Church that needs to be cherished

The solid white granite Medak Church, standing tall at 173 feet, may be part of the ‘Incredible India ‘ campaign, but it is in a state of utter neglect, says Sapna Kaushik

As a visitor exits out of the city from Hyderabad airport, a large photograph beckons him. It is a picture of the Medak Church that is put up as part of the ‘Incredible India’ campaign.

In a sense, it reflects how the church is being promoted or not being marketed by tourism officials. “Shouldn’t it be in the arrival lounge rather than being in the exit lounge?” asks a visitor. 

Not surprising then that there are hardly any visitors to the church. On an average, only 25-odd visitors come to the church a day for a dekko. But on Sunday, this could swell to 2,000, with two sermons being conducted in the church. Most visitors are from nearby Zaheerabad, Bidar, Nizamabad, Nalgonda, Warangal and Mahbubnagar district. 

The church is a mere two-hour drive off National Highway 7 from Hyderabad. Though it is part of the Incredible India campaign launched last year, very little has been done to maintain the church that owes its name to ‘methukulu’ (meaning rice in Telugu), which is why the place is also called Medak. 

(ఇంకా…)