Thousand Pillars Temple

The Thousand Pillars Temple is one of the best architectural structures out there. The temple is also added to the tentative UNESCO top heritage sites list. Mainly dedicated to three deities, Lord Vishnu, Surya, and Shiva, the temple was built in the 12th century. Recently, the temple was on the verge of collapsing but was saved by the government. A famous tourist destination, it is now being renovated with each of the pillars being marked and numbered for the process of elevation.

History of Thousand Pillars Temple

The masses of the Kakatiya dynasty were followers of Shivaism, devotees of Lord Shiva. The intellectuals, however, chose to believe in the revival of Vedic rituals and sought to reconcile the Vaishnavites, worshippers of Lord Vishnu, and Shaivites, worshippers of Lord Shiva through the worship of Harihara, worship of both. This initiative marked the birth of this phenomenal temple.

Architecture of Thousand Pillars Temple

Built on the slopes of the Hanamaonda hill, this temple has a unique star-shaped base which stands to be an indicator of the exquisiteness of the Kakatiya architecture sprinkled with the royalty of Chalukyan design. The Kakatiya sculptor, who decorated and carved the complexes of the temple has done justice to the name of the dynasty; showing distinctly unique styles and use of creative technology.

Even though the count of the pillars reaches a three-digit number, each pillar looks like it has been worked on for decades! No matter the position or dimensions of the pillars, the perfect symmetry and design are such that no pillar obstructs the devotee's line of sight when they look toward the Lord. The intricate carvings and design on each pillar are a result of a supernaturally steady hand and unprecedented artistic skills.

The main shrines have sculptures of rock-cut elephants guarding them on each side, and there are beautiful carvings of the elephants on many pillars too. A six feet tall Nandi, made from a single huge black basalt rock, which is the holy 'Vahan or vehicle of Lord Shiva, greets you at the entrance of the temple. The main shrine of the temple itself is held by 400 pillars a total of 1000.

Another noteworthy detail of Thousand Pillar Temple's architecture is its sandbox base. It is built using the sandboxing technique, where a huge pit is dug up and filled with heaps of sand, and covered with huge rock beams. Then on this strong platform, the base of the structure is made by erecting tall beams and columns. This Kakatiya invention provides an unshakeable base for the structure and makes it immortal.