Youth Joining Hands To Restore Rayalaseema’s Heritage Structures

KURNOOL: Young men across Rayalaseema are joining hands to revive dilapidated temples, ancient koneru ponds and abandoned wells. Witnessing the enthusiasm and purpose of the youth, villagers too are sharing the responsibility for conserving heritage structures in their areas.

“We strongly believe that when hands come together, nothing is impossible,” say the youth spearheading the movement of voluntarily restoring structures that have fallen into neglect over decades.

In Kadapa district’s Mydukuru assembly constituency, youth of Chinnaiahgaripalle in Shettivaripalle panchayat have revived an ancient hilltop temple believed to be several centuries old. Situated atop a 600-metre-high hill, the site had once been inaccessible. Undeterred, the youth have constructed steps using indigenous methods, pooling nearly ₹1 crore.

“Distance, money or terrain did not stop us. If everyone contributes, even a mountain becomes reachable,” says Shiva Nanda Reddy, a Bengaluru-based software engineer from the village. “We want every villager to feel proud of what we have rebuilt together,” he says.

In Banaganapalle constituency of Kurnool district, youth of Kolimigundla mandal restored a ruined ancient koneru pond. Around 50 volunteers cleaned and rebuilt the structure, bringing water back to the tank.

“This koneru had once been a pit filled with debris. Today, it holds water again,” says a local villager. Another youth, S. Kanth from Belum village, who documented the work on social media, says, “When people see real change online, they feel motivated to act in their own villages.” The revived tank has helped raise groundwater levels in the area.

In Anantapur district near Kotanka panchayat of Singanamala constituency, a centuries’ old hilltop temple has been reconstructed. Local resident Subba Reddy initiated the effort by laying the foundation.

“I just took the first step with faith. Slowly, many hands joined mine,” says Subba Reddy, underlining: “Seeing devotees coming here gives us immense satisfaction.”

Inspired by such initiatives circulating widely on social media, groups of youth in more villages are stepping forward. “We are not waiting for anyone else. This is our village, our responsibility,” say volunteers involved in the recent projects.

So far, restoration works have been taken up in over 130 villages across Rayalaseema, covering temples, gopurams, ponds and abandoned wells. The youth-driven movement is now being seen as a model for grassroots participation, creating a lasting inspiration among future generations.