Post our visit to Mallela Thertham Waterfalls, we have begun driving to Srisailam reservoir and temple town. We stopped at Octopus viewpoint, which was apparently opened to public just few years ago.

The Octopus viewpoint is located close to the Domalapenta Forest Check post, where one can enjoy spectacular views of the lush green vegetation and the backwaters of Krishna river (Srisailam dam). The Krishna river water which is spread between the hillocks looks like an Octopus in appearance.

The viewpoint offers a bird’s eye view of the Krishna River and the adjoining forests having deep gorges and valleys. Since we made it to the place during mid-afternoon harsh light conduction enroute to Srisailam yesterday, I could not capture the full beauty.

Octopus Viewpoint is located about 42 km away from Mannanur, on the Hyderabad-Srisailam Highway. It is located in the dense Nallamalla Forest (Amrabad Tiger Reserve) in Nagarkurnool District, Telangana State. The entrance gate is located on Mannanur – Srisailam highway road and it is about 6 KMs before Domalapenta Forest check post

The Srisailam Dam is the 2nd largest capacity working hydroelectric station in the country. The dam was constructed in a deep gorge in the Nallamala Hills in between Kurnool and Mahabubnagar districts, 300 m (980 ft) above sea level. It is 512 m (1,680 ft) long, 145 metres (476 ft) maximum height and has 12 radial crest gates. It has a reservoir of 616 square kilometres (238 sq mi). Project has an estimated live capacity to hold 178.74 tmc ft at its full reservoir level of 885 feet (270 m)

Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple or Srisailam Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deities Shiva and Parvati. t is significant to the Hindu sects of both Shaivam and Shaktam as this temple is referred to as one of the twelve Jyothirlingas of Lord Shiva and as one of the eighteen Shakti Peethas of goddess Parvati. Shiva is worshiped as Mallikarjuna, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Brahmaramba. It is the one of the only three temples in India in which both Jyotirlinga and Shaktipeeth is revered (Wiki)

We had a fantastic experience of visiting the temple town, as timing was perfect and with limited crowd in the town. We were just about 40 to 50 folks in the temple watching as Lord Shiva and Parvati being serenaded with vedas and hymns. Hence entire experience was very personal, and blissful

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