Sri Laxmi Narasimha Swamy devasthanam at Dharmapuri in Jagtial district. File | Photo credit: BY ARRANGEMENT
A view of the Manyamkonda Sri Lakshmi Venkateshwara Swamy Temple in Mahabubnagar District. | Photo credit: RAMAKRISHNA G
The Telangana government is gearing up to carry out major conservation work at two ancient temples – the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple in Dharmapuri, Jagtial district and the Manyamkonda temple in Mahabubnagar district – with the financial and technical support of the Pune-based Lord Venkateswara Religious and Charitable Trust.
According to Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials, the restoration effort, estimated to cost ₹13 crore, will follow traditional architectural and scientific practices used for centuries in the construction of South Indian temples.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is scheduled to review the proposed works on Friday (February 13) with a team including ASI Director (Epigraphy) K. Munirathnam Reddy, Trust representatives and conservation experts Vishal Bhaskar Limkar and Romen Singh Jamwal. A detailed project report is likely to be presented at the meeting and restoration work, including leak removal and conservation, will begin immediately after the meeting.
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Munirathnam Reddy, who is involved in the initiation of the project, said that these temples were selected in the first phase of conservation as Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is keen on preserving ancient temples.
Trust founder B. Venkateswara Rao has come forward to take up the project under CSR funding, he said, adding that the Trust had earlier supported conservation projects in four prominent temples in Andhra Pradesh — Srikalahasti, Simhachalam, Srisailam and Alipiri Padala Mandapam in Tirupati — and would now fund similar works in Telangana.
Out of the total amount, ₹7 crore was earmarked for Dharmapuri temple and ₹6 crore for Manyamkonda. The restoration will include treating long-standing water leakage problems using an ancient waterproofing method that uses a mixture of karakkaya (myrobalan), lime, jaggery, lady’s finger extract and natural gums, a traditional technique with roots in the Pallava, Chola and Odisha’s Gajapati architectural traditions.
Ancient temples with rich heritage
The Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple, located on the banks of the Godavari River, was originally built around 1018 AD. It was reconstructed by local devotees in the 17th century, preserving its spiritual significance and ensuring continued worship.
The Manyamkonda Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple, located about 16 km from Mahabubnagar on the Raichur road on a hill, is said to have been a meditation place for several sages. The temple dedicated to Sri Venkateswara Swamy is located in a natural cave formation spread over three hills.
Published – 09 Feb 2026 20:55 IST
