CM Revanth to inaugurate gold-plated Vimana Gopuram at Y’gutta
The temple authorities have told Deccan Chronicle that the gold plating work, which began ceremonially on November 20, 2024, was completed in Chennai
Hyderabad: The gold-plating of the Vimana Gopuram at the Yadadri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple is almost complete, making it the tallest gold-plated temple tower in the country. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is expected to inaugurate the 55-foot-tall structure on February 23. Notably, Yadagirigutta will be the first temple in Telangana to have a gold-plated tower.
A temple official clarified that since the project work began long before the model code for the February 27 Legislative Council elections came into effect, the Chief Minister and other ministers can participate in the Kumbhabhishekam rituals without restrictions.
As part of preparations for the Brahmotsavam, to be held between May 19 and 23, temple authorities sent priests to collect river waters from across the country for the Samprokshanam ritual. A team of 108 Rutviks will perform the Homa, Shanti Homa and Poornahuti under the supervision of Vanamamalai Peetadhipathi Peda Ramanuja Jeeyar Swamy, who is returning after 40 years.
The temple authorities have told Deccan Chronicle that the gold plating work, which began ceremonially on November 20, 2024, was completed in Chennai, where 11,000 kg of copper plates were coated with 68 kg of gold. Chennai-based Smart Creations, which previously handled the Dwajasthambam and Kalasha installation, executed the project.
The five-storey Vimana Gopuram features 10,759 square feet of gold plating on black granite, with six grams of gold used per square foot.
With an expected one lakh devotees attending the event—far exceeding the usual 50,000 to 60,000 visitors on festival days—temple authorities are setting up tents to shield pilgrims from the summer heat and preparing over one lakh pulihora packets for free distribution.
On Maha Kumbhabhishekam day (May 23), temple visits will be allowed only until 10.30 am and will resume after 2 am once rituals are completed. A live telecast of all ceremonies has also been arranged.
Invitations have been sent to Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, IT and industries minister D. Sridhar Babu, endowments minister Konda Surekha and district in-charge minister Tummala Nageswara Rao to participate in the rituals.
