For posts on all structures such as temples, churches and building I have come across, go here.
Prologue: A series that showcases the large statues, beautiful temples and churches I visit in my travels or I accidentally come across while taking an off-beaten path. And sometimes yes, I would include buildings and palaces too.
One of the places I got to go during my recent visit to my home town, Hyderabad, in India was this 1000 year old Sri Sita Rama Chandra Temple in the suburbs. Although the temple was built by Vengi Kings in the 13th century, the idol is 1000 yrs old. A popular destination for wedding photography and Indian language Telugu films. The day we went was very hot and surprisingly inside the temple it was very cool despite no modern gadgets to keep the air cool – just the temple construction that bends the wind so we get gust of it no matter where we are sitting in the temple.
One has to just turn your head to see the amazing construction around the temple – stone, intricate carvings and sculptures made out of stone and old wooden doors. Notice the tortoise at the main entrance of the temple. The walls of the temple depict scenes from Hindu mythology.
This idol of Rama depicts him before meeting Hanuman, and was called as Kondanda Ramudu and is depicted with a bow. Hence the temple doesn’t have Lord Hanuman along side Rama…but outside underthe Dwaja Sthambham. After meeting Hanuman, Rama’s title changed to Maryada Ramudu, since then he is depicted without the bow and Hanuman always on his side.
Surrounding the temple one can see a mandapa opposite the temple, a shrine carved out of stone, leaf murals on one side of the wall of the mandapa, a building perhaps used by pujaris in olden times and a beautiful step well that was dry surrounded by porticos and shelter carved out of stones.
I got a chance to catch up with two of my friends from my childhood.
Galavant Reflections 