1000 Pillar Temple Hanamkonda, Warangal - Travelure \u00a9<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n

LISTEN<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n1000 Pillar Temple Hanamkonda, Warangal<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIn my last post on Warangal Fort<\/a>, I described Warangal as a one-horse town that forms a part of the Tri-City comprising Warangal, Hanamkonda, and Kazipet. In this tiny town, locating a 1000 Pillar Temple was difficult. Reason? It is a low-rise temple surrounded by a large vacant space, and it is in a labyrinthine maze of narrow alleys that is typical of any small town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/a>
The 3-shrine 1000 Pillar Temple facade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Inside the temple complex<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1000 Pillar Temple, also called Rudreshwara Temple, is in Hanamkonda. The Kakatiya Dynasty built it in the 12th century CE. The first glimpse at its facade revealed it was a three-shrine temple. These shrines are atop a 6-foot-high star-shaped platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"ASI$ <\/a>
ASI is restoring this mandapam (pavilion)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The pillars form the wall of the shrine. These tight-knit pillars are so deceptive you can\u2019t make out the facade has 600 of them! Another structure in the complex is the Mandapam<\/em> (pavilion). Mandapam<\/em> alone accounts for ~400 pillars. ASI has dismantled it for restoration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
$\"Nandi$ <\/a>
Nandi bull – Lord Shiva’s bodyguard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"You$ <\/a>
You can see the under-restoration mandapam behind Nandi bull<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Main Shrine and <\/strong>Natya Mandapam<\/em><\/strong> (Dance Hall)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The principal deity in the main shrine is Lord Shiva. Since the Kakatiyas were Shiva devotees, this shrine faces east for the first rays of the sun to fall on the massive shivalinga<\/em>. The other two shrines, devoted to Vishnu and Surya<\/em> (Sun), face south and west. On the fourth side is Nandi bull, Lord Shiva\u2019s bodyguard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Shivalinga$ <\/a>
Shivalinga inside the main shrine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
In between these shrines is the Natya Mandapam<\/em>. Here, dancers performed for the deities. They made its pillars from multiple blocks of stone. The intricate carvings on these use jewellery designs of the era comprising chains, bangles, rings, crowns, kalash<\/em> (pot), flowers, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"Natya$ <\/a>
Natya Mandapam, with the 3-shrines, one each on the left, centre, and right<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Local sandstone, black granite, and dolerite are used to build this temple. Like most Kakatiya Temple Architecture, carved pillars and beams support its structure. It features another Kakatiya structural trade mark<\/a>, a sand pack foundation. When ASI pulled down the mandapam<\/em> (pavilion) for restoration, they found a 30-foot sand pack that formed the foundation of the structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
$\"The$ <\/a>
The intricately-carved Natya Mandapam pillar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Start planning a visit to this town as it has yet another gem I\u2019ll share in the next post. And be ready to be surprised when you visit the temple, for it seems too small to have a thousand pillars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pin these pillars!<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n
$\"\u2026it$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"\u2026it$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"\u2026it$ <\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
$\"\u2026it$ <\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2026it is in a labyrinthine maze of narrow alleys that is typical of any small town – 1000 Pillar Temple Hanamkonda, Warangal – Travelure \u00a9<\/p>\n
<\/div>
<\/div>
<\/div>