₹198-Cr Kaleshwaram Temple Restoration Works Begin

 Adilabad: Development and restoration works at the Kaleshwara Muktheeshwara Swamy temple in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district commenced on Wednesday, with temple authorities dismantling existing structures following traditional rituals.

The dismantling began at 8.15 am, a day after priests performed the Pancha Brahma Homa.

The state government has sanctioned Rs 198 crore for the temple’s development and Rs 60 crore for the development of Astra Teerthas in Jayashankar Bhupalpally district.

The temple is believed to have been constructed during the Kakatiya and Chalukya periods.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy laid the foundation stone for the project on April 20. The redevelopment aims to facilitate darshan for about 25,000 devotees within the temple premises.

As part of the project, works will be taken up at Pakshi Teertham, Vyasa Teertham and Gnana Teertham, along with construction of ghats and roads connecting them for devotees taking holy dips.

In the first phase, works will begin from the southern side of the temple and extend up to the garbhalayam. Small gopurams, prakarams and subsidiary temples will be completed, except the east prakaram.

Officials said the first phase will be completed before the Godavari Pushkaralu in 2027, after which the remaining works will be taken up.

The temple is expected to witness a large inflow of devotees during the festival.

Principal secretary (endowments) Shailaja Ramaiyer, commissioner Hanumantha Rao, Dharmika Advisor Govinda Hari, architect SrayA Narayana and temple executive officer Mahesh are supervising the works.