A day in heritage city of Warangal
PSNews - Located in the southern Indian state of Telangana, Warangal is known as a city with rich treasure of culture, heritage and history. This place also attracts tourists with its special architecture influenced by the Islamic style and the heritages originating from the 12th century featuring the rise and fall of powerful dynasties on the Deccan plateau.
We came to Warangal after traveling 150km from Hyderabad city. Here, Mr. Kusuma Suryakiran, an officer of the Telangana Tourism Department took us to visit famous tourist destinations.
Our first destination was Ramappa temple. With its special architecture, Ramappa has been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a World Heritage Site in 2021. Located in a valley of Palampet village of the Venkatapur Mandal, in Mulug Taluq of Warangal, Telangana, Ramappa temple, which dates back to 1213, was built by General RecharlaRudra, Chief Commander of Kakatiya ruler Ganapati Deva.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Marco Polo, during his visit to the Kakatiya Empire, referred it as "the brightest star in the galaxy of temples".
Mr. Kusuma Suryakiran intruduced us that the entire temple is built of many different types of stone but the main structure is red sandstone. The temple is an elaborate structure with walls adorned with intricately motifs and narratives from Hindu mythology. According to historical records, it took 40 years to complete this temple.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The roof of Ramappa temple is built with light bricks so that they can easily float on water. The hall in front of the sanctum has exquisitely carved pillars, creating a special effect that combines between light and space.
The nearby Ramappa Lake adds to the charm of the temple. As informed by Kusuma Suryakiran, authorities of Telangana has a plan to develop Ramappa into a spiritual tourism center.
Next, we also visited the Thousand Pillars Temple and Warangal Fort. Located at the foot of Hanamkonda hill, the Thousand Pillar Temple is considered one of the most important parts of the second largest city in Telangana state.
The temple was built in 1163 by the great King Rudra Deva with Chalukya architectural concept. Renowned for its unique star-shaped architecture, the temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Surya. It is adorned with countless pillars, each featuring exquisite sculptures depicting various mythological figures and scenes.
Telling us more about the lives of the people of Warangal, Mr. Kusuma Suryakiran said that they rely on agricultural production and tourism development. They are also very conscious of preserving cultural identity. They still wear traditional clothes like saree or lungi.
We also visited Warangal fort. Built in the 13th century by King Ganpatideva of the Kakatiya dynasty, today the fort is in ruins but high walls made of mud or granite can still be seen.
The Warangal Fort stands as a fine example of the grandeur of the architectural styles of southern India. Each year, thousands of tourists visit Warangal fort.
