Warangal: The ancient temple found on Devuni Gutta in the Kothur village of Mulugu mandal in Jayashankar Bhupalapalli district would soon become a tourist attraction.
The district administration moved after DC published an article about the temple on August 31. Collector Akunuri Murali has asked district forest officer T. Ravi Kiran to visit the spot and evaluate the possibility of developing the place as a tourist attraction. Mr Ravi Kiran and Warangal Urban DFO Arpana Syal and other officials trekked up the hill and inspected the temple.
Villagers guided them and showed the lake on the hillock. They said they conduct a jatara at the temple during Holi and pray for good rains.The DFO said the trekking path in the midst of dense trees and a stream rolling down the hillock add to the trekkers' experience.
"We have not planned anything as of now but in future this place has the potential to be a good trekking spot. Many adventure clubs in Hyderabad are visiting Jayashankar Bhupalapalli district to check out tourist spots and take part in trekking, cycling and camping. This place can boost eco-tourism in the district," he said.
Many historians and archaeology experts from within the country and abroad have responded regarding the temple, and said that it is a rare temple that requires study.
Dr Corinna Wessels-Mevissen, a senior art historian from Germany, who saw pictures of the temple, termed it as extremely interesting and said that it could turn out to be a discovery like no other.
"The style that may date to the late Gupta/post-Gupta periods is unknown to me. It may be linked to the early Odishan style of temple art or that of Rajim and Sirpur in Chhattisgarh. The presence of Amaravati-style spoils is of course interesting," she said.
Local historian Sriramoju Haragopal said the work on the temple suggests it could belong to the sixth or seventh century.
