1) Importance of the Destinations
Sri AnjaneyaSwamyTemple
Sri AnjaneyaSwamyTemple
Beechupalli Hanuman temple is located in Itikyala Mandal of Alampur Taluq in Mahabub Nagar District at the Confluence of Tungabhadra River with Krishna River. This temple is very famous and situated about one kilometer from Kondapet village on the banks of the KrishnaRiver. Beechupalli is also located about 10 Miles from Itikyala, Puduru and Gadwal Railway stations and in the olden days pilgrims used to come to this place on Bullock carts from the above places. This temple is very close to the bridge across the KrishnaRiver in between Hyderabad and Bangalore on National Highway 7. We don’t have any historical evidence about the existence of name of Beechupalli in the old inscriptions, but we can find the names of Beechamma, Beechanna and Beechupallayya in the names of the local people in all communities.
Beechupalli Hanuman is the family deity for the people of Kurnool, Raichur, Mahabub Nagar and also for the people of far of places. There is a ruined hill fort of medieval time period is located at about one Kilometer in the middle of the KrishnaRiver which is known as Nizam Konda or Hill. It is believed that it was built by Gadwal Kings and it’s an impregnable fort. This temple was patronized by Gadwal Kings till its fall after independence which is under ruins now and their family members are still conducting chariot festival of the temple every year.
As per the available inscriptions in the areas of Krishna and Thungabhadra, this place has great historical importance during the time of Mouryas, Satavahanas, Ikshvakus, Chalukyas of Badami, Rastrakutas, Kalyani Chalukyas, Kakatiyas, Vijayanagar Kings and Sultans and witnessed blood shed wars in the history among different dynasties. An inscription in the premises of the temple is attracting the scholars and historians to reconstruct the history and this inscription was mentioned in 1914 A.D by Sri Manavalli Ramakrishna Kavi at the time of announcing about “Kumara Sambhava” of Nanne Choda.
The idol of Hanuman might have been installed by Sri Vyasa Raya who was guru of Sri Krishna Devaraya lived in between 1457 – 1539 A.D. This temple was built with spacious Mandapam in the sanctum sanctorum by Gadwal Kings around 200 years ago and it is facing south and Hanuman idol is facing East.
History of the place:
Beechupalli Hanuman temple is famous for miracles of the god and people perform tonsuring of head for the children and adults and perform marriages etc in the temple premises. Pilgrims pray the god for fulfillment of their wishes and they offer many things to god after fulfillment of their wishes. As per the belief of the pilgrims, this god cures the diseases if they make pradakshinas or circumambulatory. Earlier, local Valmiki Tribes Community (hunters) people used to work as priests in the temple as per a story but after the advent of Gadwal Kings, they appointed Madwa Brahmins as priests by giving donations to them. Madhwa Brahmins and Valmiki tribes (local) are working as priests till today.
There is a Kamili tree in the premises of the temple, which is located on the top of a termite hill. It is always with buds, flowers and fruits and having platform around it. This plat form believed to be a graveyard of somebody, which is not known. This graveyard is very important as per the local story and at the time of Chariot Festival pilgrims pull the chariot up to this termite hill and Kamili tree.
Pilgrims come to this temple not only from Gadwal, Wanaparthi, Mahabubnagar areas but also from Kurnool, Ulindakonda, Adoni, Raichur, Hubli, Dharwad, which are in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Beechupalli hanuman is the family deity to the most of the people in this area. Pilgrims believe that this god give complete health if they worship for at least 15 days after they have their holy dip in the Krishna River.
2) National Importance
The destination has very good national importance. The flow of tourists is very high from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Bihar, UP and other States. The tourists, who visit Tirupati flow from Hyderabad have pass on through this national highway as this destination is located beside NH-7 and visit this temple frequently. Hare Rama Hare Krishna Group from America also visits this temple.
3) Location and Reach
Road: The pilgrims, who visit Tirupati from Hyderabad through NH-7 can visit the temple as the temple is located beside the NH-7. The distance from destination to Kurnool is located at 46 km. The distance from Mahabubnagar to this destination via Bhoothpur, Kothakota is about 80 km. Pebber is 10 km, which is beside NH-7; Kothakota is 30 km and Hyderabad is about 160 km.
Rail: The Railway Station is at Gadwal, which is about 18 km and the nearest Railway Station is at Ittikal, which is about 10 km away.
Air: The nearest Airport located at Shamshabad (Hyderabad), which is about 150 km from the destination.
4) Jurisdiction of the Destination
The destination is under the control of Endowments Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh and earning an income of about Rs.23.00 lakhs per annum on an average.
5) Road Condition
The road condition of Hyderabad-Tirupati Highway (NH-7) is laid down with 250′ BT Road and the condition of the road is very good.
6) Present Status of Tourist Attractions around the Destination
The following are the main tourist attractions available at the proposed destination.
Ø Nizam Konda – 1 km away
Ø Krishna River beside the temple
Ø Sri KodandaRamaSwamyTemple, Kanuma Maharushi Ashram and Sivalayam are located near to the destination
Ø Jammulamma Temple – 16 km
Ø Jurala Project – 32 km
Ø Jogulamba Temple – 46 km
Ø Srirangapur Temple – 60 km
Ø All the destinations/temples proposed for heritage circuit in Mahabubnagar district
7) Visitors Flow at the
Destination
The flow of visitors to the destination has been increasing every year. As per the local people and officials of destinations, the visitors’ flow during the three years is as below:
Year
Approximate No. of Visitors
2006-07
8,30,700
2007-08
11,07,600
2008-09
13,84,500
It found that more than 500 people per day on an average are visiting the temple and the number goes up to 1500 persons on Sundays, Saturdays, Tuesdays and Public Holidays. On every Amavasya and 1st Ekadasi (Ashada Sudha Ekadasi), the tourists flow is more than 3000 persons per day. Mahasiva Ratri, Dasara, etc are celebrated at the temple. During Maha Siva Ratri, the tourist flow is about 30,000 per day on an average. The temple authority celebrates Dasara for a period of 9 days and about 2000 pilgrims visit this temple every day and the tourists flow on the last more than 5000 persons. The temple authority celebrates Brahmotsavas for a period of 5 days on a grand scale and the pilgrims flow at the temple is about 40,000 persons per day on an average but it is also celebrated on every Saturday for a period of one month (4 or 5 occasions) and the tourists flow at the temple crosses 20,000 persons per day.
The temple authority performs about 500 marriages on an average and between 500-2000 persons attend each marriage on an average and all the visitors who attend the marriages visit this temple. There a good Kalyana Mandapam (Marriage Function Hall) is available at the temple and in the case of marriages performed in Kalyana Mandapam, the visitors flow is more than 2000 persons for one marriage and authority also performed more than 20 marriages on an important single day. During Sravana Masam and Karthika Masam, the tourists flow is very high. During December and January of every year, Ayyappa devotees (Swamijees) visit this temple and perform pujas every day and during March, Siva Devotees (Swamijees) visits this temple and perform pujas every day. During November Month, the Ayyappa devotees flow is more than 1,50,000 per month on an average. About 50,000 Anjaneya devotees (Swamijees) visit this temple during November and about 70,000 Siva Devotees (Swamijees), Amba Bhavani devotees (Swamijees) of 30,000, Venkateswara Swamy Devotees (Swamijees) of about 50,000 visit this temple for prayers, bajans, pujas, etc at the temple as this temple is located beside the KrishnaRiver, which is more convenient for Sacred River Bath for Swamijees.
8) Estimated Future Visitors Flow
The visitors’ flow to the destination has been increasing year by year and the estimated future flow of visitors/tourists is as follows.
Year
Estimated Visitors
2009-10
20,76,750
2010-11
24,92,100
2011-12
31,84,350
Justification for Tourist Flow
The logic behind the estimation of future visitors’ flow is that there is huge potential to attract the visitors. The rationale is as follows.
Ø If the water is full in Krishna River, the flow tourists/pilgrims to perform Holistic River Bath at the destination is very high and is famous for the river bath
Ø Festivals viz., Maha Siva Ratri, Ganesh Nimajjanam, Karthika Masam, Sravana Masam, Mahalaya Amavasya, etc celebrated at a large scale and very huge tourist flow available at the destination on these days
Ø Swamijees flow of Ayyappa, Anjaneya, Siva, Venkateswara and Amba Bhavani is very high to this destination as the Krishna River flows beside this destination
Ø The destination is strategically located beside the national highway (NH-7). The passers through on NH-7 visit this temple as a halt in their journey from Hyderabad to Tirupati.
Ø Awareness about this place is increasing day-by-day and this is resulted by telling/creating awareness by the visitors, who visited the destination
Ø During Karthika Masam, the pilgrims do river bath in the KrishnaRiver and light ‘jyothis’ in the river as a custom/system.
Ø Pleasant environment at the destination at the joining place of River Krishna
Ø Due to performing more marriages at the destination, the tourists flow has been increasing day-by-day and even the pilgrims from Pune, Karnataka, Hubli, etc are coming for performing marriages at the destination and have a darshan of Lord Anjaneya.
Ø Income levels of surrounding places have been increasing and increasing God fear in the villagers, who are residing in surrounded villages/mandals
Ø The destination has good historical importance
Ø Increasing number of out tourists from Karnataka, Maharashtra and neighbouring States of AP
Ø The average growth of visitors flow is increasing on an average of 20% – 30%. Apart from this, if the Tourism Department provides infrastructure and promotional facilitates to the tourists, that can add another 20% -25%.
9) Special Days of Attraction and Visitors Flow
It revealed from the field survey that the visitors prefer the following days in general.
Special occasions like Brahmotsav Days, Ganapathi Nimajjanam, Mahalaya Amavasya, Sivaratri, Karthika & Sravana Masams, etc
Visitors flow to attend the marriages at the destination and the visit the temple is very high
Swamijees of Ayyappa, Siva, Amba Bhavani, Anjaneya, Venkateswara are very high
Devotees during Karthika & Sravana Masam for river bath are very high
During Festival Days – Tourist flow is very high
Tuesdays, Sundays, Saturdays and Public Holidays increases the tourists flow
Students flow during Vacations (like Summer Vacation and Winter Vacation)
9) Income Profile of Visitors
The approximate income profile of visitors to the destination is as below:
Lower Income People: 50%
Middle Income People: 30%
Higher Income People: 20%
The residents, who are residing around the destination are belongs to almost lower and middle income group, who generally visit the destination. As the destination is famous for holistic river bath, higher income group also visit this destination and have bath in the river and as a halt during their journey from Hyderabad to Tirupati by 4-wheelers and it is located beside the national highway.
11) Purpose of Visit
Most of pilgrims visit the destination for devotional purpose (about 80%) to dip for river bath and darshan of Lord Anjaneya but some of them also visit for relaxation & recreation purposes (about 20%) as picnic. Some of the devotees also sleep in the temple premises as a local custom when their family members died.
12) Origin of Tourists
The approximate percentage of tourists and places from where the tourists visited the destination are as follows.
Ø 10% from Karnataka State
Ø 20% from Kurnool District
Ø 30% from Hyderabad
Ø 30% from all the villages/mandals surrounded to this temple in Mahabubnagar District
Ø 10% from Maharashtra and other States
13) Mode of Transport
Due to more convenience to bus journey as it is located Hyderabad-Tirupati Highway, majority of the pilgrims visit by tourist buses and 4-wheelers of their own, who come from long distances. Pilgrims from Maharashtra and Karnataka also visit this destination by tourist buses as this destination is more convenient for mid-journey halt. Visiting this destination by pilgrims through public transport is very less.
14) Frequency of Visits
It found that 10% of the visitors are new persons and visited the destination first time after knowing the importance of the destination. About 90% of the pilgrims have been repeating the visit to the destination.
15) Group Size
The visitors have been coming to the destination along with their family members and relatives & friends as a group consisting of 5-10 with small group and around 20 persons with big group. Tonsure ceremonies during Brahmotsav days are more and more than 10,000 families celebrate tonsure ceremonies at the destination per annum on an average. Dasangam, which is one kind of puja as per local custom will be performed by the local and surrounded villages by every year at the destination.
16) Accommodation Facilities
Accommodation facilities with 13 rooms are available at the destination and the management has been providing these rooms at free of cost to the pilgrims/tourists. There is also one Kalyana Mandapam constructed by Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam (TTD), which is provided on rent @ Rs.2,000/- per marriage per day. Visitors have to book the Kalyana Mandapam on payment of advance to the authority for performing marriages.
The pilgrims generally stay for one day at the destination but some of the devotees, who perform Ardh Mandalam for 21 days, Pavu Mandalam (11 days) stay at the destination for 21 or 11 days as per their requirement at the destination for performing a special puja. The visitors who want to perform ‘Graha Dosha’ puja also stay more number of days at the destination.
17) Food & Beverages Facilities
Food facilities are available at the destination. There are four meals hotels and few tiffin hotels are available at the destination place. In addition, two Vysya Satrams, one Brahmin Satram also available and are providing free meal to the pilgrims of their community.
18) Illumination Facilities
Illumination facilities are available inside the temple well. There are also illumination facilities available outside the temple at prominent places and are not sufficient to provide good illumination facilities for the tourists.
19) Sewerage and Public Toilets
There is no underground drainage system for the temple and the authority recently constructed one urinal/public toilet block at the destination.
20) Water Facilities
There is borewell available at the temple and the tourists are using this water for drinking and drainage purposes. Pilgrims generally bath in the river flowing beside this temple.
21) Banking/ATM Facilities
No bank available exactly at the desitnaiton but about 1 km distance (Yerravalli), there is A P Grameena Bank available. At Pebber, which is 10 km away from the destination, Andhra Bank, SBI and SBI-ATM also available. At Gadwal, all nationalised banks with ATM facilities available.
22) Emergency Health Facility
Two RMP doctors are available at Beechpally. There is a GovernmentHospital at Pebber (10 km away) with private MBBS doctors. At Ittikal, there are MBBS, MS and other specialised doctors available in addition to government hospital. Diagnostic centres, a number of medical shops, specialist doctors, private clinics, homes, etc are available at Gadwal.
23) Cleanness
The authority is maintaining cleanness inside the temple well and also maintaining some landscaping in front of the temple & beside national highway.
24) Landscaping and Park Maintenance
There is a good scope for landscaping and park development along the river and national highway to attract more tourists, who pass through the national highway.
25) Safety/Security of Tourists
The Endowments Department appointed about 25 personnel at the destination and are working. The priest guide the tourists and provide safety measures. Police Station is available at Ittikal. There are no threats and robberies occurred at the destination till today.
26) Guide Services
There is no tourist guide available at the destination. The priest explains the importance of the destination and facilities available.
27) Wayside Amenities
There is one petrol pump available at Yerravalli, 2 km away from the destination. There are minor support services like puncture, air, petrol, etc are available at Yerravalli. Major repairs, car rentals, etc are available at Kurnool or Gadwal.
28) Communication Facilities
It noticed that almost mobile phones receive signals at the destination. Coin operated PCO boxes are also available at the destination.
29) Marketing Facilities (Information Centre, Destination Boards, Direction Boards, etc)
The authority will publish pamphlets during Brahmotsav celebrations. The authority also paste wall posters in the surrounding towns of Raichur, Gadwal, Kurnool, Vanaparthy, Mahabubnagar, etc on the occasion of Brahmotsav celebrations. There are no destination/direction boards established by the authority.
30) Shopping Facilities
No shopping facilities available at the destination place except puja items, children’s toys, bangles, photos of Anjaneya God, etc. Visitors can do shopping at Gadwal or Kurnool, where all type of shopping facilities available.
31) Local Transport
A good number of sharing autos are available from Kurnool, Gadwal, Vanaparthy, Pebber, Kothakota, etc to the destinations located surrounded places of the destination and the tourists can get down at the destination on the national highway for visiting the destiantion.
32) Parking Facilities
There is no separate provision for the visitors to park their vehicles at the destination. The visitors are parking their vehicles at the destination in front of the temple or surrounded place as per their convenience.
33) Other Facilities
The authority organises Bajans on every Amavasya Day and on every Saturday at the destination. During Brahmotsav days, a large number of devotees perform Bajans in groups at a large scale at the destination.
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