Umamaheshwaram Temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva in Andhra Pradesh, India. The temple is also in various other names like Uma maheshwaram or Uma maheswaram or maheshwaram or maheswaram or maheshram or umamaheshrum. Umamaheshwaram temple is located in the charming Nallamala forest range, approximately 100 kilometres away from Hyderabad on the Hyderabad-Srisailam highway. The main location is atop the hill, 4 km away from Rangapur Village, Achampet, Mahabub Nagar. The Nallamala range is known to date back to 2nd century A.D. The presiding deities in Umamaheshwaram temple are Mallikarjuna (Lord Shiva) and Bhramaramba (Devi).
Umamaheshwaram temple is the Northern gateway of Srisailam, one of the twelve jyotirlingas in India. The temple finds proud mention in many Vedas. It is also believed that a visit to Srisailam without Umamaheshwaram is incomplete and unfinished. The temple is positioned atop the hill, securely canopied by enormous trees. The temple is known to have been built by a Kakatiya ruler in the early 12th century. The shrine of course dates back earlier. The Nallamala Hill ranges screen the temple and 500 metres of its stretch to PapaNasanam. Thus, throughout the day, barely does any sunlight fall on this stretch of 500 metres atop the hill. Accordingly, the temperature is maintained below normal all through the year. The place is also popular as the Poor man`s Ooty.
The Umamaheshwaram temple is popular for it`s mysterious Papanasanam where can always find a mug of water, in spite of withdrawing any amount of water from it throughout the year. Nobody has yet figured out the exact source of water. Till today it is the home for uncounted sadhus. The Papanasanam is approximately 200 metres away from the sanctum sanctorum, where water comes out from beneath the huge rocks at the same rate all through the year. One can witness a rock-pot over there that gets filled with water every 5 minutes and overflows to water a stretch of jasmine and other plants down the hill. It is alleged that every sin committed, would be washed away if one takes a dip at this place. The quality of water at Papanasanam is purely splendid. Similar to this, several other water bodies are there on this stretch. However none of them is perennial like "Papanasanam".
Places Around Umamaheshwaram Temple, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
The visiting places around Umamaheshwaram temple are equally rare and attractive in their own right. As a result, tourists pay a visit to such attractor also, just to feel pleasure of the surroundings.
Reaching Umamaheshwaram Temple, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
In order to reach Umamaheshwaram Temple, one can avail the three basic modes of bus, car and one`s own private vehicle. However, it is recommended that a car ride to the temple will be the most facilitating, as the bus takes one up to the base of the Nallamala range. Daily bus service is available from Achampet at around 9 A.M. and 4 P.M.
If one is coming from Hyderabad and heading to Srisailam with one`s own vehicle, it is advised to take a right diversion near Mulamalupu and head down the hill to reach Rangapur village. To one`s left, one can see the huge arch called "Uma Maheswara Mukadwaram".
If one is coming from Hyderabad and heading to Achampet with one`s own vehicle, one can take a left diversion near the Check Post and head down the road to reach Rangapur village. Reaching there, one can see to their right the huge arch called "Uma Maheswara Mukadwaram".
If one is coming from Hyderabad by bus, one can get down either at Munnanuru or Achampet and then take a bus to Rangapur. From there, one can take auto rickshaws to reach the Umamaheshwaram Temple.
If one is coming from somewhere else, one can reach Achampet and then take a bus to Rangapur to reach the temple. Buses ply to Rangpur every half an hour.
If a visitor is travelling by train, the near by railway stations are Jadcherla, Mahabub Nagar and Hyderabad. The nearest airport is Hyderabad.