Panakala Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple

Mangalagiri is one of the oldest Vaishnavite Temples in South India. Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy is the deity in this holy place. 11 storied lofty Gali Gopuram (Temple Tower) is a main attraction to pilgrims as well as tourists. It was built by the then Zamindar Sri Raja Vasireddy Venkatadri Naidu during the period 1807-1809 and it has completed 200 years of its construction. While the people are looking forward to celebrate its Bi-Centenary of its construction, it was learnt through media that the Government of Andhra Pradesh has taken a decision to demolish it and to reconstruct a new Gopuram in its place, which is not being digested by the devotees and public.

The background for the decision of government is – an old gali gopuram at Srikalahasti constructed during the period of Vijayanagara Kingdom was fallen down causing heartening feelings among devotees and public. Then the government has sent an expert Technical Committee to inspect Mangalagiri to give report on its strength. The expert Technical Committee has given its recommendations suggesting some measures to protect the same. To the surprise of public, instead of taking remedial measures suggested by the committee, Government has taken a hard decision to demolish Mangalagiri Gali Gopuram and to construct a new one in its place with an estimated cost of Rs.10.5 crore.

Some voluntary organizations and public are agitating against government’s decision. An expert committee which inspected the Gali Gopuram, on behalf of public has given its opinion that there is no immediate danger to the Gopuram. They have suggested that the Gali Gopuram can be protected with an approximate cost of Rs.1 crore by Ground Improvement Methods.