Srisailam

Srisailam is a sacred place in the forested Nallamala Hills above the Krishna River. Its temple honours Shiva as Mallikarjuna and his consort Parvati as Bhramaramba. The shrine is revered both as one of Shiva's twelve jyotirlingas and as a Shakta pitha of the goddess, drawing worshippers of both traditions into the hills. Inscriptions attest to the temple's antiquity, and later rulers added to its buildings. The Reddi kings supported the sanctuary, while works were also undertaken under Harihara I of Vijayanagara. The shrines, halls and steps down towards the Krishna bear witness to the long history of devotion and patronage at Srisailam.