Saleshwaram Temple: Trekking inevitably features on the wish list of an adventurer. And if the trek area is located around religious sites, the significance of the journey gets enhanced for someone with spiritual beliefs. Ancient temples located amidst deep valleys and dense forests, with sparkling rivers flowing through them, give a glimpse of India’s rich heritage.
No, we are not talking about the Amarnath Yatra or any of the religious sites situated in the Northern parts of India. We are talking about a temple in the Southern region of the country, located in the denser region of the Nallamala forests. We are talking about the Saleshwaram Temple.
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This place, apart from providing a spiritual solace to many, is also a beautiful spot where you could plan your next trek at.
Where is it located?
The Saleshwaram temple, which is the abode of Lingamaiah Swamy (One of the 64 different forms of Lord Shiva), is situated in the Nallamala forests of Mallapur in Mahbubnagar, Telangana.
The Travel
To get started on the trek, one should commute using the roadways from Mannanur in Mahbubnagar and travel along a stretch of 30 km.The check post along this path remains closed from 9:00 pm to 5:00 am, during which, no vehicles would be allowed to pass through.
After getting to the destination, you would be able to put those trek shoes on and kickstart an epic journey on a hilly terrain that is filled with lush green trees and slippery stones. After trekking for about 6km, you would reach the temple and get a glimpse of the Siva linga situated inside the Temple.
Significance
A unique distinction this temple holds is that it remains open for only five days in a year, only during the “Chaitra Purnami” or full moon day in April counted as the first full moon which occurs after Ugadi (a festival of the Telugu people).
The scene of the temple in moonlight is a treat to the eyes and a blessing to the soul. The temple lies next to a beautiful waterfall, coming down from a height of over 200 metres. The water flows through the temple and the devotees take a holy dip in it before taking a climb into the Garbhagudi. The linga is located in a cave which resides on a huge rock. The travelers have to climb in a queue which is a bit challenging if there is a lot of rush, especially during those five days of the year.
The Local Festival
Once in two years, a fare named “Lingamaiah Jathra” attracts thousands of devotees and tourists to the Saleshwaram temple. Devotees from the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and others, flock the temple to seek the blessings of Lord Siva.
Best Time to Visit
The best time is during March-April and especially during the five days where the temple is also open to visit. Just in case, if one wishes to visit it during the rest of the days, they have to take a permission from the Forest Department.
That’s not all, but there is a lot more which can only be experienced during the trek. So, if you are searching for places and really confused to take a decision, this would prove to be a very good pick.
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