The Rudresvara temple in Palampet, today a hamlet in Warangal district, is one of the achievements of the Deccan builder. It stands near a great lake of 175 sq. km.. An earthern dam, 610 m long, over 10 m wide and 35 m high, connects a semi circular chain of hills to form the lake.
Temple History
The Rudresvara temple was built by the Kakatiyas in the thirteenth century while they were ruling from Warangal. Warangal, the metropolis dynasty, abounds in magnificent tanks, and the titanic dukes and sluice-gate of Pakhal, Lakhnavaram and Ramappa lakes are object lessons even to the modern enginner. A long description set up in the courtyard of the temple states that Recarla Rudra, a general of the Kakatiyas, built a magnificent city and made a lake nearby as if to reflect its beauty. In this city he erected a fine temple and installed an image of Rudresvara, and endowed it lavishly. This was in 1213.
Temple Architecture
There are seven minor shrines around the main one. The latter, which stands on a high platform, is of cruciform plan. Around it, on the platform, there is space of 3 m for the pilgrim to walk around. Above it, depending from the pillars in the porches, are celebrated figure brackets depicting women in various postures. On the walls of the shrine are pilasters crowned with Dravida and Nagara sikharas alternatively, with, nearby, a miniature of the vimana of this temple itself. The ceiling is a work of art. Divided by columns into compartments, each is superbly carved with floral and geometrical patterns. The decoration of the four columns in the centre is so splendid that no chased work in gold or silver could possibly be finer. Thus, the exquisite sculpture sets off the lofty and grand architecture of the temple. There is a ruined Nandi mandapa in front of the temple. Kakatiya nandis, here in Warangal and elsewhere, are superb creations.
Apart from the seven minor shrines here, there are other temples in the village, situated within a kilometer. Two of them stand at either end of the gigantic bound of the Ramappa lake. All built by the Kakatiyas, every one of them is superbly carved.
Other Information
Apart from the Ramappa, the Kakatiyas’ greatest achievement is the big temple in their capital of Hanamakonda. It is called the thousand pillared temple, though its pillars do not number that many. By road leading from Hanamakonda to Palampet, there are two other Kakatiya temples, in Katakchpur and Jakaram. Beyond Palampet, in Ghanapur, there is a temple resembling the Palampet one. It is surrounded by nineteen smaller shrines and two mandapad. All are in ruins.