Mahanandi Temple, Kurnool: History, Travel guide and how to reach

Mahanandi Temple, Kurnool – Overview

Mahanandi Temple is also known as Mahanandishwa Mandir, which is located east of Nallamala hills near Nandyal in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. Mahanandishwari swami mandir is situated in the foothills of the hills of Srishailam forest.

Mahanandi Mandir is considered one of the ‘nine temples’ which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The Mahanandi temple is also the centre of attraction for foreign visitors and pilgrims. The temple is also famous for the presence of ‘kalyani’ which is the tank of the temple and the tank is protected in such a way that the depth of the water is not more than five feet.

History of this Temple

According to Mahanandi Mandir’s history this 7^th century temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Mahanandishvar is one of the ancient temples of India and it is 1,500 years old and the inscriptions on the tablets of the 10^th century depict the fact that Mahanandi Temple has been renovated and rebuilt many times.

The initial structure of the temple was built by the Chalukyas in the 7^th century and later, in the 10^th and 15^th centuries, many additions were made to the temple.

One of the most important features of the Mahanandi Temple is the pure holy water of the river pushkarni which flows throughout the year. It is believed that the water is so clean that a particle dropped in the water is also visible.

A minaret called Gopuram placed above the central sanctum was built in the ‘Badami Chalukya style’ of architecture and the rest of the temple was built in the ‘Vijaynagar style’.

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Festival celebrated in this Temple

The festival of Maha Shivaratri is one of the most popular festival celebrated here in which many devotees gather to pay homage to Lord Shiva and worship him.

This festival is celebrated for seven long days starting from ‘Maha Bhula Chaturdashi’, which is on the 14^th day of the full moon in February-March. About 20,000 devotees from different parts of the country, especially from Andhra Pradesh, Mysore and Maharashtra, come to visit the temple every day.

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Places to visit near Mahanandi Temple

Belum Caves

Belum caves are located at a distance of 88.7 KM from Mahanandi Temple. This is the second largest cave in India. The waterfalls at this place were a great experience that is felt by the visitors. The deepest point is ‘Patalganga’ at a depth of 150 feet from the entrance of the caves.

Konda Reddy Fort

Konda Reddy Fort Popularly known as Kurnool Fort, it is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in Kurnool. It is located at a distance of about 2 kilometers from Kurnool Railway Station and is well connected by road.

The fort was built during the Vijayanagara Empire and has a hidden tunnel that passes under the Tungabhadra River. The fort also has a massive watchtower that offers mesmerizing views of the surrounding area.

Sakshi Ganapati Temple

Sakshi Ganapati Temple is a religious place in the region dedicated to Lord Ganesha. According to the local people, the deity here knows who visits the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga and keeps a record of the same.

The temple is visited by devotees visiting other temples in Srisailam. The temple is surrounded by lush greenery and it makes for a refreshing break for the visitors.

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How to reach Mahanandi Temple

By Air- The nearest airport to reach Mahanandishwa Temple is in Hyderabad, which is located at approximately 215 km from Kurnool. From here you can easily reach this temple by using local services.

By train- The nearest railway station to reach Mahanandishwa Temple is Nandyal Railway Station. From here also you can easily reach this temple by using local services.

By Road- Many bus runs from major cities like Hyderabad, Tirupati, Kurnool, Vijayawada to this place. Buses also run to parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka such as Bellary, Bengaluru and Chennai. You can also reach here easily by own transport as it’s roads are well connected with the different part of country.