipotala falls?, Is it feasible while staying at Vijay Vihar Nagarjuna Sagar to have the early night time lighted view of fall and then return back

Well, Phew , I realized that's a lot many questions?,

Thanks in advance

Pros like will definately be able to help with at least some of the queries

Will attempt to answer some..

Punnami and Haritha are the same. We booked the room online from APTDC site.
The rooms are alright, not too bad and not super either.
If you are travelling by car, would suggest to carry some bed sheets.

Parking inside the hotel is limited, however you may park outside. The crowd is usually more on the weekends, so plan accordingly.
But, nothing of the sort that you see in Tirupati/Tirumala.


It is a small place and you can cover pretty much everything in three days. Any thing more than 3 days is over kill.

Well, the actual darshan may not take more than 30 mins, even when crowded. I believe a counter opens sometime in the afternoon to book seva tickets for next day. If you want to perform sevas/poojas, early morning is probably the best time. If online booking is available, its easier to plan and hence go for it.


We took the rope way and a boat ride, but not all the way to Akka Mahadevi. It was fun. The queue can be 30mins to one hour if there is a lot of crowd.


Drink only bottled water.
Carry some mosquito repellents.

With the rains in full flow,the srisailam dam would be brimming and would be quite a sight.If the gates of the dam are open by August,then you can count yourself to be among the lucky ones.

A couple of pictures during one of our trips during the rains of 2007.







There is only the Haritha afaik.The Haritha and Punnami are one and the same.The TDP govt named the APTDC hotels as Punnami and the YSR government rechristened the Punnami brand into Haritha.

Haritha is pathetic imho and that is the "best" there.So you can imagine the state of affairs in terms of accomodation.I always tell people to make a day trip to Srisailam thats the best way to do it,simply because of lack of any good places to stay

Heard there are some forest rest houses at sundipenta(not sure if they are owned by the Hydel Project or by the Forest dept)but I havent heard of anybody having stayed there and I dont expect them to be in any good condition either.You can check by calling the Project Tiger Field Director's office at Srisailam 08524-286089.Probably somebody else on the forum might be able to comment on this.

I found all the temple accomodations to be shabby-Gouri Sadan,Ganga Sadan etc

Not necessary imo,we usually reach there by 11 and we do a darshan at a relaxed pace and are out of the temple by 1145-12.Ofcourse not during some festival days.

I dont think that this is going to happen soon. Was there in end Aug 2012, and the water levels were way down - so much that no water was being let out of the dam. The only water downstream immediately after the dam was the standing water.

The dam will need to fill up first.

:Cheering: Thanks for clearing the doubt regarding Punnami and Haritha.

Thanks for the other advises, any idea regarding the round trip time for Akka Mahadevi?

cpics:
Thanks for clarification regarding Haritha and Punnami and the lead ins to FRH nos. But guess on this thread itself had found some pics of forest things at Mannur I guess. Well I cant squeeze in a day trip, as I would be driving from Bidar.


Hopefully with the state of rains this year, it may happen:D