Mallela Theertham, Sacred waterfall in Nagarkurnool district, India

Mallela Theertham is a waterfall in the Nallamala Forest of Nagarkurnool district, Telangana, reached by a descent of 350 steps. The Telugu Wikipedia gives its drop as 500 feet, in tall hills and dense forest; the stream then flows through the jungle to meet the Krishna River.

Hindu tradition holds that sages performed penances here for Shiva, and that Shiva himself appeared at the falls to devotees. The site takes its name from mallela, jasmine, and theertham, sacred water, marking it as a tirtha of the Nallamala Forest. It lies near Achampet in the Amrabad mandal, reached by a forest track from Vatvarlapalli village.

Local communities view this place as sacred ground where they perform traditional Hindu rituals and seek spiritual renewal through the water. The falls serve as a gathering space for religious ceremonies that connect people to their faith and natural surroundings.

Reach the falls by walking down 350 steps through dense Nallamala Forest. The nearest town is Achampet, about 9 km of forest road from Vatwarlapalli village on the Hyderabad–Srisailam highway; buses run from Achampet. The dry season from March to June is harsh, and the muddy road is hard to drive in the July–September rains.

The falls are reached by a descent of 350 steps through dense Nallamala Forest, and the stream below eventually joins the Krishna River. Local belief holds that tigers come to drink here in summer, and that sages once performed penance at the spot for Shiva.