Vinod Receives AP Tourism Excellence Award for Lepakshi Book
The award was presented by Andhra Pradesh Tourism, Culture and Cinematography Minister Kandula Durgesh at a programme on Sunday night.
Anantapur: Filmmaker and author Vinod Rajendra received the Andhra Pradesh State Tourism Excellence Award in the ‘Excellence in Writing’ category for his book Divine Footprints of Lepakshi during the World Tourism Day celebrations held in Rajahmundry.
The award was presented by Andhra Pradesh Tourism, Culture and Cinematography Minister Kandula Durgesh at a programme on Sunday night.
The State Tourism Excellence Awards were presented as part of the World Tourism Day celebrations.
This year’s event was held in Rajahmundry as the Godavari region prepares for the 2027 Godavari Pushkaralu, scheduled to be held from June 26 to July 7 next year.
Divine Footprints of Lepakshi explores the history, architecture, sculptures, mural paintings, mythology and living traditions associated with Lepakshi, with a particular focus on the 16th-century Veerabhadra Temple and its Vijayanagara legacy.
Speaking about the book, Vinod said, “The book is a visual journey through Lepakshi, bringing together its history, art, architecture, mythology and cultural memory.
Through photographs, illustrations and accessible narration, I wanted readers to look beyond the familiar monuments and discover the stories and details preserved across the temple complex.”
The award marks another chapter in Vinod’s long association with Lepakshi.
Earlier, he directed a short documentary on the historic site, which was screened at several film festivals.
The documentary later entered the Guinness World Records after being dubbed into 11 languages, earning recognition as the most translated short documentary.
Over the years, Vinod has continued to explore Lepakshi through different mediums, first through cinema and now through Divine Footprints of Lepakshi, documenting its heritage for a wider audience.
Lepakshi temple committee chairman P. Venugopal Rao appreciated the filmmaker and author for highlighting the historical and cultural significance of Lepakshi.
