After our time well spent at the waterfalls, we started for Srisailam. Srisailam is around 55kms from the waterfalls excluding the 8kms muddy road that takes us till the main road. The road from here till Srisailam is very scenic with forest, ghats, the dam on the way for which you have to climb down the hill from one side, pass the dam, cross the bridge to the other side and again start the climb. It is not just the place that you enjoy but also the drive.
After reaching Srisailam around 2:30, we had lunch and then started our search for a place to stay. Unfortunately all of the places were full, and people at Ganga/Gauri sadan were least interested in answering our queries about whether the accommodation was available or not. I pity such kind of government servants who spend their life doing no work but feeling as if they are doing a favour on the mankind by being in that position. Well, that's a different debate which I don't want to start.
So we were searching for an accomodation which we could not find in Srisailam but since we saw few boards of A/C lodges about 5-6 kms before Srisailam we thought of trying there. Fortunately we go an accomodation in a decent lodge called Gowri Shankar lodge for Rs.500 per non AC room, per night. That lifted our spirits coz we were thinking that we would have to come back the same day, which we didn't want.
After a night well spent, with fun, sharing some adventures and playing card games, we decided to visit either Akka Mahadevi caves or the Ishta Kameshwari temple the next day. Visiting both these places would not be possible in a day due to time constraints. While most of my friends decided to have a darshan in the main temple, few of us decided to try finding out the details of how to reach either of these places.
As Akka Mahadevi caves were of first priority, we decided to enquire at the ticket counter of Patalaganga, where tickets for this trip are also sold. Although we enquired at around 8 in the morning the tickets were already sold out for that day's trips. We enquired further and learnt that for visiting the caves you need to go as early as 6 in the morning to get the tickets and also the booking can be done on phone.
Next option was to find out how to go to Ishta Kameshwari temple. You can search more about this place on google but let me tell you few things about this place. This temple is around 8kms inside the forest from the main road that goes towards Dornala, Atmakur, etc.. Only commander Jeeps can take you inside the forest as the road is pure 4X4 terrain and that too if you have high ground clearance. Cars cannot go on this road so please do not take this risk. The entry point into the forest is about 8-10kms from Srisailam and from the entry point till the drop point its about 8kms of pure hell. You are shaken literally in every direction, big boulders are all over the road for the majority of the 8kms and some places you feel like the jeep will topple to one side. But yes, please be aware that anyone over 50 years may find this ride very very strenuous so please think twice about going to this place if you have elderly people in your group.
There is a circle near Gouri Sadan, where these jeeps come and you have to negotiate with them. They usually carry around 12 people but might take lesser people if you can pay them a little extra. For our group of 9, we were charged Rs.1600, which is a little high. The earlier you start to this place, the better a deal you will get. If you get late, the rates start rising.
So off we went on our roller coaster ride... I will let the pics do the talking now...
Next day in the morning getting ready for an exciting day ahead.
Some birds around, early in the morning. Unfortunately I have only 55-250mm lens so couldn't get any more closer.
Sadhu baba getting ready for the day. There are lots in Srisailam and one was even asking for alms and reasoning in English as to why we should give him alms!!!
Front views of the main Srisailam temple.
View from the top of Patalaganga where we have the ropeway station.
More views from the same place, this one showing the backwaters near the dam.
They take you till the dam and come back. It's a nice experience but we didn't opt for this, this time around.
Well, this is how the road to Ishta Kameshwari temple looks like. You have to bear around 8kms of this hell. The road to God is not always easy, isn't it?
Commander jeeps have earned my respect after my trip here.
We have to walk for around 5 mins from the drop point to reach the actual temple. Before that we have this open place which also has a Ganesh idol and mini waterfalls.
This is the Ishta Kameshwari temple. The white concrete structure that you see towards the left is the actual temple. One has to crawl and go inside.
We spent some time at this place before boarding our jeep for the return trip.
Do remember to negotiate not just the amount but also the time that you will be spending at this place. Else the drivers would be breathing down your necks to come back fast because the more time you take the lesser their trips become. So it is always better to negotiate upfront and tell them that you will be spending some time there and he shouldn't bother you.
This was the last thing we saw in Srisailam, reached back to where our cars were parked near Ganga Sadan and after a break of half an hour, we started our way back to home at around 3:30pm.