Reconstruction of two ancient Pulichintala temples at Vellatur in Telangana’s Suryapet district has begun after more than two decades, with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) expecting the work to be completed before March 2027.
The Sri Chennakesawa Swamy and Sri Shiva temples were among the structures identified for translocation when the Pulichintala project on the Krishna River began in 2004-05. The temples date from the 12th to 15th century and were to be shifted to a rehabilitation and resettlement centre as part of the project’s response to the impact on affected villages.
The reconstruction is being undertaken by the ASI’s Hyderabad circle. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, ASI-Hyderabad superintending archaeologist Dr Nikhil Das said the work had remained pending because of administrative challenges. The agency retrieved the records, prepared fresh estimates and obtained a letter of credit from the ASI headquarters before beginning the work, he said.
Basic work has now started, with stone members of the temples that had been lying at the site for several years being examined and positioned for reconstruction. Documenting and identifying each stone member before rebuilding was a major challenge, according to the ASI official.
The project has been sanctioned at a total cost of Rs 1.72 crore. About Rs 1 crore has been earmarked for resetting the temple structures, while the remaining amount will be used for landscaping and other amenities. The foundation design is based on a geotechnical report prepared by experts from the National Institute of Technology, Warangal.
Conservation officials said each component is being examined to determine its original position and relationship with the other structural elements. The reconstruction is intended to retain the architectural character of the temples while preserving and reusing their original stonework. Lime concrete will be used, with the work proceeding layer by layer.
According to the officials, the basic structure is expected to be completed within a month. The remaining work, including landscaping and the provision of amenities, is scheduled to continue towards completion before March 2027.
The two Vellatur temples were part of a wider group of three structures identified for translocation after the Pulichintala project was initiated. The third structure, the Sri Shiva Temple at Gundlapally, was reconstructed during 2021-22, while work on the Vellatur temples remained pending.
The reconstruction also reflects the administrative complexity involved when infrastructure projects affect historic structures. In 2004, the then undivided Andhra Pradesh government asked the ASI to conduct preliminary explorations to identify antiquities and structures in villages expected to be affected by the project. Although the temples were identified for translocation, the Vellatur sites were not under ASI ownership or control.
After completion, the temples will be handed over to the Telangana state government. The next stage of work is the continued resetting of the documented stone members and construction of the temple structures using the approved foundation and conservation approach.
