Ten Andhra temples to be made eco-parks

With the aim to attract more tourists to the area, the state government is planning to develop eco-parks in the premises of ten temples. An eco-park at the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy temple atop Indrakeeladri in Vijayawada is in the making.

The Andhra Pradesh forest department is readying a blueprint to turn 10 popular temples into ecotourism hubs. All the eco-parks will be developed keeping Kotappakonda in Guntur as a model.

Kotappakonda features a colourful butterfly and deer park, a play area for children and recreation centre for tourists. The state government is planning a ropeway project at Kotappakonda.

“All our historical temple premises are potential places to be developed as international tourist hubs. Creation of basic infrastructure and development of parks can help in this cause,” said Principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) P Mallikharjuna Rao.

The other temples marked for the project by the forest department are Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Temple of Annavaram (East Godavari), Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple of Dwaraka Tirumala (West Godavari), Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple of Mangalagiri (Guntur), Sri Mallikharjuna Swamy temple of Srisailam (Kurnool), Sri Mahanandeeswara Swamy temple of Mahanandi (Kurnool), Boyakonda Gangamma temple (Anantapur), Sri Narasimha Swamy temple of Ahobilam (Nandyal), and Avadhuta Sri Kasinayana Jyothi Temple (Kurnool).

“Raasi Vanam, Nakshtra Vanam, Vinayaka Vanam, Panchavati, nature trail paths will be designed at the temple hills to attract tourists throughout the year,” said PCCF.