The Chennakesava Swamy Temple in Chandrayanagutta is in a sorry state with a rusted notice board at its entrance, showing negligence by the Telangana State Archeology Department. The temple, believed to be 600-800 years old, is a heritage building from the post-Vijayanagara period in Hyderabad.
According to a board from the Department of Archaeology and Museums, the temple is an ancient monument protected under the Andhra Pradesh Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites Act 1960. However, despite warnings of punishment for damaging or defacing the monument, no steps have been taken to protect it.
The neglect is evident in the crumbling steps leading to the temple, foundation stones embedded in the walls, and nails used to hang decorations. The temple committee has even allowed a banian tree to grow underneath the platform of the temple’s Dhwaja Stamba.
It is clear that both the department and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation have failed to uphold their responsibility to preserve this historic site.
