Alampur Nava Brahma Temples

Alampur, on the bank of the Tungabhadra in Telangana, holds the Nava Brahma temples — a group of nine 7th-century Shiva shrines built by the Badami Chalukyas — and the Jogulamba temple, one of the eighteen Maha Shakti Peethas of the goddess. The “western gateway to Srisailam,” Alampur joins early Chalukyan art to one of the most sacred seats of the Devi.

The nine Brahma temples

Despite their name, the Nava Brahma temples are nine shrines of Shiva — Taraka Brahma, Swarga Brahma, Padma Brahma and the rest — built in the 7th and 8th centuries by the Badami Chalukyas in a distinctive northern-influenced style rare in the south. The Swarga Brahma temple, with its richly carved walls and tower, is the finest, a landmark of early Deccan architecture.

The Jogulamba Shakti Peetha

Alampur is hallowed as the seat of Jogulamba, counted among the eighteen Maha Shakti Peethas where parts of the goddess Sati fell — here, by tradition, the upper teeth. The fierce goddess, restored to her temple in recent years, draws Shakta pilgrims from across the south, joining the Devi worship to the ancient Shiva shrines.

Gateway to Srisailam

Alampur is called the western gateway to the great Srisailam Jyotirlinga, and pilgrims to that shrine honour Alampur on the way. Set where the Tungabhadra nears the Krishna, its temples were moved to higher ground when the Srisailam dam rose, and Maha Shivaratri and Navaratri fill the riverside town with festival.

How to reach Alampur

• By road: Alampur is in Jogulamba Gadwal district, about 25 km from Kurnool and near the Andhra–Telangana border.
• By train: Kurnool and Gadwal are the nearer railheads.
• By air: Hyderabad is the nearest major airport, about 220 km away.

Frequently Asked Questions

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