Dharmapuri, Manyamkonda temples to get conservation boost at a cost of ₹13 crore

A view of Manyamkonda Sri Lakshmi Venkateshwara Swamy Temple in Mahabubnagar district.
| Photo Credit:
RAMAKRISHNA G

The Telangana government is preparing to undertake major conservation works at two ancient temples — Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Dharmapuri, Jagtial district, and the Manyamkonda temple in Mahabubnagar district — with financial and technical support from the Pune-based Lord Venkateswara Religious and Charitable Trust.

The restoration effort, estimated to cost ₹13 crore, will follow traditional architectural and scientific practices used for centuries in South Indian temple construction, according to the officials of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is scheduled to review the proposed works on Friday (February 13), with a team, including ASI Director (Epigraphy) K. Munirathnam Reddy, representatives of the Trust and conservation experts Vishal Bhaskar Limkar and Romen Singh Jamwal. The detailed project report is likely to be presented at the meeting, and the restoration works, including fixing leakages and conservation, will begin immediately after the meeting.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Munirathnam Reddy, who is instrumental in taking up the project, said that these temples had been selected in the first phase of conservation as Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is keen on the conservation of the ancient temples.

Further, Trust’s founder B.Venkateswara Rao had come forward to take up the project under CSR funding, he said adding that the Trust had earlier supported conservation projects at four prominent temples in Andhra Pradesh — Srikalahasti, Simhachalam, Srisailam, and the Alipiri Padala Mandapam in Tirupati — and would now fund similar works in Telangana.

Of the total amount, ₹7 crore has been earmarked for the Dharmapuri temple and ₹6 crore for Manyamkonda. The restoration will include treating long-standing water leakage issues using an age old waterproofing method that employs a mixture of karakkaya (myrobalan), lime, jaggery, ladies’ finger extract, and natural gums, a traditional technique with roots in the Pallava, Chola, and Odisha’s Gajapati architectural traditions.

Ancient temples with rich heritage

Located on the banks of Godavari River, the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple was originally constructed around 1018 AD. It was reconstructed by local devotees in the 17th century, preserving its spiritual importance and ensuring continued worship.

The Manyamkonda Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, located about 16 km from Mahabubnagar on the Raichur road on a hill, was said to be a meditation site for several sages. The temple, dedicated to Sri Venkateswara Swamy, sits within a natural cave formation spread across three hillocks.