A devotee, writing on a public forum after attending Rahu Ketu Puja at Pedakakani for the first time, described exactly this experience: arriving expecting to pay ₹350 based on information found online, and being charged ₹500 instead at the counter. The temple’s own response, posted in reply: “The prices are revised, we will update the new prices shortly.”
This single exchange captures something genuinely important about planning a visit to Sri Bhramaramba Malleswara Swamy Temple, popularly known as Pedakakani Temple, in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh: published prices and booking processes for its famous Rahu Ketu Puja vary meaningfully across sources, and at least some of this variation reflects genuine, ongoing changes at the temple itself rather than simple research error. Sources are also directly split on whether online booking exists at all — some describe a complete step-by-step online booking process through the Andhra Pradesh Temples portal, while others, including detailed forum exchanges with the temple itself, describe a purely offline, counter-based ticket system starting at 6:00 AM each day.
This guide presents both positions honestly, along with everything else needed to plan a 2026 visit to one of South India’s most visited destinations for Rahu Ketu Dosha remedies.
💡 Quick Answer Darshan timings: 5:00 AM – 1:30 PM and 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM (some sources cite 1:00 PM and 8:30 PM as alternate closing points) Rahu Ketu Puja price: Reported between ₹350 and ₹500 per person/couple — confirm current rate at the counter, as prices have been revised Booking: Sources conflict — some describe online booking via aptemples.ap.gov.in; multiple detailed sources, including direct temple correspondence, describe counter-only ticketing from 6:00 AM Rahu Kalam timing: Changes daily based on sunrise/day of week — check the current day’s specific window Location: Pedakakani village, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, on the Guntur-Vijayawada highway (NH16), approximately 10 km from Guntur Last Verified: June 2026 — confirm current booking process and pricing directly with the temple before travel
Pedakakani Temple Timings 2026
| Session | Timing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Morning darshan | 5:00 AM – 1:30 PM | Some sources cite 1:00 PM as the closing point |
| Afternoon closure | 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM | Temple closed for maintenance and deity rest |
| Evening darshan | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Some sources cite 8:30 PM |
Rahu Ketu Puja schedule: Performed daily, timed specifically to Rahu Kalam — a period that shifts daily based on sunrise and the day of the week (forum correspondence with the temple cites, for example, approximately 4:15 PM on Sundays and 3:15 PM on Tuesdays in past schedules — these exact times will differ on your specific visit date). Sunday offers the most comprehensive schedule, with both morning and afternoon sessions, while Tuesday provides an additional afternoon option.
Pro tip: Arrive before 6:00 AM, particularly on Sundays and Tuesdays, when special evening poojas are also conducted and the counter-based ticketing system (where confirmed) is reported to begin issuing tickets at exactly this time. Many devotees specifically report performing this puja on an empty stomach, per temple guidance confirmed through direct correspondence.
Booking — A Genuine, Unresolved Conflict Across Sources
This deserves direct, honest treatment rather than a confident-sounding but potentially misleading answer.
Sources describing online booking: One detailed source provides a complete step-by-step process — visiting aptemples.ap.gov.in, logging in with a mobile number, searching for “Bhramaramba Malleswara Swamy Temple, Pedakakani,” and booking Rahu Ketu Puja and other sevas online with card/UPI payment and SMS/email confirmation.
Sources describing offline-only booking: Multiple other detailed sources state plainly that “there is no widely publicized official online booking portal for everyday poojas” and that “currently, Pedakakani Temple does not offer online booking facilities for darshan, sevas, or special poojas. All bookings must be completed through direct temple visits.” This is reinforced by direct forum correspondence with the temple itself, in which a temple representative confirms: “From 6 am tickets will be issued at the counter.”
What this likely means practically: The Andhra Pradesh Temples portal (aptemples.ap.gov.in) may offer booking for some major AP-administered temples, and Pedakakani’s listing on this broader government portal may exist in some form — but the weight of detailed, recent evidence, including direct temple communication, suggests that in practice, the predominant and most reliably confirmed method remains purchasing tickets at the temple counter starting at 6:00 AM. Do not plan your trip assuming online booking will definitely work — check aptemples.ap.gov.in yourself shortly before traveling, but have the offline counter process as your primary, confirmed plan.
Rahu Ketu Puja and Other Seva Prices — Subject to Revision
| Seva | Reported Price Range |
|---|---|
| Rahu Ketu Puja | ₹350 – ₹500 (sources and devotee reports vary; confirm current rate at the counter) |
| Rudrabhishekam | ₹500 – ₹1,000 (sources vary) |
| Chandi Homam | ₹1,500 |
| Navagraha Puja | ₹150 |
| Antaralaya Darshan | ₹20 |
Pooja items are provided by the temple for Rahu Ketu Puja and most other rituals — devotees generally do not need to bring materials separately, though confirming this for your specific intended ritual is worthwhile.
Pro tip: Given the documented price discrepancy experienced by at least one devotee (quoted ₹350, charged ₹500), carry somewhat more cash than the lowest figure you find online, and treat any specific price quoted by a third-party website as approximate rather than guaranteed.
What Is Pedakakani Temple — History and the Yagnala Bavi Well
Over 1,000 Years Old
The temple is believed to be over 1,000 years old, dedicated to Lord Shiva as Sri Malleswara Swamy and Goddess Shakti as Bhramaramba Devi. According to temple tradition, it was first consecrated by Sri Adi Shankaracharya and later renovated by the Vijayanagara emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya in 1440 AD — connecting this Guntur-district shrine to one of medieval South India’s most significant royal patrons of Hindu temple architecture.
A Swayambhu Linga — Why This Matters for the Puja’s Reputation
Sources describing the temple’s specific astrological significance note that ancient Agama texts recommend performing Rahu-Ketu remedial rituals specifically at Shiva temples housing a Swayambhu (self-manifested) Linga — and Pedakakani’s presiding Linga is held to carry exactly this status, which devotees and temple tradition cite as part of why the Rahu Ketu Puja performed here is considered exceptionally powerful within the broader astrological-remedy tradition across Andhra Pradesh.
Architecture — A 60-Foot Rajagopuram and Resemblance to Srisailam
The temple features a substantial Dhwajasthamba (flag pillar) and a 60-foot Rajagopuram, along with gardens and an Addala Mandapam (mirror hall). The overall greenery and scenic setting lead some visitors to draw comparisons with Srisailam, one of Andhra Pradesh’s most celebrated pilgrimage destinations.
Yagnala Bavi — The Well With Water From Sacred Rivers
One of the temple’s most distinctive features is a well known as Yagnala Bavi, located on the eastern part of the complex. According to temple tradition, this well’s water was brought by the sage Bharadwaja from sacred rivers, and drinking it is considered spiritually beneficial by devotees — a detail that adds a further layer of devotional significance beyond the central Rahu Ketu Puja tradition that draws most visitors.
Regulated by the Andhra Pradesh Endowments Department
The temple operates under the Endowments Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, placing it within the same broader administrative framework that governs most major AP temples, including the official seva pricing structure that the department sets (even as specific prices appear to be revised periodically, contributing to the cross-source variation noted above).
Other Rituals at Pedakakani Temple
Sarpa Dosha Puja: Addressing serpent-related astrological afflictions, alongside the temple’s primary Rahu-Ketu focus.
Navagraha Puja: A more broadly scoped planetary-remedy ritual, offered at a notably affordable price point (₹150).
Rudrabhishekam: A significant Shiva-focused ritual; sources note this is not performed on Mondays, Thursdays, and Sundays — confirm current scheduling if this specific ritual is your priority.
Abhishekam: General ritual bathing of the deity, performed regularly alongside the temple’s other offerings.
The Trap — What Catches Most Visitors
“Relied on a specific quoted price from a website without confirming at the counter” → Cause: Documented price revisions and at least one specific devotee account of being charged more than the quoted figure → Fix: Treat any online-quoted price as approximate. Carry somewhat more cash than the lowest figure you find, and confirm the current rate directly at the temple counter.
“Assumed online booking would work based on one source, traveled without an offline backup plan” → Cause: Genuine, unresolved conflict across sources regarding online booking availability → Fix: Check aptemples.ap.gov.in yourself before traveling, but plan primarily around the counter-based system (tickets issued from 6:00 AM), which is the more consistently and recently confirmed process across detailed sources and direct temple correspondence.
“Arrived without checking the current day’s Rahu Kalam timing” → Cause: Rahu Kalam shifts daily based on sunrise and day of week, not a fixed clock time → Fix: Check the current day’s Rahu Kalam window (via a Panchang app or by asking at the temple) before planning your specific puja timing, particularly for Sunday and Tuesday’s dual-session schedule.
“Ate before arriving for Rahu Ketu Puja” → Cause: Unfamiliarity with the temple’s guidance for this specific ritual → Fix: Multiple devotee accounts and direct temple correspondence confirm the puja should be performed on an empty stomach — plan your morning accordingly if attending an early session.
“Arrived at 1:45 PM expecting darshan” → Cause: Standard South Indian temple afternoon closure → Fix: Plan your visit for 5:00 AM–1:30 PM or 4:00 PM–8:00 PM specifically.
How to Reach Pedakakani Temple
Temple address: Sri Malleswara Swamy Temple, Pedakakani Mandalam, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh — 522509.
From Guntur: Take the Guntur-Vijayawada highway (NH16), travel approximately 10 km, and the temple is just 1 km from the highway at Pedakakani village.
From Vijayawada: Travel approximately 26 km towards Guntur on NH16.
By bus: APSRTC buses run frequently between Guntur and Vijayawada with stops at Pedakakani village.
By train: Guntur Junction is the nearest major railway station.
Accommodation: Temple choultries offer basic lodging close to the temple, particularly useful for early-morning poojas. Most pilgrims prefer staying in Guntur (10 km) or Vijayawada (26 km) for better amenities.
Before You Visit Pedakakani Temple — Checklist
☑ Darshan timings confirmed — 5:00 AM–1:30 PM and 4:00 PM–8:00 PM ☑ Current Rahu Ketu Puja price confirmed at the counter — sources show genuine variation (₹350–₹500), prices have been revised ☑ Online booking status checked at aptemples.ap.gov.in, with offline counter ticketing (from 6:00 AM) as your primary confirmed plan ☑ Current day’s Rahu Kalam timing checked before planning your specific session ☑ Empty stomach maintained if performing Rahu Ketu Puja, per temple guidance ☑ Sufficient cash carried, somewhat above the lowest quoted price found online ☑ Government-issued ID carried for seva ticket processing ☑ Sunday or Tuesday visit planned if seeking the most comprehensive Rahu Ketu Puja schedule
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Pedakakani Temple darshan timings in 2026?
The temple is open from 5:00 AM to 1:30 PM and 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM daily (some sources cite slightly different closing times of 1:00 PM or 8:30 PM). Timings may shift slightly during major festivals such as Maha Shivaratri.
What is the price of Rahu Ketu Puja at Pedakakani Temple?
Reported prices range from ₹350 to ₹500 per person/couple across different sources, with at least one documented case of a devotee being charged more than the price they had found online due to a price revision. Confirm the current rate directly at the temple counter before paying.
Is online booking available for Pedakakani Temple?
Sources genuinely conflict on this point. Some describe a complete online booking process via aptemples.ap.gov.in; multiple other detailed sources, including direct correspondence with the temple, describe a purely offline system with tickets issued at the counter from 6:00 AM. Check the official portal yourself, but plan primarily around the offline counter system as the more consistently confirmed method.
Why is Pedakakani famous for Rahu Ketu Puja specifically?
The temple’s Shiva Linga is held to be Swayambhu (self-manifested), and ancient Agama texts recommend performing Rahu-Ketu remedial rituals specifically at such self-manifested Shiva sites — a tradition devotees and temple lore cite as the basis for the puja’s particular reputed effectiveness here.
What is the Yagnala Bavi well at Pedakakani Temple?
A well on the eastern side of the temple complex, believed by tradition to contain water brought by the sage Bharadwaja from sacred rivers. Devotees consider drinking this water spiritually beneficial.
Should Rahu Ketu Puja be performed on an empty stomach?
Yes, according to multiple devotee accounts and direct temple correspondence — this is the standard guidance for participants in this specific ritual.
How far is Pedakakani Temple from Guntur and Vijayawada?
Approximately 10 km from Guntur (via NH16, with the temple 1 km off the highway) and approximately 26 km from Vijayawada. APSRTC buses run frequently between the two cities with stops at Pedakakani village.
Contact and Help
Address: Sri Malleswara Swamy Temple, Pedakakani Mandalam, Guntur District, Andhra Pradesh — 522509 Helpline: +91 98490 05495 Email: endow-edpsec@gov.in Government portal (status of online booking unconfirmed): aptemples.ap.gov.in
Official Links
| Purpose | Link |
|---|---|
| AP Temples government portal | aptemples.ap.gov.in |
| Temple helpline | +91 98490 05495 |
One Last Thing
A devotee paid more than they expected, and a temple administrator wrote back, honestly, that prices had simply changed and the website hadn’t caught up yet. There is something almost reassuring in that small, unglamorous exchange — not a scandal, not a scam, just an ordinary temple in Guntur district adjusting its seva rates the way any institution does, faster than every third-party website tracking those rates could keep pace.
What does not change, regardless of which figure is current on any given week, is the reason lakhs of devotees keep arriving before dawn at this particular self-manifested Linga: a belief, carried through Agama texts and centuries of practice, that the shadow planets causing delay and difficulty in a life can be addressed here, in a ritual timed to the exact minutes each day when Rahu’s influence is considered strongest, performed on an empty stomach, paid for in cash at a counter that opens at six in the morning regardless of what any website currently says about it.
Om Namah Shivaya. Om Rahave Namah. Om Ketave Namah.