Beechupally is home to a famous shrine of god Hanuman (Anjaneya Swamy). The shrine is located on the banks of river Krishna approximately 30 kilometers downstream of Jurala Hydro Electric Project in Mahabubnagar district of Telangana.
The shrine development is boosted by the fact that national highway (NH7) passes through the village. A road bridge constructed here in 1950s helped in booming trade between Telangana and Rayalaseema regions and is considered one of the first and vital connections between south India and central/north India.The shrine consists of a Hanuman temple located 200 meters away from the river while there is a Shiva lingam near the river. During peak monsoon, the raging waters touch the Shiva lingam temple. Here a Lord Rama temple was constructed in 1992. The shrine also has several ghats for the purpose of pushkara snanam, which falls once in every 12 years. The Beechupally shrine is located near two islands on the Krishna River and the larger island is called Gurram Gadda village while the small island is called Nizam Konda. The temple is popular among devotees who believe that their wishes are fulfilled upon worshipping Anjaneya Swamy here at Beechupally. The temple is located 200 yards away from the road.
History of Temple
During Fifteenth centaury the Rajaguru of Sri Krishna Devaraya of Vijayanagar dynasty ‘Sri Vyasaraja’ happens to pass through this holy place. He along with his disciples camped at this place for some time and the Sri Guru felt the holiness of this place. He thought it would be suitable place to install a Sri Hanuman idol at this holy place.
Sri Vyasaraja wanted to transform his thought to practice and then made a beautiful idol of Sri Anjaneya. At the time he was leaving this place he thought about a question in his mind that who should be performing pooja to deity once he left that place. That night in his dream Lord Sri Anjaneya appeared and gave him the solution for this. The Deity of Lord Sri Anjaneya was installed by Sri Vyasaraja on an auspicious day. The next morning by the time he wakes up from sleep he saw a young tribal boy offering prayers to Lord Anjaneya installed by him. That young tribal boy name is ‘Beechupally’. Vyasaraja nominated that small young boy of Boya Tribe as archaka for this temple. From then onwards he became Archaka for that temple. Even today the people belonging to this tribe are nominated as archakas for this Anjaneyaswamy Temple. Lord here is called as ‘Beechupally Rayudu’.
Other Shrines near the Beechupally Temple
Hanuman Temple is about 200 meters away from the river and there is a Shiva Temple near the river. During the rainy season, the water flow becomes high enough to touch the Shivalingam in this temple. A Temple for Lord Rama was also built in this area in 1992. For the convenience of devotees, several ghats were built for Pushkara snanam, a sacred bath that takes place every 12 years. Since then its development continued to expand. In 2004 Pushkaras, the shrine was developed with greater facilities making it one of the major places for Pushkara snanam.
Why the place is named Beechupally
Lord Anjaneya had ordained Sri Vyasaraja that the first person who offers prayer next day of installation should to nominated as archaka of the deity here. As instructed by Lord Anjaneya, Sri Vyasaraja nominated the young boy named ‘Beechupally’ belonging to ‘Boya’ tribe as Archaka of the Lord Anjaneya from then on. From then onwards he became the Archaka and till today persons belonging to Boya Tribe are the archakas of the temple. The village itself was named ’Beechupally’ after the first Boya tribe Archaka, and the Lord as 'Beechupally rayudu'.
Temple for Beechupally rayudu
A small shrine was built about two hundred years ago by Gadwal kings. A Siva temple was also built in the premises, during the same period.
Since the course of the River had changed over years the shrines of both Lord Anjaneya and Lord Siva were only two hundred meters away from the bank of the River. During the monsoon the River use to swell and some years enter the Lord Siva temple. In the recent past the both the temples were renovated and the river banks were strengthened with good ghats.
A temple for Lord Rama was also built in the area in 1992.
The Beechupally shrine is near two islands on the Krishna River. A larger island Gurram Gadda village, smaller island on the east side is called Nizam Konda which is a port belongs to Nizam Nawabs.
It is located at a distance of nearly 150 km from Hyderabad and accessible through national highway 7 from Hyderabad to Bangalore. The temple is located adjacent to the national highway.
Haritha Hotel, Gadwal is the nearby destination for quality food. There are many dhabas and restaurants dotting the national highway.
Temple’s Full Address: Anjaneya Swamy Temple, Beechupally, Itikyal Mandal, Mahabubnagar District, Telangana.
How to reach Anjaneya Swamy Temple in Beechupally
By Bus: Government buses and private travel buses from all places in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are available to reach this Anjaneyaswamy Temple in Beechupally. Nearby Bus Stations to Beechupally is Itikyala.
By Railways: The nearest Railway station to this temple is Itikyala Railway Station 14 km away. From here auto-rickshaws are available to the Temple.
By Flight: The nearest airport to the Temple is Hyderabad, which is 165 km away. From here Government buses, private travel buses and private taxis are available to reach the Temple in Beechupally.
Beechupally Anjaneya Swamy Temple Timings :
7:00 am to 8:30 pm
