The Mantralayam Temple sits on the banks of the Tungabhadra River, in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. The land is dry. The river is wide. The temple is not large. The crowd is. But the crowd is not of tourists. It is of devotees who come to the Brindavana of Sri Raghavendra Swamy. He was a saint, a scholar, a devotee of Lord Vishnu. He entered Jeeva Samadhi in 1671. He did not die. He is still alive, in the Brindavana. That is the belief. The saint is not absent. He is present. The devotee does not pray to a stone. He prays to a living presence. The queue is long. The faith is deeper.
The temple follows the Dvaita Vedanta tradition. The saint was a follower of Madhvacharya. The teachings are of Vishnu as the supreme. The rituals are strict. The sevas are many. The devotees come with problems. Health, finance, marriage, education, they ask. The saint listens. The blessing is given.
Daily Darshan Timings for 2026
The temple opens at 6:00 AM every day. The morning darshan runs from 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The early morning hours, between 6:00 AM and 8:00 AM, are the best. The crowd is light. The air is cool. The river is misty.
The temple then closes for an afternoon break from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM. During these two hours, the sanctum remains closed. The priests perform internal rituals. Do not come during these hours expecting darshan.
The evening darshan runs from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The temple closes at 9:00 PM.
The morning darshan is the most peaceful. The evening darshan is more crowded. The working devotees arrive after 5:00 PM.
Types of Darshan and Seva Prices for 2026
General darshan is free. The queue on weekdays takes one to two hours. On weekends, two to three hours. On Thursday, the crowd is larger. Thursday is considered the most auspicious day for the saint.
Special darshan is a paid option. The cost is not listed by the temple administration, but it starts around ₹100. The queue is shorter. The wait is thirty to sixty minutes.
The sevas are many. Panchamrutha Abhishekam costs ₹70. Archana Sahita Hastodaka costs ₹100. Panchamrutam costs ₹100. Phala Panchamrutha costs ₹200. Utsavaraya Padapooja costs ₹250. Sarva Seva costs ₹300. Taila Nanda Deepam for one month costs ₹300. Maha Pooja costs ₹400. Gopooja costs ₹500. Gruta Nanda Deepam for one month costs ₹500. Poorna Seva costs ₹700. Go Graasa Seva costs ₹1,000. Kanaka Maha Pooja costs ₹1,000.
Vastra Samarpana for the Brindavana only costs ₹30,000. For all Brindavanas, it costs ₹60,000.
Evening sevas include Unjal Seva at ₹400. Rathotsavam at ₹1,500. Rajatha Rathotsavam at ₹2,500. Rajatha Gajavahana Seva at ₹5,000. Suvarna Rathotsavam at ₹7,000. Bangaru Pallaki Seva at ₹9,000. Navarathna Rathotsavam at ₹13,000.
Special sevas include Godaana, cow donation, at ₹10,000. Dinaika Sampoorna Seva at ₹1,00,000. Dinaika Sampoorna Annadana Seva at ₹2,00,000.
Online Booking for 2026
Online booking is available for sevas and special darshan. Visit the official website. Click on Seva Booking or Darshan Booking. Select your seva. Choose your date and time slot. Enter the details of each devotee. Name, mobile number, and ID proof number. Complete the payment. You will receive a confirmation via SMS and email.
During Guru Raghavendra Aradhana in July or August, and on Thursdays, book at least two weeks in advance. The slots fill up quickly.
Annadanam and Food Timings
Annadanam, the free meal, is served daily from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. The food is simple. The hall is large. The service is efficient. Do not miss it. Morning prasad is from 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM. Midday prasad is from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM. Evening prasad is from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM.
Room Booking for 2026
The temple trust runs several guest houses. Dheerendra Vasathi Gruha has non AC rooms for ₹400. Brindavan Gardens has non AC rooms for ₹300 to ₹400. Susheendra Vasathi Gruha has AC and non AC rooms for ₹400 to ₹1,200. Vyasa Mandir has non AC rooms for ₹500. Sujateendra Guest House has AC rooms for ₹1,200. Suyateendra Vishranti Nilaya has AC suites for ₹1,200. Sumatheendra and Sudharmeendra have non AC rooms for ₹500. Vijayeendra and Jayateertha Mandiram have AC and non AC rooms for ₹500 to ₹1,200.
Rooms can be booked online through the official portal. Select Room Booking. Choose your dates. Select the guest house and room type. Enter your details. Complete the payment. During festivals, book at least three to four weeks in advance.
Also Read : Ernakulathappan Temple Timings 2026: Pooja, Vazhipadu, Dress Code & Travel Guide
Festivals Celebrated at the Temple
Guru Raghavendra Aradhana is the biggest festival. It is in July or August. The temple is packed. The crowd is massive. The sevas are elaborate. The energy is high.
Rathotsava is the chariot festival. The chariot is pulled. The ropes are thick. The devotees chant. Maharathostavam is the grand chariot festival. Aradhanostavam is the celebration of the saint. Dhanurmasa, the month of December to January, is observed with special rituals.
On all these festival days, the temple timings are extended. The crowds are heavy. Book your darshan and room well in advance.
Panchamukhi Anjaneya Temple
The Panchamukhi Anjaneya Temple is about twenty kilometers from Mantralayam. It is believed that Sri Raghavendra Swamy performed penance here. The idol of Hanuman has five faces. The devotees visit after darshan at the main temple. The belief is that the visit completes the pilgrimage.
How to Reach the Temple
By train, the nearest station is Mantralayam Road, about twelve kilometers from the temple. From the station, take an auto or taxi. The ride takes about twenty minutes.
By road, the temple is connected to Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Raichur. Buses and taxis are available.
By air, the nearest airport is Hyderabad International Airport, about 250 kilometers from Mantralayam. From the airport, take a taxi or train.
Best Time to Visit
The best months are October through March. The weather is pleasant. The summer heat is gone. The best days are weekdays, Tuesday through Thursday. Thursday is crowded. Weekends are crowded. The best time of day is early morning, between 6:00 AM and 8:00 AM. The temple opens at 6:00 AM. The morning darshan is peaceful. The queue is short.
A Final Word for First Time Pilgrims
The Mantralayam Temple is not a quiet temple. The queue is long. The sun is hot. The crowd is thick. But the saint is not in the silence. He is in the Brindavana. The stone is not a tomb. It is a door. The saint is not dead. He is alive. The devotee does not pray. He speaks. The saint listens. That is the faith. Come with your problems. Leave them at the Brindavana. The saint is old. He has heard them before. He knows what to do.