Illustration 1 / 6Vemulawada Raja Rajeshwara Temple
About the Temple
The Raja Rajeshwara temple at Vemulawada, known locally as Rajanna, is one of Telangana's best-known Shiva shrines and is called Dakshina Kasi. Pilgrims bathe in the Dharma Gundam tank before darshan, and many keep the kode mokku vow by leading a bull round the temple. Major renovation began in 2025, and in early 2026 darshan was reported at the nearby Bheemeshwara shrine.
Why visit
- See the kode mokku custom, in which devotees lead a bull, Shiva's mount, round the temple as a vow.
- Visit an ancient Shiva shrine of the Vemulawada Chalukya capital, with Vaishnava shrines in the same complex.
Temple Timings
- Morning
- 4:35 AM – 5:00 AM
- Morning
- 6:15 AM – 11:30 AM
- Afternoon
- 12:10 PM – 2:00 PM
- Afternoon
- 2:30 PM – 5:55 PM
- Evening
- 7:10 PM – 9:00 PM
Official source, checked 23 Oct 2026 · Source
These are the Devasthanam's published darshan periods for the main temple. Renovation work moved darshan to the Bheemeshwara shrine in early 2026; confirm where and when darshan is held before you travel. The temple stays open round the clock during the Maha Shivaratri jatara. Mondays, Masa Shivaratri and Shani Pradosham follow a different abhishekam and puja schedule.
Before You Go
- Time to allow
1 hour to 2.5 hours inside the temple. This is a planning allowance, not a queue time; festival days take longer.
- Dress
Not confirmed; ask at the entrance. The Devasthanam's Do's and Don'ts page is under construction.
Not confirmed: check with the temple before you go
- Phones
A phone rule was not confirmed; ask at the entrance.
Not confirmed: check with the temple before you go
- Special entrance
Official temple tariff. Buy only at the temple counter or the official website.
- Sheegra (quick) darshan ₹100 · Official
Official source, checked 23 Oct 2026 · Source
- Access
Step counts and wheelchair routes were not confirmed, and renovation work may change routes. Ask the Devasthanam office on arrival.
Not confirmed: check with the temple before you go
Highlights
- Kode mokku
Devotees lead a bull, Shiva's mount Nandi, round the temple as a vow. The Devasthanam lists Kode Mrokkubadi from 06:15 to 20:30, from 04:30 on busy days.
- Dharma Gundam
Pilgrims bathe in the Dharma Gundam tank before darshan; legend says King Narendra was cured of leprosy here and found the lingam in its bed.
- Harihara Kshetram
The complex holds Vaishnava shrines of Ananta Padmanabha Swamy and Sita Ramachandra Swamy beside the Shiva sanctum, and a dargah stands within the precincts.
- Capital of the Vemulawada Chalukyas
The town was the capital of the Vemulawada Chalukyas from about 750 to 973 CE; the Kannada poet Pampa wrote here as court poet of Arikesari II.
Sources: vemulawadatemple.telangana.gov.in, vemulawadatemple.telangana.gov.in · checked 22 Oct 2026
How to reach Vemulawada Raja Rajeshwara Temple
- By road: Buses run from Hyderabad via Siddipet and from Karimnagar, Warangal, Nizamabad and Basar. The Devasthanam names Kazipet (Warangal) and Kamareddy as the nearest railheads and Hyderabad as the nearest airport, without distances.
Sources: vemulawadatemple.telangana.gov.in · checked 22 Oct 2026
Nearby Places
- KarimnagarDistrict city and the usual overnight base, 38 km away.38 km by road
- Kondagattu Anjaneya Swamy TempleA hill temple to Hanuman.36 km away
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org · checked 22 Oct 2026
Questions Visitors Ask
Is there a dress code at Vemulawada Raja Rajeshwara Temple?
Not confirmed; ask at the entrance. The Devasthanam's Do's and Don'ts page is under construction.
Can I take my phone inside Vemulawada Raja Rajeshwara Temple?
A phone rule was not confirmed; ask at the entrance.
What is kode mokku at Vemulawada?
It is a vow in which a devotee leads a bull, the mount of Shiva, round the temple as an offering. The Devasthanam lists Kode Mrokkubadi from 06:15 to 20:30, starting at 04:30 on busy days.
Is the Vemulawada temple open during renovation?
Reports from January and February 2026 say darshan and pujas moved to the nearby Bheemeshwara shrine while the main temple is rebuilt. Confirm the current arrangement before you travel.
What are the Vemulawada temple timings?
The Devasthanam lists darshan from 04:35 to 05:00, 06:15 to 11:30, 12:10 to 14:00, 14:30 to 17:55 and 19:10 to 21:00. Mondays and festival days differ.
How do I reach Vemulawada?
Vemulawada is about 38 km from Karimnagar. The Devasthanam names Hyderabad as the nearest airport and Kazipet or Kamareddy as railheads, with buses from Hyderabad via Siddipet.