Two major projects were inaugurated in Telangana under PRASHAD Scheme by the Ministry of Tourism.
Bhadrachalam Temples
On 28 December 2022, the President of India Shrimati Draupadi Murmu, laid the foundation stone for the project ‘Development of pilgrimage facilities at Bhadrachalam group of temples’ at Sri Seetha Ramachandra Swamivari Devasthanam, Bhadrachalam, and Bhadradri Kothagudem district of the state of Telangana.
During the gathering, the President highlighted that the famous temples of Telangana are visited by lacs of pilgrims and form a major component of domestic and foreign tourism. The Sri Seetha Ramachandra Swamivari Devasthanam Temple is said to be more than 350 years old and is very closely associated with the epic of Ramayana. It is believed that Lord Ram with his wife Goddess Sita and brother Lakshman spent some part of the 14 years of exile at a village called Paranasal, which is part of Dandakaranya forest near Bhadrachalam Temple.
Approved at an estimated cost of Rs. 41.38 crores by the Ministry of Tourism, this project will facilitate several amenities at the pilgrimage sites such as Parking Area Development, Kalyana Mandapam, Street-scaping, Souvenir shops, Rain, and Shades Shelters and railings, E–Buggies facilities for senior citizens and Divyangjans, and overall civil infrastructure improvement. Basic amenities like Drinking water and toilet facility, Food court, Solar-based lighting, CCTV surveillance, and Digital intervention are a few other components sanctioned for the project.
The Governor of Telangana Dr. Tamilisai Soundarajan, Shri G Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of tourism, culture & DoNER, Shri Puvvada Ajay Kumar, Minister of Transport, Telangana and Shrimati Malout Kavita, Member of Parliament, Mahabubabad graced the event by their presence.
World-class pilgrimage site- Ramappa Temple
President subsequently traveled and inaugurated another project called, the ‘Development of pilgrimage and heritage infrastructure of UNESCO World Heritage site at Rudreshwar (Ramappa) Temple’ at Mulugu in the state.
Ramappa Temple was built in 1213 AD by Kakatiya rulers and has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and attracts over 10 lakh visitors every year with notably high visibility among the tourist circuit. The investment made by the Ministry of Tourism headed by Shri G Kishan Reddy is the estimated amount of Rs. 62 crores and aims to make the Rammapa Temple, a world-class pilgrimage and tourist destination.
Both of these projects have been approved under the PRASHAD (National Mission on Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. The scheme was launched in 2014-15 and it aims to provide integrated infrastructure development to pilgrimage and heritage tourism destinations in the country.
Sammakka Saralamma Janjati Pujari Sammelan at Bhadrachalam was organized by Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad, Telangana. Smt Murmu appreciated the efforts of everyone involved and noted that tribal people, especially from the Koya community gathered to offer prayers, to which she expressed, “With these activities, our traditions will continuously grow from generation to generation. It is imperative to keep our cultural traditions and customs alive.”
Later on, the President virtually inaugurated Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) in the Komaram Bheem Asifabad and Mahabubabad districts of Telangana. The schools would be in every block with more than 50% tribal population of Scheduled Tribes and at least 20,000 tribal persons. These schools aim to provide quality upper primary and secondary and senior secondary level education to schedule tribe students in remote areas.
As the President said during the event, tourism increases the livelihood opportunities and income of the people also strengthening the local economy. These two projects under the PRASHAD scheme are definitely going to boost spiritual and cultural tourism.
