Thousand pillar temple

The 1000 pillar temple is among the earliest temples of Kakatiya architecture. Built by Kakatiya Rudradeva in 1163 CE as a token of gratitude to the gods Rudra, Vasudeva and Surya for his successive campaigns. There is an inscription near the east entrance of compound wall issued by Rudra Deva which registers his series of successful expeditions and the expansion of his kingdom upto Kalyani in the west, the Malyavanta hill in the north, the sea in the east and Srisailam in the south.  

The Thousand pillar temple is a Trikuta shrine on a stellate plan facing south. The temple is enclosed in a low compound wall on all four sides with entrance on east, south and north. The central structure consists of two sections, a main temple with triple shrines and a pillared mandapa, both connected by a narrow platform.  The central structures are constructed on a raised platform of 4’8’’ height. This raised platform forms as circumambulatory path around the main shrine. There is a temple tank in the north-east corner of the courtyard with flight of steps reaching down to the bottom. 

The north section containing the main shrine constructed on another raised platform consists of a central mandapa with three shrines attached to it in the east, north and west and a porch in the south with a flight of steps. The west shrine is dedicated to the Rudreswara, the principle deity, the north shrine is dedicated to the Vasudeva and west shrine is dedicated to Aditya, the Sun God. Each shrine consist of a garbhagriha and an artharala with ornate doorframes. The central mandapa consists of 16 pillars with four pillars in the center forming a rangamandapa which is provided with a slight circular elevated platform known as Rangasila on which dances perform their art with dedication and has a beautiful ceiling. 

The narrow platform of around 10’ width is connecting the main shrine with a raised platform on which a monolithic Nandi is placed and again another narrow platform is connecting to the second section of the temple known as Veyistambala mandapa translating to 1000 pillared hall. The pillared mandapa is also in stellate shape with entrance porches in north and south sides with a flight of steps. The hall consist of a narrow pillared corridor running around the central structure enclosed with walls and has entrance doorframes on all four directions. 

The temple represents the early Kakatiya art on almost every architectural members of the structure. The most attractive features can be found in the icons, doorframes and Mukhamandapa. The icons of Vasudeva and Surya are depicted with utmost skill with decorative features representing the Kakatiya art. The doorframes of the arthamandapa and garbhagriha of all the three shrines are decorated with extensive ornate elements in different sections which include the rows of lions with an elephant at base, creepers forming circles, dancers and musicians. The doorjambs contains dwarapalaka sculptures at the base accompanied by male or female escorts, are noteworthy for their delicate iconography.

The central part of Mahamandapa consist of decorated pillars with sculptures carved on them. The ceiling between these four pillars is formed by three squares placed one above the other and with central member consisting of a panel contains the carvings of Astadigpalakas, the eight guardians of directions in a circular manner around the Siva-Nataraja sculpture on projected circular base. The squares are highly decorated and consist of Yali heads at the corners.

The monolithic Nandi placed on the platform infront of the temple is one of the finest example of workmanship who produced a high level of polish alongside multiple ornate elements running on the body. The outer walls of the temple are designed with various projection and sculptures as if the entire wall is built of Pillars. The niches consist of various icons of gods such as Ganesha, Siva, Vishnu and Durga. 

The major festivals celebrated in the temple is Sivaratri on which the annual Kalyanostavam is performed. All the holy days as per the Saiva agamas are performed here.

6AM – 7PM