Temple Monkeys Shifted Ahead Of Miss World tour
Monkeys captured from around Ramappa Temple to ensure a safe and seamless experience for Miss World contestants visiting the UNESCO-recognised site on May 14.
Warangal:With international Miss World contestants set to visit the UNESCO-recognised Ramappa Temple in Mulugu, the Thousand Pillar Rudreshwara Temple in Hanamkonda and the historic Warangal Fort on May 14, officials are working around the clock to ensure a seamless and secure experience. A unique challenge faced by Mulugu district authorities is the persistent monkey menace at Ramappa Temple, where troops of monkeys have long harassed devotees by snatching food and occasionally causing injuries.
To tackle the issue, officials launched an intensive campaign dubbed Operation Monkeys. Forest officials, led by district forest officer Rahul Kishan Jadav, have so far captured and relocated over 150 monkeys using special cages and expert catchers. The animals were released deep within Eturnagaram Reserve Forest, in areas where no existing monkey populations were found.
“Efforts are being made to ensure that not a single monkey is seen during the Miss World delegates’ visit,” said Rahul Kishan. Officials even quipped that the only monkeys the contestants might encounter are the ones carved into the temple walls. The operation has drawn praise from visitors and locals, who welcomed the transformation of Ramappa’s surroundings into a monkey-free zone.
Meanwhile, the district administrations of Hanamkonda, Warangal and Mulugu are pulling out all stops to showcase the cultural grandeur of the Kakatiya dynasty. Collectors P. Pravinya (Hanamkonda), Dr Satya Sarada (Warangal) and T.S. Divakar (Mulugu), along with Warangal police commissioner Sunpreet Singh and Mulugu SP Shabarish, have held a series of coordination meetings to finalise security and cultural protocols.
As part of preparations, the Ramappa and Thousand Pillar Temples will be closed to the general public on May 14. Authorities have also imposed a drone ban within a 5-km radius of the sites. Media personnel will not be allowed to capture footage directly; a dedicated media centre will be set up, and journalists will be restricted to that area.