A 12th century AD inscription pillar surrounded by houses at Timmapuram village in Yadlapadu mandal of Guntur district is crying for protection.
Archaeologist and CEO of The Cultural Centre of Vijayawada and Amaravati E. Sivanagi Reddy visited the inscription dated 1161 AD issued by Saranaya, brother of Kamidevi, wife of Kulothunga Choda Gonkaraju of the Velanati Chiefdom, who ruled from Chandolu near Bapatla.
Inaccessible for researchers
Earlier, there were references to Gonkeswara Linga at Timmapuram known then as Jevaram. But now an oil mill exists in the same place.
Mr. Reddy, who felt worried over the sad state of its preservation, said that the site was losing its existence because it was blocked by houses on all sides sans any access for research scholars.
“The five-foot high original inscription pillar is seen only up to two feet above ground level and half of the inscription is illegible as it sunk into the ground and covered with thick growth of bushes and creepers,” said Mr. Reddy.
He appealed to the officials of the Department of Archaeology and Museums to safeguard the historically significant inscription by shifting it to a local temple and erect it on a pedestal.