1) Importance of the Destination
Sri Ranganayaka Swamy Temple
Sri Ranganayaka Swamy Temple
Sri Ranganayakaswamy Temple is located at Srirangapur in Mahabubnagar District. Sri RanganayakaSwamyTemple was built during the 18th century A.D.
According to legend, Krishnadevaraya, the Vijayanagar ruler, went to Srirangam and was enthralled by the Sri Ranganayakaswamy Temple there. He desired to construct a Ranganayakaswamy temple in his kingdom. Later, Ranganayaka (Lord Vishnu) appeared in dream and told the king that his idol is lying in the kingdom and an eagle will direct him to that place. The succeeding day, Krishnadevaraya followed the eagle and found the Lord’s idol between Kothakota and Kanvayapally mountains. The king constructed the SriRanganayakaswamyTemple near RatnaPushkariniLake. The temple is a classic example of Vijayanagar architecture. The temple was built by the Rajas of Wanaparthi Samsthanam on the bund of Ratna Pushpakarini lake.
About Srirangam
Srirangam, an island situated 7 km from Tiruchirapalli, is renowned for the Sri Ranganathaswamy temple. Bound by the river Cauvery and its tributary Kollidam, Srirangam is spread over an area of 600 acres and is enclosed within the seven walls of the temple. Coconut trees, mango groves and banana cultivations add to the aura of the island.
The Amma Mandapam ghat, the banks of the river where rituals and ceremonies are held, is a place of religious significance on the island. The temple museum at Srirangam has an elaborate collection of ivory sculptures of Vishnu, images of Nayak kings, pavai lamps, palm leaf inscriptions, huge lamps, copper plates, dresses of ancient period, Nataraja image, and coins of princely states and colonial rulers. The Srirangam island is accessed from Tiruchirapalli.
2) National Importance
This destination has got good national importance. Pilgrims/Tourists have been visiting the destination from Karnataka (Gulbarga, Raichur, Sindanur, which are border places to the destination), Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
3) Location and Reach
Road: From NH7, the destination is about 10 km from Pebber; from Vanaparthy – 25 km; from Kollapur – 25 km via Singotam Temple; from Kurnool – 60 km; and from Hyderabad – 160 km. Srirangapur is located about 12 km from Wanaparthy, which is 100 km from Mahabubnagar town. Regular buses are available from Wanaparthy.
Rail: The nearest railway station is located at Gadwal, which is about 40 km away.
Air: The nearest Airport is at Shamshabad (Hyderabad) – 120 km.
4) Jurisdiction of the Destination
The Temple is under the jurisdiction of Sri Krishnadevaraya Group of Temples managed by Sri J Krishnadeva Rao. The Group of Temples are located at Vanaparthy, Peddagudem, Rajanagaram, Kanaipalle and Kothapeta of Mahabubnagar District.
5) Road Condition
Four line (120′) BT Road (NH-7) is available from Hyderabad to Kurnool with good condition and is recently laid down. PebberVillage is located on the NH-7. 50′ BT Road is available from Pebber to Kanchiraopalli with good condition. From Kanchiraopalli to Sringapur, 15 BT Road is available with average condition.
6) Present Status of Tourist Attractions at Destination
The following are the main tourist places/ attractions available around the proposed destination.
Ø Tirumalaya Gutta – from Pebber it is 16 km
Ø Sri VenkateswaraSwamyTemple, Wanaparthy
Ø Anjaneya SwamyTemple, Beachpalli on the NH-7 – 15 km
Ø The proposed destinations viz., Somasila – 40 km; Singotam via Vanaparthi – 25 km; Jetprole – 20 km; Madhava Swamy Temple; Alampur are very nearer to this location.
Ø All the other 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 destination, the visitors’ flow during the three years is as below:
Year
Approximate No. of Visitors
2006-07
11,43,300
2007-08
14,29,125
2008-09
19,05,500
It found that 500 people per day on an average are visiting the temple and the number goes up to 1,000 persons on Mondays and Fridays. During Sundays, Saturdays, Festival days and Public Holidays, the flow of the tourists will be around 2,000 per day.
The authority performs marriages at high rate at the temple premises for villagers, who are residing in and surrounding villagers/mandals and it works out to be about 300 marriages a year. About 500 people on an average attend for every marriage. Tonsure ceremonies also performed at the temple and these works out to be about 1000 numbers per annum on an average. During Navaratrulu, the flow of tourists is more than 20,000 per day for 9 days. The temple authority celebrate ‘Kotai Vutsavalu’ on the occasion of Sankranthi Festival for a period of one month and the tourists flow during this period is more than 5,000 per day on an average. In addition, the temple authority celebrates ‘Rathotsavam’ during March for a period of 15 days and the flow of tourists to this destination is more than 20,000/day on an average. During Sravana Masam, the flow of tourists is more than 5,000 per day on an average as the destination is having water body beside the temple.
During summer, winter and vacation holidays to schools & colleges, the tourists flow to the temple is very high for a period of 2-3 months. About 2,000 visitors per on an average visit this destination during summer, winter and vocation holidays.
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
28,58,250
2010-11
36,20,450
2011-12
43,82,650
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 On every Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays, the tourists flow is very high
Ø The temple authority perform more number of marriages at the destination as well as tonsure ceremonies
Ø The temple authority celebrates ‘Rathotsavam’ during March every year for a period of 15 days; ‘Kotai Vutsavalu’ during ‘Sankranthi Festal’ for a period of one month; and ‘Navaratrulu’ for a period of 9 days. The flow of tourists is at very high rate during these days.
Ø There is a strong belief about this God in the villagers
Ø The destination has historical importance and sculpture is very good. The flow to this temple has been increasing now-a-days at high rate due to awareness about the temple in general public and temple attraction.
Ø The pilgrims who are residing villages/mandals located surrounding the destination have been performing pujas from hereditary
Ø The crowd in May, June and July is high due to holidays to the students.
Ø Increasing number of intra state-tourists from Karnataka & Maharashtra and other districts of AP
Ø The average growth of visitors flow is increasing on an average of 20% – 25%. Apart from this, if the Tourism Department, GoI provides infrastructure and promotional facilitates to the tourists, that can add another 20% – 25%.
Ø The destination site is suitable for cinema shootings and cinema producers used the destination sites for producing six Telugu cinemas viz. Chennakesava Reddy, Chatrapathi, Audi, Leela Mahal Centre, Yemandi Malli Pelli Chesukondi, etc.
9) Special Days of Attraction and Visitors Flow
It revealed from the field survey that the visitors prefer the following days in general.
Special Days (Saturday, Sunday, Public Holidays and Festivals) – very high tourist flow
‘Rathotsavam’ during March; ‘Navaratrulu’ during Dasara Festival; ‘Kotai Vutsavalu’ during Sankranti Festival Days; and during Sravanamasam – very high tourist flow
Special occasions like marriage functions, tonsure ceremonies, family functions, etc
Weekends (Saturdays & Sundays) – high tourist flow
Vacations (like Summer Vacation and Winter Vacation)
10) Income Profile of Visitors
The approximate income profile of visitors to the destination is as below:
Lower Income People: 30%
Middle Income People: 50%
Higher Income People: 20%
It is observed that the people, who are residing in and surrounded villages/mandals are belongs to middle and lower income groups. Some of the pilgrims visit this destination from far away places viz. Hyderabad and other States and are belongs to higher income group.
11) Purpose of Visit
Almost all the pilgrims visit this destination for devotional purpose only. They visit the temple to perform abhisekhams, pujas & vrathams. Some of the devotees perform marriages, tonsure ceremonies, etc. The destination is having water body nearby the temple. Now days, the pilgrims are coming for temple as well as to see reservoir also.
12) Origin of Tourists
The approximate percentage of tourists and places from where the tourists visited the destination are as follows.
Ø 50% from Hyderabad
Ø 20% from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
Ø 30% from surrounding villages & mandals of the district and other places of AP
13) Mode of Transport
It found that about 50% of pilgrims visit this destination by 4-wheelers (cars, jeep, etc). Another 50% of pilgrims visit by buses and other mode of transport viz. APSRTC buses, tourists buses, tractors, lorries, etc.
14) Frequency of Visits
It found that 60% of the visitors are new persons and are visited the destination first time after knowing the importance of the destination. About 40% of the pilgrims have been repeating the visit to the destination.During Rathotsavam, Navaratrulu, Kotai Vutsavalu and Jataras, some of the pilgrims repeat the darshan to the destination.
15) Group Size
Almost all the pilgrims/visitors have been visiting the destination along with their family members, relatives and friends as a group. The group size consists of 4 to 10 persons in general. The approximate group size consists of about 300-500 persons per marriage; and 30-60 persons for tonsure ceremony.
16) Accommodation Facilities & Booking
Facilities
Five single rooms with attached bathrooms available at the destination. These are provided at free of cost by the temple authority to the pilgrims keeping in view to improve the tourist flow further. Tourists can book these rooms by contacting personally or phone. Some of the pilgrims sleep on the open place in front of the temple. The pilgrims stay for one day at the destination in general.
17) Food & Beverages Facilities
About 10 hotels available at the destination (village) and these provide tiffin, tea, beverages, snacks, etc. In addition, temple authority is maintaining ‘Annadhana Satram’ (Free Meal) at the temple premises and this Satram (Choultry) provides food at the destination to some of the pilgrims who visit the destination.
18) Illumination Facilities
Illumination facilities are available only inside the temple and to some extent around the temple. Illumination facilities are not available outside the temple premises as the destination spread over in many acres of land.
19) Sewerage and Public
Toilets
There is no drainage facility for the temple. No urinal/public toilet block is available at the destination for public. The pilgrims are using open place for toilet purpose.
20) Water Facilities
Presently, the destination is supplying bore water as drinking water and supplying through plastic overhead tank. Drinking water facility available but not providing drinking water sufficiently to the pilgrims and not meeting the demand.
21) Banking/ATM Facilities
The banks viz., SBI, SBH, APGB, Andhra Bank are located at the destination place. SBH-ATM is available at 8 km away from the destination.
22) Emergency Health Facility
The destination is located in the village. Six RMP doctors with three medical shops are available at the destination. In addition, two Ph.D homoeopathic doctors are also available at the village. One PHC is sanctioned by government for this village recently.
23) Cleanness
The temple authority is maintaining cleanness inside the temple and not maintaining outside the temple properly as the destination spread over many acres of land.
24) Landscaping and Park Maintenance
The management is maintaining landscaping inside the temple to some extent. The authority is not maintaining any landscaping or park at outside of the temple at present.
25) Safety/Security of Tourists
About 100 personnel are working in the temple on shift basis. The temple authority gave manyam (allocation of land for livelihood) for almost all of them long back. Very few personnel are working on salary basis. The priest and other personnel of the temple look after the safety of tourists.
26) Guide Services
There is no guide available at the destination. The priest and temple personnel explain about the history and importance of the temple.
27) Wayside Amenities
Minor services viz., air, puncture, petrol, minor repairs, etc are available at the destination. Other services like car rentals, car maintenance, fuel stations and other amenities are available at Pebber.
28) Communication Facilities
It noticed that almost all mobile phones receive signals at the destination. More than 30 Coin operated PCO boxes available at the temple premises. One Telephone Exchange and One Post Office are available at the village.
29) Marketing Facilities (Information Centre, Destination Boards, Direction Boards, etc)
There is no published material (brochures, pamphlets, etc) about the temple readily available at the destination. The authority publishes invitation brochures on occasion of ‘Sankranthi Festival’. The authority has not established any destination boards or direction boards for the temple.
30) Shopping Facilities
There are no shopping facilities at the temple premises except some shops selling puja items. During festival days especially Sankranthi and Dasara Festivals, mobile shops will be available at the destination to meet the demand. Shopping facilities viz., Ladies Corner, etc available in the village.
31) Local Transport
APSRTC is operating their buses to this destination and providing transportation facilities of about 20 trips from Pebber every day. In addition, there are about 50 vehicles (jeeps, sharing autos, etc) are operating from Pebber to the destination.
32) Parking Facilities
Visitors are parking their vehicles in front of the temple or temple premises as per their convenience. The destination is having plenty of vacant land for parking.
33) Other Facilities
The authority organise bajans every day in the night at the temple.
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