1,000-Year-Old Kalabhairava Temple At Ramagiri Lying In Ruins

TIRUPATI: A 1,000-year-old Kalabhairava Temple and a 500-year-old gopuram at Ramagiri village in Pichatur mandal of Tirupati district are lying in a state of utter neglect.

“There are serious concerns over their survival,” observed noted archaeologist Dr. E. Sivanagireddy, CEO of Pleach India Foundation.

Acting on information provided to him by locals, Dr. Sivanagireddy visited the dilapidated Valiswara and Kalabhairava temples, apart from the ruined gopuram and mandapas. The ancient structures, originally built during the Pallava period and later expanded by the Chola and Vijayanagara dynasties, are rapidly crumbling and demand urgent conservation.

Speaking to media on Sunday, the Pleach India CEO said the Kalabhairava Temple comprises a garbhagriha, arthamandapa and an open mahamandapa built of stone, with a brick shikhara adorned with intricate stucco work. The temple’s gopuram, once richly carved with fine sculptures, has now collapsed up to its basement, posing a grave threat to the heritage value of the site.

“These structures are rare examples of Pallava, Chola and Vijayanagara architectural styles. The neglect they are facing today is deeply concerning. Immediate steps must be taken to protect and restore them,” he underlined.

As part of an awareness campaign, Dr Sivanagireddy sensitised the villagers on the historical importance of these monuments. He appealed to them to take up voluntary restoration efforts to safeguard the legacy for future generations.

The Pleach India CEO urged authorities to step in and initiate conservation works before the damage becomes irreversible.

Those present included officials from the SV Museum in Tirumala—Ch. Sivakumar, Hariprasad Reddy and Srikanth—and amateur archaeologist P. Srinath Reddy.