Kaleshwaram: Where Rivers Meet and Souls Find Salvation – A Travelogue
Tucked away on the border of Telangana and Maharashtra, in the Mahadevpur Mandal of Jayashankar Bhupalapally District, lies the sacred town of Kaleshwaram. It is here, at the confluence of the mighty Godavari, its tributary Pranahita, and the mystical underground stream Gupta Saraswati, that spiritual seekers gather in reverence. Known as Dakshina Triveni Sangamam, this holy site draws thousands during auspicious festivals—especially now, during the ongoing Saraswathi Pushkaralu, being celebrated till May 26.
At the heart of this town stands the Kaleshwara Mukteshwara Swamy Temple, an ancient shrine that has stood the test of time since the days of Kakatiya Rudra Deva (1158–1195 AD). Its spiritual magnetism comes not just from its history but its unique Garbha Griha, which houses two Shiva Lingas on a single pedestal—Kaleshwara and Mukteshwara. Nowhere else in India will you find this divine pairing, said to offer liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Legend has it, as told in the Skanda Purana, that River Godavari performed penance to invoke Lord Shiva, who manifested as Mukteshwara Swamy. This divine presence was so powerful that souls were achieving salvation simply by bathing in the river and having His darshan. Alarmed at the disruption of the cosmic balance, Yama, the God of Death, prayed to Shiva to restore the life cycle. Shiva granted the request and instructed Yama to install the Kaleshwara Linga beside Him—thus giving the temple its name and dual sanctity.
Saraswathi Pushkaralu
The temple is steeped in rich traditions. Worship always begins with Kaleshwar, followed by Mukteshwar. Their consorts, Sree Sadapurna Devi and Sree Annapurna Devi, also reside within the complex. Another marvel lies atop the Mukteshwara Linga—two nostril-like holes into which water is poured during abhishekam. Mysteriously, not a single drop emerges, believed instead to flow a kilometer underground into the river Godavari itself.
Encircling the temple are four entrances, each guarded by Shiva’s vahana, Nandi, reinforcing the sacred geometry and balance of the structure. Inside the premises, shrines dedicated to Surya Bhagavan and Goddess Saraswati (revered here as Proudah Saraswati) add to the temple’s spiritual vibrancy.
The broader geographical and cultural landscape of Kaleshwaram is equally astonishing. It is one of eight ancient Shiva temples in India that sit on almost the same longitude, from Kedarnath in the north to Rameswaram in the south—a span of 2,383 kilometers. While five of these are Pancha Bhoota Lingas (each representing one of the five elements), and two are Jyotirlingas, Kaleshwaram stands apart for its twin Lingas sharing one Panavattam—a truly one-of-a-kind phenomenon.
Kaleshwaram is also part of Trilinga Desha, alongside Srisailam and Draksharamam—the triad of ancient Shiva temples said to define the spiritual identity of the Telugu-speaking states.
The temple is a vital hub during Karthika Masam and Maha Shivaratri, with pilgrims arriving in droves from Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. And just 35 km away lies the engineering marvel Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project in Kannepalli village, a testament to the region’s modern aspirations built atop ancient foundations.
The distance from Hyderabad to Kaleshwaram is about 270 km by road, making it a feasible and fulfilling weekend pilgrimage.
So this season, if you seek inner peace or simply a brush with profound heritage:
Go have a dip
Take darshan
Ask for Mukti
Attain Salvation 🙏
Kaleshwaram: Where Rivers Meet and Souls Find Salvation – Gallery
