Heritage Lovers Unable To Reach Ancient Shiva Temple At Bikkavolu
31 May 2025 12:42 AM IST
Two ancient Shiva temples from the 9th century at Bikkavolu in East Godavari remain inaccessible and neglected, as authorities struggle to acquire land for an approach road.
The 9th-century Kancharagudi temple at Bikkavolu lies surrounded by paddy fields, with no approach road for visitors or officials. 9Image: Social Media)
Kakinada: Two ancient Shiva temples, dating back to the 9th century AD are in a dilapidated state at Bikkavolu in East Godavari district.
The central archaeological department is protecting the temples, but no rituals are performed there. One of the Shiva temples at Bikkavolu and the Buddhist caves at Korukonda do not have approach roads. As a result, heritage lovers and archaeological students are having difficulty visiting the temple. The temple is surrounded by paddyfields.
According to sources, Eastern Chalukyas built several Shiva temples like the Chalukya Kumara Rama Bhimeswara Swamy temple at Samalkot and the Bhimeswara Swamy temple at Draksha Rama. These are known as Pancharama Kshetras.
There are also five other temples – the Bala Ganapathi temple, the Gomukha Lingeswara Swamy temple, the Veerabhadra Swamy temple and two other Shiva temples, namely the Nakkalagudi and Kanchara Gudi at Bikkavolu in East Godavari district.
The GoLingeswara Swamy temple and the Bala Ganapathi temple perform rituals every day and these are famous ones. Rituals are performed at the Sri Veerabhadra Swamy temple only during the Maha Shivaratri and the auspicious Karthika Masa (Telugu month). No rituals have been performed at the Kancharagudi and Nakkalagudi for more than six decades as the Shiva Lingas remained in a damaged state.
The central archaeological department that took over all these temples in 1963 is protecting them.
Kancharagudi –the west facing temple--consists of the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) without an open portico. The front wall has a simple Dwara (entrance) and the figures of Ganga and Yamuna at the base. The walls are decorated with Koshtas surmounted by Makara Torana with figures of Brahma, Surya and Vishnu to the North, East and South respectively.
The roof above has on its edges a row of Yalis. The base of the Vimana contains two Talas with Kuta and Sala. The Sikhara is of Nagara style and is decorated with Mithuna figures. This temple is a contemporary of the Golingeswara temple belonging to 9th Century AD.
There is no way to visit the temple as paddyfields surround the temple. If department officials want to visit the temple, they do so during dry-period, walking along the bunds.
The archaeological department has written to the district collector and the tahlsidar to provide a road to the temple, but there has been no response.
Nakkalagudi, the west-facing temple consists of a garbhagriha without an Antaralaya or open portico. The front wall has a simple Dwara (entrance) with Gajalakshmi on the lintel.
The pilasters have simple bracket capitals surmounted by Bhutamal and an Intern by a simple Kapota. On the edges of the roof is a Yalis and the series “kuta, panjara and salas” with Simhalalata garbles. The Vimana contains two haras or rows of the kuta series.
No ritual is performed at Nakkalagudi and Kancharagudi. But heritage lovers and archaeological students keep visiting the temples for their studies, with much difficulty due to lack of approach roads.
Meanwhile, Bikkavole tahsildar B Krishna told Deccan Chronicle that there was a need for 30 cents of land and this could possibly be acquired from farmers.
According to sources, Eastern Chalukyas built several Shiva temples like the Chalukya Kumara Rama Bhimeswara Swamy temple at Samalkot and the Bhimeswara Swamy temple at Draksha Rama. These are known as Pancharama Kshetras.
There are also five other temples – the Bala Ganapathi temple, the Gomukha Lingeswara Swamy temple, the Veerabhadra Swamy temple and two other Shiva temples, namely the Nakkalagudi and Kanchara Gudi at Bikkavolu in East Godavari district.
The GoLingeswara Swamy temple and the Bala Ganapathi temple perform rituals every day and these are famous ones. Rituals are performed at the Sri Veerabhadra Swamy temple only during the Maha Shivaratri and the auspicious Karthika Masa (Telugu month). No rituals have been performed at the Kancharagudi and Nakkalagudi for more than six decades as the Shiva Lingas remained in a damaged state.
The central archaeological department that took over all these temples in 1963 is protecting them.
Kancharagudi –the west facing temple--consists of the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) without an open portico. The front wall has a simple Dwara (entrance) and the figures of Ganga and Yamuna at the base. The walls are decorated with Koshtas surmounted by Makara Torana with figures of Brahma, Surya and Vishnu to the North, East and South respectively.
The roof above has on its edges a row of Yalis. The base of the Vimana contains two Talas with Kuta and Sala. The Sikhara is of Nagara style and is decorated with Mithuna figures. This temple is a contemporary of the Golingeswara temple belonging to 9th Century AD.
There is no way to visit the temple as paddyfields surround the temple. If department officials want to visit the temple, they do so during dry-period, walking along the bunds.
The archaeological department has written to the district collector and the tahlsidar to provide a road to the temple, but there has been no response.
Nakkalagudi, the west-facing temple consists of a garbhagriha without an Antaralaya or open portico. The front wall has a simple Dwara (entrance) with Gajalakshmi on the lintel.
The pilasters have simple bracket capitals surmounted by Bhutamal and an Intern by a simple Kapota. On the edges of the roof is a Yalis and the series “kuta, panjara and salas” with Simhalalata garbles. The Vimana contains two haras or rows of the kuta series.
No ritual is performed at Nakkalagudi and Kancharagudi. But heritage lovers and archaeological students keep visiting the temples for their studies, with much difficulty due to lack of approach roads.
Meanwhile, Bikkavole tahsildar B Krishna told Deccan Chronicle that there was a need for 30 cents of land and this could possibly be acquired from farmers.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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