Trikuta temple built on bedrock near old tank on the way from Chennur village to Lakshmakkapally village
Post Date – 10:30 PM, Saturday – 12/3/22
Zhan Gang: Many of the Kakatiya and Chalukyan era temples built in the area are slowly being forgotten, thanks to alleged official negligence.
Some of them can be developed into major tourist attractions if the right measures are taken. One of the temples is located in Chennur village of Palakurthy mandal. The Trikuta temple is built on bedrock near the old tank, on the way from Chennur village to Lakshmakkapally village.
The temple is estimated to have been built between the 9th and 10th centuries AD when the Kalyani Chalukyas ruled the area from Kolanupaka in the Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district as their capital.
A composite wall of solid stone slabs was built around the temple, and at the center of the temple complex, a tall two-story Mandapa or Mantapa with its entrance facing east is the main attraction of the temple. Elevated platforms for rest can also be seen below the Mandapa inside and outside the temple.
Trikutalaya is unique in structure but looks ordinary. These three temples were built into a single complex, making it “Trikutalaya”. The outside of each temple is built using only 3 x 3 thick stone slabs. Three pyramid-shaped Gopurams were built on three temples using fired bricks. On top of the Gopurams, shikharas and urns appear to have been removed. Opposite the Holy of Holies, there is a four-pillared pavilion. There is a gap in front of each temple. At the top of the Holy of Holies there is a carved octagonal stone slab. There are three secret rooms on both sides of the entrance to the Holy of Holies, which are used for ventilation and light. There is a Shivalinga in the sanctuary. Another one with Panapattam is lying on his head. There are no other idols or other sculptures in the temple. There are Nandi’s headless statues and “Panapattam” outside the temple.
“The temple has a long history and is in a pleasant environment, surrounded by fields and next to a reservoir. If the archeology or tourism department can restore and provide basic facilities for tourists, it has great potential to become a popular tourist attraction,” from Jangaon archeology enthusiast R Rathnakar Reddy said and urged the government to take steps to develop the place.
