Ropeway to link Bhadrakali, Padmakshi temples soon

Hyderabad: Temple bound tourists visiting Warangal would soon have an opportunity to enjoy a joyride on a ropeway connecting two of the major temples in the district- Bhadrakali and Padmakshi. The Municipal Administration and Urban Development department has received a proposal from the Greater Warangal Smart City Corporation limited for a ropeway between two of the major tourist attractions in the district. These works are taken up as part of the Smart City project for Warangal.

The distance between Bhadrakali Temple and Padmakshi Temple is about 3 km via road and in between lies a lake. The government proposes to have a ropeway between these two temples as it would increase the tourists foot fall. The authorities have allocated Rs 3 crore for the plan under Smart City project of the Central government. The ropeway would reduce the distance to 1.7 km while connecting the two temples.

Apart from the ropeway, the authorities propose to have a heritage museum at Padmakshi Temple which will be built to showcase the art and architecture of Kakatiya rulers. It is planned to restore the tank at the foot of the hill by opening rain water channels leading to it and to build ghats around the tank.

Padmakshi Temple is a Jain temple dedicated to goddess Padmavathi, located on the hilltop known as Padmakshi Gutta in Hanumakonda. The temple was originally constructed during Kakatiya reign. Till the Kakatiya Kings renovated and established the Goddess Padmakshi, previously it was a ‘Basadi’ or Jain temple. The temple also has rich sculpture of the Jain Tirthankaras and other Jain munis. Bhadrakali Temple is one of the oldest temples situated on a hilltop between two cities of Hanumkonda and Warangal.

The exceptional feature of the temple is the impressive four faces of a pillar called the Annakonda pillar, which is a quadrangular column made of black granite stone, at the entrance of the temple. The temple is believed to be built in 625 A D by King Pulakeshin II of Chalukya dynasty to commemorate his victory over Vengi region of Andhra Desham, as per the writings on the temple wall.

Kakatiya kings later adopted the temple and considered Goddess Bhadrakali as their ‘Kula Devatha’ (family diety). A lake was also built by Ganapatideva adjacent to the temple. The MAUD department also approved certain new projects to be taken up under Smart City project. The other projects include redevelopment of Kakatiya Musical garden which was taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 13.5 crore and the 4 roads which were taken for development as smart roads at an estimated cost of Rs 74.80 Crore. The MAUD Secretary Navin Mittal emphasised the need to focus on those projects which have a visible and transformative impact on the lives of the citizens of the city.

He asked the PMC to prepare a comprehensive master plan for development of Bhadrakali Lake. He informed the members that money should not be constraint for the development of 1000 pillar temple surroundings and as such should be developed as per international standards.