Temples in Warangal
Warangal's great Kakatiya temples are monuments and working shrines at once. Priests perform puja while visitors study the carvings, so dress and behave as you would at any temple.
Ramappa (Rudreshwara) Temple
The Ramappa Temple at Palampet was built in 1213 by Recherla Rudra, a general of the Kakatiya king Ganapati Deva. It is dedicated to Shiva as Rudreshwara, but everyone calls it by the name of its sculptor, Ramappa. UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage Site in 2021 for its carving and its engineering, including a sand-box foundation and light bricks in the tower. It is about 65 km from Warangal. The site is managed by the Archaeological Survey of India, and puja is still performed in the shrine.
Thousand Pillar Temple
The Thousand Pillar Temple in Hanamkonda dates from 1163 and was built under Rudra Deva. It is a triple shrine to Shiva, Vishnu and Surya, arranged in a star plan. The pillared hall is not literally a thousand pillars, but it is dense with them. Its kalyana mandapam was taken apart and rebuilt by the ASI over many years, and it reopened in 2024.
Bhadrakali Temple
The Bhadrakali Temple sits on a rocky hill between Warangal and Hanamkonda, above Bhadrakali Lake. The goddess is shown as a seated, many-armed stone image. The temple is believed to predate the Kakatiyas, who adopted Bhadrakali as their family deity. In July, the 15-day Shakambari festival dresses her in vegetables.
Padmakshi Temple
The Padmakshi temple is on a hill in Hanamkonda and dates from the Kakatiya period, with Jain carvings on the rock. It is one of the gathering places for Bathukamma in September to October.
Temple etiquette
- Remove shoes before the inner areas, and carry socks for hot stone.
- Cover shoulders and knees.
- Do not photograph the deities in the sanctum.
- Offerings of flowers and coconuts are sold at the gates, and they are optional.
Questions
Warangal — FAQ
Is Ramappa Temple still used for worship?
Yes. Although it is an ASI-protected World Heritage Site, puja is still performed in the shrine to Shiva as Rudreshwara.
Why is it called the Ramappa Temple?
It is named after its chief sculptor, Ramappa, which is unusual in India, where temples are almost always named after the deity or the patron.
Does the Thousand Pillar Temple really have a thousand pillars?
Not literally. The name reflects how densely pillared the temple and its hall are. The count is far lower, but the effect is of a forest of carved stone.
Can non-Hindus visit Warangal's temples?
Visitors of any faith generally tour Ramappa, the Thousand Pillar Temple and Bhadrakali, as long as they dress modestly and respect puja. Entry to the innermost sanctum can be restricted.