Sad state of Siva Temple in Gummidipundi

Sanctum Sanctorum of Sree Baleeswarar

The 600 years old temple of Sree Baleeswarar in new Gummidipundi should have been a very great and grand temple in the days past, with its beautiful gopuram, vimaanam and the adjoining lotus pond. But today as you pass the area it is barely noticeable. Years of neglect and vandalism has eroded the temple and left its imprint on the face of this temple. Today a few people living in the vicinity who identify themselves as traditional custodians are doing their best to revive and restore this temple to whatever extent possible.

The Moolavar is Sree Baleeswarar facing east and Ambal is Sree Parvatiambal. The temple gopuram, or whatever is left of it, faces south. One should be careful while entering as the

The dilapidated Rajagopuram of Sree Baleeswarar Temple

entire temple prakarams are overgrown with weeds and covered with broken stones. The temple mantapam has niches where several puranic depictions are visible. the gopuram however is almost totally gone. Luckily the vimaanam of the sanctum sanctorum is in reasonable condition though lots of planys have cropped up on it.

How to reach
Take a left just before the Gummidipundi railway station on the Kolkata highway, immediately after the Zion Church and drive for about a couple of kilometers to reach the temple. The location is called new gummidipundi and the temple is located in 13.403762,80.123119. the house of the local gentleman who is trying his best to do something is adjoining the temple and they will be happy to open the temple for you.

After visiting this temple drive down another few kilometers to see the sad state of another great temple of the bygone era – the Chandrasekaraswamy Temple.

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