As part of Yadagirigutta Temple Development Plan, the State government is all set to develop Kolanupaka, a historical Jain pilgrim centre, by restoring two Hindu temples and constructing an archaeology museum on the temple premises apart from taking up several other development works.
The primary aim is to develop all the historical and tourism spots around Yadagirigutta for a tourism circuit with the temple town as its centre. Since Kolanupaka is located about 22 km away from Yadagirigutta, the government chose the prominent Jainism tourist spot for restoration.
Following the directions of the government, the Archaeology Department led by its Director N.R. Visalatchy has prepared proposals seeking Rs. 6 crore for restoring the two 11th-Century AD temples.
Speaking to The Hindu , Deputy Director (Engineering) Raheem Sha Ali said they would soon submit the proposals to the government. The noted Someshwara Swamy temple, its pushkarani, chalkali and mangali mantapas and Veera Narayana temple would be restored. A new archaeology museum would be constructed on the premises of the Someshwara Swamy temple to house 162 sculptures, inscriptions and other antiquities lying on the temple premises.
A team of archaeologists led by Assistant Director P. Nagaraju has identified about 100 sculptures and inscriptions belonging to both the Hindu and Jain religions within 5 km radius of Kolanupaka, which will also be shifted to the proposed museum.
Apart from removing all the additional structures raised on Someshwara Swamy and Veera Narayana temple premises, the Archaeology Department wants to make them leak-proof besides providing ‘Rurdavaram’ flooring with rocks.
They would also give chemical treatment to the walls of the temples to remove fungus, white cement and others. A half-a-km-long heritage road would be laid from the Jain temple to Someshwara Swamy temple by creating a spiritual ambience on either side of the stretch.
