Thousand Pillar Temple

The Thousand Pillar Temple, also known as Rudreshwara Swamy Temple, is a historic Hindu temple located in the town of Hanamakonda, Telangana. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, Vishnu and Surya, and is added to the tentative list of World Heritage Sites recognized by UNESCO. The Thousand Pillar Temple achieved major heights in terms of architectural skills by the ancient Kakatiya.

Temple History
The Thousand Pillared Temple was constructed during the period between 1175-1324 CE by order of the King, Rudra Deva. The temple stands out as a masterpiece achieving significant heights in terms of architectural skills by the ancient Kakatiya Vishwakarma Sthapthis.

Temple Architecture
The Thousand Pillar Temple was designed by the sculptors from the Kakatian dynasty. The visual delight of the temple depicts the Chalukyan style of architecture. The entire temple resembles the shape of a star and the pillars are adorned with intricate carvings of artwork. The walls of the temple too have fine intricate designs on them which are bound to leave you amazed at the quality of workmanship.

About the Temple
One of the three shrines of the temple, the Shiva’s shrine has been positioned facing the east while other shrines face south and west. As in the case of any Shiva temple, there is a huge Nandi situated at the entrance of the Shiva shrine. The colossal structure of Nandi is carved out of a single piece of black basalt.

On the left of the Sanctum Sanctorum, there is a 5 feet high idol of Lord Ganesha. With its own unique architectural style, the temple is indeed the pride of India. The temple complex is adorned with lush green gardens, attracting tourists from far and wide.

How to reach
By Air - Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is the nearest airport to this temple.
By Train - The nearest railway station is Warangal railway station, which is 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) away from the temple.