Historians believe that the Simhachalam temple, 22 kms away from the city, which is known as the second richest temple in India after Tirupati, might actually become the richest shrine if hidden treasures are dug out. Lakhs of devotees from across the state and neighbouring Odisha and West Bengal throng the temple daily.

Fearing attacks from Maratha and Muslim kings during the18th century, those taking care of the temple hid the treasures beneath the temple premises.

Simhachalam is one of the eighteen Naarasimha Kshetras-shrines of Lord Narasimha in India and was patronised by the rich dynasties of the Eastern Gangas, Gajapathis and Reddys who ruled eastern and southern parts of the country from Nellore to Bengal from the 11th to the 17th century BC.

As the temple is west facing-a sign of victory, all emperors who ruled eastern India used to frequent the temple and offer valuable gold ornaments, gems and silver articles.

“They offered many valuables which were listed in an inscription that has to be excavated,” Prof Kolluru Suryanarayana of the department of history at Andhra University told this correspondent.

Except for the offering of an emerald necklace by Sri Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagar empire, no antique valuable ornaments are known to people. It is believed that there is a cave under the mandapam on the temple premises near sanctum sanctorum where valuables were deposited over thousands of years ago.

When contacted, Simhachalam temple executive officer, Mr Narasinga Rao, said that he was not aware of any such gold deposits and if government ordered, he was ready to excavate.