Papanasi Temples, Alampur, Telangana

Papanasi Temples, Alampur, Telangana

Papanasi Temples are group of Hindu Temples dedicated to Lord Shiva, located in Alampur Town near Kurnool in Jogulamba Gadwal District in Telangana, India. Papanasi Temples are situated on the left bank of the Tungabhadra River near the meeting point of Tungabhadra River and Krishna River at the border of Andhra Pradesh.

As these temples were coming under submergence area due to Srisailam Hydro Electric Project, this cluster of mostly ruined temples are relocated near to Alampur Navabrahma Temples. This Temple is listed as an archaeological and architectural treasure on the official List of Monuments prepared by the Archaeological Survey of India under The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act. 

History

Alampur Papanasi Temples are a group of twenty-four Hindu temples built between 9^th and 11^th Century CE. The main shrine called Papanaseswara was built by Chalukyas in the 6^th Century CE while the remaining temples were constructed by Rashtrakutas between 9^th and 11^th centuries. Together with the Navabrahma temples, the Papanasi group were related to the Kalamukha and Pasupatha sect of Shaivism. Jogulamba Temple is the Ashta Dasa Maha Sakthi Peetha.

All of these temples featured Vaishnavism themes and narrated Hindu texts in their arts. Together, these temples formed the Brahmesvara Sthana tirtha (Kshetra), and before their destruction in the 14^th and 15^th centuries during Delhi Sultanate invasions and associated Muslim-Hindu conflict, they wielded enormous influence in regional religious life. Some historic Hindu and Buddhist literature refers to this site near Kurnool as Srisaila or Sriparvata. This site in 12^th Century CE also became linked with the Shaivism sect called Virasaiva or Lingayats.

The current location of Papanasi Group of Temples is not the original location. All these temples have been moved and restored from their ruins by the Archaeological Survey of India after 1980. The Temples were threatened by the Srisailam hydroelectric project. Hence, ASI moved to higher grounds and a barrage was built to protect them to save from further damage. Excavations associated with this transplantation of the temples unearthed evidence of temple building rituals.

The Temple

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2020/05/papanasi-temples-alampur-temple.html

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 2 Kms from Alampur Bus Stand, 10 Kms from Alampur Road Railway Station, 27 Kms from Kurnool Bus Stand, 28 Kms from Kurnool, 28 Kms from Kurnool Railway Station, 58 Kms from Kurnool Airport, 126 Kms from Mahbubnagar, 200 Kms from Hyderabad Airport and 215 Kms from Hyderabad. NH7 is the nearest highway passing close to this village and you can easily get down at Alampur Cross Roads and hire a taxi/auto or bus to reach the temple, which is located roughly at a distance of around 15 Kms. APSRTC run frequent buses from Kurnool to Alampur Temple village. The nearest railway station is Alampur Road Railway Station, but not many trains halt here. Major Railway Station is Kurnool Railway Station.

Location | Photos