Secunderabad Ganesh Temple from British Colonial Period

Sri Ganesh Temple is a highly revered shrine situated near the Secunderabad Junction Railway Station. The temple enshrines Lord Ganesh as the presiding deity. It is the only Ganesh temple in India where Lord Ganapathi is with his right hand on one leg and the other hand over the goad used to train elephants.

According to the legend in 1824, the sepoys of the Madras Regiment found the idol while digging a well and consecrated the idol and installed it in the temple. Since then, the number of devotees has been increasing with each passing year and today on an average 15,000 devotees visit the temple daily.

The architectural style reflecting the Kakatiya dynasty is a testimony to the Telangana culture. The construction of Maha Mandapam, Salaharam, the carving of Sri Shodasa Ganapathi and Mahadwara are reflections of a bygone era.

In 1960, the temple underwent extension and came under the Department of Endowments. Today there is a staff of 70 working in the temple. Just a stone’s throw away from the Secunderabad Railway Station, the temple is very popular not just among locals but people who visit the city.

The Rathothsavam (wooden chariot) is another noteworthy element at the temple. During the Ganesh procession, it is fully decked up and three idols of the temple take centre-stage. The idols are brought back to the temple from Tank Bund after the Ganesh immersion.

The temple was constructed under the supervision of Kanchi Sankaracharya and is today a landmark in Secunderabad.

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