Sri Veeranjaneya Temple an 500 years old temple of Lord Hanuman is located at Gattupalli village near Hyderabad. The idol of Lord Hanuman is believed to be a Swayambhu (self-manifested).
The temple is named after Veeranjaneya, an epithet of Hanuman, who is revered as a powerful deity associated with strength, courage, and devotion. The “Veera” (meaning brave) aspect emphasizes Hanuman’s valor, particularly in the epic Ramayana.
In this temple, Lord Anjaneya appears in vermillion color, adorned with a silver crown and holding a conch, discus, and mace. Within the same premises, there are also temples dedicated to Sita Rama and Vishweshwara (Lord Shiva). Since Hanuman and Shiva are worshipped in the same place, special rituals are performed throughout the year.
Hundreds of years ago, a few people came to this forested area for some work and saw a stone in the form of Lord Hanuman. They decided to take it to their village and loaded it onto a cart. However, when they reached the spot where the temple now stands, the cart wouldn’t move forward. Even after tying ropes to elephants and trying to pull it, the cart wouldn’t budge.
Hearing about this, Akkanna and Madonna, ministers at the time, came to the site and attempted to move the idol with the help of their staff, but they couldn’t. Eventually, they left it there. Later, Lord Hanuman appeared in their dreams and said, “I wish to stay in this place and fulfill the wishes of devotees.” Following this, everyone came together, built the temple, and installed the idol.
It is also said that the Nawabs of that time contributed to the development of the temple.
During significant occasions like Shivaratri, a fair is held, and on Hanuman Jayanti, the Laksha Nagavalli Puja is performed. The Kalyanotsavam during Sri Rama Navami is a spectacle that one cannot see enough of with just two eyes. Devotees visiting the temple first take a bath in the well nearby, and it is a tradition to walk around the temple in wet clothes and break coconuts as an offering.
