A magnificent 12th-century black granite Ganesha sculpture has been found at Lingala, a mandal headquarters in Nagarkurnool district. The idol, belonging to the Kanduru Chola period, is currently sandwiched between the roots of the tree. Dr. E. Sivanagireddy, archaeologist and CEO of the Pleach India Foundation, discovered the site following information shared by Mahesh, a former MPTC member. Upon inspection, Dr. Reddy found the remains of a ruined Trikuta (triple shrine) temple located about one kilometre from Lingala village. Amid the ruins, he identified the Ganesha idol partly trapped within the growing roots of the tree.

A broken stone inscription dated April 30, 1167 CE, was also found at the site. The inscription, issued by Tondaya, son of Gokarna-II of the Kanduru Chola lineage, records the construction of a Trikuta temple dedicated to Vishnu, Siva, and Surya, along with a land donation of Lingala village to a temple at Somasila on the banks of the Krishna River.

Based on the inscription and stylistic features, Dr. Reddy confirmed the Ganesha idol’s origin in the 12th century CE. Emphasising its historical and cultural significance, he appealed to authorities and the public to protect the idol and preserve it for future generations.

Nearby, a broken image of Goddess Bhadrakali was also found, further highlighting the archaeological importance of the neglected site.