Seven panchaloha idols recovered from temple well in Palnadu; ASI to examine antiquity

Seven metal idols suspected to be of significant antiquity have been recovered from a well inside the premises of the Sri Bhavannarayana Swamy temple at Inumella village in Epur mandal of Palnadu district, during preliminary works for the temple’s renovation.

Endowments Department Executive Officer and Mandal in-charge Ch. Sivanagi Reddy said the idols were identified as those of Lord Venugopala Swamy, Rukmini Devi, Satyabhama, Lord Venkateswara Swamy, Sridevi, Bhudevi and Godadevi. He said all seven were believed to be panchaloha (five-metal) idols. Each idol is between one foot and one-and-a-half feet tall, and resembles Utsava Vigrahalu (idols used during festivals).

The find came to light when workers began clearing the site as part of reconstruction plans on Tuesday (May 5, 2026) night. Officials noticed a well near the temple, and on removing the stones covering it, found the idols submerged inside.

The recovery was carried out in the presence of officials from the Endowments, Revenue and Police departments, who oversaw documentation and the security of the artefacts.

The police said the idols were suspected to be valuable and of historical importance. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is expected to conduct a detailed examination to ascertain their age, origin and cultural significance.

Epur Sub-Inspector K. Venugopal said ASI teams would visit the site soon for further investigation. The authorities have secured the area, and steps have been taken to preserve the idols until a detailed assessment is completed.