Srisailam Temple Darshan Types and Timings (2026 Updated)

Srisailam Temple Darshan Types and Timings

Srisailam is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, and it is the only major temple where ordinary devotees are allowed to enter the sanctum and touch the Shiva Lingam. That one fact changes how you should plan your visit, because the touch darshan has its own ticket, its own time slots and a dress code that is enforced strictly.

This page covers every Srisailam Temple Darshan option, the 2026 timings, what each ticket costs and how to book.

Types of Srisailam Temple Darshan

There are two primary ways to have Srisailam Temple Darshan of Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy.

Sparsha Darshanam (Touch Darshan)

Srisailam is uniquely famous for allowing devotees to enter the Garbhalayam (sanctum sanctorum) to touch the Shiva Lingam.

• Cost: ₹500 per person.
• Significance: It is believed that touching the Swayambhu Lingam removes past sins and brings spiritual liberation.
• Mandatory dress code: Men must wear a dhoti or pancha with no shirt. Women must wear a saree, or a chudidar with a dupatta.

The dress code is not a suggestion. Devotees who turn up in trousers or a shirt are stopped at the entrance, so carry the correct clothing with you rather than planning to buy it there in a hurry.

Alankara Darshanam (Sight Darshan)

During these times the deity is decorated with flowers and ornaments, and devotees view the Lord from the Mukha Mandapam.

• Cost: Included in free (Sarva Darshanam) and paid Seeghra tickets.
• Benefit: The queue moves faster, which makes it easier for families and elderly pilgrims.

If someone in your group is elderly, also look at the senior citizen darshan at Srisailam before you plan the day.

Srisailam Temple Darshan Timings 2026

From January 2026 the temple follows a phased slot system on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and public holidays, to prevent overcrowding.

Note: VIP break darshans typically occur for 30 to 60 minutes immediately before the Phase 1, 2 and 3 slots. If you hold a Sparsha ticket for a phase, reach the queue well before the slot opens, because the break darshan running ahead of you can push the line back.

Srisailam Temple Darshan Ticket Prices 2026

• Sarva Darshanam (free): Available daily, but expect 4 to 8 hour waits on weekends.
• Seeghra Darshanam: ₹150 per person.
• Athi Seeghra Darshanam: ₹300 per person.
• Sparsha Darshanam: ₹500 per person. Book this in advance.

Seeghra and Athi Seeghra both give you Alankara Darshanam, with Athi Seeghra moving through a shorter queue. Neither of them lets you touch the Lingam — only the ₹500 Sparsha ticket does.

Which Srisailam Temple Darshan Should You Choose?

Four options, and the right one depends on how much time you have and whether touching the Lingam matters to you.

If this is your first visit, Sparsha Darshanam is worth planning around. Very few temples in India allow an ordinary devotee to enter the sanctum and touch the Lingam with their own hands, and it is only available in the three phase slots listed above. Book it first, then arrange the rest of your trip around that slot.

If the Sparsha slots are gone for your date, Athi Seeghra Darshanam at Rs. 300 is the next best use of a short visit. And if you have the whole day, Sarva Darshanam costs nothing at all — just start very early, because the weekend wait runs to eight hours.

How to Book Srisailam Temple Darshan Tickets

Srisailam Temple Darshan booking works differently depending on which darshan you want, so read this part carefully.

Sparsha Darshanam — WhatsApp only at present

At present, Sparsha Darshanam tickets are issued only through the Andhra Pradesh government’s Mana Mitra WhatsApp service. Send a message to the number below and follow the replies to complete your booking. There is no other way to reserve the touch darshan right now, so please do not pay anyone who claims otherwise.

Seeghra, Athi Seeghra and other tickets

These are booked on the Andhra Pradesh temple management portal:

• tms.ap.gov.in

Keep these ready before you start:

• The darshan type you want and the exact date. Slots are limited and weekends fill first.
• A government photo ID for every person in the booking.
• A phone number you can receive messages on, and a payment method.

Important: carry the original ID proof used during booking. It is checked at the entrance.

If you would like help planning the whole trip, call us on 9110583839.

Poojas, Sevas and Abhishekam

Darshan tickets and seva tickets are separate. If you want to perform a seva rather than only have darshan, these are booked on their own:

• Srisailam Abhishekam — including Abhishekam inside the Garbhalayam.
• All Srisailam poojas and sevas with current prices — Rudra Homam, Ganapathi Abhishekam, Gopuja and the rest.
• Srisailam Kalyanotsavam.
• Mruthyunjaya Homam and Sarpa Dosha Nivarana Pooja.

Before You Go

• Electronic gadgets: mobile phones, cameras and leather items are strictly prohibited inside the temple. Free and paid lockers are available at the entrance.
• Head shaving: if you plan to offer your hair, the Srisailam Kalyanakatta is where it is done.
• Carry your dhoti or saree if you have booked Sparsha Darshanam. This is the single most common reason devotees are turned away.

Where to Stay in Srisailam

Rooms in Srisailam get taken quickly on weekends and festival days, and the Haritha hotel is the one most pilgrims ask about. We handle Haritha hotel bookings ourselves, so you can call us directly instead of hunting for availability online.

For more details about the hotel, see the Srisailam Haritha Hotel page.

Places to See Around Srisailam

Most devotees spend a full day or two here, and after your Srisailam Temple Darshan there is a good deal to see:

• Sakshi Ganapathi Temple.
• Akkamahadevi Caves, reached by boat on the Krishna river.
• Bhairava Sela and Naagalooty.
• Gupta Mallikarjunam, and Aksharabyasam if you are bringing a child.

A fuller list of nearby attractions is here: Srisailam travel guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Sparsha Darshanam cost at Srisailam?
₹500 per person. It is the only darshan that allows you to enter the Garbhalayam and touch the Shiva Lingam.

How do I book Sparsha Darshanam?
At present it can be booked only through the Andhra Pradesh government’s Mana Mitra WhatsApp service on 9552300009. Message that number and follow the replies.

Can I book Srisailam darshan tickets online?
Seeghra, Athi Seeghra and other tickets are booked on tms.ap.gov.in. Carry the original ID proof used at the time of booking.

What are the Srisailam Temple Darshan timings for Sparsha Darshanam?
On Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and public holidays there are three phases: 7:00 AM to 8:30 AM, 11:45 AM to 2:00 PM and 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM.

What is the dress code for Sparsha Darshanam?
Men must wear a dhoti or pancha without a shirt. Women must wear a saree, or a chudidar with a dupatta. It is enforced at the entrance.

What is the difference between Seeghra and Athi Seeghra Darshanam?
Both give Alankara Darshanam. Seeghra costs ₹150 and Athi Seeghra costs ₹300, with Athi Seeghra moving through a shorter queue. Neither allows touching the Lingam.

Is free Srisailam Temple Darshan available?
Yes, Sarva Darshanam is free and available daily. On weekends the wait can run from 4 to 8 hours, so start early.

Can I really touch the Shiva Lingam at Srisailam?
Yes. Srisailam is one of the very few major temples where an ordinary devotee may enter the Garbhalayam and touch the Swayambhu Lingam with their own hands. It requires the Rs. 500 Sparsha Darshanam ticket and the prescribed dress, and it is allowed only during the three phase slots.

What is the phased slot system at Srisailam?
On Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and public holidays the temple divides the day into alternating slots to control crowding. Sparsha Darshanam runs in three phases, and Alankara Darshanam fills the periods in between. On other days of the week the phase restriction does not apply in the same way.

Do I need to book Srisailam Temple Darshan in advance?
For Sparsha Darshanam, yes. Slots are limited and weekends go first. Sarva Darshanam is free and needs no booking at all, though the queue on a weekend can run to eight hours.

What should I wear for Sparsha Darshanam?
Men must wear a dhoti or pancha with no shirt, and women a saree or a chudidar with a dupatta. Carry it with you. Devotees who arrive in trousers or a shirt are turned away at the entrance, and this is the single most common reason people miss the darshan they booked.

Are mobile phones allowed inside the temple?
No. Phones, cameras and leather items are prohibited. Free and paid lockers are available at the entrance.

Know more about Sri Srisaila Mallikarjuna Temple

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