CM Revanth Reddy inspects Kodangal temple rebuild
Synopsis
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy visited the Sri Mahalakshmi Venkateshwara Swamy Devasthanam in Kodangal on 22 October 2026, reviewing reconstruction works at the temple popularly known as the 'Pedala Tirupati' and issuing on-site directives to officials overseeing the project.
Key Takeaways
Revanth Reddy personally inspected the reconstruction of the Sri Mahalakshmi Venkateshwara Swamy Devasthanam in Kodangal, Vikarabad district on 22 October 2026 .
The temple is colloquially known as Pedala Tirupati — 'the Tirupati of the poor' — serving economically weaker devotees in northern Telangana.
Revanth Reddy offered prayers at the Balalayam (temporary sanctum) before surveying ongoing construction work.
He issued multiple instructions to officials to ensure the temple is rebuilt with 'utmost grandeur'.
Kodangal is the Chief Minister's own assembly constituency, adding political significance to the visit.
Tucked inside Vikarabad district's Kodangal — the constituency that sent Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to the Telangana assembly — a centuries-old shrine is being reborn. On Thursday, 22 October 2026, Revanth Reddy personally visited the Sri Mahalakshmi Venkateshwara Swamy Devasthanam to review ongoing reconstruction works, offering officials a series of on-site directives to shape the project's next phase.
The 'Pedala Tirupati' and what that name carries
The temple is popularly called Pedala Tirupati — 'the Tirupati of the poor' — a title that says everything about its place in the region's cultural life. Where the famous Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams draws millions who can afford the journey to Andhra Pradesh, Kodangal's shrine has long served as the accessible, neighbourhood equivalent for economically weaker devotees across northern Telangana. That identity makes its reconstruction more than a heritage project; it is a statement about who the state chooses to serve.
CM's inspection: a darshan, then a directive
Before reviewing construction progress, the Chief Minister first offered prayers to Sri Venkateshwara Swamy at the Balalayam — the temporary sanctum housing the deity during rebuilding works, a standard practice when the main shrine is under renovation. He then walked the site, assessed the scale of works aimed at giving the temple a 'grand and magnificent' form, and conveyed specific instructions to the officials overseeing the project. The CMO's post described the transformation as one that will restore the temple to full splendour — 'atyanata vaibhavangaa teerchadidde panulu' (works to fashion it with the utmost grandeur).
Telangana's temple-renovation track record
State governments across India have long treated major temple renovations as a dual exercise — preserving heritage structures while expanding pilgrim infrastructure. In Telangana, successive administrations have directed Endowments Department resources toward temple works in multiple districts. Revanth Reddy's visit follows that established pattern of executive oversight, but it carries added political weight: Kodangal is his own home constituency, and a visibly grand temple there carries symbolic resonance beyond mere religious administration.
Completion milestones and any expanded visitor facilities announced in the weeks ahead will determine how quickly the 'Pedala Tirupati' reclaims its role at full capacity for the faithful who depend on it most.
Point of View
Aligning with the Congress government's broader positioning on inclusive development. Telangana's Endowments Department has historically been an instrument of electoral signalling as much as heritage preservation, and this visit continues that dual tradition. The real test will be whether the rebuilt temple delivers meaningfully improved facilities for the poorer pilgrims who give the shrine its enduring name.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pedala Tirupati in Kodangal?
The Sri Mahalakshmi Venkateshwara Swamy Devasthanam in Kodangal, Vikarabad district is popularly called 'Pedala Tirupati' — meaning the Tirupati of the poor — because it has long served as an accessible alternative to the famous Tirumala shrine for economically weaker devotees in northern Telangana.
Why did CM Revanth Reddy visit the Kodangal temple?
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy visited on 22 October 2026 to inspect ongoing reconstruction works at the temple, offer prayers at the Balalayam, and issue directives to officials to ensure the project achieves its goal of rebuilding the shrine with full grandeur.
What is the Balalayam at a temple under renovation?
A Balalayam is a temporary sanctum set up to house the presiding deity while the main temple structure undergoes reconstruction or major renovation works, allowing worship to continue uninterrupted.
Which district is Kodangal in?
Kodangal is an assembly constituency and mandal in Vikarabad district , located in northern Telangana bordering Karnataka. It is also Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's home constituency.
Is the Telangana government funding temple renovations?
Yes. Successive Telangana administrations, including the current Congress government led by CM A. Revanth Reddy , have directed Endowments Department resources toward the renovation and reconstruction of significant temples across the state, continuing a longstanding practice of executive oversight on religious heritage infrastructure.
