Ongoing restoration work at a 12th-century Kalyani Chalukya Trikuta temple in Telangana's Nizamabad district has led to the discovery of an advanced hydraulic system. Engineers uncovered copper-inlaid ritual siphons buried beneath the stone flooring of the mandapa. These siphons were used to manage the flow of ritual water and milk during large-scale ablution ceremonies, directing the liquids into a sacred limestone reservoir located outside the temple complex.
The restoration project, funded by a combination of state grants and private heritage foundations, aims to stabilize the three-shrine structure which features exquisite carvings of celestial dancers and warriors. The discovery of the copper piping provides new evidence of the high level of civil engineering achieved during the Western Chalukyan era. Plans are now being made to restore the hydraulic system to operational status for seasonal festivals.