Yaddri: The Yadadri Sri Lakshminarsimha Swamy temple is the newest architectural marvel in Telangana. The painstaking five-year toil by over 2,000 sculptors has transformed 2.5 lakh tonnes black stone into a magnificent structure on the hill shrine. The number of pilgrims reaches one lakh on special days.
Conventional construction materials like cement, bricks and concrete were not used in the temple renovation works. Lime and mortar have been used to affix the black stone sculptures.
The BRS government, intending to develop the temple on the lines of the Tirumala temple in Andhra Pradesh, had launched the Rs 1,200-crore renovation works on October 11 in 2016. Then chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao renamed the temple town Yadadri.
The Vimana gopuram on the eastern entrance is influenced by Dravidian architecture as seen in the Thanjavur temple. The rajagopurams on the four sides give the temple a unique look. The temple complex, which was earlier 2,500 square yards, spreads over 17 acres with inner and outer prakarams.
The fusion of Dravidian and Kakatiyan styles is prominent in the complex. The 11-feet tall door of garbhagriha bears a golden Nava Narasimha Swamy design. The special lighting system makes the black stone structures glow in golden yellow at night.
Pushkarini has been developed at Gandi cheruvu down the hill shrine, while the Vishnu pushkarini is meant for chakrathreetam of the deities. Kalyana katta has been developed near Gandi cheruvu. Around 500 devotees can offer their hair at a time.
Devotees face accommodation problems and a shortage of toilets and a shopping complex and eateries.
Temple executive officer Bhaskar Rao said that measures have been taken up to avoid any inconvenience to the devotees. E-booking facility for VIP darshan and seva tickets was launched recently.
