Heritage · Faith · Tradition
About the Temple
Introduction
Surya Nandi is one of the Nava Nandis – the nine Nandi shrines of Lord Shiva in and around Nandyal and Mahanandi. It is a small, peaceful shrine on the Nandyal–Mahanandi road, set among fields and green trees, roughly midway between the two towns.
Legend
According to tradition, Surya Deva, the Sun god, performed penance to Lord Shiva at this place.
Location
The shrine is near Nandipalli, close to the villages of U. Bollavaram and Thammadapalle, just off the Nandyal–Mahanandi road – about 11 km from both Nandyal and Mahanandi.
The Nava Nandi Yatra
Suryanandi 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, Suryanandi usually follows Shivanandi and comes before Krishnanandi, and the pilgrimage ends at the great Mahanandiswara Swamy Temple.
About the Shrine
The founding year of the shrine has not been published. 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: The shrine is on the Nandyal–Mahanandi road, about 11 km from Nandyal railway station; buses between Nandyal and Mahanandi pass nearby.
- By Train: the nearest railway station is Nandyal Junction (about 11 km).
- By Air: the nearest airport is Kurnool Airport at Orvakal (KJB), about 70 km away by road.
