Lord Shiva temple at Yaganti Andhra Pradesh

Yaganti 

The holy land of lord Shiva, is about 122 KM from Anantapur City and 88.9KM from Kurnool. It falls in kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. The temple was built in 15th centuary by King Harihara Bukka Raya of Sangam Dynasty.

Architecture

The temple is spread in very large area and you can reach the temple gopuram through the pond (Pushkarini) or outside it. There is a large nandi sculpture in side the temple. The temple is surrounded by hills from three sides. The place is very pleasant. You can see different designs on rock due to weathering. 

Places near temple premises

• Pushkarini: Its a pond which get filled by the water coming out from the bottom of the hill through mouth of small nandi. People normally take holy bath in this pond.
• Agastya cave: This is the cave where Agastya rishi performed his penance for Lord Shiva.
• Venkateswara cave: You can see idol of lord Venkateswara here.
• Veera Brahmam cav: Its on the other side of the venkateswara  cave here saint Sree Potuluri Veera Brahmendra swamy wrote some of his kaal gyan. 

Story about Nandi idol inside the temple

It is said that the size of Nandi is increasing everyday and some research were done to verify where scientist found that its kind of rock which grows. locals believe that the world will come to an end once the nandi touches the ceiling of the temple.

Our journey from Anantapur to Yaganti

It was the month of december-2014 a chilling season in northern part of Bharat but it a beautiful time in southern part of the country specially Andhra Pradesh. We started our journey from Anantapur city and took the national highway leading towards hyderabad. We halted near Reliance A-One plaza for tea (You noramally find quality tea there with ample parking space). After having tea we again started our journey. In few km you can find a small but very famous temple (Shunkalamma Temple), we stopped there and bowed head and then headed on our way. Before Dhone there is a right diversion from highway which leads towards the temple area. Journey became much more beautiful from there as the complete route was full of greenery, you can find sunflower, maize farming throughout the way. You can find small villages also on the way to temple. We had to stop many times give pass to herd of goats and sheeps. You can carry your food with you as you can find many places where you would love to sit for some time. We reached the temple in afternoon and visited all points in temple premises.
One notable thing for me was, people keep stone above stone as wish secretly, whenever you plan please do that, may lord Shiva fullfill your wish.

Veerbhadra swamy temple lepakshi

Lepakshi Veerbhadra Swamy (Lord Shiva) Temple, Anantapur District

Lepakshi is a village in the Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh, India. It is located 15 km east of Hindupur and approximately 120 km north of Bangalore. Its almost 110 km from Anantpur town.

History

Temple was built in 1530 during the Vijayanagar Empire, According to skanda puran its an important pilgrimage of lord shiva. Lepakshi has significance in Ramayana also, it is said that Jataayu (vulture) fought fiercly with Ravana to save Sita, Ravana used his sword and attacked on his feathers and injured him. While he was taking his last breath Lord Rama arrived in search of Sita and he narrated the entire story, Jataayu got moksha on Lord Rama's lap.

Places in close proximity

• Veerbhadra Swamy Temple :- Temple is huge and internal sculpture is very attractive, you can see various idols posing and can see elephants also, there are shivlings in few places  inside the temple premises, there is big shivling under the naag hood and a very big ganesha statue.

 

• You can see the footprint of maa Sita there

 

• Hanging Pillar :- Hanging pillar is the very important mystery of the temple architecture, it is said that some of the British engineers tried to investigate the same and while trying to hit the hanging pillar they noticed that other pillars also started getting cracks, they then left the premises.

• Nandi Bull :- While coming from higway and before entering the temple premises you will notice a large Bull sculpture on the right side.

You can visit my youtube video for some more pictures

700 years old Ram temple in Ammapalli Hyderabad

Sri Seetha Rama Chandra Swamy Temple, Ammapally (Secunderabad, Hyderabad)

At a distance of 30 km from Hyderabad and 5 km from Shamshabad Bus Stop, Sri Rama Chandra Swamy Temple of Ammapally is a very ancient Temple and famous for film shootings.

The Rama temple was built by Vengi kings in 13th century but the idol was 1000 years old. The temple is adorned with a large seven-story tower which is quite famous among Telugu movie fans. There is a large image of Lord Vishnu is sleeping posture above the gateway of the tower.

The tower is followed by the main temple with a large corridor around the temple. The Idols of Rama, Sita and Laxmana and its Makara Thoranam are beautifully formed from single black rock. Anjaneya, usually accompanying Lord Rama, is not seen in the garbhagriha. Instead, Anjaneya Swamy idol is placed near the Dwaja Sthambam facing Sri Rama.

There is a large temple pond which is very ancient. The pond is surrounded by porticos and once it provided shelter to the pilgrims. The surroundings of the pond are filled with coconut trees. There is a mandapa opposite to the temple.

Tollywood film industry loves Ammapalli Temple and they believe that movies recorded here would become hits with the blessings of Sri Sita Rama Swamy.

Sri Rama Navami is celebrated with great passion at this temple every year (Apr).

In order to reach the temple from Hyderabad city (via Mehdipatnam), one has to take right turn at Shamshabad Begumpet junction and drive for 5 kms. If you take ORR, take Shamshabad / Airport exit, driver towards Shamshabad town and take left turn at Bus Stop junction. The temple is situated towards left side close to the main road.

Images Of Temple

How to reach savandurga from bengaluru?

Savandurga (Trekking spot near Bangalore/Bengaluru)

Savandurga is a hill 60 km west of Bengaluru (Karnataka, India) off the Magadi road 12.919654°N 77.292881°E, in India. The hill is considered to be among the largest monolith hills in Asia.[1] The hill rises to 1226 m above mean sea level and forms a part of the Deccan plateau. It consists of peninsular gneiss, granites, basic dykes and laterites. The Arkavathi river passes nearby through the Thippagondanahalli reservoir and on towards Manchanabele dam.

How to reach savandurga from bangalore ?

If you are coming from outer ring road the head towards bannergatta toll road, take the toll road towards mysore road, take mysore road exit and join the bangalore mysore highway. You will get crossing for big banyan tree near Raja Rajeswari Dental college. Once you reach Big Banyan tree then take the road that heads towards ISRO, Savandurga is almost 25 KM from Big Banyan Tree.

Images of Hill

Savandi Veerabhadreshwara Swamy and Narasimha Swamy temple
These temples are sited at the foothills. Picnickers come to spend time among the serene environs of the hill. Rock climbers, cave explorers and adventurers are among others who frequent the locale.

80% of the area is covered with greenery and the route from Bangalore to Savandurga is very beautiful.
There are beautiful picnic spots also. 

Places on the way to Savandurga

• Big Banyan Tree

• ISRO

• Manchanabele Dam is a great place for watersports

• Temple at the foothill

How to reach srisailam from hyderabad?

Srisailam - Mallikarjuna Swamy Jyotirlinga (Lord Shiva)

Srisailam is holi place  of lord shiva and parvati. It is significant to the Hindu sects of both Shaivam and Shaktam as this temple is referred to as one of the twelve Jyothirlingas of Lord Shiva and as one of the eighhteen Shakti Peethas of goddess Parvati. Shiva is worshiped as Mallikarjuna, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Brahmaramba. It is the only temple in India which is revered as both Jyotirlinga and Shaktipeeth.

Distance of Hyderabad to Srisailam is - 213KM
Entire Srisailam area is covered by dense forest which is Tiger reserve.

Places near Srisailam

• Srisailam Dam - The Srisailam Dam is constructed across the Krishna River in Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh near Srisailam temple town and is the 2nd largest capacity working hydroelectric station in the country.[3] The dam was constructed in a deep gorge in the Nallamala Hills in between Kurnool and Mahabubnagar districts, 300 m (980 ft) above sea level. It is 512 m (1,680 ft) long, 145 metres (476 ft) maximum height and has 12 radial crest gates. It has a reservoir of 616 square kilometres (238 sq mi). Project has an estimated live capacity to hold 178.74 Tmcft at its full reservoir level of 885 feet (270 m) MSL. The minimum draw down level (MDDL) of the reservoir is at 705 feet (215 m) MSL from its river sluice gates and corresponding dead storage is 3.42 Tmcft.[4] The left bank underground power station houses 6 × 150 megawatts (200,000 hp) reversible Francis-pump turbines for pumped-storage operation and the right bank semi under ground power station houses 7 × 110 megawatts (150,000 hp) Francis-turbine generators.

• Paatala Ganga - Located at a distance of only 1 km away the ancient Sri Mallikarjuna Temple, Patala Ganga is another place worth visiting on a Srisailam Tour. Situated in the backwaters of River Krishna, Pathala Ganga is considered to be highly auspicious; it is also said to have medicinal properties. Many devotees can be seen taking a holy dip in the sacred waters here. It is believed that taking a dip here can cure various kinds of skin diseases.

• Phaladhara-Panchdhara :- This most beautiful scene spot in surroundings of Srisailam is located about 4 Km from the main temple. Tradition records that Bhagavan Adisankara performed penance at this place and composed the famous Sivanandalahari here. His Holiness Kanchi Paramacharya confirmed this and marble statues of Sarada Devi and Sankaracharya installed there and daily regular Poojas are being offered also. This spot is located in a narrow valley approachable by a flight of steps where subterranean streams of pure water with musical sound reverberating the surroundings. According to local folk these streams are known as Phaladhara Panchadhara and these two signify their origin from the fore head of God Siva the Phaladhara (Phala = fore head, dhara = Stream) and denote the five aspects of Siva, the Panchadhara (Pancha = five, dhara = Stream). The water from this stream flows in interrupted at all seasons. The Skanda Purana describes the flow as �Bhogavathi� and it joins in the river Krishna.

• Gaushala (Gosamarakshana) : The Devasthanam has constructed Gosamrakshana Sala near Hemareddy Mallamma Mandiram in an area of about 2 Acres and it is of aboiut 1.5 K.M. This Gosamrakshnasala is having modern cattle sheds along with required facilities and at present more than 450 Cows, Calves and Breeding Bulls are being cared. The pure cow milk and curd supplied from this Gosamrakshana Sala is being utilized for the Abhishekam of Sri Swamy and Ammavaru.

• Hatkeswaram - This picturesque spot is on the way to Srisailam of above 5 km away in a serine atmosphere. According to the tradition at this place God Siva appeared to a potter devotee in Atika (piece of Pot) and hence named as Atikeswaram and later it became Hatakeswaram. There is a temple dedicated to Sri Hatakeswara Swamy and is a stone structure datable to 11th-13th Centuries A.D.
• Sikareswaram :- This most sacred spot is located at about 8 km. from the main temple at a height of 2830 feet above the mean sea level. It is the highest peak of Srisailam. The Skanda Purana proclaines that a mere glance of this Sikharam frees the human soul from the fitters of re-birth – “Srisaila Sikharam Drustva Punarjanma Na Vidyathe”. – There is a temple dedicated to Sri Veera Shikara Swamy and locally known as Sikhareswara Swamy. This temple in as ancient stone structure and historically the Reddi Kings have constructed a flight of steps to this in the year 1398 AD and also a Pushkarini (Tank) at this place. This place gives a panoramic view of the entire temple of Srisailam including the meandering river Krishna.

There are other few places within 5KM from main temple

• Theme park 
• Ganesha Temple

Interesting story behind our Srisailam trip

I and my wife on 14th-Aug-2017 decided in morning for a weekend trip, we did not have own vehicle for travel, so we decided to go by TSRTC state bus. We booked bus our bus ticket for 2PM in morning 10AM and then quickly packed our luggage and booked a cab from Attapur for MGBS bus stand. We were slightly worried as we did not have any information about where to stay in srisailam. We riched bus stand and had lunch there in a restaurant. We kept on waiting for the bus and bus was testing our patience, finally the bus arrived at 3:30PM and we got into the bus. It was hot and sunny here in hyderabad, when the bus started we started feeling the cool breeze (it was a normal non AC bus). Since it was our first trip to srisailam so we kept on watching the route and whats beside the road.

It took almost 4 hours to reach the tiger reserve which falls before srisailam, we could notice some deers at night but there was trace of tigers but it was good as the weather had turned lovely and we could see some rain on the way. We were very happy. Finally we reached srisailam and then our search of hotel started, we got to know from some friends that there are community lodges like Reddy Lodge, brahmin lodge etc. The story behind these community lodges is mostly people come for marriages there with their relatives and want arrangment based on their community (sad but true). We kept on searching rooms but were unsuccessful. Then we thought lets have darshan and then we will search room. So finally we kept bags and luggage in cloak room and entered the temple. As we entered the temple we forgot all worries. We did darshan and decided to have dinner first and then thought of heading back to hyderabad.

We completed our dinner and started looking for bus, somebody told us that last bus was around 8PM and next bus will start in morning. It started drizzling  as well and we both were moving here and there in search of hotel. 

We then again reached "Mallikarjurna Sevasadan" where we had already enquired earlier, it was around 10:30. The person who was there in the reception told us that there is a room which has booking but guest has not arrived yet, they waited till 11PM and finally handed over the room key to us for RS 1000. Room was pretty big in size and had AC also, we knew that this arrangement is done by lord mallikarjuna only as there were so many who went enquiring and people were sleeping on footpath also. 

We thanked god for this and entered the room it was very pleasant, we took bath early in morning with hot water and went for darshan again. Temple premise was very pleasant with sound of om namah shivay chanting. While coming out you will get prasad also. Inside the temple premise you have lot many small temples which you can view. We spent sometime there and then went for breakfast. 

After completing our breakfast we went to see sakshi ganapati, shikharam and other places. There is a goushala very close to main temple do go there. 

We completed our vist to nearby places and finally back for lunch. After finishing our lunch our bus haunt started. But there was no vacant seat in buses for hyderabad. we waited for 2-3 hours and finally went into a bus which was going to Yadgir karnataka as we did not have any option. But good thing was that bus had to cross bangalore highway near mehboob nagar. We got down near highway and took a shared auto for Jadcherla bus stand. There we got TSRTC bus and finally reached hyderabad. 

It was really an adventurous experience, finally bought our new car a month after that. 

Caution :

While visiting paldhara and panchdhara never fall in trap of those astrologer with parrots. They may loot you.