Rs 8 cr facelift for Konda Bitragunta temple before Brahmotsavams

Tirupati: The historic Konda Bitragunta temple in Bogole mandal of Nellore district has undergone a massive transformation, with development works worth nearly Rs 8 crore nearing completion ahead of the annual Brahmotsavams, scheduled to begin on Feb 25.Dedicated to Prasanna Venkateswara Swamy, the 14th-century temple was built on a scenic hill during the Chola era and draws thousands of devotees, especially during the Brahmotsavams held every February. Nellore MP Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy said donor devotees and the state endowments department joined hands last year to give the 800-year-old shrine a major infrastructure push.A Rajagopuram with an eastern entrance to the temple was constructed with an outlay of Rs 2 crore. While devotees used to enter the temple through the western Rajagopuram entrance, the new Rajagopuram, built with an eastern entrance, is as per the tenets of the Agama and Vasthu Shastras. One of the ancient footpath routes leading to the shrine was revived, with a new step-staircase laid by spending Rs 50 lakh.4 new mandapams were built by spending Rs 30 lakh to provide shelter for visiting devotees. An ancient temple tank built during the Chola era, which reached a dilapidated state, was revived by spending Rs 2 crore by the VPR Foundation established by Nellore MP Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy.The state endowments dept also built a new compound wall around the temple by spending approximately Rs 2 crore. The Bachu Charitable Trust spent Rs 2 crore to build a massive Kalyana Mandapam which can accommodate 6000 people.Nellore MP Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy invited devotees to throng the ancient Konda Bitragunta temple in large numbers and take part in the annual Brahmotsavams festivities, to be held on a grand note for 11 days from Feb 25.