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A marvel in the wilds
Tucked in a dense forest, the Devuni Gutta temple that looks like the miniature form of Cambodian sculpture is a surprise find of recent times that offers a lot of tourism potential. Located in the serene thickets near Kothur village under Mulugu mandal in Jayashankar-Bhupalpally district, 70km east of Warangal, the temple is a surprise pack for those wanting to figure out mysteries of history.
Bhupalpally: Tucked in a dense forest, the Devuni Gutta temple that looks like the miniature form of Cambodian sculpture is a surprise find of recent times that offers a lot of tourism potential. Located in the serene thickets near Kothur village under Mulugu mandal in Jayashankar-Bhupalpally district, 70km east of Warangal, the temple is a surprise pack for those wanting to figure out mysteries of history.
Carved out on sandstone bricks, the sculptures offer a unique blend of styles visible in Udayagiri and Scandagiri of Odisha, a bit of Amaravathi-like (AP) architecture. The sandstone sculptures shaped in square and rectangle blocks were smoothened with lime mortar.
“The carvings resemble a bit of Bouddham and Jainam, certainly an amalgam of several isms including Shaivism and Vaishnavism. Although it seems that the temple belongs to 7th or 8th century, it could be even more ancient based on the marble pillar located on the premises. The Lion and the Ardha Padma carved out on the pillar is similar to that of Aayaka stambham of Bouddha Stupam,” local historian Sriramoju Haragopal told The Hans India.
Haragopal, who is the convener of the ‘Kotha Telangana Charitra Brundam’ (KTCB) organisation, said that it requires a research to ascertain the facts. Ravinder, a resident of Kothur, said that the Siva Lingam in the temple was stolen by some miscreants a few decades ago. One of the carvings inside the sanctum sanctorum has the sculpture of Tathagata. It’s no exaggeration to say that each of the frames in the temple has something to say of yesteryears.
The pristine beauty of the naturally formed pond, a few paces away from the temple, is another visual splendour. Bhupalpally DFO T Ravi Kiran, who is keen on promoting tourism in the district, said that efforts are on to explore and exploit the tourism potential of the place.
Meanwhile, the KTCB team – Haragopal, Vemuganti Muralikrishna, Katta Srinivas, Ahobilam Karunakar and Chanti – led by archaeology enthusiast Aravind Arya Pakide is embarking on a one-day study tour of the temple on Wednesday, which also happens to be the World Tourism Day.
Aravind, who had been to the temple, said that the trek that leads to the temple located on a hillock is no less a lifetime experience. In addition to that , the architecture of the temple adds more spice to outdoorsmen, he added.
