Alas! Lord Shiva needs an umbrella here

Bhupalpally: Come rainy season, Lord Shiva in Ganapeshwaralayam needs an umbrella to protect Him from soaking.There is no end to the misery of 13th century-built Kota Gullu, a cluster of temples, which continues to lie in utter neglect. With the State Archaeological and Endowments departments continue to turn a blind eye, Ganapeshwaralayam and a cluster of 21 sub-temples located near Ganapuram village that reflect the architectural marvel of the Kakatiyas s in shambles.

According to epigraphical evidence, one Ganapathi Reddy installed the Ganapeshwara and donated land during the regime of King Ganapathi Deva (1199-1262 AD). The east-faced Ganapeshwaralayam is flanked by a 60-pillared Natya Mandapa on the south and Kateshwaralayam on the north. The other 19 shrines are dotted around the main temple. The mud fortification around the temple complex (which is no more), settled its name as Kota Gullu, according to local lore.

Kota Gullu was destructed by the armies of Delhi Sultane Ghiyath al-Din, the founder of the Tughluq dynasty, in 1323. The red sandstone-built temples came to light in 1930s after languishing in the wilderness for centuries due to the interest shown by Prof. Ghulam Yazdani, the first director of Archaeological Department appointed by the VII Nizam – Mir Osman Ali Khan.

In 2009, the then Tourism Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy laid a foundation stone for the development of the temple. Later in 2014, the then Speaker S Madhusudhana Chary launched works of temple restoration with an estimated cost of Rs 2 crore.

However, the authorities who constructed Haritha Hotel failed to resurrect the temple. Since then Kotagullu Parirakshana Committee run by the locals is looking after the temple.With the rainwater started to seep in and falling on the sanctum sanctorum, the Committee has put up an umbrella besides covering the roof with polythene sheet. 

The Intach National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) Warangal Chapter convener M Panduranga Rao, who was entrusted with the responsibility of reconstructing the temple, told The Hans India that non-availability of Stapathi, the renovation works made no progress. Even though the temple is in ruins, 50 to 70 tourists visit it every day, according to temple priest.