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Kotappakonda Shivaratri: the Tirunallu and its towers of light
Towers of light hauled across the plain to a three-peaked hill
Every Maha Shivaratri the hill of Kotappakonda, in Palnadu district of Andhra Pradesh about 20 km from Narasaraopet, holds the Tirunallu, a jatara (fair) of two or three days at the Sri Trikoteswara Swamy temple. Villages build prabhalu, towers of lights, flowers and paintings, some taller than 100 feet, and haul them across the plain to the foot of the hill for Shivaratri night. Next dates: 5–7 March 2027. Andhra Pradesh celebrates it as a state festival, and lakhs (hundreds of thousands) of pilgrims come, mainly from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Maha Shivaratri is in the Andhra Pradesh holiday list, issued in early December; the Palnadu collector and police announce the arrangements one to two weeks ahead.
The legend
Kotappakonda is called Trikutadri, the hill with three peaks: from any direction it is crowned by three summits.
Legend tells of Anandavalli, a cattleman's daughter who climbed the hill to Shiva every day; he promised to follow her home if she did not look back.
On Brahma peak she turned around, and Shiva entered a cave and appeared as a lingam. The Trikoteswara temple stands there today.
Customs
Prabhalu
Villages build prabhalu, towers of lamps, flowers and paintings, and bring them to the hill; the tallest pass 100 feet.
Drums and procession
Children make little prabhas and adults giant ones; those keeping a vow walk ahead of the towers to the beat of drums.
Words of the festival
ప్రభ
prabha
An illuminated tower a village offers to Shiva; the plural is prabhalu.
The hill of three peaks
Kotappakonda is also called Trikutadri, the hill with three peaks, and from any direction it shows three summits. Brahma Shikharam, the highest, carries the Trikoteswara Swamy temple, where Shiva is worshipped as the Lord of the Three Peaks. Rudra Shikharam holds the Paatha Kotayya (old Kotayya) temple, held to be where the god first dwelt on the hill. On Vishnu Shikharam stands the Papanaseswara temple with the Papanasa Teertha pond, where devotees bathe to wash away sins.
The legend tells of Anandavalli (Gollabhama), a cattleman's daughter who climbed Rudra hill every day to pray. Shiva, as Jangama Devara, was to follow her home if she did not look back; on Brahma hill she turned round, and he entered a cave and became a lingam. The Trikoteswara temple stands there today.
The prabhalu
A prabha is an illuminated tower that a village offers to Shiva, and building it is a community effort. Children make little ones and adults giant ones, and those keeping a vow walk ahead of the towers to the beat of drums. Last time the Palnadu police expected 29 major prabhas (26 electrical and 3 large non-electrical ones), 49 small non-electrical prabhas and more than 100 mokku prabhas, the small towers offered in fulfilment of a vow. The prabhas from Narasaraopet and the surrounding villages were asked to set off early on Shivaratri day and reach their halting area near the hill by 20:00.
Shivaratri night is the peak: the prabhalu, decorated with coloured paper and lights, stand lit below the hill, and cultural programmes run through the festival night.
Getting there during the festival
Kotappakonda is about 20 km from Narasaraopet and 62 km from Guntur, and can also be reached by road from Chilakaluripet. Narasaraopet has the nearest railway station, Guntur Junction the nearest major one, and the nearest airport is Vijayawada. The traffic plan is issued by the Palnadu police a few days before the festival; the rules below are what applied last time.
- Buses
APSRTC, the state bus corporation, runs special buses to Shiva temples for Maha Shivaratri. At the last Tirunallu an RTC bus stand was set up near the Sharada Pharmacy College for the return towards Chilakaluripet.
- Last time: no private vehicles on the hill
At the last Tirunallu cars and two-wheelers were not allowed up the hill. Vehicles were parked in designated areas (near Chilakaluripet, Purushothamapatnam, Edavalli, UT Junction and the Sharada Pharmacy College, and beyond Atchammapalem for traffic from Narasaraopet and Vinukonda), and devotees went up by shuttle bus from the Kotappakonda toll gate. Check the current police notice.
- Or climb the steps
Besides the road there is a long flight of steps to the top.
- Plan the return
Last time police asked devotees to leave only by the designated routes and not to take the opposite lanes.
Crowds and safety
Lakhs of devotees come; at one recent Shivaratri the deputy chief minister put the count at about 20 lakh (two million) by evening. Last time the Palnadu police deployed nearly 3,000 personnel, 200 CCTV cameras and 30 drones over the approach roads, parking and queues, with control rooms on the hill and at its foot.
- Agree a meeting point — If someone in your group goes missing, ask any police officer. Last time the police outposts for this were at Four Roads Junction at the foot of the hill and at the Rajagopuram on top.
- Children at Snanala Ghat — Police have specifically asked families to watch children at Snanala Ghat, the bathing ghat.
- Steps at night — Last time police posted strong security along the steps route. Go slowly and keep to one side. General advice: is India safe.
Shivaratri elsewhere in Andhra Pradesh
The same night is also kept at the Srisailam Shivaratri Brahmotsavam, one of the great Shiva temples of the state. For the festival itself, see Maha Shivaratri.
FAQ
When is the Kotappakonda Shivaratri festival?
Two or three days around Maha Shivaratri: next, 5–7 March 2027. Maha Shivaratri falls between mid-February and mid-March, and Shivaratri night is the peak.
What is the history of Kotappakonda?
By legend Shiva, following his devotee Anandavalli, became a lingam on Brahma hill when she looked back, and the Trikoteswara temple stands there. The hill has been a pilgrimage site for centuries.
What are the Kotappakonda prabhalu?
Illuminated towers of lights, flowers and paintings that villages build and offer to Shiva; the tallest pass 100 feet.
How far is Kotappakonda from Guntur?
About 62 km. It is about 20 km from Narasaraopet, which has the nearest railway station.
Can I drive up Kotappakonda hill during Shivaratri?
At the last Tirunallu, no: cars and two-wheelers were parked in designated areas below, and shuttle buses ran up from the Kotappakonda toll gate. Check the Palnadu police notice for the current festival.
Sources (6)
Facts checked: 22 October 2026. Prices and hours are approximate; check locally.