The 800 year old Ramappa Temple near Warangal in Telangana was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 25, 2021.
The temple, which was nominated for the world heritage tag in 2019, was granted the recognition at the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO.
Commissioned in 1213 AD by Recharla Rudra, a general from the then ruling Kakatiya dynasty, the edifice is popularly known as Ramappa Temple, named after the sculptor who worked on it for 40 years, according to records. The intricate carvings on the walls, ceilings and pillars have to be seen to be believed.
Officially known as the Rudreswar Temple, it is dedicated to Ramalingeswara Swamy (Shiva). The temple stands on a six feet high star-shaped platform, within a walled complex. The temple contains 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 &lsquofloating bricks&rsquo, which reduced the weight of the roof structures, according to the UNESCO website. The international body also said the temple&rsquos sculptures of high artistic quality illustrate regional dance customs and Kakatiyan culture.
The temple is nearly 210 km by road from Hyderabad.