Amaravati: Buddhist and Hindu religious structures in old Amaravati would be developed into religious tourist centre. The 125-feet-tall statue of Dhyana Buddha on the banks of Krishna river is attracting the public and now eight replicas of famous temples of AP are going to be built beside the Dhyana Buddha for Krishna Pushkaralu.
The devotees can perform rituals, including pujas in the eight famous temples of AP at the Kalachakra heritage centre during Pushkaralu at old Amaravati.
The endowments department officials said that Rs 48 lakh was spent on the construction of eight replicas and a Koneru (pond) was also constructed amidst the temples. The celestial deities would be kept in the replica temples and the priests would perform rituals similar to that in the original temples and devotees can perform all types of pujas in the temple complex.
The replica temples of Ainavilli Vighneswara, Simhcahalam Varahalakshminarsimha, Dwarakatirumala Venkateswara, Kalahasteswara, Aravasavilli Suryana-rayana, Ontimitta Seetaramaswamy, Jonnavada Kanchikamakshi and Nemali Venugopala Swamy are nearing completion and these temples would be open to the public from August 10 to 23.
Priest G. Venkateswara Sastry said that the area on the banks of the Krishna river in the ancient and heritage city Amaravati became a sacred place with the ancient Amaralingeswara temple, Dhyana Buddha statue and eight temples complex and it would surely become the main attraction for Krishna Pushkaralu.
Tahsidlar K. Nasaraiah said that the replicas of the eight temples are nearing completion and would be opened after performing pujas. He said that all basic amenities will be provided.
