Uncovering the Majesty of Kotappa Konda: A Three Peaks Circuit Trek

Kotappa Konda is one of the famous Lord shiva’s shrine in Andhra Pradesh. It is combination of three hills / Trikuta hills. Kotappa Konda hill appears with 3 peaks in any direction so it's also called as Trikutadri, Trikuta Parvatham. The three hills are Brahma hill, Vishnu hill and Rudra hill.

1. Brahma Shikharam: The main temple Trikoteswara Swamy Temple is located here.

2. Rudra Shikharam: Old Kotayya temple is located here. This is the first place where Trikoteswara Swamy existed. Hence it is called Paatha (old) Kotayya Temple.

3. Vishnu Shikharam: Lord Paapanaseswara Temple is here. It is believed that Lord Vishnu did penance for Lord Shiva. There is also a holy pond "Paapanasa Teertha" here.

Directions: This location is approximately 12 kilometers from the Palnadu district headquarters and 50 kilometers from Guntur. It can be easily reached via NH 16 through Chilakaluripet. The nearest railway station is Narasaraopet. Frequent daily buses are available from both Narasaraopet and Chilakaluripet.

The temple can be reached via the Ghat road or by taking the steps. Most devotees / visitors opt for the Ghat road because it is more convenient. Taking the steps usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes to reach the temple.

My hometown is located approximately 40 kilometers from this temple, and I have been visiting it for several years. Last year, I even created a vlog about the temple, providing all the necessary details for anyone interested in visiting.

Three hills and a temple are clearly visible from the Guntur and Kurnool state highway. A few years ago, while observing the hills, I spotted a small temple atop the tallest hill, known as Rudra Giri. During a conversation with friends, I learned that this is the original KotappaKonda temple, where God first appeared, and it is called "Patha Kotaiah / Old Kotaiah Konda." Since then, I've been eager to climb to the top.

Finally, the day has come. This time, I wanted to do something a bit different. The destination is about an hour's drive from my hometown. After lunch, I started around 3 pm and arrived at the starting point of the steps by 3:50 pm. There were very few vehicles in the parking area, so there were no issues, which is typical unless it's a special day. There is a temple administrative office and small stalls. Some devotees break coconuts before climbing the steps and perform a ritual at each step.

Things to carry:

• Water - 1 L

• Shoes - Mandatory, if you would like to climb Old Kotayya Konda. If you are going till new temple, Shoes are not required.

• Full sleeves T shirt, as this place is too hot even in winter noon.

• Snacks or nuts if you need something to munch.

Steps starting point

I'm ready for the hike, equipped with a water bottle, trail shoes, and a Buff. I'm carrying a small hiking backpack since I have my Drone and Insta 360 with me.

Currently, my plan is to climb only up to Patha Kotayya Konda and return. I'll let you know later if it turns into a circuit trek. I took a couple of pictures at the starting point of the steps and began the hike. There's a small Gopuram at the beginning of the steps. I didn't make any effort to find out how many steps there are to the temple, which will be the final milestone of this journey.

Steps view

It was a particularly hot day, despite it being winter. This area tends to be even hotter during the summer. Even at 4 PM, the heat persisted. It took me about 15 minutes to reach the "Ananda Valli ashram," the first temple at the end of the steps before reaching the giant Shiva lingam in front of the temple. I offered prayers from outside and arrived at the footprints of the Giant Lingam. From its base, I climbed the steps to stand before it. This is probably one of the largest Lingams I have seen so far. I also offered prayers to "Trikoteeswara Swamy" from outside and continued my hike up the steps. The path leads to the right side of the temple, where there is a Mandapam for Nagendra Swamy. At this small Mandapam, the steps end, and the trail begins towards "Patha Kotayya" Konda. A signboard there indicates the way.

Current temple on Brahma girl hill

We will embark on a rocky and uneven trail leading to our destination. It seems the devasthanam board created this path a few months ago. After walking approximately 300 meters, the path emerges from the shade, and the sun begins to blaze. The route becomes steep and somewhat challenging to climb. I had to take several breaks to avoid becoming too exhausted.

Halfway up, I encountered water storage tanks that were operational. The devasthanam board made efforts to ensure devotees do not suffer. After about a 30-minute hike, I reached the top. The distance from the temple to the top is around 800 meters.

While climbing, I happened to meet a pujari who informed me to meet someone at the temple to explain the history of the deity and show me around the temple.

The Patha Kotayya temple is very serene, and the idol of Lord Shiva closely resembles Lord Mallikarjuna of Srisailam. I had the opportunity to take Darshan, and Mr. Venu, one of the temple's priests, permitted me to enter the Garbhalayam and touch the deity. They also explained the stalapuranam to me. They were very hospitable and encouraged me to share the greatness of Lord Shiva with the world.

Old Kotayya swamy

Old Kotayya temple

Mr. Venu (priest) informed me that Vishnu Giri also features a temple and a pond. The trail from there connects to the road. He estimated the journey would take about an hour to an hour and a half. He also noted that there is no visible trail, but suggested following the dry grass along the way, as chemicals have been sprayed to remove the grass on the trail, and there are markings on the rocks in some areas. For a moment, I felt a thrill. I hadn't attempted such hikes solo, especially without knowing the path or timings. Without hesitation, I decided to embrace the challenge of this circuit trek.

From 5 to 5:30 pm, I spent time here and flew drone to capture some visuals. The drone lost signal, causing me significant anxiety, but thankfully, it returned safely. Around 5:40 pm, as the sun was setting behind the hills, I made my way towards Vishnu Giri.

I carefully followed the instructions given by the poojari to stay on the trail. Maintaining a steady pace was crucial because I had limited time before darkness fell. I balanced moving quickly with being cautious, as many areas had loose rocks and steep downhill sections. In some spots, we had to literally hold onto rocks to descend. The trail was surprisingly diverse, featuring woods, small rock caves, and steep sections. I slipped on one of the rocks, injuring my left knee and twisting my ankle. It took a moment to recover from the shock since it had been a while since I'd experienced something like this. I stood up and continued along the trail as the light gradually faded.

I ran on the trail wherever possible, but it was challenging to maintain speed due to my injury and the need to stay on the path. After about 40 minutes of hiking, I reached Vishnu Giri. There is a small temple and a pond beneath the rock. This pond, known as Paapanasa Teertha, is believed to cleanse one's sins if they take a dip or drink from it. A few water tanks are available for drinking water. I couldn't see the deity inside the dark temple, even with my phone light. I sprinkled some water on my head and began my descent immediately. As the light faded, I slipped on a rock, scratching my Insta 360 and sustaining a few minor injuries. Without time to pause, I got up and continued on the trail.

Trek Map

Starting from Vishnugiri, the path was lined with dense bushes and trees. Since I hadn't prepared for a night hike, I didn't have my torch or headlamp ready. There was still visible light at 6:20 pm. After another 10 minutes of a quick descent, I was at the base of the hill. I looked back to see the series of summits I had crossed, and with the fading light, the view was stunning. I arrived directly behind the Vedapatashala. Another 5 minutes later, I reached the road and made my way to the car parking area.  

Summarising the hike:

• Time taken - 2.5 Hrs.

• Distance covered - 4.93 kms

• Elevation gained - 457 meters.

• Trail type - Raw and medium difficulty

• Temperature - Hot and Humid

Thank you for patiently reading about my journey. Feel free to leave a comment if you require more information.

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