Andalamma temple in Peddapalli cries for attention
Mutharam: The ancient Andalamma temple has become a popular spot for shooting of folk songs, short films and pre-wedding video shoots. The picturesque shrine attracts tourists from different parts of the State since it is surrounded by hillocks, besides its unique architecture. It is located at Dharmabad-Mutharam, five kilometers from Peddapalli town. While people from […]
Mutharam: The ancient Andalamma temple has become a popular spot for shooting of folk songs, short films and pre-wedding video shoots.
The picturesque shrine attracts tourists from different parts of the State since it is surrounded by hillocks, besides its unique architecture. It is located at Dharmabad-Mutharam, five kilometers from Peddapalli town.
While people from nearby areas celebrate birthdays, picnics and other rituals on the temple premises, choreographers and photographers are choosing the place to record short films, folk songs, pre-wedding video shoots and others.
The popular folk song “Sarangadariya” was shot on the premises of the Andalamma temple while some of the scenes in ‘Bilalpur Police Station’ were also filmed at the temple. Apart from a song on educating people about Krishnapatnam Anandaiah’s Covid medication, number of short films were also shot at the picturesque religious place.
Interiors run to seed
However, the temple appears beautiful from the outside because of its unique architecture, the inside portion of it is in bad shape. According to the locals, the temple was constructed about 300 years ago by the then local landlord Erabati Narsinga Rao, who used to rule nearby areas including Mutharam, Dharmabad, Kanagarthi and Kasulapalli villagers.
Without idol
Since Ranganatha Swamy temple had already existed in the village, the landlord constructed a separate temple for Andalamma, which, in entire Asia, is considered the second temple with west-facing, villagers said.
Surprisingly, there is no idol in the temple. There are two different stories in circulation over the absence of the deity’s idol. Some say the installation of the idol was not carried out due to the death of the landlord who constructed the shrine while another version is that the idol was stolen by treasure-hunters.
Speaking to Telangana Today, 75-year-old Yerram Venkataiah recalled his childhood days when the temple was more attractive. The mandapam had attractive glass panes but they were damaged by people over time, he said. Stating that the idol in the temple was not installed due to the death of the landlord at the time of the installation, he said booty-hunters dug up the sanctum sanctorum for hidden treasures. Over the period, the roof of the mandapam was also damaged, he said.
Another villager Chilumula Sagar said there were no road, electricity and drinking water facility on the temple premises. Some people prefer celebrating birthdays here. He wanted the district administration to provide basic facilities to attack more tourists.
Though the inside portion has become dilapidated, the temple is appearing more attractive with the plantation of various types of flower-bearing plants under Palle Prakruthi Vanam.
Apathy by administration
Sarpanch of the village, Eddu Kumaraswamy, said no government department was coming forward to develop or protect the temple since it comes under neither endowment nor archeology departments. It requires about Rs 5 lakh to repair the roof, floor in mandapam and other works. He had already given a representation to the previous district Collector asking her to sanction the amount. Two months ago, he also met the present Collector but there was no response from the administration, the Sarpanch said.
Besides the repair of the rare architectural gem, there is a need for a 500-meter CC road from Hanuman temple to Andalamma temple, drainage and other works, which require another Rs 15 lakh, he said.
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