Context

Telangana’s Ramappa temple, a 13th century architectural icon and an engineering marvel that earned the coveted UNESCO heritage tag recently, was the highlight of the presentation given by Telangana government officials at an ongoing tourism and culture ministers' conference in Bengaluru.

About

About the Ramappa Temple

• Named after its architect, Ramappa, the temple is also known as Ramalingeswara Temple. 
• Situated in Telangana’s Warangal, Ramappa temple stands on a six-feet high star-shaped platform with walls, pillars and ceilings adorned with intricate carvings that attest to the unique skill of the Kakatiyan sculptors.
  • The temple is known for the bracket figures which spring from outer pillars and are shown as supporting the roof projections.
• The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, where Lord Ramalingeswara is worshipped.
  • The temple’s presiding deity is Ramalingeswara Swamy.

Important features of the temple

• The structure is of the pyramidal type, consisting of four storeys
• Decorated beams and pillars of carved granite and dolerite
• Distinctive and pyramidal Vimana (horizontally stepped tower) made of lightweight porous bricks called floating bricks that reduced the weight of the roof structures.
• The temple’s sculptures are of high artistic quality and illustrate regional dance customs and the culture of

Construction

• The temple was constructed in 1213 AD during the reign of the Kakatiya Empire.
• It was constructed by Recharla Rudra, a general of Kakatiya king Ganapati Deva.
• At present, the temple falls under the protection of the Kakatiya Heritage Trust (KHT), which has been pushing it for the World Heritage tag since 2012.