VIJAYAWADA: Archeologists have discovered a dilapidated Siva temple of 13th Century AD at Kollurupet village under Bellamkonda mandal of Guntur district. Incidentally , the village is one of those facing the problem of submersion due to the Pulichintala hydro electric project.
As part of the `Preserve Heritage for Posterity’ project initiated by the Cultural Centre of Vijayawada and Amaravati (CCVA), survey of medieval stone temples in Bodanam, Kethavaram, Kollur and Kollurpet was taken up when Kollurupet temple was discovered in grossly neglected state.
According to E Sivanagi Reddy, archaeologist and CEO of CCVA, the temple found drowned in the reservoir and during the survey they identified a huge rock inscription that dated back to 1188 AD. “The inscription is a recording of donation of some landsto the Siva temple which was issued by Keta-II of the Kota chiefs who ruled the region from Dharanikota (Amaravati) between 1182 and 1231 AD,” Reddy said. The CCVA CEO added that the Siva temple still has the `garbhabriha’, `arthamandapa` and the `mahamandapa’, built in Kakatiya style. “The structures remain partly collapsed due to inundation,” he added.