Heritage · Faith · Tradition
About the Temple
Introduction
Siva Nandi Temple, also called Rudranandi, is one of the Nava Nandis – the nine Nandi shrines of Lord Shiva in and around Nandyal and Mahanandi. It stands at the village of Kadamalakalva, and is among the most beautiful of the nine: an ancient temple built of stone in the Chalukya style.
Legend
According to tradition, the Pancha Pandavas visited this place after the Mahabharata war to worship Lord Shiva.
Location
The temple is at Kadamalakalva village, reached from the Nandyal–Mahanandi road; the Kadamala canal is the landmark. It is about 13 km from Mahanandi. On maps it is listed as "Ancient Chalukya Sri Sivanandi Temple".
The Nava Nandi Yatra
Shivanandi is one of the Nava Nandis – the nine Nandi shrines around Nandyal and Mahanandi, whose names are Prathamanandi, Naganandi, Somanandi, Shivanandi, Suryanandi, Krishnanandi, Garudanandi, Vinayakanandi and Mahanandi. All nine lie within about 15 km of one another, and devotees try to visit them in a single day. On the yatra, Shivanandi usually follows Somanandi and comes before Suryanandi, and the pilgrimage ends at the great Mahanandiswara Swamy Temple.
About the Shrine
The founding year has not been published, but the stone temple in the Chalukya style shows its great age. It is a living place of worship, visited especially by pilgrims on the Nava Nandi yatra.
Festivals
- Maha Shivaratri – the most popular time for the Nava Nandi yatra (usually February–March).
- Karthika Masam – lamps and special worship, especially on Mondays (usually October–November).
Visitor Information
- Timings: official timings are not published; the shrine is usually open in the morning and evening. Please check locally, especially if you plan to cover all nine shrines in a day.
- Etiquette: traditional dress is recommended; remove footwear before entering.
How to Reach
- By Road: Kadamalakalva is reached by road from the Nandyal–Mahanandi road, about 13 km from Mahanandi and about 20 km from Nandyal railway station; a taxi or autorickshaw is easiest.
- By Train: the nearest railway station is Nandyal Junction (about 20 km).
- By Air: the nearest airport is Kurnool Airport at Orvakal (KJB), about 76 km away by road.
