Travel Guide
By Road
Kaleshwaram is amidst thick forests in the interior Mahadevpur Mandal of Karimnagar District. This place can reached from Karimngar(130Kms) via Manthani or from Warangal(110Kms) via Parkal. It lies at the confluence of the River Pranahitha with the River Godavari. This place also serves as the meeting point of three states namely Maharashtra, Chattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh. Kaleshwaram(Karimnagar district) shares border with Chanda district in Maharashtra and Baster in Chattisgarh.
By Rail
The nearest railway station is 'Peddapalli' which is located on the NewDelhi<->Kazipet line. Kaleshwaram is around 90Km from there. Warangal/Kazipet is the major railway junction which is around 110Km from Kaleshwaram.
Profile
Kaleshwaram is one of the most celebrated Siva temple in Andhra Pradesh. God Kaleshvara the presiding deity of this temple in Karimnagar district of Telangana, Mallikarjuna of Srisailam in Kurnool district of Rayalaseema and Bhimeswara of Draksharama in East Godavari district of coastal region together gave AndhraDesa its other name TrilingaDesa from where the word 'Telingana' and 'Telugu' are believed to be derived.
Kaleshwaram is significant and popular from the fact that it is located at the confluence of three rivers Godavari, Pranahita and Saraswati. The Saraswati is actually a concealed river and is believed to flow as Antarvaahini (underground river) at Kaleshwaram.
Kaleshwara-Mukteshwara Temple
It is said that Kaludu(Yama) often undertaking severe penance, got the grace of Lord Siva who granted him a boon to be installed just beside him in the shape of a linga to be workshipped by devotees. Therefore the unique and peculiar feature about Kaleshwaram is that two lingas one of Kaleshwara(Yama) and other of Muktheswara(Siva) are found on a single pedestal. One of the lingas consists of two holes on the top known as the nostrils of the deity. The legend tells that the milk and water poured into these nostrils miraculously flow into the river Godavari. Even today it is strange to be noticed that whatever amount of water poured in these nostrils they never get fully filled up. The devotees worship here first Kaleshwara linga and then Muktheswara linga for the liberation of their souls.
Historical Evidences about Temple
Ramaranya Sripada or Rameshwara Deekshita, a renowed scholar of Saivagamas got settled on the banks of the Godavari at Kaleshwaram. He was a religious guide to the King Prola II and he constructed several temples. The Kaleshwaram shrine was perhaps founded by him. As per the Nagunur Inscription dated back to 1171 A.D, Gangadhara, the Minister of Kakatiya Rudradeva and the governor of Nagunur, the capital of Sabbinadu(Karimnagar) has constructed several temples including Kaleshwaram.
Besides the epigraphical evidences, the remnants of a mud fort with bastions built in stone reveal that this was an important place during the medieval period.
