The Hemachala Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, also known as the Mallur Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Mandir, is a revered Hindu shrine located in Mallur village, within the Mulugu District of Telangana. This ancient temple, believed to have a history spanning over 4000 years, is perched atop a mountain approximately 1500 feet high, necessitating worshippers to climb around 150 steps to reach the divine murti. The Miraculous Murti of Narasimha At the heart of the temple lies the extraordinary murti of Bhagwan Narasimha, renowned for its miraculous nature. The deity stands at an impressive 10 feet tall, with a lotus-like body that feels astonishingly soft, akin to human skin. A gentle touch leaves an impression on the murti, which promptly returns to its original form once the pressure is removed. This unique quality makes it a focal point of devotion and wonder. Historical and Mythological Significance The temple is not just a place of worship but also a site steeped in rich mythology a...

Balkampet Yellamma temple in Hyderabad, India, is dedicated to Goddess Yellamma Devi, who is also known as Jala Durga and Renuka Devi. The shrine is also known as Renuka Devi temple. The temple has a history of more than 700 years and the murti of Goddess worshipped in the temple existed before civilization. As per historical records, the murti of Goddess Yellamma Devi worshipped in the temple was discovered 10 feet below ground while digging for a well during the 15th century CE. The digging was stopped and attempts to move the murti which is in a reclining position failed therefore a temple was constructed around the murti. The temple has undergone multiple renovations. The current structure was built in 1919 CE. The murti of the Goddess in the sanctum sanctorum is positioned 10 feet below ground level, earning her the name Jala Durga, meaning Goddess Durga residing in water. The murti is surrounded by water springs. The water is believed to have curative properties and is given to...

Lalitha Panchakam is a powerful prayer dedicated to Devil Lalita Tripurasundari. The prayer extols the greatness of Goddess Tripurasundari. Below is the Lalitha Panchakam lyrics in Telugu. Benefits of chanting the prayer include peace and prosperity. It is believed that a person chanting the prayer daily on Friday will be blessed with fearlessness, wealth and success. The prayer was written by Adi Shankaracharya. Lalitha Panchakam In Telugu లళితాపఞ్చకం ప్రాత స్మరామి లళితా వదనారవిన్దం విమ్పాధరం ప్రథుల మౌక్తికశోభినాసం ఆకర్ ‍ ణ్ణ దీర్ ‍ ఘ నయనం మణికుణ్టలాఢ్యం మన్దస్మితం మృగమదోజ్జ్వలభాలదేశం ప్రాతర్ ‍ భజామి లళితా భుజ కల్ ‍ పవల్లీం రక్త అన్గులీయ లసద్ అన్గులీపల్లవాఢ్యాం మాణిక్యహేమా వలయాఙ్గద శోభమానాం పుణ్డ్రేక్షుచాప కుసుమేస్సు సృణ్ణి దధానాం ప్రాతర్ ‍ భజామి లళితా చరణారవిన్దం భక్తేష్ట దాన నిరతం భవ సిన్ధు పోతం పత్మాసనాది సురనాయక పూజనీయం పత్మాంగుష ద్వజ సుదర్ ‍ శన లాఞ్ఛనాఢ్యం ప్రాతర్ ‍ స్తువే పరశివాం లళితాం భవానీం త్రయ్యన్త వేద్...

Aishwarya Ganapathi located at Avancha Village – Telangana. The murti is nearly 25 feet tall and 15 feet in width. It is carved out of a single rock. Aishwarya Ganapathy is located around 40 km east of Mahbubnagar and 19 km east of Jadcherla. The Ganesha murti is incomplete as the king who commissioned the murti died midway through the carving of the monolithic sculpture. Aishwarya Ganapati belongs to the Western Chalukya period and is believed to have carved during the 12 th century AD. Avancha was the capital King Thylapadu of the western Chalukya dynasty. The sculpture was carved around 1113 CE.

Kode Mokkulu ritual is offering of ox to Shiva at the famous Sri Rajarajeswara Swamy Temple in Vemulawada in Karimnagar District in Telangana. Devotees offer ox to Rajarajeswara Swamy to express their gratitude to Him for fulfilling their desires. Farmers also offer ‘kode mokkulu’ if they have a bumper yield in a particular season. Ox is offered to the Lord as it is the vehicle of Mahadev Shiva.  Deccan Chronicle reports    Devotees who want to offer the ox can purchase tickets priced at either Rs 100 (for normal darshan) or Rs 216 (for Seeghra darshan) and then perform the ritual.  A laddu is given as prasadam for those offering ‘kode mokku’.   In addition, around 200 oxen are offered by the farming community every month. A few of them are used for the ritual. The remaining oxen are donated to Gosamrakshana Federation, a Warangal-based voluntary organisation, which, in turn, distributes it to the poor farmers free of cost.  A total of 2,5...

Quilla Temple is located inside Quilla Indur or Fort Indur in Nizamabad, Telangana. The temple is dedicated to Lord Ram. The shrine is also known as Raghunatha Alayam as Ragunath Rishi performed intense austerities and meditation here. The fort and the temple is believed to have constructed by the Rashtrakuta Kings in the 10th century. The fort has fountains, meditation hall and kalyana mantapa (marriage hall). The Shri Ram Temple in the fort is the biggest and is noted for its magnificence. The murti of Sri Ram is in the shape of Kurma (tortoise). Mata Sita is seated nearby. The meditation hall in the fort is where Rishi Raghunatha Swami spent several years meditating. If one sits and chant ‘OM’ in the hall we can hear it echoing. A big pillar near the temple with a lamp atop it is lit every day. There is also an ornate Dwajasthambam or flag post in front of the temple. At the bottom of the hillock, on which the Sri Ram temple stands, there is a temple de...

Sammakka Sarakka Jatara is observed in Magh month (February). This is a biannual festival and attracts millions of people and is the largest tribal festival in the world. Sammakka Saralamma Jatara 2026 dates are January 29 to February 1. The jatara is held at Medaram, which is around 90 km from Warangal in Telangana. Tribal priests will bring the idol of Sammakka from Chilkalguda hillocks, two km away from Medaram, and install it at the altar in Medaram on January 30, 2026. The next day, they bring the idol of Sarakka from Kannepally village to be installed. Two days later, the priest will take the Sammakka idol away. Next day, the idol of Sarakka is taken away. With this, the jatara comes to an end. The biannual Sammakka Saralamma Jatara is observed for four days before full moon day or purnima of the Magh month. The festival is basically dedicated to two tribal women - Sammakka and Saralamma. They were fierce warriors. Sammakka is the mother of S...

Banjara teej is a nine-day ritual and festival observed by Banjara community especially in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and parts of Maharashtra. Banjara Teej in 2026 begins on August 27. The festival ends on September 4 on Sri Krishna Janmashtami day. The main ritual during the period is the sowing and growing of wheat saplings in a small basket made of bamboo. This basket with growing wheat shoots is known as Teej. It symbolizes prosperity. Young girls who participate in the ritual pray to Lord Sevalal for their well-being. During the nine day rituals, groups of young girls sing and danced with the teej on their heads, seeking prosperity for the village and the community. On Janmashtami day, the Teej is carried on the traditional phuliagan on the head of the girls. The girls, who reach nearby river or pond singing songs, immerse Teej in the water. Banjara Teej begins on Shravan Shukla Paksha Chaturdashi Tithi and ends on Shravan Krishna Paksha Ashtami Tithi as per tr...

Gudem is located on the banks of Godavari River in Adilabad District in Telangana. There are numerous Hindu temples and sacred places located at Gudem especially near the Godavari River. Taking a holy dip and performing shradh, tarpan and pinda daan to ancestors in Godavari River at Gudem is considered highly meritorious. Thousands of devotees take dip here during auspicious days. The spot attracts a huge crowd during the Godavari Pushkaram, which is held once in twelve years. The most famous Hindu temple located at Gudem is the Satyanarayana Swamy Temple – dedicated to Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. The temple is located atop a scenic hill. Gudem is located in Dandepalli Mandal. Gudem is around 40 km from Mancherial.

Yadagiri Narasimha Temple, also known as Yadadri Temple, is located at Yadagirigutta in Nalgonda District in Telangana. The temple is dedicated to Lord Narasimha. The shrine is situated atop a hill which is 300 feet in height and hence the name Yadagirigutta. Yadadri Temple is around 60 km from Hyderabad. Yadagiri Mahatmya quotes from Skanda Purana and states that Sage Vyasa worshipped Lord Narasimha here. The place is also associated with Lord Brahma, Prahlada and Rishyashringa. Legend has it that Lord Narasimha appeared in three forms at the Yadagirigutta Temple. These are – Lakshmi Narasimha, Gandaberunda Narasimha and Jwala Narasimha. In the main cave temple Lord is depicted as Lakshmi Narasimha – he is shown with Goddess Lakshmi in calm and peaceful form with his usual attributes. Gandaberunda Narasimha murti is worshipped in a below cave which is small. Jwala Narasimha is depicted as carving on a rock. The murti is associated with a serpent that looks like a f...

Karmanghat Anjaneya Swamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman and is located at Karmanghat in Saroornagar in Telangana in India. Karmanghat Hanuman Temple was built in 1143 AD by the then Kakatiya king Sri Prataparudra. Karmanghat Hanuman Temple exact location is Sagar Ring Road in Hyderabad. Legend has it that King Sri Prataparudra discovered the murti of Hanuman worshipped in the temple during a hunting expedition. Whiling hunting, the king heard someone chanting Rama Rama. He looked around and soon discovered that the chant was emanating from a murti of Hanuman. That night he had a dream in which Hanuman asked him to build a temple at the sight. Another legend has it that Mughal Ruler Aurangazeb had ordered the temple to be destroyed. But his soldiers could not go near the temple. Aurangazeb himself arrived to destroy the Hanuman temple. When he reached the spot he heard a roaring voice, which said, Mandir todna hai to, pehle tum karo man ghat – If you want to destro...

Sarangpur Hanuman Temple is located near Nizamabad in Telangana. The shrine is dedicated to Hanuman, the greatest devotee of Bhagavan Sri Ram. Sarangpur Hanuman temple is around 8 km from Nizamabad. Samarta Ramadas, Guru of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, laid the foundation stone of the shrine. The Hanuman Temple is spread over a total of 1400 acres land and the temple is situated atop a rocky hill. The murti of Hanuman is carved out of a large rock atop the hill. The shrine is built around the murti of Hanuman. 

Inavolu Mallanna Jathara is the annual festival held at Inavolu Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple in Telangana. The fair and festival at this ancient Shiva temple lasts for 3 months. In 2026, the Inavolu Mallanna Jathara begins on January 14 and concludes on April 27. The most important dates are January 14 and January 15, 2026. The Jathara mainly celebrates the celestial wedding of the presiding deity Mallikarjuna Swamy with his consorts Golla Kethamma and Balija Medalamma. Carrying Bonam on the first day of the festival is considered highly meritorious. People fulfill numerous vows during the period. Bandari (turmeric) is the main offering to the deity. Devotees also offer earthen pots with newly harvested rice cooked with milk and jaggery. Thousands of people from villages across the region and far off places participate in the annual jatara. During the festival several men and women could be seen dancing in trance chanting weird incantations as if a deity has possessed...

Jamalapuram Venkateswara Swamy Temple is dedicated to the Balaji form of Vishnu. The shrine is located around 80 km south of Khammam Town in Telangana. The murti or idol of Lord Venkateswara worshiped here is Swayambhu or that which manifested on its own. The shrine is also known as Tirupati of Telangana or Khammam Chinna Tirupati. The present day shrine was built during the reign of Vijayanagara Emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya during the 15th century. Jabali Maharshi did intense penance for several years here and got the blessings of Lord Vishnu in the form of Venkateswara. The spot where he performed penance can be seen even today and it is known as Suchi Gutta. Several steps lead to the shrine, which has South Indian style gopuram at the entrance. A huge water body known as Peddacheruv is nearby and makes the location of the temple scenic. The main murti of Venkateswara here is in standing posture. His consort Padmavati Amamvaru is worshipped in a separate shrine. ...

The Sammakka Sarakka story is believed to have happened during the 13 th century AD in the forest around Medaram in Telangana. Sammakka is the mother and Sarakka or Saralamma is her daughter. The legend begins with the tribal leaders of Koya tribe finding Sammakka in deep forest protected by tigers. The tribal leaders believed she was an incarnation of Kondadevara, god of the hills. It is said that as a young girl Sammakka rode tigers and lions. She was also a fierce warrior. Sammakka was married to tribal chief Pagididda Raju of Medaram Village. The couple had a son and two daughters – Jampanna, Saralamma and Nagulamma. The older daughter Saralamma or Sarakka was married to Govindaraju. Once the tribes of the region were unable to pay tax due to severe drought for four years. This angered the ruler of the region, a Kakatiya King, and the tribes entered into a war with the king. In the battle, the tribal chief was killed. Sammakka lost her three children in the...

Sri Rajarajeshwara Temple at Vemulawada in Telangana is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is around 180 km north of Hyderabad. This a very ancient temple and finds mention in the Bhavishyothara Purana. The unique aspect of the temple is that Sri Rajarajeshwara is flanked by Goddess Raja Rajeshwari (Goddess Durga) and by Lakshmi Sanhitha Siddhi Vinayaka in the main sanctum. Lord Shiva in the form of Sri Raja Rajeshwara is popularly known as Rajanna of Vemulawada. The shrine is located at the center of the town atop a small hill. The temple has a gateway leading up the hill and a typical south Indian style gopuram marks the entrance to the shrine. The shrine has got a holy tank named Dharma Gundam, the waters of the tank is believed to have medicinal properties. Legend has it that in ancient times a king bathed in the tank and got cured of his leprosy. He also found a Shivling in the water. He then installed it in the temple. Devotees take a holy dip in the waters and th...

Panchasahasra Deepalankarana is the lighting of 5000 lamps on the steps of the holy pond in the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple at Dharmapuri in Karimnagar District in Telangana. The lamps are lit on the Karthika Pournami day. Thousands of women from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu participate in this unique event. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi and Chandra, the moon god, appeared on the day during the Samdura Manthan or churning of ocean performed by Devas and Asuras. Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple at Dharmapuri is one of the nine important Narasimha Temples in Telangana.

Soan is located on the banks of Godavari River in Adilabad District in Telangana. There are numerous Hindu temples and sacred places located at Soan especially near the Godavari River. The banks of Godavari River here is known as 'Pinda Pradanam' center. This is because for centuries 100 Madhva Brahmin families residing here have been practicing the religious rites on the banks of the river. Taking a holy dip and performing shradh, tarpan and pinda daan to ancestors in Godavari River at Soan is considered highly meritorious. Thousands of devotees take dip here during auspicious days. The spot attracts a huge crowd during the Godavari Pushkaram, which is held once in twelve years. The most famous Hindu temple located at Soan is the Lakshmi Venkateshwara Swami Temple – dedicated to Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi. Dattanand Swami Mutt located at Soan attracts hundreds of devotees daily. Soan is located in Nirmal Mandal and Nirmal town is around 12 km from here. ...

Kuravi Veerabhadra Swamy Temple is dedicated to Veerabhadra, also known as Veerabhadra Swami, who is one of the Shiva Ganas. The temple is located at Kuravi which is about 11 km from Mahabubabad or Manukota in Warangal District. The temple is also dedicated to Goddess Bhadra Kali – thus it is also referred as Kuravi Bhadrakali Sametha Veerabhadra Swamy Temple . The deity worshipped in the temple is the Ugra Roopa or fierce form of Veerabhadra. The deity has three eyes and 10 hands. Veerabhadra appeared from single strand of hair thrown by Shiva on hearing about the death of Goddess Sati. Veerabhadra then annihilated Daksha’s army and destroyed Daksha yajna. The Kuravi Veerabhadra Swamy Temple finds mention in the travelogue of Marco Polo. The temple was built by Bheema Raju of Vengi Chalukya Dynasty and renovated by the Kakatiya ruler Betharaju – I. The most important festivals in the temple are Mahashivaratri, Bathukamma and Nonalu. The mo...

Komuravelli Mallanna Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva.  Komuravelli Temple is located on Karimnagar - Hyderabad Highway and is around 22 km from Siddipet and 85 km from Hyderabad. Shiva is worshipped here as Mallanna – a fierce form. He is flanked by Kethamma and Medalamma. The deity is also known as Mallikarjuna Swamy. Komuravelli Temple is located atop a hillock. The temple is unique as Shiva is worshipped here not in Shivling form but in murti form. The clay molded deity of Lord Mallikarjuna swamy is believed to have been made more than 500 years ago. It is widely believed that prayers offered at the shrine of Komuravelli Mallanna will be answered. It is believed that Shiva married Kethamma from Yadava community and Medalamma from the Linga Balija community and settled here. Hence the two consorts. The temple has a rajagopuram typical of South Indian Temples. There is a Nandi in front of the shrine. A huge shivling made using cement and painted black can ...