Ramappa Temple, Mulugu

About Ramappa Temple, Mulugu

Ramappa Temple which is also known as Rudreshwara Temple or Ramalingeswara temple is one the famous Hindu Temple located in Telangana. It is the main Shiva temple in a walled complex built during the Kakatiyan period (1123–1323 CE) under the rulers Rudradeva and Recharla Rudra. Construction of the sandstone temple began in 1213 CE and is believed to have continued for over 40 years. The building features decorated beams and pillars of carved granite and dolerite with a distinctive and pyramidal Vimana (horizontally stepped tower) made of lightweight porous bricks, so-called ‘floating bricks’, which reduce the weight of the roof structures. The temple’s sculptures of high artistic quality illustrate regional dance customs and Kakatiyan culture.

The temple, known for its exquisite craftsmanship and delicate relief work, is a savvy blend of technical know-how and materials of its time. The foundation is built with the “sandbox technique”, the flooring is granite, and the pillars are basalt. The lower part of the temple is made of red sandstone, while the white gopuram is built with light bricks that reportedly float on water. An inscription dates the temple to 1135 Samvat-Saka on the eight days of Magha(January 12, 1214).

Earlier, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) cited nine shortcomings at the site after an initial visit in 2019, but on Sunday a majority veered round to India’s view of the site’s outstanding universal value.

India had mounted a diplomatic offensive to ensure the World Heritage Site status for the Ramappa temple by reaching out to other countries whose representatives were to vote on the proposal. At the WHC session on Sunday, Russia invoked Rule 22.7, allowing India to make a statement after ICOMOS decided to defer the examination of the nomination.

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According to the temple priest, some of the iconography on the temple was damaged during the invasion of Malik Kafur in 1310. Treasure hunters vandalized the rest. But the biggest test for the temple was an earthquake in the 17th century (one of the biggest was that of 7.7-8.2-magnitude on June 16, 1819). The waves rocked the flooring, while the pillars and vertical structure stayed intact because of the sandbox technique used in its construction.