Somashila View Point and Boating

Somasila is a temple town that has recently been developed as an eco-tourism project is located in Kollapur Mandal Nagarkurnool district, Telangana State India. It is on the banks of the Krishna River and Somasila reservoir has an island-like appearance and attracts pilgrims round the year.

It is a perfect place for people who love greenery and water. There are water front cottages to stay at Somasila operated by Telangana Tourism.

The place is also a popular religious destination, thanks to 15 temples dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva. The most famous of them all is the Sri Lalitha Someswara Swamy Temple. The temple complex is where all these temples are located, and all of these 15 temples house a Shivalinga.

Someshwar Swamy Temple (a replica of ancient temple reconstructed as the original place was submerged in reservoir area) a highly revered shrine in Somasila.

There is one more thing that is very big here in Somasila. It’s the festival of Pushkara Snanam where devotees take a dip in the Krishna River, and is considered very auspicious. Here’s the interesting part – the festival is observed once in 12 years!

Backwaters backed up by Srisailam dam has a unique ecosystem with many species of aquatic life, water birds and animals. 

Boating facilities is available at Somasila in the backwaters of Srisailam Dam.

Tourists can view the scenery around from the open deck while travelling in the boat.

Somasila also has beautiful Haritha cottages, for booking of cottages and boating.

With beautiful surroundings and back waters Somasila is an ideal tourist spot to visit. Somasila is at a distance of 172 kms from Hyderabad.

In order to facilitate amenities for tourists, TSTDC is providing accommodation with good landscaping at the site. There is a restaurant with a 40 seating capacity.

Telangana Tourism department has launched Pontoon Boat services, on Krishna river, from Somasila of Kollapur mandal in Nagarkurnool District to Srisailam.

The boat has been named 'Somasila.' The boat will traverse 110 km in five hours, along the Krishna river.
Tourists can view the scenery around from the open deck while travelling in the boat.

The five-hour boat ride is expected to be a memorable one for nature lovers as the river courses its way through hills and valleys exposing tourists to exotic flora and fauna.

TSTDC to offer a road-river-road circuit which promises combination of a long drive, a pilgrimage, a glimpse of the forest and wildlife and a river cruise with lunch on board.

In weekends, the Tourism Corporation is offering Rs 2,800 per head package to tourists. The fee could include breakfast, lunch, dinner and accommodation. Those who want to travel by launch from Somasila are required to pay an additional Rs 600 per head.

The district offers vast scope for water sports development. It is endowed with waterfalls at Singotam and Yelluru. Other tourist attractions in the district include Sangameswara temple, Somasila temple, ancient temples at Jataprolu and Kadilivanam.

The package includes visit to Mallela Teertham waterfalls and Srisailam dam. Two Harita hotels have been set up – one at Jataprolu and the other at Somasila – at a cost of Rs 99 crore. Arrangements for special boating in Somasila are being made.

The bus takes you from Hyderabad on what holds enough promise to be a memorable journey. After crossing the Forest Department check-post at Mannanur, the first stop is at Farahabad, where a breath-taking viewpoint greets you after a few kilometres stretch of dense Nallamala forest. You whip your camera out and take all the pictures you wish, including ‘selfies’ and ‘vidfies’ with a smartphone.

An hour later it is onwards to ‘Mallela Teertham’, the waterfalls bang in the middle of the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve and then the sight imposing, larger-than-life Srisailam dam and the large water spread too, make visitors shoot more photographs.

After a pass-through that affords a glimpse of ‘Paaladhaara and Panchadaara’, two very thin trickles of waterfall from a height, it is time for a darshan of ‘Sakshi Ganapati’.

As one reaches Srisailam, it is time to check into rooms and quickly freshen up before heading out for a darshan of Lord Mallikarjunaswamy before dinner and getting ready for a night’s sleep. On day two, those interested can have a second darshan at the temple, before going down the ropeway to ‘Paatala Ganga’ to board a boat. The five-hour cruise over the waters of the River Krishna has a visit to Akka Maa Devi temple en route and lunch on board before touching Somasila.

At Somasila, there are a couple of rooms at the Haritha Resort run by the TS Tourism Development Corporation (TSTDC) and take in the serene view of the backwaters, apart from also visiting the Someswara Temple. And then its back to business, to work, on a drive that is bound to be with a few regrets.

All this will be a reality within a fortnight and the road-cum-forest-cum-river-road circuit is bound to attract those in the concrete jungle, says TSTDC Chairman Pervaram Ramulu. He goes on to add this could possibly be a one-of-its-kind combination of a long drive, a pilgrimage, a glimpse of the forest and wildlife and a river cruise with lunch on board.

Development of the Hyderabad-Somasila-Srisailam route. Measures to provide amenities on the Hyderabad-Kollapur route are being looked into. Currently, one trip a week is planned. Daily packages will be implemented depending on the tourist arrivals.

Where to Stay
Riverfront Mrugavani SomasilaOnce at the Riverfront Mrugavani Somasila, the focus of attention is on the ring of low meadowed hills with the river waters kissing them on all edges.


Haritha Hotel, SomasilaThe resort is located on the nook of the land which means the river is completely surrounding the resort. Wake up to great views and piping hot filter coffee! This temple town is around four hours from Hyderabad, and we recommend taking a road trip as you'd pass through scenic vistas.

FOR BOOKINGS CONTACT
Phone No +91-6301857270

Note: The Hotel is leased out to private party. Please contact hotel directly for bookings. Hotel Terms and Conditions apply. Please read terms and conditions of the hotel.

Top attractions in the area
Sangameswara Temple in Middle of the Somasila Water Reservoir
Sri Jogulamba Bala Brahmeswara Swamy Temple (Alampur)
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Temple (Singotam)
Madhava Swamy Temple (Kollapur)
Sangameswara Temple in Middle of the Somasila Water Reservoir

Kollapur is at a distance of 9 kms from Somasila is also famous for several temples and can be visited together.
9 km from Kollapur
105 km from Mahabubnagar
186 km from Hyderabad



Sources
http://www.telangananewspaper.com/somasila-boats-from-srisailam-of-mahabubnagar-district/
https://www.telanganastateofficial.com/somasila-srisailam-boat-service/
http://etelangana.org/news/news_details/5801
https://tourism.telangana.gov.in/hotels/SomasilaHotel

Read More

Mallur Gutta Fort and Temple

Mallur Gutta and Fort are located near Mallur village, Mangapet Mandal, Mulugu district in Telangana, India is said to be bigger than Warangal and Golconda forts.

A sprawling ancient fort in the region is the massive 8 km-radius fort wall with seven entry points dating back to the Satavahana period.

Locally known as Mallur Fort, located 4 km inside the forests near Mallur village of Mangapet mandal, Mulugu district, the fort is on the banks of the river Godavari adjacent to the Eturunagaram-Bhadrachalam highway.

“Normally, forts are two to four km in radius. But this fort wall has a radius of about 8 km, much bigger than Warangal and Golconda forts.

Mallur Hemachala Lakshmi Narsimha Swamy Temple is the most ancient architectural divine ensemble which is located on the Mallur Ghat in the Mangapeta mandal of Mulugu district.

The ancient temple of Lord Lakshminarasimha Swamy was built in a strategic and secluded locale of the hill. The temple is famous for its swayambhu (self-formed) deity. It was stated to be constructed by the Chola Emperors during the period 1010–1200 (perhaps, under Rajaraja I and II). 

Situated in the beautiful mountain ranges on the southern bank of Godavari, this temple is famous for its Swayambhu deity with a vast historical background and cultural heritage. It is a well known fact that the name Sri Hemachalam came into existence due to the oldest beliefs in these traditions and customs.

The beautiful and mellifluous nature around the temple premises is beyond description. The splendid scenery surrounded by the mountain ranges along which pass the narrow path, outlined by different varieties of medicinal trees through which flows the Chintamani Lake a quenching delight to all the devotees all through the year and a source of water resource for the people staying in this place. It is no exaggeration to say that this deified environment cannot be seen in any other place of historical richness.

The temple is ever-enduring with year-long festivities which mark the commencement of special archanas and sevas giving a festive mood to all and sundry all through the year.

The Tirukkalyanam and the Brahmotsavam of the residing deity, the Hemachala Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy are celebrated on Vaishakha Shuddha Chaturdashi, every year with much devotion and fervour in this divine land and offer monetary support through donations and gifts and strengthen the historical significance of the place and fulfill their dreams, desires and ambitions by seeking the blessings of the lord Narasimha swamy.

This temple has many specialities, the height of mollaviraat Sri Narasimha Swamy is upto 10 feet. It is located in the midst of forest. The Belly part of Moolavirat idol is soft as human skin.
The dwjasthambha here at the temple is nearly 60 feet in height.

Rockformed Ugra Anjaneya Swamy Statue near to the temple.  It is the first of its kind known in South India. There is a continuous water flow near the temple, where it's from the top of the hills.

According to the historical stories, the demon king, Ravana had gifted this place to his loving sister, Shurpanaka where around 14000 demons lead by Khara Dushana were done to death by the great Rama. It was Agastya , the great sage who gave the present name to the shrine as Hemachalam.

There is a belief exhibited by the devotees that the deity, if alone, enflames the temple premises. But as the deity is affixed with a golden Goddess Lakshmi on his chest region, the deity assumes tranquility thus lessening the troubles due to fire accidents. It is a divine wonder to note that the sandal in the fluid form flows through the Umbilicus of the great Maha vishnu. Understanding the gravity of the miracles that the temple holds for itself, the devotees in large number throng to the temple to offer their prayers to fulfill their wishes, to beget children or to redeem themselves from sins and obstacles (doshas) that a student faces during his life career. There are many stories that are depicted regarding the miracles exhibited by the deity.In this temple of fervour and devotion reside, the Yogananda Swamy accompanied by the Goddess, Sri Lakshmi, Hanuman as the Kshetrapalaka and Gods and Goddesses like Uma Maheshwara and Sri Venugopalaswamy to name a few.

Based on the historical significance of this great temple, it is assumed that this temple has been a center of religious prosperity even in the periods ruled by Krishnadevaraya and the Kakatiya kings. Looking at the regal grandeur of ornamentation of the deities and the funds released and the lands donated by these kings towards temple administration and governance give a feel of an affluent heritage of this enormous temple. According to the Chinna Jeeyar Swamy , the Ramalayam in Mallur is older and the residing deity is taller than that of Bhadrachalam . presently, this temple is in ramshackle. It is our responsibility and earnest duty to help restructure it to uphold the cultural prosperity of the Hindus and the rich heritage of India. 

Vasanthothsav

Hundreds of pilgrims visit the temple every Saturday; about 50,000 pilgrims from the state and the neighboring states like Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh throng the temple in May to participate in the annual celebration called Vasanthothsav.

The “Chintamani” waterfall (a natural stream) is another attraction It is the perennial source of water, and the people conceive this water as sacred; they use it for bathing and also take it home in bottles. A natural spring runs through the dense forest believed to have medicinal qualities called malluru spring waters. 

All along the path towards the divine shrine, there are bore wells laid in order to give respite to the traveling devotee s and there is a water tank being constructed on the divine hillock (ghat) along with power supply being given during the Jataras for a comfort able darshan of the deity by the devotees. 

Sacred Grove

Mallur Gutta sacred grove, a hill spread over 1,500 hectares. As per a recently published study it is home to around 470 species of plants including some which are listed in red list of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Around 200 hectares of the hill was accorded status of Medicinal Plants Conservation Area. Some medicinal plants found in Mallur Gutta have are not seen anywhere else in Telangana State.

The Mallur Gutta ecosystem is to be considered sacred for its natural wealth and primary plant–people linkage and conserved. Mallur, with its ethnomedicinal plant wealth, emerged as the number one site in the district. In the proximity of the tiny village Mallur exists the small hill range called Mallur Gutta (Gutta means hill in the local dialect). It is spread over 1500 ha and is considered by the local people as a habitat for valuable medicinal plants useful for their primary health care.

The Mallur Gutta (Hill) of Warangal district in Telangana state, India, reputed as a habitat for medicinal plants, was inventoried from 2009 to 2015 for its plant wealth through the traditional knowledge of the local people. 

Ethnomedicinal importance of 167 taxa was documented for the Mallur Gutta, Mallur village and the nearby villages which are largely inhabited by the ethnic Koya community. The present study reports many more of these uses by local people; when the uses are listed according to parts of the plants, the leaf dominates the list (23.88%), followed by the whole plant (15.34%), root (12.43%), stem bark (11.46%), fruit (10.10%),

The Hindu temples of Lord Sri Laxminarasimha Swamy and Lord Hanuman, and the ethnic worship of mahua trees indicated it was a sacred grove which was selected as a Medicinal Plants Conservation Area. The exploration of Mallur Gutta resulted in the enumeration and documentation of plant wealth representing 470 species of 318 genera pertaining to 95 families of vascular plants. The importance of the grove as the residence for many rare or medicinal species in the state of Telangana is documented. The plant diversity is analyzed in terms of growth and life forms which indicate the prevailing microclimate, ecological opportunities and the species richness. The ecological services rendered by the Mallur Gutta forest ecosystem are documented to study how the great majority of the species are used by the ethnic and nonethnic people, and also the pilgrims who visit the shrine for its serenity. The study also identified two major threats to the conservation of hill ecosystem and the archeological site: 1) biotic pressure (the ever-increasing pilgrims, grazing by cattle, goat and sheep, the development activities taken up for the pilgrims, nondegradable litter thrown, collection of medicinal plants and widening of the pathway to the Chintamani perennial stream – the trampling and alien plant invasions of the marsh sustaining the stream); and 2) the potential for fire spreading from burning the litter. The study suggests the need to initiate remedial measures toward ecosystem recovery through fencing the natural vegetation, maintaining a fire line, and restricting the movement of people and domesticated animals on the hill top.

The top ten dominant families
Among the 95 families found on Mallur Gutta, Fabaceae (Leguminosae) predominate with 71 taxa, distantly followed by Malvaceae (31), Asteraceae (19), Rubiaceae and Convolvulaceae (16 each), Amaranthaceae, Acanthaceae and Apocynaceae (15 each), Euphorbiaceae, Lamiaceae and Cyperaceae (14 each), Phyllanthaceae (13), Moraceae (11), Combretaceae and Poaceae (10 each) and Cucurbiataceae (9). The dominant five plant families, in the order of their utility, found for intracultural cognizance study in the Warangal district (Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary and Mallur) are Fabaceae, Malvaceae, Euphorbiaceae (sensu lato), Rubiaceae and Acanthaceae. We find similarity between the sacred grove and the sanctuary with regard to familywise useful species and the use trend, since the knowledge holders and the beneficiaries in both the habitats are of the same tribe, the Koya. However, Asteraceae is found used more in the sanctuary area which indicates that the area is open for invasive exotics, as reported for the state. Here, we may say that the sacred grove has much more integrated ecosystem when compared to the Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, which is under protection as per the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. With their inactions, the Telangana State Forest Department and the Telangana State Biodiversity Board are accountable for the ecosystem degradation in the Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary.

Rare and interesting species
The red-listed medicinal plant species like Aegle marmelos, Celastrus paniculatus, Cheilocostus speciosus, Gloriosa superba, Litsea glutinosa, Oroxylum indicum, Smilax perfoliata and Stemona tuberosa and the rare plants like Cordia macleodii, Curcuma inodora, Ehretia laevis, Habenaria roxburghii and Mucuna pruriens var. hirsuta are found in the Mallur hill range . And, Anodendron paniculatum, Dysolobium pilosum, Globba marantina, Flagellaria indica and Paederia foetida are so far found by us only in this sacred grove area, and nowhere else in the entire state of Telangana.

Wildlife
The Mallur hill supports the wild animals like monkey (Macaca mulatta – kothi), Hanuman langur (Presbytis entellus – konda muchu), bison (Bison bison bison – adavi dunna), Jungle cat (Felis chauns – jangu pilli), mongoose (Herpestes eddwardsi – mungeesa), wild dog (Cuon alpines – resu kukka), house rat (Rattus rattus rufescens – eluka), fornhorned antelope (Tetracerus quadriconis – konda gorre), nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus – manu bothu), spotted deer (Axis axis – podala duppi), wild boar (Sus scrofa – adavi pandi, wild pig), three-striped squarrel (Funambulus palmarum – udutha), wild hen, terrapin (Melanochelys trijuga – neeti tabelu), lizard (Calotes verricolor – thonda), forest calotes (Calotes rouxii – adavi thonda), chameleon (Chamaeleo zeylanicus – usaravelli), monitor lizard (Varanus bengalensis – udumu), dhaman rat snake (Ptyas mucosus – jerri pothu), water snake (Xenochrophis piscator – neeti pamu), buff-striped keelback (Amphiesma stolatum – wanapamu) and krait (Bungarus caeruleus – katla pamu) which can be seen in the Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary.

Ethnic people: the Koyas (Dorla Koitur)
The Koyas are the southernmost section of the great Gond race of central India (Gondwana). The population of this scheduled tribe is largely, though not exclusively, concentrated in Telangana and makes up the majority of the tribal population in the agency areas in the districts of Karimnagar, Warangal and Khammam, along the River Godavari. Like the Gonds of Adilabad district, they lost much of their prime land, which they cultivated with ploughs and bullocks, and are largely reduced to the position of tenants and agricultural laborers. The process of detribalization has progressed further among the Koyas than among any other Gond tribe. Their occupational or territorial realms divide the Koyas into six subgroups, viz. 

1. Gotte Koya – who dance with a bison horn on head and dress like Marias; 
2. Manne Koya – who inhabit secluded forest areas; 
3. Gampa Koya – who make baskets (Gampalu in Telugu); 
4. Warre Koya (warre means wild buffalo; bison) – who do not engage themselves in settled agriculture but live in the jungle as hunter-gatherers eating roots/tubers, fruits, etc.; 
5. Bunka Koya – the civilized people among the Koyas who live in plains and take up settled farming;
6. Dora Koya – they are Raja Gonds and call themselves Dorlasattam (Lord Groups). The first four subgroups still speak the Gondi dialect, whereas the last two largely lost their own language and speak Telugu of their Hindu neighbors

Protection
The hill area should be fenced, or a deep trench is to be dug around the area to prevent illegal occupation of forest land. 

The overexploitation of the forest for fuelwood, timber, medicinal plants, etc. is going on unabated with no proper governmental controls.

Human interference during festivals, holidays, Medaram Jatara and Godavari Pushkaralu is a menace to the Mallur forest and its ecosystem integrity

Travel
Presently, the 4 KM runway to the temple premises is being journeyed through various transportation facilities by the devotees to reach His shrine. The ITDA Eturunagaram has developed pucca roads in place of the unaccommodating and inconvenient roads thereby making the trava il of the devotees easier.
90 Km from Bhadrachalam and 130 KM from Warangal City.


Contact
Telephone  : +91-9440634985 and +91-9666887393
E-mail
info@hemachelam.info


Sources
Suthari S, Kandagalta R, Ragan A, Raju VS. Plant wealth of a sacred grove: Mallur Gutta, Telangana state, India. Int J Gen Med. 2016 Oct 26;9:369-381. doi: 10.2147/IJGM.S83441. PMID: 27822080; PMCID: PMC5087761.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/travel/190117/hyderabad-team-finds-huge-satavahana-fort-wall-in-forest.html http://hemachalam.com/Default.aspx

Read More

Ramappa Temple

Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple is located in Palampet village of Venkatapur Mandal, Mulugu district, Telangana State, India. Ramappa Gudi (Temple) is situated 18° N, 79° E and 612 feet over sea level in a valley surrounded 3 sides by cotton, rice fields and mountain on the other side is a magnificient monument dating back to 1213 AD. It documents the glory and grandeur of the Kakatiya kingdom. 

Historians and art enthusiasts regard this temple as the brightest gem of Kakatiya architecture and treasure house of medieval architecture.

The main presiding deity of Ramappa temple is Sri Ramalingeswara Swamy and is dedicated to Lord Shiva is a single-shrine temple, amidst picturesque surroundings. 

Located at the foothills of a forested area and amidst agricultural fields, close to the shores of the Ramappa Cheruvu, a Kakatiya-built water reservoir, the choice of setting for the edifice followed the ideology and practice sanctioned in dharmic texts that temples are to be constructed to form an integral part of a natural setting, including hills, forests, springs, streams, lakes, catchment areas, and agricultural lands.

On 25 July 2021, the temple was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Construction

Ramappa Temple was built in 1213 AD by Recherla Rudra commander of Kakatitya Ganapatideva. Though the presiding deity here is Ramalingeswara Swamy, the temple was named after the sculptor Ramappa, who completed the task in 14 years. Built with sandstone and a sandbox foundation, the temple has decorated beams and columns made of granite stone.

Floating bricks

The building features decorated beams and pillars of carved granite and dolerite with a distinctive and pyramidal Vimana (horizontally stepped tower) made of lightweight porous bricks, so-called ‘floating bricks’, which reduced the weight of the roof structures. 

Art

The temple’s sculptures of high artistic quality illustrate regional dance customs and Kakatiyan culture. 

Arts flourished in Telangana, during Kakatiya Dynasty and among the important and exquisite monuments of the State, Ramappa Gudi popularly known as Ramappa Temple, is an archaeological wonder.

Entrance
The Temple is surrounded by a stone compound wall and has two low entrances, one towards the East and the other to the West, The main entrance gate facing east in the outer wall of temple is now ruined, so one can enter through small west gate only.

Advancing from the eastern entrance, the visitor first notices the remains of a ruined Nandi Mandapa (Pavilion). In front of the Nandi Pavilion stands the main temple which is of a cruciform plan stands majestically on a platform 6’ 4" high star-shaped platform. The plinth of the platform instead of being plain has been divided into foliating surfaces which give a very pleasing effect to the general appearance of the monument. The platform affords a space ten feet wide all round the temple, forming a sort of promenade for the devout pilgrims whence they can perform Pradakshina and gaze on the long panels of figures which adorn the exterior of the building.

The main entrance, like in any typical Hindu temple, faces east with balustrade steps and porched openings on three entrances on the east, south and north with two six feet high female figures on either side of the three entrances total 12 life-sized dancing girls, with different voluptuous poses fixed at an angle on high brackets. Carved from black basalt, some of these figures are ornate with decorative jewellery while others are simple. All of them are tall, ferocious and noble, carrying swords, arrows and bows, and are called Madanika, Nagini, Alasakanya and Salabhangika. There are red sandstone dancing figures on all sides of the temple. On the outer-walls there are carved figures of animals and war scenes in the same red sandstone. These carvings are of a very heterogeneous character, and consist of gods, goddesses, warriors, acrobats, musicians. 

The temple consists of a shrine cell, garbhagriha and antarala or an ante chamber (a smaller room or vestibule serving as an entryway into a larger one) and a hall of audience called Ranga Mantapa. 

The Ranga Mantapa (hall) measures 41 feet each way and has a square apartment (18'x 18’) enclosed by four exquisitely carved pillars. 

The decorative design on the pillars is so meticulous that only a fine needle can go through the lattice work. One wonders at the fine workmanship of the artisans with the meager available resources. In the middle, the place for musicians and singers to recite the holy hymns. A platform about 3 feet high runs round the hall, and on it have been built eight small cells for the images of the presiding deities. The ante-chamber measures 15’ 8’’ and 14’ 10’’. The sanctuary is entered by another richly carved doorway encloses a space 15’ 8" square, at the centre of which stands the mystical linga, the emblem of cosmic energy, on a high pedestal of black basalt.

Perini Dance 
The sanctuary doorway has carvings of Perini Dance Poses and Krishna’s flute which looks like tree trunk, when hit with finger nails make the sound sa-ri-ga-ma. Inside the temple is a magnificent display of sculptures depicting scenes from the early myths, the Ramayana, the Puranas, and the later Hindu texts. The arrangement of the columns has. divided the ceiling into several compartments, each of which is superbly carved, the decorations consisting of a variety of floral and geometrical patterns, from the full blown lotus to the most intricate honeycomb scroll. The ornamentation of the four central columns of the hall and the architraves above them is extremely rich aud subtle.

The idyllic scene of Krishna surrounded by a troop of amorous girls (Gapls), whom the mischievous God deprived of their garments while they were bathing in a tank, has been specially selected by the artist and is represented on every prominent place, even on the jambs of the door of the ante-chamber. Again, the same God in his aspect of the Muralidhara playing on his magical flute is represented in several places. The figurines instead of exhibiting calm or repose, bear an expression of revelry and voluptuous joy, even the Ganesa with his rotund paunch is represented dancing on an architrave of the central apartment of the hall.

Apart from main temple, there are 3 more temples. Towards North is Kateswara Temple, South is Kameswara Temple, South-West(Niruthi) is Narasimha Swami Temple or Sabhamantapa.
On the western side is the idyllic Ramappa lake constructed during the same period as the temple. The building of a temple and an irrigation tank side by side was the tradition of the Kakatiya rulers.

Authenticity
The Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple maintains authenticity in material, form, design, craftsmanship, setting, function and use, traditional management system and associated intangible cultural heritage in relation to traditional dance, and integration in its wider natural and architectural context. Its material remains continue to represent the testimony of Kakatiyan knowledge in identifying building materials, their strength, and their expected life span. The temple was erected using five types of local material, like sand for foundation, clay for bricks, dolerite and sandstone for sculptures, granite for columns and beams, which are all retained in their original composition. Some missing floating bricks were remanufactured after conducting an extensive study, following the same techniques used by the Kakatiyans in the 13th century.

The temple plan and its spatial organization are intact and untouched, with exception of the Kameshwara Temple which is to be reassembled by anastylosis. The compound’s function and traditional management system remain unchanged: the Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple is a living Brahminical Shiva Temple, following all the authentic Shaiva-Agama rituals and drawing the attention of a large number of people. The surviving rural surrounding illustrates the conscious integration of the Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple in its wider natural context and is of remarkable authenticity in setting, traditional management mechanisms as well as interdependencies of use and function with the wider landscape, for example through irrigation channels and cultivated lands.

Protection and management requirements
The Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple was identified as a protected monument in 1914 and since then it is maintained and conserved by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The property is protected at the national level, by the Ancient Monument and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (AMASR), amended and validated in 2010; the Ancient Monument and Archaeological Sites and Remains Rules, 1959; Ancient Monument and Archaeological Sites and Remains Rules of 2011 and The Antiquities and Art Treasures Act, 1972 and Rules, 1973. Decisions pertaining to its conservation, maintenance and management are governed by the National Conservation Policy for Monuments, Archaeological Sites and Remains, 2014. Being designated as an “Ancient Monument” of National Importance, the ancient site is protected by a well-defined buffer of 300 meters comprising Prohibited Area measuring 100 meters in all directions from the limits of the protected monument, and further beyond it, a Regulated Area of 200 meters in all directions, from the limits of the Prohibited Area as well as beyond, as required for the conservation of the authentic landscape setting. All activities in the areas adjacent to the ancient site remain subject to prohibition and regulation in the respect prohibited and regulated areas as per provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Rules 2011.

Under an already existing committee, the State Government of Telangana establishes the “Palampet Special Area Development Authority” to manage this extended buffer zone and to ensure the protection of all supporting Kakatiya period attributes.

The Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), namely its Hyderabad Circle and under its Warangal sub-Circle, which is responsible for its protection, conservation and management in conjunction and consultation with the local religious and communal authorities. Day-to-day management activities are supported by guides who are permanently posted at the site as staff of the Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation, as well as the local communities living around the temple complex and the priests performing the ceremonies at the temple. An integrated site management plan is in the process of being finalized. Heritage Impact Assessment needs to be ensured for any projects located near the property, especially regarding development projects near the Ramappa Lake. Capacity building for local communities and the temple priest must be undertaken to provide them with the necessary skills to contribute to the management of the property. 

237 k.m. from Hyderabad
70 k.m. from Warangal 



Reference: Temples at Palampet by GHULAM YAZDANI and Ramappa Gudi by Mandala Malla Reddy.

Read More