Thousand Pillar Pahara
Thousand Pillar Temple Watchman
Setting: Thousand Pillar Temple, Hanamkonda (Warangal).
In English: Thousand Pillar Temple Watchman. A Lighted Tales original Telugu horror story, written in Romanized Telugu (Tenglish) with Telangana dialect.
Thousand Pillar Temple Watchman
2024 July 20 raathri — Hanamkonda lo Bhadrakali Lake fill ayinappudu — aa monsoon Telangana lo heaviest in three years ani news papers cheppaayi. Aa night Warangal-Hanamkonda twin city lo continuous downpour 7 hours, drainage overload, low-lying lanes lo knee-deep water. Naaku aa raathri matter chesindhi yenduku ante — aa same week, naa friend Vamshi Krishna, Warangal lo journalism student, naaku oka long voice note pampaadu WhatsApp lo. Voice note 18 minutes. Aame oka temple watchman tho interview chesaaru aa morning, atanu reassignment paper sign chesina day. Aa watchman 23 years pani chesaaru, atanu aa retirement-eve confession Vamshi Krishna ki ichaaru, condition tho — "Babu, naa peru change cheyandi mee story lo. Naa family ki idi tension."
Naaku aa voice note transcribe chesi, atanu peru change chesi (records lo Sambi Reddy ani undhi, ee story lo Sambasiva ani), local references slightly modified, plot core preserve chesi ee story raasanu.
Sambasiva Hanamkonda lo ASI Thousand Pillar Temple lo night watchman ga 2001 nunchi pani. Aame ki ippudu 56 age. Government employee, ASI Hyderabad circle muskil structure protection cell payroll. Aame intiki Hanamkonda lo Madikonda main road off, oka small two-room house. Wife Saroja, two daughters — pedda one married ga Hyderabad lo, chinna one Kakatiya University lo M.Sc final year.
Aame duty 8 PM to 6 AM. Solo posting most nights. Saturday, Sunday partial backup ga oka junior watchman, age 28, Aame peru Naga Raj. Weekdays Sambasiva alone.
Temple structure — 1163 CE Kakatiya construction, Rudradeva commissioned ga ASI signage lo. Star-shaped trikuta, three shrines — Vishnu, Surya, Shiva — central pillared mandapam. Aame ASI count prakaaram 1000 pillars (approximate, not exact), kaani local naming "Thousand Pillar Temple" stuck.
Sambasiva ki raathri rounds rule: prathi 90 minutes ki oka full circuit. Mandapam, three shrines, perimeter compound wall, gate. Approximate duration 25 minutes per round. Total 6-7 rounds per shift.
Aame oka habit — pillars count. Boredom kosam start chesaaru 2003 lo emo. Pillar count consistent ga 1018, ASI signage approximate kabatti. Aame ki memorize aindhi position ki count — central mandapam 924 pillars, attached pavilions 94 pillars, total 1018.
Standard nights — 1018.
Aame ki first anomaly notice 2008 monsoon lo. July, heavy rain, aame round chesthunnappudu count off ayindhi — 1019. Aame surprise. Recount, slow ga, careful ga. Same — 1019. Aame oka extra pillar ento undi.
Aa pillar — central mandapam south-east corner ki, oka pillar regular position lo niluchuni undhi, kaani aame mind lo ee position previously empty ga gurthu. Pillar style different — granite kaadu, oka slight darker basalt look, surface lo carvings minimal. Aame stood there for 5 minutes, count three times. 1019 confirmed.
Naaku aame voice note lo cheppaaru — "Babu, naaku aa raathri body lo cold sweat back ki. Naa neck hair tight ayyindi. Naaku rules clear, anomaly observe ayithe ASI ki morning report cheyyaali. Kaani naaku doubt, naaku miscounted emo, naaku tired, naaku 6 hours night shift consistent."
Aame second round 90 minutes tarwatha — count 1018. Normal. Aa extra pillar absent. Position lo empty space.
Aame morning ASI duty officer ki report cheyyaledu. Aame logic — "Sir, naaku night lo miscounted, embarrassment kavali."
Aa pattern continue aindhi 2008 nunchi 2024 waraku.
Sambasiva ki gradually figure aithe — anomaly only on rainy nights. Heavy ga rain padithe, oka specific 90-minute window lo, count 1019 ga. Aa extra pillar same position — south-east corner. Light rain ki anomaly variable. No rain nights lo always 1018.
Aame ki gradually internalize aindhi — aa extra pillar oka entity emo, oka guest ga, monsoon nights ki visit. Aame fear thaggindhi aame ki, chinna respect ga peruga. Aame practice — aa rainy nights round chesthunnappudu, aa specific south-east pillar dheggara, aame namaskaram chesi nadachi velthaaru. Aame mantra knowledge ledhu, kaani Telugu lo whisper — "Mee koraku ee mandapam open ga. Naaku duty matrame. Mee daari mee ki."
Aame ki aa pillar nunchi response ledhu visible ga. Kaani aame raathri shift complete ki, intiki return time, body relaxed ga.
Sambasiva ki ee anomaly gurinchi cheppaaru evvariki — atanu wife Saroja ki kuda — 23 years lo. Aame logic — "Naa ASI report cheste, naaku investigation, mental health check, possible suspension. Naa salary family essential. Aa pillar evvariki harm ledhu, naaku harm ledhu. Naaku silent ga keep cheyyadam better."
→ Idey theme lo inka oka katha: Warangal Fort Arch 4
Aame oka private record maintain chesaaru — chinna spiral notebook, prathi rainy night observation. 2008 to 2024 aame entries — 387 nights with anomaly. Average per year 22 nights, monsoon-heavy years (2010, 2016, 2020, 2022) ekkuva ga.
2024 July 20 night — aa heavy monsoon. Sambasiva 8 PM duty ki vacchaaru. Naga Raj Sunday off, Saturday backup. Sambasiva alone.
Rain start 7 PM nunchi continuous, intensifying ga. 11 PM ki Bhadrakali Lake bund overflow news radio lo. Sambasiva ki gate open. Local police constable visit chesaaru 11:30 PM ki, advisory — "Sir, mee duty continue, kaani lake overflow risk ga. Mee phone reachable ga undandi." Aame nodded.
12:15 AM ki round time. Sambasiva torch teesi mandapam vaipu. Heavy rain noise. Visibility low. Aame routine — pillar count.
Standard count 1018. Aame slow ga, methodical. Aa raathri count continue chesaaru.
1019. Standard anomaly. Aame namaskaram, whisper, continue.
Kaani aa raathri count further. 1020.
Aame stopped. Re-checked. 1020 confirmed. Two extra pillars, both south-east corner area. Same darker basalt look.
Aame ki body fully tense ga. 23 years lo first saari count 1019 cross. Aame third count — 1021. Three extra. Aame ki disbelief.
Aame stood still. Torch beam aa three pillars vaipu pointed. Pillars solid ga, surface real ga, water reflection visible. Kaani naa scientific mind — physical kaadu emo, yenduki aa specific position lo regular position lo blend.
Aame ki aa moment lo oka observation — pillars lo nunchi figures emerge aithunaru. Slow ga, granite peeled la. Three figures, full body, traditional Kakatiya-era dress (dhoti, angavastram, aame ki recall ASI museum displays nunchi). Faces visible ga, age different — oka 30s emo, oka 50s, oka old 70+. Aame three silent ga, mandapam lo nunchi center vaipu chusthunnaaru, aame face Sambasiva vaipu kaadu, mandapam interior vaipu.
Sambasiva torch hand low chesaaru. Aame body involuntarily floor ki sit ayyindhi, mandapam edge stone bench midha back rested. Aame pulse ekkuva ga.
[OLD FIGURE] "Watchman, mee 23 years memu chusthaamu mee duty. Mee ki memu invisible ga, kaani memu chusthaamu. Mee oka sincere manishi."
Aame voice old, deep, Telugu lo, kaani archaic accent — words like vaadudu, chusedi — Coastal-blend register, kaani aa archaic kadhu.
Sambasiva: Aame voice ki body shaking. Aame whisper — "Sir, naaku duty matrame. Naaku mee ki disturb cheyyadam ledhu."
[OLD FIGURE] "Watchman, memu mee ki oka request. Memu Kakatiya-era stone craftsmen. Memu ee mandapam construct chesaamu, 1163 CE samayam. Memu aa work lo poyaamu, accident, fall, illness. Memu spirits aa pillars lo anchor aame, ASI restoration ki shift kaalemu. Memu monsoon nights lo manifest, memu work review chesthaamu, aa pillars structural ga ento, repairs needed ento, memu silent ga assess. Memu aa duty memu ki self-assigned, no one assigned."
[OLD FIGURE] "Watchman, ee raathri Bhadrakali Lake overflow. Aa overflow water mandapam foundation ki seep. Memu aa risk identify chesaamu, south-east corner lo oka substructure crack. ASI ki teliyali. Mee ki request, mee morning report lo ee specific information include cheyyali. South-east corner foundation crack, lake overflow proximity. ASI engineering team verify chesthe, repair urgent ga."
Sambasiva ki disbelief. Aame ki real ga, kaani aame brain skeptical.
Sambasiva: "Sir, naaku ASI ki cheppaali ento? Naa source ento? Naa report lo memu mention chesthe, naa job risk."
[OLD FIGURE] "Watchman, mee 23 years lo memu nunchi mee silent ga information collect chesaaru. Aa pillar count, 1018, 1019, mee ki ee data daily. Mee silent ga keep chesaaru. Memu mee ki gratitude. Kaani ee raathri mee silence harm. Lake overflow real risk ga, mandapam structure damage possible. Mee report lo aame information cheppadu, ASI ki cheppadu, night patrol observation, south-east foundation, water seepage. Mee source ki naa ki teliyadhu ani naame add cheyyandi. ASI engineering investigation chesthe, crack identify aithe, repair priority. Aame ki time matter."
Aame three figures slow ga back ki, pillars vaipu, granite re-merge ayyaru. Sambasiva torch beam aa direction, kaani figures absent. Pillars 1018 ki return.
→ Pakkana ee story kuda chadavandi: Kakatiya Tank Godha
Aame ki body fully cold sweat. Aame stood, rounds incomplete left, torch shine, gate vaipu walk. Aame ki phone teesi atanu duty officer ki text — "Sir, urgent, mandapam south-east corner observation, lake overflow seepage risk. Morning report ki separate priority."
Officer reply morning 6 AM ki — "Acknowledged, ASI engineer team Monday morning visit."
Monday July 22 ASI engineering team Hanamkonda visit chesindhi. Sambasiva morning duty handover lo Naga Raj ki context cheppaledu. Aame engineer team ki accompany chesaaru south-east corner inspection ki. Engineers stone test, ground penetrating radar, oka thodu equipment use chesaaru.
Engineer report afternoon — south-east corner mandapam foundation lo subsurface crack identified, 4-meter deep, lake overflow proximity 12 meters. Crack age estimate 15-20 years, recent monsoon worsening. Repair priority high — emergency stabilization 7 days, full restoration 6 months.
ASI Hyderabad circle ki immediate notification. Aame July 28 ki emergency stabilization initiated. Mandapam tourist access partially restricted September 2024 waraku.
Sambasiva report ki recognition certificate — "Vigilant night patrol observation contributed to early detection of foundation damage." Aame oka small monetary award — Rs 5000.
Vamshi Krishna ki Sambasiva interview December 2024 ki — aame retirement age (58) reaching, ASI re-assignment offer Hyderabad circle administrative clerk ga. Sambasiva accept chesaaru. Hanamkonda house lo continue, kaani daily commute Hyderabad short stays ga. Naga Raj promoted to senior watchman ga, aame solo night shifts.
Aame interview lo, retirement eve, full story Vamshi Krishna ki disclose. Aame ki conscience lo aa secret 16 years carry chesaaru, aa final unprompted manifestation ki source nijam ga reveal cheyyaledu, aame report lo aa attribution skip chesaaru.
[SAMBASIVA - VAMSHI KRISHNA INTERVIEW] "Babu, naaku aa raathri tarwatha guilt ga. Naa report lo aa figures source aame mention cheyyaledu. Naa rationale ASI ki engineering action ki priority, source attribution skip chesaaru. Kaani naaku aa figures ki promise chesaledu attribution ki, kaani aame ki memu silent ga information gathering, memu duty ki sincere ga, naa duty ki kuda sincere ga undali. ASI ki nijam cheppaalsina, kaani naa job risk anchor ki naaku silent ga keep chesaaru. Ippudu retirement, mee ki publicly cheppaali."
Real-world context: Wikipedia — Kakatiya dynasty
Aame request — peru change, family protection. Vamshi Krishna ki agreed.
ASI Thousand Pillar Temple foundation repair full restoration 2025 March ki complete plan. Mandapam re-opened. Naga Raj duty continue. Aame ki Sambasiva pillar-count habit teach kaaledhu, aame own routine.
Sambasiva Hyderabad clerk role lo settled. Aame ki ee story off record, kaani Vamshi Krishna ki recorded.
Naaku Vamshi Krishna nunchi voice note vacchindhi 2024 December lo. Naaku ee story raasaanu, aame permission tho.
Naaku reflection — aame 16 years aa anomaly silent ga keep chesaaru. Aame logic safety, family salary. Kaani aa silence aame conscience ki burden. ASI ki direct nijam — figures source — admit chesaaru aithe, possible job risk, mental health investigation. Aame compromise — partial nijam, attribution skip. Aa partial nijam structural repair triggered, lives protected (mandapam tourist visitors), but full disclosure delayed retirement waraku. Nijam carry chesaaru aame ki, slow release. Vamshi Krishna interview oka closing.
ASI Hyderabad circle lo Sambasiva file lo aa specific entity-source attribution ledhu, kaani Vamshi Krishna article, ee blog post — modern oral record.
Naga Raj ki retired Sambasiva oka brief handover ichaaru — "Babu, monsoon nights lo, mandapam south-east corner dheggara, prathi 90 minutes ki round time, oka silent acknowledgment cheyyandi. Mee ki em kanipinche details kaadu, kaani kanipiste, naaku call cheyyandi. Naa number aaa, asalu emergency aithe."
Naga Raj nodded, accepted.
Author's note
2024 July monsoon Telangana lo heaviest in 3 years ani news cheppaayi — naaku Hyderabad lo aame raathri Madhapur lo flooding chusaa, ORR partially water-logged. Hanamkonda Bhadrakali Lake bund overflow aame regional news. Vamshi Krishna naa Karimnagar college samayam friend, aame ippudu Warangal lo Kakatiya University journalism M.Phil. Aame reporting style methodical ga, oral history specialise ga. Aame voice note ee story ki seed ichindhi, aame permission tho raasaanu. Sambasiva real ga oka watchman aame Hanamkonda lo, kaani peru, family details, plot specifics dramatized. ASI Thousand Pillar Temple Hanamkonda lo standard heritage spot — naaku 2019 lo college trip lo visit, 2024 December lo malli Sanjana tho. Aa structural repair 2024 lo public news lo, kaani source attribution local oral lo. Mee local heritage sites lo, mee ki watchmen, priests, sweepers tho casual chats lo, ento odd story emerge aithe? Comments lo cheppandi.
— Sai Kiran · Lighted Tales
© 2026 Sai Kiran Pandrala / Lighted Tales · https://teluguhorrorstories.blogspot.com
Original Telugu horror fiction. Folk-source material where referenced is public domain.
Modern characters, apartments, companies, and phone numbers are fictional.
Any resemblance to real persons, businesses, or events is coincidental.
Audio version: youtube.com/@Lightedtales
Comments
Post a Comment