Ramappa Temple inscribed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO
Ramappa Temple also known as Rudreswara Temple located at Palampet, Mulugu district in Telangana has received the UNESCO World Heritage Site tag in the decision during the 44th session of the ongoing meeting of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO on July 25, Sunday. Around 17 countries backed the nomination.
The 800-year-old temple was proposed by the Indian Government as its only nomination for the UNESCO World Heritage Site tag. The temple was included in the proposed UNESCO World Heritage Site “The Glorious Kakatiya Temples and Gateways”, in 2019 on the “tentative list”.
About Ramappa Temple, Warangal
Ramappa Temple is located at a distance of 15 km from Mulugu, 209 km from Hyderabad in Telangana. Ramappa Temple is dedicated to Lord Ramalingeswara. Marco Polo who visited the temple called the temple the “brightest star in the galaxy of temples. The temple has a garbhagriha, an antarala, and a maha mandapam. As you enter the temple there are two small Shiva shrines on either side of the main temple and a Nandi mandapam with Nandi –the divine vehicle of Shiva, facing the Lord Shiva shrine.
Who built Ramappa Temple and when?
The temple was built by Rachel Senapati Rudrayya, a general of Kakatiya king Ganapatideva from Warangal city in the 13th century and is famous for the beauty and brilliance of Kakatiya temple architecture. The temple was named after Ramapa, who was the chief sculptor; it’s the only temple in the country that is known by its sculptor’s name. It is believed that it took around 40 years to build the temple.
The architecture of Ramappa Temple
The temple is surrounded by lush greenery. The main structure is made from reddish sandstone and outside columns from black basalt which is rich in iron, magnesium, and silica.
Carvings of Ramappa Temple
The walls are carved with details such as mythical animals, female dancers, musicians and are the masterpieces of Kakatiya art. The temple stands on a 6 ft star-shaped platform and looks attractive with detailed carvings.
After UNESCO’s announcement, prime minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “Excellent! Congratulations to everyone, especially the people of Telangana. The iconic Ramappa Temple showcases the outstanding craftsmanship of the great Kakatiya dynasty. I would urge you all to visit this majestic Temple complex and get a first-hand experience of its grandness.”
