Highlights
- 5:30 am paduka abhishekam at the Pithapuram Mahasamsthanam
- Puruhutika Devi Shakti Peetha, Pithapuram
- Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga and Bhramaramba, Srisailam
- Ropeway and boat to the Akkamahadevi caves
- Brindavana darshan at Mantralayam
- Coracle crossing to Kuravpur
This is the classic Datta Dham circuit, taking in the Datta, Shiva and Madhva shrines that lie between Pithapuram and Kuravpur. It uses the train for the two long legs, from Mumbai to Pithapuram and from Raichur back home, and a private car for everything in between. Two nights at Srisailam give you a spare morning there, which helps if Karthika crowds or a Sparsha Darshan slot change your plans.
Day-wise itinerary
Day 1: Konark Express from Mumbai or Pune
Board the Konark Express at Mumbai CSMT at 2 pm, or at Pune at 6 pm. It runs overnight via Solapur, Secunderabad and Vijayawada.
Day 2: Arrive Pithapuram, evening seva
Arrive in Pithapuram at about 1 pm. After checking in and resting, go to the Sripada Srivallabha Mahasamsthanam for the 5 pm Pradosha puja and the 7 pm palanquin seva. Night in Pithapuram.
Day 3: Paduka abhishekam, Puruhutika Devi, overnight train to Hyderabad
The 5:30 am Kakad Harathi and paduka abhishekam, then the Kukkuteswara Swamy temple and the Puruhutika Devi Shakti Peetha. Some time for the Samsthanam’s book counter or annadanam. Overnight train to Hyderabad later in the day.
Day 4: Hyderabad to Srisailam
Our car meets you at the station for the drive to Srisailam through the Nallamala forest, one of the prettiest roads of the trip. Check in, rest, and go for evening darshan at Mallikarjuna Swamy and Bhramaramba Devi. Night in Srisailam.
Day 5: Srisailam darshan, Patalaganga and the Akkamahadevi caves
Early darshan, or your booked Sparsha Darshan slot if you travel on a Saturday, Sunday or Monday. Later in the morning, take the ropeway down to Patalaganga and the boat on the Krishna to the Akkamahadevi caves. Families with elderly parents can skip the caves and spend the day around the temple instead. Night in Srisailam.
Day 6: Srisailam to Mantralayam
A long day on the road, down the ghat and west via Kurnool to Mantralayam on the Tungabhadra. Evening darshan at the Brindavana of Sri Raghavendra Swamy, which is open until 9 pm. Night in Mantralayam.
Day 7: Mantralayam morning, Kuravpur by coracle
Follow the Matha’s order of visit: a bath in the Tungabhadra, Manchalamma’s temple, then the Brindavana. After breakfast, drive to Raichur and on to Atkur on the Krishna, where a putti crosses to Kuravpur in 10 to 20 minutes. Walk about 1 km to the temple of Sripada Srivallabha, then cross back. Night in Raichur.
Day 8: Train home from Raichur
Drop at Raichur station for a daytime or overnight train to Pune and Mumbai. Several run daily, taking about 11 to 13 hours.
Adding Ganagapur
Many Datta devotees want to complete the circuit with Ganagapur, the seat of Sri Narasimha Saraswati in Kalaburagi district. Add one night: on day 8, drive from Raichur to Ganagapur for the Nirguna Math and a dip at the Bhima–Amarja sangam, stay the night, and take a train home the next day from Gangapur Road, about 21 km away, or from Kalaburagi.
What's included and what isn't
Included
- Hotels in Pithapuram (1 night), Srisailam (2 nights), Mantralayam (1 night) and Raichur (1 night), with breakfast
- Private car from Hyderabad through Srisailam, Mantralayam and Kuravpur to Raichur
- Station transfers in Pithapuram
- Train bookings made for you on IRCTC (fares extra)
- Help booking Srisailam darshan or Sparsha Darshan slots online
- Help arranging the coracle crossing at Kuravpur
Not included
- Train fares (quoted at the time of booking)
- Srisailam darshan and seva tickets, ropeway and Akkamahadevi boat tickets
- Coracle fares
- Lunches and dinners
- Sevas, abhishekam, annadanam and donations
- Tips and personal expenses
Visa, costs, best time and travel tips: Pithapur Kuravpur Datta Dham Yatra Packages.
