More than most people think that a pilgrim town should only be visited for religious reasons. That isn’t quite true. Or so I have experienced. Take the beautiful town of Srisailam for instance. Resting on the banks of the Krishna River and bordered by the Srisailam Hills, the landscape of Srisailam offers scenic views and options for great outdoor experiences. The divine beauty of this holy town is not limited to its temples and religious sites but also in its natural treasures. With forests, hills, ancient caves, and waterfalls, Srisailam has let me discover a whole new aspect to its persona.

How to reach

Srisailam is well connected to the nearest metro of Hyderabad by NH 765 and SH 5 and takes about four and half hours to reach. The best way to travel is to rent a cab and avail the best Hyderabad to Srisailam tour package by car, which will include your travel and local sightseeing. You can choose to cover these places in one day like I have done or, do a two or three-day trip.

Of all the things of beauty, these places in and around Srisailam are a few of my favorites.

Mallela Theertham

A little outside Srisailam town, sitting in the thickets of the Nallamala Forest, you will find the charming waterfall of Mallela Theertham. The rapid torrents flow down a 150 feet high cliff made of unique rock formations. The stream originated somewhere on top of the cliff and flows through the forests, before joining the Krishna River. Along its course, it breaks at a small pool and forms another, smaller waterfall before forming the catchment area at the bottom. Surrounded by dense greenery and peaceful environment, the Mallela Theertham Falls makes for a scenic sight and a great place for a day trip.

To reach Mallela Theertham, you have to drive for 58 KM from Hyderabad and take the exit towards Vatwarlapally and drive for another 8 km to reach the starting point of the falls. It took me a few hours of a hike through the forested areas. There are about 380 well-laid steps down the hilly terrain to reach the main viewing point. However, it is quite difficult to reach the second level of the cascade and is best avoided.

Uma Maheshwaram

Although this is known as a major pilgrimage destination, the beauty of Uma Maheshwaram lies in its waterfalls that hides in plain sight around the temple. The perennial waterfall flows through the forests of Nallamala and crops down layered rock formations, making it appear like a tiered waterfall. Although the water volume and the height of the cascade are not much as you would expect, it looks scenic against the reddish rocks set naturally like steps, flanked by greenery on all sides.

Uma Maheshwaram is about an hour’s drive from Srisailam town and sits in the Mahbubnagar district.To reach the falls, you have to take a walk for about 10-15 minutes from the temple.You can combine your temple tour with a walk through this beautiful waterfall or simply make a day trip from Hyderabad for an escape into nature.

Saleshwaram

I came across this mysterious cave temple in one of my trips to the Srisailam Sanctuary. The temple sits deep inside layers of rocks, cut out from an ancient cave. It sits within the dense parts of the reserve forest and appears like an enclosure of rocks. The most interesting thing about this temple is that it remains open for only five days in a year, and that is during the Chaitra Purnima Festival when pilgrims and devotees come from far to offer prayers. What I found most interesting about the temple of Saleshwaram was the thread waterfall that flows silently in one corner, from a great height, and forms two ponds at the bottom. These pools are considered to be holy and pilgrims often take a dip.

To reach Saleshwaram, you have to drive for about 48 KM from Srisailam and exit towards the Srisailam Sanctuary. Another 10 KM drive through the forest will lead you to the caves. The temple and the waterfall require a walk down the stepped slopes about 2KM below the surface.

Pathala Ganga

As the name suggests, this river flows underground and considered to be as sacred as the Ganges. The perennial river sits within the Srisailam town, about a kilometer from the Mallikarjuna Temple, and is often used by pilgrims for a holy dip. The perennial stream originates in a cave and is said to have healing properties. The riverbanks offer panoramic views of the Nallamala Forest and the Srisailam Dam.To reach Pathala Ganga, you can either walk down 500 steps from the Hanuman Temple near Haritha Hotel or take the cable car and enjoy the bird’s eye views of the surrounding hills and the reservoir. You can take a 20-minute boat ride to the nearby Akkamahadevi Caves and turn your tour into an adventurous experience.

Pro Tips:

The best time to visit the waterfalls is after the rainy season or in winters.

If you are traveling is a big group, make sure to avail a 16-seater minibus hire in Hyderabad for a convenient journey.