The neck of Sati — Mahalaxmi, the great Lakshmi, in the deep Nallamala forest on the banks of the Krishna river.
The Shri Shail Peetha at Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh, marks where the neck of Sati fell. The Goddess here is Mahalaxmi — the great Lakshmi, the supreme goddess of abundance and divine grace — and the Bhairav is Shambaranand. This Peetha is simultaneously one of the 12 Jyotirlingas (Mallikarjuna Shiva is enshrined in the same complex), making Srisailam one of the most theologically complete pilgrimage sites in India, sacred to both Shaiva and Shakta traditions.
The forest setting of Srisailam — deep in the Nallamala hills, surrounded by the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve — adds a dimension of wilderness sacred space that amplifies the Peetha's power. Tigers and leopards roam the same forests through which pilgrims approach. The combination of Mahalaxmi (abundance, grace) and the tiger forest (power, danger, the feminine) creates a uniquely potent Shakti landscape.
By road from Hyderabad: 230 km (5 hours). No railway — road access only. The Srisailam dam reservoir allows boat access from the Hyderabad direction.
October to February. Avoid summer (April–June — intense heat in the forest). Book online darshan for both shrines. Mahashivratri draws very large crowds.
Book online darshan passes in advance — the Srisailam queue can be 3–6 hours on weekends and festival days. Pre-book Mahalaxmi and Mallikarjuna darshan separately.
The Neck of Goddess Sati fell at Shri Shail, consecrating this land as a Shakti Peetha. The Shakti here is Mahalaxmi and the guardian Bhairav is Shambaranand.
One of the 51 sacred Shakti Peethas — explore its unique significance in the divine circuit.
Explore →One of the 51 sacred Shakti Peethas — explore its unique significance in the divine circuit.
Explore →One of the 51 sacred Shakti Peethas — explore its unique significance in the divine circuit.
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