Pilgrimage centres at Krishna river gear up for Pushkarams

Hyderabad: All major pilgrim centres on the banks of river Krishna are gearing up for the Pushkarams scheduled from August 12 to 24. The Pushkarams will begin soon after the planet Brihaspathi enters the zodiac sign Virgo.

The Telangana government has made the necessary arrangements at Pushkar ghats in Nalgonda (34) and Mahabubnagar (52) districts at an estimate of '680 crore. The government is expecting as many as 3.34 crore devotees to take holy dips in the river during the Pushkarams.

There are many shrines and temples along the banks of the river Krishna, which arises in Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra and passes through Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and joins the sea at Hamsaladeevi.

One of the 12 Jyothir-linga temples and two of the 18 Shakthi Peethas are located in Telangana and its border. Besides the Jyothirlinga and Shakthi Peetha at Srisailam, the state has the Alampur Jogulamba Shakthi Peet-ha near the river Krishna.

There are also two Hanuman pilgrimages at Beechpally and Pedda Chintarevula.
These are among five temples in which idols of lord Hanuman were installed by Vyasaraya Theertha, the guru of Madhva Parampara, in a single day. These are also along the banks of the river.

Then there are prominent pilgrimages like Harihara Kshetram at Vadapally in Nalgonda, Dattha Mandiram at Maganur, Ranganayaka Swamy temple at Pebber, Dwadasha Jyothirlinga-layam at Somashila near Kolhapur, Uma Mahesw-ara Temple near Patala-ganga at Mannanur, Sang-ameswara Temple at Kott-hapally, Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Mattapally and others, along the banks of the river.

The Krishna enters Telangana at Krishna village in Maganur mandal of Mahabubnagar district and exits into Andhra Pradesh from Nagarjuna Sagar. The government has deployed 200 police personnel at each ghat, beside at least 20 expert swimmers at major ghats and other staff including sanitation, health RWSS, electricity etc.

Ghats, pilgrimages and accommodation along the Krishna

Krishna ghat
This ghat is located in Maganur mandal of Mahabubnagar district. Renowned Datta mandir, Ksheera Lingeswara temple and Venkateswara temples are located at the meeting point of the rivers Krishna and Bheema. Paspula ghat in Makthal is also very cloase to Krishna Ghat.
Distance from Hyderabad: 185 km
Transportation: RTC runs buses from Hyderabad to Raichur via Mahabubnagar and Makthal. Railway passengers can reach Krishna by any train from Hyderabad to Bengaluru.
Accommodation facilities: Yatri Nivas Hotel and Vivekananda Ashram

Rangapur ghat
This ghat is located in Pebber mandal. Ranganayaka Swamy temple is renowned in Rangapur. Besides this, Abhyayanjaneya swamy temple is located nearby the ghat.
Distance from Hyderabad: 150 km and 86km from Mahabubnagar town
Transportation: RTC busses are available from Hyderabad, Mahabubnagar and Kurnool
Accommodation facilities: Temporary sheds have been constructed

Agraharam ghat
This ghat is located in Gadwal. Spatikalingeswara, Kalyana Venkateswara temples, Ramalayam, Hanuman Temple, Navagraha Mandapam, Ahobilam Mutt and Saksheswara Swamy temples are located nearby this ghat.
Distance from Hyderabad: 180 km
Transportation: RTC busses and trains are available from Nampally and Secunderabad stations
Accommodation facilities: Hotels, lodges and free meal facilities

Beechpally ghat
This is the major ghat in Mahabubnagar district. Pushkarams in Telangana will begin at this ghat. Abhayanjaneya swamy temple, Shivalayam, Kodanda Ramalayam and Hayagreeva Gnana Saraswathi temples are located on the banks of Krishna here.
Distance from Hyderabad: 168 km
Transportation: RTC buses are available from Hyderabad, Kurnool and Raichur. Train passengers should go up to Gadwala from Nampally and use public transport to reach Beechpally for 16 km
Accommodation facilities: A few rooms are available in R&B guest house

Kyathur & Gondimalla
These ghats are located near Alampur. Chief Minister K.Chandrashekar Rao would take a holy dip at Gondimalla ghat. Kullayappa, Shivalayam, Hanuman Temple, Jhukareswari Temple, Suryanarayana swamy temple, Yoga Narasimha Swamy temple and Papanashini teertham are located nearby these ghats apart from the Alampur Jogulamba Shakthi Peetam.
Distance from Hyderabad: 205 km
Transportation: Buses are available; rail passengers should catch Kurnool train from Hyderabad to reach Jogulamba.
Accommodation: Temporary sheds at ghats and lodges at Alampur or Itikyala.

Somashila ghat
This ghat is having VIP and General ghats. Dwadasha Jyothirlingalayam is located on the banks of Krishna here.
Distance from Hyderabad: 200 km
Transportation: Buses are available from Hyderabad to Jadcharla. Commuters should take local buses from Jadcharla to Kolhapur via Nagarkurnool.
Accommodation facilities: Only one lodge at Kolhapur. The government is planning to provide rooms in government schools and offices. Nagarkurnool and Wanaparthy have some lodges.

Patalaganga & Lingalagattu
This ghat is located in Mannanur. Umamaheswara temple, Maddimadugu Pabbathi Anjaneya swamy temple, Uma Maheswara Ksetram, Chenchulaxmi museum, view point from Nallamala forest, Mallela Teertham waterfalls, Traibal Museum, Sakshi Ganapathi Temple, Boating, Akkamahadevi caves and other site seeing points are located nearby this ghat besides Srisailam Mallikarjuna Swamy and Bramarambika temples.
Distance from Hyderabad: 190km
Transportation: Buses are available from Hyderabad
Accommodation: Temporary sheds were constructed at the ghat. Lodges and hotels are available at Srisailam.

Pondugala & Irkigudem
These ghats are located near Miryalaguda, Nalgonda district. Dachepally in Guntur, which is closer to these ghats, have five ghats. These ghats some local temples.
Distance from Hyderabad: 176km
Transportation: Busses are available to Miryalaguda from Hyderabad. From Miryalaguda, pilgrims can choose local busses or private transportation like autos. Railway passengers can reach up to Nadikudi junction from Hyderabad in Guntur trains.

Vadapally
Vadapally is having renowned and historical Laxminarsimha swamy temple and Vadapally Meenakshi Agastheswara Swamy temples.
Distance from Hyderabad: 180 km
Transportation: Take bus to  Miryalaguda and then take a local bus to the ghat.

Mahankali & Mattapally
These ghats are located near Miryalaguda. Mattapally Laxminarsimha Swamy temple is famous shrine. Besides this, Parvathi Ramalingeswaralayam, Godadevi temple and Hanuman temples are located nearby these ghats.
Distance from Hyderabad: 186 km
Transportation: Busses from Hyderabad to Miryalaguda and Hujurnagar
Accommodation facilities: Annadana satrams, lodges and hotels are available