Sri Kalahasti Temple

Srikalahasti Temple or Sri Kalahastheeswara Devasthanamu or Vayudeva Temple, popularly known as "the Kailash of the South" or "Dakshin Kailash", one of the ancient temples in India, located on the banks of the river Swarnamukhi and surrounded by two sacred hills, in the town of Srikalahasti, constructed in the 12th century by the Chola king Rajarajendra, the only shrine of the god of wind in India, dedicated to Lord Siva (Sri Kalahastheeswara Swami).

It is one of the most famous Shiva temples in South India. The temple is one of the five such temples of Shiva in south India, the other four such temples are at Kanchipuram, Srirangam, Tiruvannamalai, and Chidambaram. The inner temple was constructed around 5th century and the outer temple was constructed in the 12th century by the Chola kings and the Vijayanagara kings.

The name of the place comes from three animals, Sri (Spider), Kala (Snake) and Hasti (Elephant). This temple`s main idol is the Vayu (Air) linga, one of the Pancha Bhoota Stalam or Pancha Bhoota Stala(Five prime elements), representing Air. Vayu(Air) is incarnated as Lord Shiva and worshiped as Kalahasteeswara. The temple is also associated with Rahu and Kethu (of the nine grahams or celestial bodies in the Indian astrological scheme).

Srikalahasti Town, a holy town and a municipality near Tirupati, popularly known as "Dakshina Kaashi", located on the banks of the river Swarnamukhi. It is also informally and wrongly referred to as Kalahasti.

The RajaGopuram or main gate of SriKalahasti Temple, 136 feet high, constructed by Srikrishna Devaraya, the ruler of Vijayanagara empire in 15th century. But this gopuram collapsed on 26 May 2010.