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Ramappa Temple (Ramalingeswara)

Palampet, Mulugu, Telangana
Lord Shiva
More in Telangana

Type

Hindu Temple

Deity

Lord Shiva

Pincode

506168

A UNESCO World Heritage Site (2021) built by Kakatiya general Recherla Rudra in 1213 CE. Named after its chief sculptor Ramappa — one of only two temples in the world named after their architect. Famous for 'floating bricks' (lightweight bricks used in the shikhara), extraordinary wall sculptures of Kakatiyas, and the beautiful lake beside the temple.

History & Significance

Significance

Ramappa is a masterpiece of Kakatiya art and architecture. Marco Polo, visiting India in the 13th century, called it 'the brightest star in the galaxy of medieval temples.' The 'floating bricks' (made of porous material that floats on water) used in the shikhara demonstrate extraordinary engineering. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 2021.

History

Built in 1213 CE by General Recherla Rudra under the Kakatiya king Ganapati Deva. The construction took 40 years. The temple's outer walls feature extraordinary sculptures of women warriors, musicians, and celestial dancers (madanikas) — some of the finest figure sculptures in India. The Ramappa Lake beside the temple was a Kakatiya irrigation reservoir.

Plan Your Circuit

Nearby Temples

Closest temples by distance — worth combining into the same trip.

Bhadrakali

One of the oldest Shakti temples in the Deccan, dedicated to the fierce Goddess Bhadrakali, believed to date to the 8th century CE under the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II. Its hilltop setting beside the scenic Bhadrakali lake adds to its standing as a major pilgrimage site in Telangana.

Bhadrakali Temple

Warangal, Telangana38 km
Goddess Bhadrakali

Shiva

A Kakatiya-era temple in Warangal, built in 1163 CE by King Rudra Deva, celebrated for its intricately carved pillars and star-shaped design. Dedicated jointly to Shiva, Vishnu and Surya, it also features a large monolithic Nandi bull carved from a single stone.

Thousand Pillar Temple

Hanamkonda, Telangana41 km
Lord Shiva

Rama

One of the most sacred Rama temples in India, perched on the banks of the Godavari river. Lord Seetharamachandra is enshrined here in his state of divine marriage — Rama with Sita and Lakshmana. The Telangana government conducts a grand state wedding ceremony (Seetharama Kalyanam) on Rama Navami, broadcast live across the state.

Bhadrachalam Sri Seetharamachandra Swamy Temple

Bhadrachalam, Telangana103 km
Lord Rama

Shiva

An ancient Shiva temple in Telangana, also known as Dakshina Kasi, the 'Kashi of the South', believed to date back over a thousand years to the Chalukya era. The complex also enshrines Sri Rajarajeswari and Anantha Padmanabha Swamy, and its sacred bathing pond, Dharma Gundam, is considered equal in merit to a bath in the Ganges.

Vemulawada Rajarajeswara Temple

Vemulawada, Telangana107 km
Lord Shiva