Quick answer: Karthika Masam 2026 runs from Tuesday 10 November to Tuesday 8 December 2026 in Telangana, with Karthika Pournami on Tuesday 24 November 2026. The most loved Karthika Masam temples in Telangana are Vemulawada Raja Rajeshwara, Keesaragutta Ramalingeswara, Ramappa (Rudreswara), the Thousand Pillar Temple at Hanamkonda, Kaleshwaram Mukteswara, Alampur Jogulamba and Bala Brahmeswara, and Chaya Someswara at Panagal. The Ramappa temple has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2021. Mondays and Karthika Pournami are the busiest days at all of them.

This guide has been restored at its original hindutone.com address. It covers each temple's deity, district and legend as commonly told, plus Karthika customs. We do not give darshan timings, seva prices or transport details. Please check the temple's official website before you travel.

Karthika Masam 2026 dates and customs in Telangana

Karthika is the month most dear to Lord Shiva, and also sacred to Lord Vishnu. Across Telangana, families light lamps at dawn and dusk, take an early-morning bath, fast on Mondays and visit Shiva temples. In 2026 the key days are:

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  • Karthika Masam begins: Tuesday 10 November 2026 (Kartika Shukla Pratipada).
  • Karthika Somavaram: every Monday of the month. Temples hold Rudrabhishekam and special lamp offerings, and crowds are heavy.
  • Karthika Pournami: Tuesday 24 November 2026. Devotees light 365 wicks, and many temples hold the Jwala Thoranam in the evening.
  • Karthika Masam ends: Tuesday 8 December 2026 (Amavasya).

Other customs include floating small lamps on water, lighting lamps under the tulasi and amla trees, and the Karthika Vana Bhojanalu, a picnic meal under the amla tree. See our Karthika Masam 2026 guide for the full month.

The temples at a glance

TempleDeityTownDistrict
Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy templeRaja Rajeshwara (Rajanna)VemulawadaRajanna Sircilla
Keesaragutta templeRamalingeswara SwamyKeesaraMedchal-Malkajgiri
Ramappa templeRudreswaraPalampetMulugu
Thousand Pillar TempleRudreswara, with Vishnu and SuryaHanamkondaHanumakonda
Kaleshwaram templeKaleshwara and MukteswaraKaleshwaramJayashankar Bhupalpally
Jogulamba and Bala Brahmeswara templesJogulamba; Bala BrahmeswaraAlampurJogulamba Gadwal
Yadagirigutta hill shrineRamalingeswara (Shiva)YadagiriguttaYadadri Bhuvanagiri
Chaya Someswara templeSomeswaraPanagalNalgonda

Shiva temples in Telangana for Karthika Masam

1. Vemulawada Raja Rajeshwara Swamy temple

Vemulawada in Rajanna Sircilla district is the most important Shiva temple in Telangana. Shiva is worshipped as Sri Raja Rajeshwara, affectionately called Rajanna, with Goddess Raja Rajeshwari. The temple is called Dakshina Kashi and is also a Harihara kshetra, with shrines to Vishnu. Its best-known vow is the kode mokku, in which devotees offer a bull to the Lord. Devotees bathe in the sacred tank, the Dharma Gundam, before darshan. Karthika Mondays draw very large crowds. Read our full Vemulawada temple guide.

2. Keesaragutta Ramalingeswara temple

Keesaragutta is a hilltop temple at Keesara on the north-eastern side of Hyderabad, in Medchal-Malkajgiri district. Shiva is worshipped as Ramalingeswara. The legend says that Lord Rama wished to worship Shiva here, and Hanuman went to Kashi to bring lingas. The hill is named after Hanuman, the son of Kesari. Because it is close to the city, Keesaragutta is the first choice for many Hyderabad families on Karthika Mondays. See our Keesaragutta temple guide.

3. Ramappa (Rudreswara) temple, Palampet

The Ramappa temple at Palampet in Mulugu district was built in the early thirteenth century under the Kakatiya dynasty by Recharla Rudra, a general of King Ganapatideva. It is dedicated to Shiva as Rudreswara, but it is widely known by the name of its chief sculptor, Ramappa, which is rare for an Indian temple. It stands on a raised star-shaped platform, and its pillars and brackets carry fine carvings of dancers and musicians. The roof of the tower is traditionally said to use very light bricks that can float on water. In 2021 it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as the Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple.

4. Thousand Pillar Temple, Hanamkonda

The Thousand Pillar Temple at Hanamkonda in Hanumakonda district is another Kakatiya masterpiece, built in the twelfth century and generally attributed to King Rudra Deva. It is a trikutalaya, a temple with three shrines, dedicated to Shiva as Rudreswara, Lord Vishnu and Surya. The name comes from its many richly carved pillars. A large monolithic Nandi faces the shrine. It is a good stop for families who are also visiting Warangal Fort and Ramappa.

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5. Kaleshwaram Mukteswara temple

Kaleshwaram in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district lies where the Pranahita river joins the Godavari. Tradition adds a third, hidden river, the Saraswati, so the place is called a Triveni Sangamam, sometimes the Dakshina Triveni. The temple is unusual because two lingas share one pedestal: one is Lord Shiva as Mukteswara and the other is associated with Yama, called Kaleshwara here. Many devotees bathe at the confluence and then worship both lingas. It is considered one of the three lingas that give the Telugu lands their traditional name, Trilinga Desha.

6. Alampur: Jogulamba and Bala Brahmeswara

Alampur in Jogulamba Gadwal district, on the Tungabhadra river near its meeting with the Krishna, is both a Shakti Peetha and a major Shiva kshetra. Goddess Jogulamba is counted among the eighteen Shakti Peethas. Nearby stand the Navabrahma temples, a group of nine Shiva temples built by the Badami Chalukyas in about the seventh and eighth centuries. The main one is Bala Brahmeswara Swamy. Alampur is often called the western gateway of Srisailam, and many pilgrims combine the two.

7. Yadagirigutta: the Shiva shrine on the hill

Yadagirigutta in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district is famous above all for the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple. On the same hill there is also a temple of Lord Shiva as Ramalingeswara, and devotees who come for Narasimha darshan in Karthika often worship there too. The hill was extensively rebuilt in recent years, so check the temple's official website for the current layout and arrangements.

8. Chaya Someswara temple, Panagal

The Chaya Someswara temple at Panagal, near Nalgonda town, is a trikuta (three-shrine) temple from around the eleventh and twelfth centuries, generally linked to the Kunduru Chodas. It is famous for a shadow (chaya) that falls on the linga in the western shrine throughout the day. The shadow is like a single pillar, although no single pillar seems to cast it. It is a wonderful example of old Indian design and is calmer than the larger temples.

Planning a Karthika temple trip in Telangana

  • From Hyderabad: Keesaragutta and Yadagirigutta are the easiest day visits. Panagal (Nalgonda) and Alampur are also often done as day trips by road.
  • The Kakatiya circuit: Ramappa, the Thousand Pillar Temple and Warangal Fort are often combined in one or two days.
  • Northern Telangana: Vemulawada and Kaleshwaram are further from Hyderabad. Plan an overnight halt.
  • Crowds: Mondays and Karthika Pournami are the busiest days everywhere. Choose other weekdays for a calmer visit.
  • Timings: special Karthika arrangements change each year. Check the temple's official website before you go.

Families who also wish to visit Andhra Pradesh can read our guide to Karthika Masam 2026 Shiva temples in Andhra Pradesh and the guide to Srisailam in Karthika Masam 2026.

Tips for NRIs visiting in Karthika

  • Dress: wear traditional or modest clothing.
  • Elders and children: queues on Mondays can be long. Carry water and plan rest breaks.
  • Offerings: bilva leaves, a small lamp, flowers and coconut are traditional. Buy prasadam only from official counters.
  • From abroad: if you cannot travel, light a lamp each evening of Karthika at home or at your local temple, and keep Monday as a day of prayer.

Frequently asked questions

When is Karthika Masam 2026 in Telangana?

Karthika Masam 2026 begins on Tuesday 10 November 2026 and ends on Tuesday 8 December 2026 (Amavasya), following the amanta calendar used in Telangana. Karthika Pournami is on Tuesday 24 November 2026.

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Which is the most famous Shiva temple in Telangana for Karthika Masam?

The Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy temple at Vemulawada is the most visited Shiva temple in Telangana, and it is very crowded on Karthika Mondays. Keesaragutta is the most popular choice for families in Hyderabad, and Kaleshwaram draws pilgrims for its river confluence.

Is the Ramappa temple a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

Yes. The Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple at Palampet in Mulugu district was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2021. It is a living temple dedicated to Lord Shiva as Rudreswara.

Why does Kaleshwaram have two lingas?

At Kaleshwaram, two lingas stand on a single pedestal. One is worshipped as Lord Shiva (Mukteswara) and the other is associated with Yama, the god of death, who is called Kaleshwara here. Devotees believe that worshipping both together grants freedom from the fear of death.

Which Telangana Shiva temple is also a Shakti Peetha?

Alampur in Jogulamba Gadwal district has the temple of Goddess Jogulamba, counted among the eighteen Shakti Peethas, alongside the Bala Brahmeswara Swamy temple and the other Navabrahma temples of Lord Shiva.

Where can I find darshan timings for these temples?

We do not list timings, seva prices or contact details, because they change, especially during Karthika Masam. Please check each temple's official website or the Telangana Endowments Department information before you travel.

Editor's note

Editor's note (6 October 2026): This guide has been restored at its original address after the earlier version was lost. It covers well-established facts about these Telangana temples and their legends as commonly told. Karthika Masam 2026 dates follow the Drik Panchang amanta month. We have not given darshan timings, seva prices, distances or transport details, which change. Please check each temple's official website before you travel.