Hyderabad's Ancient Temples Neglected, Advocate Calls for Preservation
The ancient temples in Hyderabad’s Old City, some over a thousand years old, have been largely ignored by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). For the past five decades, successive governments and the State Endowment Department (SED) have also failed to promote these temples as heritage sites for the city and Telangana. This neglect dates back to the era of United Andhra Pradesh.
Yamuna Pathak, an advocate for temple preservation, has raised serious concerns about this issue. She emphasized the importance of these temples, stating, “This is not merely an Old City; it is a Heritage City. The state government must declare these 18 identified temples as a temple heritage cluster, invest in their development, and actively promote them.”
Pathak stressed the need for the ASI to conduct precise dating of these ancient structures. Accurate dating would not only highlight their historical significance but also help include them on the national heritage list. This step would ensure that the temples’ structural health is monitored and proper conservation efforts are undertaken.
To protect these sacred sites, Pathak proposed the creation of a dedicated body such as the “Temple Asset Monitoring and Protection Agency (TAMPA).” Modeled after organizations like HYDRA, this agency would aim to prevent illegal encroachments on temple properties across Telangana. Pathak believes such a body could play a key role in preserving the cultural and historical significance of these temples.
Looking back over the past five decades, Pathak expressed concern about a systematic effort to diminish the temple heritage of the Old City. She noted that many residents pass by these temples daily without realizing their importance. Community members shared stories of how neglect begins: first, temple priests go missing, disrupting rituals. Over time, the temples are left abandoned, fall into disrepair, and are forgotten. This pattern makes the sites vulnerable to land encroachments.
Historically, earlier rulers of Hyderabad supported these temples as part of the city’s Ganga-Jamuna Tehzeeb, a tradition of cultural harmony. However, locals have expressed growing fears about deliberate attempts to erase this heritage. Some residents even reported facing threats, warnings, and legal challenges when trying to raise concerns about temple-related issues.
In light of these challenges, Pathak called for the formation of a judicial commission to investigate illegal activities, including land encroachments and the neglect of temple heritage in the Old City. She believes such a commission is necessary to hold those responsible for these illegal actions accountable and to ensure the protection of Hyderabad’s ancient temples for future generations.
