Srisailam Kartika Masam 2026 Dates, Darshan Timings and Important Events

Srisailam Kartika Masam is the month when the hill town wakes before 4 AM to temple bells and the smell of ghee lamps. Clay deepams line the Pushkarini on Monday evenings. On Pournami night, a burning arch lights up the temple front.

Kartika is Lord Shiva’s month in the Telugu calendar, and Srisailam is among the rare shrines where a Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha share one temple complex. This year, Kartika Masam in Srisailam begins on 10 November and ends on 8 December. Devotees plan around the four Somavarams and Kartika Pournami on 24 November, since Puranic tradition holds that Shiva worship on these days washes away the sins of many births.Devotees visiting Srisailam during Kartika Masam can plan their journey from Hyderabad by road. Booking a Hyderabad to Srisailam cab is a convenient option for families and groups travelling to the temple.

That belief brings huge crowds. Free darshan queues crossed six hours on Kartika Mondays last year. Sparsha Darshan closes on weekends and festival days, rooms sell out early, and the forest road through Nallamala shuts at 9 PM. It’d save you a lot of trouble to know the Sparsha dates, darshan timings, ticket prices, event calendar, rooms and ghat road rules before you leave. A cab with a driver who knows the Mannanur checkpost timings also keeps your family off the forest road after dark.

Book Your Srisailam Kartika Masam Trip with ChikuCab

Planning to visit Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple during Kartika Masam 2026? Book a sedan, SUV or Tempo Traveller with ChikuCab for a comfortable family pilgrimage from Hyderabad to Srisailam. Enjoy convenient pickup, a dedicated driver and a planned journey around temple darshan and forest checkpost timings.

Check Cab Fare Book on WhatsApp

Srisailam Kartika Masam Dates 2026

Kartika Masam 2026 starts on Tuesday, 10 November, the day after Deepavali Amavasya, and closes with Kartika Amavasya on 8 December. The Devasthanam’s official temple schedule for Kartika Masotsavam continues until 9 December.

Keep an eye on 7 December. The fourth Somavaram falls on Masa Shivaratri, so expect one of the heaviest crowds of the month.

Kartika Masam in Srisailam and the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga

Kartika is the eighth month of the Telugu lunar calendar. Locals call it Karthika Masam, and North Indian visitors know it as Kartik Masam. Devotees spend it lighting lamps, bathing before dawn and fasting on Mondays.

Srisailam’s Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, and the Bhramaramba Devi Temple in the same complex is one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas. You get Jyotirlinga darshan and Shakti Peetha darshan in one visit. Legend says Shiva and Parvati settled on this hill to stay close to their son Kartikeya, who left Kailasa after losing a race to Ganesha. The month and Kartikeya both take their names from the Krittika stars.

After Mallikarjuna Swamy’s darshan, devotees climb to Bhramaramba Devi’s shrine and press an ear to a small opening in the back wall. They’re listening for the hum of bees, linked to the goddess who took the form of bees to kill Arunasura.

Srisailam Kartika Masam Darshan Timings 2026

The temple opens earlier in Kartika. On Somavarams and Pournami, the doors open at 3 AM.

The Devasthanam can extend hours on peak days, so check the latest announcements on srisailadevasthanam.org the evening before you travel.

Sparsha Darshan and Alankara Darshan During Kartika Masam

• Sparsha Darshan takes you inside the Garbhalayam to touch the Jyotirlinga, with a ₹500 ticket and traditional dress.
• Alankara Darshan is a view of the decorated deity from the Mukha Mandapam, included with free and Seeghra tickets.

This year has 14 Sparsha days and 16 Alankara-only days. Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays, Ekadasi, Pournami and Amavasya are Alankara-only.

Srisailam Darshan Rules, Dress Code and Devotee Guidelines

• Men wear a dhoti or pancha with an upper cloth for Sparsha Darshan. Women can wear a saree, half saree or churidar with dupatta.
• Shorts and sleeveless clothes aren’t allowed in the queue.
• Phones, cameras, bags and leather items go into the cloakroom before you join the line.
• Staff scan your printed ticket at entry and check the original Aadhaar of every person on it.

Darshan Tickets, Seva and Abhishekam Booking at Srisailam

Darshan tickets are on sale all month. Pooja tickets are a different story, as several sanctum sevas pause for Kartika Masam.

Prathakala, Pradoshakala and Udayasthamana Sevas are also paused until 9 December.Visitors exploring nearby temples and attractions can book a Srisailam temple taxi service for convenient local travel during their pilgrimage.

How to Book Srisailam Darshan Tickets Online

1. Visit srisailadevasthanam.org or aptemples.ap.gov.in and select Srisailam.
2. Pick the darshan type, date and slot. Sparsha slots appear only on Sparsha days.
3. Add the Aadhaar details of every devotee and pay online.
4. Print the ticket and carry it with the original Aadhaar cards.

The Mana Mitra WhatsApp service on 9552300009 also handles seva booking. We’d suggest booking Somavaram and Pournami slots as soon as they open, because Seeghra tickets for those dates go first.

Rudrabhishekam and Special Pooja Booking

With Garbhalaya and Samuhika Abhishekams paused, you can’t perform Abhishekam inside the sanctum this Kartika. Homams are still on, so you can book Rudra Homam, Mahamrutyunjaya Homam or Chandi Homam online as your special Shiva pooja. Regular Abhishekam batches return after 9 December.

Important Events at Srisailam During Kartika Masam

Srisailam Kartika Masam celebrations peak on Mondays, Ekadasi and Pournami.

Kartika Somavaram at Srisailam

Mondays bring the biggest crowds. Many devotees keep the Somavara vratam, a form of Kartika Masam fasting where you eat only after sighting the evening star.

At dusk, priests carry the utsava idols to the Pushkarini and light lamps all around the tank for Laksha Deepotsavam. Ten harathis follow, including Omkara, Nandi and Karpura Harathi, and camphor smoke hangs over the steps.

Kartika Pournami and the Jwala Thoranam

Kartika Pournami falls on 24 November. In the evening, temple staff set fire to a tall arch of dry grass soaked in ghee near the Gangadhara Mandapam. Priests carry the deities in a palanquin under the burning Jwala Thoranam, and devotees collect the charred grass as a protective charm.

• Lamps float on the Krishna at Patala Ganga during the Maha Mangala Harathi to Goddess Krishnaveni.
• Giripradakshina and Sparsha Darshan aren’t allowed on 24 November.

Kartika Deepotsavam and Akasha Deepam

Jyotirlinga means a linga of light, so lighting a deepam is the simplest way to worship Mallikarjuna this month.

• Koti Deepotsavam, the festival of a crore lamps, is on 20 November.
• You can light your own lamps at Uttara Mada Veedhi and Gangadhara Mandapam.
• Families raise an Akasha Deepam on a tall pole at dusk, a light believed to guide the ancestors.

Swarna Rathotsavam and Nandeeswara Vishesha Abhishekam

On 27 November, Arudra Nakshatram, the deities come out on the golden chariot for the Swarna Rathotsavam. Nandi gets his own Vishesha Abhishekam on 22 November and 6 December.Planning a Srisailam family trip from Hyderabad? Book a sedan, SUV or Tempo Traveller with ChikuCab for a comfortable family journey.

Kartika Snanam and Punya Nadhi Harathi at Patala Ganga

Patala Ganga is the Krishna river ghat 1 km below the temple, reached by a long flight of steps or the ropeway. Devotees take the Kartika snanam here at dawn, and the November water is cold enough to make you gasp. On 13 November, priests perform the Punya Nadhi Harathi and present a saree to River Krishnaveni.

Srisailam Kartika Masam Crowd and Waiting Time

Srisailam is packed on Kartika Mondays and Pournami.

• Last year, free darshan took 6 to 7 hours on the first Somavaram and 7 to 8 hours on Pournami.
• Seeghra ticket holders waited 4 to 5 hours on both days.
• Queues on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays move much faster.
• Sunday nights jam the ghat road as families arrive for Monday darshan.

The Devasthanam’s Kartika Masam arrangements include queue complexes with breakfast, hot milk and drinking water. Its crowd management plan this year adds three laddu counters, one of them for women.

Best Time to Visit Srisailam During Kartika Masam

We recommend a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, like 17 to 19 November or 1 to 3 December. You get Sparsha Darshan, shorter lines and easier rooms. If the Jwala Thoranam matters more than touching the linga, go on 24 November and keep the day free.

Other Temples to Visit in Srisailam

Set aside half a day for the shrines near the main temple. Our Srisailam temple taxi service covers them in one loop after darshan.

Srisailam Accommodation During Kartika Masam

Rooms sell out first in Kartika, and Sunday nights before a Somavaram go fastest.

• Devasthanam guest houses include Ganga Gowri Sadan, Mallikarjuna Sadan, Chandeeswara Sadan and Pathaleswara Sadan.
• Srisailam temple rooms booking is online at srisailadevasthanam.org, with Aadhaar for every guest.
• Community satrams and private lodges near the temple add more options.
• If rooms are gone, pick a weekday and finish the trip in one day by cab.

How to Reach Srisailam During Kartika Masam

Srisailam has no railway line or airport, so every route ends with a drive through the Nallamala hills.

Travellers from Bangalore can plan a comfortable road journey to Srisailam with a Bangalore to Srisailam cab. It is a convenient option for families visiting during Kartika Masam.

Hyderabad to Srisailam by Cab

The Hyderabad to Srisailam distance is 213 km on NH 765, a drive of 5 to 6 hours. We provide one way and round trip taxi options, with sedans for couples, Ertiga and Innova for families, and tempo travellers for larger groups. Fare starts from ₹9/km.

Our drivers know the checkpost timings and the parking near the queue complex. Apart from that, you can also book a Bangalore to Srisailam cab, a Vijayawada or Kurnool to Srisailam taxi, or a Markapur to Srisailam cab after your train.

Forest Checkpost Timings on the Srisailam Ghat Road

• The Mannanur and Domalapenta checkposts close the forest road between 9 PM and 6 AM.
• Inside the Amrabad Tiger Reserve, the 55 km section has a 30 km/h limit, with no stopping.
• For travel safety, leave Srisailam by 6 PM so you clear Mannanur before the gate closes.

Nearest Railway Station and Airport to Srisailam

• Markapur Road (MRK) railway station is 83 km away.
• Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad, is 202 km away.
• We pick up at both and drive you straight to the temple.

Srisailam Kartika Masam One Day Trip Plan from Hyderabad

A Hyderabad to Srisailam one day trip works on Sparsha weekdays. Queues on Mondays and Pournami make a single day too tight.

Two Day Plan for a Family Pilgrimage Trip

Families get more out of two days. Arrive on a Monday for the evening Laksha Deepotsavam, stay the night and take the 5:30 AM Sparsha slot on Tuesday. This plan works on 16 and 17 November or 30 November and 1 December.

Share your dates and group size, and we’ll shape a Srisailam Kartika Masam travel package for your family trip by car. We plan the cab, stops and checkpost timing around the Sparsha calendar.

Srisailam Kartika Masam FAQs

When does Kartika Masam start in Srisailam in 2026?

The holy month opens on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, right after Deepavali. It closes with Amavasya on 8 December, and temple programmes carry on until 9 December.

What are the Kartika Somavaram dates in 2026?

This year has four Kartika Mondays, on 16, 23 and 30 November and 7 December. Each Monday evening, the temple tank glows with Laksha Deepotsavam lamps.

What time does Srisailam temple open during Kartika Masam?

Gates open at 3 AM on Mondays and Pournami. Regular darshan starts at 4:30 AM and goes on till 11 PM, with a pause between 4 PM and 5:30 PM.

Is special darshan available at Srisailam during Kartika Masam?

Yes. Seeghra (₹150) and Athi Seeghra (₹300) tickets are sold daily. The ₹500 Sparsha Darshan is open only on 14 weekdays.

Can we perform Abhishekam at Srisailam during Kartika Masam?

No. Garbhalaya and Samuhika Abhishekams stay suspended until 9 December. Homams like Rudra Homam are still open online, and sanctum Abhishekams return after the festival month.

What is the difference between Sparsha Darshan and Alankara Darshan?

In Sparsha Darshan, you enter the sanctum in traditional dress and touch the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga. Alankara Darshan means seeing the decorated linga from the Mukha Mandapam, without touching it.

What is Jwala Thoranam in Srisailam?

It’s a fire arch of ghee-soaked grass lit in front of the temple on Kartika Pournami. The palanquin of Mallikarjuna Swamy and Bhramaramba Devi passes beneath the flames.

Why is Srisailam famous during Kartika Masam?

Shiva’s Jyotirlinga and a Shakti Peetha share one temple here, and Kartika is Shiva’s holiest month. Lamp festivals, the Jwala Thoranam and river harathis make it one of the busiest months at the temple.

Which is the best day to visit Srisailam in Kartika Masam?

A Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday on a Sparsha day gives you the shortest wait. Good picks are 17 to 19 November and 1 to 3 December.

How can I reach Srisailam from Hyderabad?

A cab on NH 765 is the easiest way, covering 213 km in 5 to 6 hours via Kalwakurthy and Mannanur. Leave early, as the forest checkpost shuts between 9 PM and 6 AM. Chiku Cab fares start from ₹9/km.

Abhishek Singh

I’m a wanderer who loves venturing on to unknown and unseen places. I explore freely to various fun and adventurous places, whether it be spiritual temple tours, captivating landscapes, and more. I wonder around in search of hidden gems and tourist attractions, temples, and other places.