Warangal region in Telangana needs no special introduction, as the place was ruled by Kakatiyas for a long time. The influence of Kakatiyas can be seen everywhere in the region, which is dotted by several temples and other heritage monuments. The Thousand PillarTemple or Rudreshwara Swamy Temple is one such historic Hindu shrine. It is located in the townof Hanmakonda.

The temple is dedicated to the Hindu gods of Vishnu, Shivaand Surya.The Thousand Pillar Temple is located closeto the Hanmakonda-Warangal Highway in Telangana.There are hundreds of Hindu temples built under the patronage of Kakatiya kings like Ganapati Deva, Rudrama Devi and Prataparudra of Kakatiya dynasty. According to historical evidence, Thousand Pillar Temple was constructed between 1175–1324 AD following the orders of Kakatiya king Rudra Deva. It is considered a masterpiece and achieved great glory for its architectural skills by the vishwakarmasthapathis of that era.

Architectural Features of The Temple

Rudreswara Temple, also known as VeyyisthambalaGudi (Thousand pillars temple) in Telugu is one of the earliest structures, reflecting the glory of Kakatiya art, architecture and sculpture. Since this temple was built by Rudra Deva, it has been after him as ‘Sri Rudreswara swamy temple’

Here the presiding deity isRudreswara. The construction of this shrine was started in 1163 AD in Chalukyan and early Kakatiyan Architecture style. It isa star-shaped, triple shrine (Trikutalayam).

The temple is considered a fine example of architecture and sculptural glory.The foundations have been strengthened using the sand box technique. The skill of Kakatiya sculptors is manifested in the adroit craftsmanship as well as the flawless carving techniques in their art. The ingenuity of the Kakatiya era sculptors is clearly seen in the art of lathe turned, and polished dolerite and granite stone sculptures and the exquisite craft works of Nava rangamandapa.The temple is known for its richly carved pillars, perforated screens, special icons like rock-cut elephants and monolithic dolerite Nandi.

The temple was desecrated by the rulers of Tughlaq dynasty during their invasion of the Deccan region.The temple was renovated in the year 2004 by the Archaeological Survey of India with sufficient funds allocated for temple's renovation.Warangal Fort, Thousand Pillar Temple, and Ramappa Templeof this region were added to the tentative list of World Heritage sites, which has beenrecognized by the UNESCO. Thousand Pillar Temple is a must-see heritage attraction for those visiting the city of Warangal.

How to Reach

There are good transport facilities available to reach the temple by road. The nearest railway stationis Warangal, located nearly 6km from the temple. It is located about 150 kilometersfrom the capital city of Hyderabad.