Warangal -- part 2 ------Ramappa temple-----Miniature Architectural jewel---!!!!

 
Route: Hanumakonda---Mullugu---Palampet village(Venkatapur Mandal) 70kms

Travel Time :1hour (from warangal 1000 pillars temple)

Temple timings: 6am - 6pm open all days

Date of travel : 24^th march 2016

Photography: allowed (fee 25/-)

Journey from Hanumakonda 1000 pillars temple!!!!

The very name Ramappa Temple brings to mind the intricate carvings and floating bricks-- the 800 year old engineering marvels of Kakatiya regime.Ramappa Temple which is 70kms away  from  Warangal is located in  palampet village of venkatapur Mandal which is 19km far away from Mulugu Mandal (50 km from Warangal Town),It is 6km  away  from Kotagulla where another siva temple located. Road route was pretty well maintained but as hearsay previously no proper transport facility and no road to this temple and a fear of  naxalities too!!!!

Reaching Ramappa temple—a dream come true!!!!

Fond of this temple and read a lot about this temple,was eagerly waiting for an opportunity  to visit this place,  Finally i was on my way to Ramappa temple !!! for me  its like a dream come true…. After travelling on main road at about 60kms, at one point of place on left side ,  we see an welcomed arch which is the gateway to the architectural wonder  Ramappa temple, in short i can say it as a perfect example of Kakatiya rulers passion towards the art.From this arch we should travel  at about 6 kms inside a remote village,while heading towards, the temple is visible from 2kms far-away from the road stretch & Finally here we come!!!! we are at  the great wonder  Ramappa temple,we reached to the temple arch way,parked our vehicle at parking, had  an re- freshing break, took a stroll to the temple garden and  then we get another small gate this is the  abode of lord Ramlingeshwara Swamy..

Temple is situated in middle  surrounded by  green grass meadow and red soil land.  As it was  summer time the land was literally scrotching and we were unable to walk bare foot, so we left our footwear  nearer to  the entrance of the temple and stepped inside the temple,once we step into the temple we feel the real beauty of the temple,It  resembles same as 1000 pillars temple,then I realized all temples built during Kakatiyan rule were all with Trikutalayam models & star shaped.

There is small siva temple left side of the temple at entrance  which is in ruin condition and with damaged nandi which  resembles as the main temple,it was built initially as a model temple for the main temple.

We see a big mandapa surrounded  with broad pillars and roofs beautifully carved in miniature art. The temple has 3 main entrances  usually we get into temple from left entrance  step to Mandapam, in middle lord siva sanctum sanctorum was located &  opposite to the siva sanctum , outside the temple there is Nandi mandapa. Built-up area of the temple is about five acres & twenty acres of the land developed for greenery around the temple.  And at a stretch  of 25km radius  Similar architectural features can be identified in Ghanpur group of Temples.

Ramalingeshwara Swamy at Ramappa Temple

An inscription in the temple dates that it was  built around 1213 AD and was named after the great chief Architect Ramappa from Karnataka worked under the  General Recherla Rudra who was the commander-in-chief (Senathipathi) of Kakatiya king Ganapathi Deva’s Army.Temple was housing Ramalingeshwara Swamy and described as one of finest monuments of ancient India. The temple took 40 years  to  complete.To construct this temple they used red sand stone for the temple and black basalt for carvings inside & outside the temple roof top ceilings were adorned  with Amorous statues. The Kakatiyas became very powerful warrior rulers in Andhra pradesh meanwhile the Hoyasalas emerged in Karnataka at the same time.Both the dynasties were great lovers of architecture and built with very similar architectural styles.

Why called Architectural Jewel!!!!

I believe strongly that the relentless commitment of the architects & passion of kings together is the result of these type of wonders. To know all details of the temple my suggestion would be hire a guide.

All entrances of the temple have a pair of damaged elephants placed at the entrance.The temple is built on 4-feet above the stage.The Ramappa temple was built on a 15feet deep foundation filled with sand.Transport carriers,leveling and extra huge works were done by elephants in those days.The temple is constucted with sandstone and the spire(Temple Tower) is constructed with bricks which are lighter and can float in water.The Sikara is constructed exactly over the inner sanctum...and  used a technology to built the temple is (sand box technology) to withstand against earth quakes.

Great Miracle---Ramappa Temple Survived from Muslim Invasions & sustained to cut vagaries of time!!!!!!!

Ramappa temple has survived from Muslim Invasions ,natural calamities and now in 21st century too stands  to be the richest Heritage of Kakatiya rulers---pride of Telangana .

we can observe some sides in inside premises of temple there is an upheaval portion on the floor , This was caused due to an earthquake in 17^th century AD which damaged the temple to a great extent.

Main entrance of sanctum sanctorum!!!!

The entrance is beautifully carved by “Perini Shiva Thandavam” posture, a very popular dance form. Nataraja Ramakrishna revived Perini Shivathandavam (Perini Dance) by seeing the sculptures in this temple.The dance poses written in Nritta Ratnavali by Jayapa Senani also appear in these Sculptures.

We can see a women dancing with lord Krishna playing flute on top, when tapped on the trunk of this tree produces a metallic musical sound as the musical pillars.

The pillars within the temple boast fine carvings that one could pass a strand of hair through. There are pillars all around with miniature carvings. We observed one pillar which had 13 mi-nute holes, between each carving these holes cannot be seen normally but one can pass thin thread and take a test. These 13 holes indicates Pradosham (worshipping of Lord Shiva on trayodasi is considered very auspicious in Hindu mythology).

We found all pillars with beautiful carvings on all four sides of pillars except on one pillar, one side left blank without any carvings and it had a small dent; as explained to us -- the reason for leaving blank without carvings was to get rid of evil eyes. There is a saying in Telugu “narudi kantiki nala ralu bhadhal avthayi” means human eyes are so dangerous that it can even break a black stone.

we can watchout here in this picture how  our people are experts in graffitti!!!!! Stop doing these kind of activities and Save our Heritage!!!

Inside the premises the roof above on our head top , the sculptors Featured epics  on eight sides. A complete story of ksheera sagara madanum was carved on one beam and on another beam depicted carvings like daksha samharam ,daksha yagnum, Tripurasura Samharam, Gajasura Samharam and Narakasura vadha , Gopika vastrapaharanam.

Architecture Outside the temple!!!!

Dancing girls in erotic forms shows us the proof on how the architects had patience to carve these sculptures. The columns in the temple were arranged in such a way that sunlight reflected in the inner sanctum sanctorum all the time. This temple was built in unique style of 11-12^thcenturies,

All borders are filled up with elephant postures, each elephant is different from another and no elephant is of same pose, atleast a mi-nute difference can be keenly noticed.A perfect example of symbolic architecture was one row of elephants are carved in a way that they show  us entry way and one row of elephants show us exit way 

Another lines are adorned with ladies and no two ladies have similar ear-rings designs.

Madanikas (beautiful maiden statues)!!!!

Outer side ceiling is adorned with beautiful maiden  statutes in those days called as “madanikas “on 12 sides of the temple. And again each lady is of different pose-like dancing, admiring, thoughtful, expressing shy etc  as navarasalu and one pose is of naga maiden where u can see the skin is covered by scales.

Observe Foot ware & marvelous necklace carvings of Madanikas!!!

Shadow effect of the necklace given by using a different technique

Striking standing posture standing on big toe and second toe... Marvelous

Hy-heeled chappal we can see a madanika had wore ---finally proved that hy-heeled chappal are old fashioned,which was dated back to 11th century 800 years ago by Kakatiyan Rulers & On another madanika  keenly observe the hanging necklace worn by the madanika gives a shadow on her body, its not a shadow a special effect given on the stone to look like a reflection of ornament.

Observe Yalis --- these yali posed structures is again a unique style built in Kakatiyan architectures!!!!!

Exactly on side of Madanikas statues we can see some striking sculptures which are differently posed called as Yalis all around the temple---this structure is formed with the head of a lion ,body of horse and with Mane and bulbous eyes with a foot on the head of an elephant and another foot on its truck and other foot was always in alert position--ready for attacking any evil any time --which was again another unique feature---symbolizes the Kakatiyas dynasty as always shows the attitude --- alert for any time wars .These Yalis are guardians of the temple to protect from evils.

Outside view of temple!!!!

Outside there is a sashana which is written on a black rock that says about temple and its patrons.

As usual  ---  Nandi  in unique style of  Kakatiyan era !!!!

There is a Nandi mandapa opposite to siva shrine. Nandi here faces east (unlike other nandis face west )Nandi is not directly faces siva  here the nandi is slightly face turned right side and the ear carved  out as always  ready  to hear what  lord siva  orders him and another unique feature is the left fore limb of the  nandi  is always lifted up—symbolising  that nandi was always in alert position to hear the order from lord siva and  ever ready to getup anytime This posture of Nandi --- symbolizes the kakatiyas dynasty as always alert for any time wars.

Just a half km away from the main temple there is Ramappa Lake, a man-made lake during the Kakatiya regime. Kakatiyas used to dig up lakes to store rain water and use them for irrigation (a process now we call as rain water harvesting).

Ap tourism resort was built at banks of Ramappa lake.

From here 24kms away laknavaram lake, another lake digged  up by kakatiya rulers.

All of us must realize the priority about the importance to be given ---To Save our Heritage 

Return Journey to Hyderabad !!!!!
It was evening 6pm ,we are almost tired, we drove back an reached hanumakonda city by 7pm and headed straight to hyderabad and were carring tons of beautiful memories of our unplanned successful trip.usually unplanned trips turn into very successful ...we reached home around 11 pm and completly dozed off.

Quick info !!!

1)Ramappa temple is an hour drive from Hanumakonda city (warangal) closer to Medaram (samakka ,saralamma tribal god) at 29 odd kms and ghanpur temples a 10kms away.
2)Suggestions :Hire a guide to get all details about the temple architecture.
3)Vicinity (places to see around  )

• Pandavula guttalu/hills (Trekking and some sports activties)
• Phakhal lake
• laknavaram lake
• Mylaram caves (located in mylaram village ,Ghanpur (Mulugu mandal)
• Medaram
• Eturunagaram wild life Sanctuary
• Bommera (Pothana birth place)
• Cheriyal (scroll paintings)

4)You will find bus,train connectivity to warangal from hyderabad and nearer cities like khammam etc places...and also can find accomadation at these places and you.You have Ap tourism resort built at banks of Ramappa lake .Ramappa Haritha hotel : 0871 5200200,M:09948100450
5)http://www.harithahotel.com/Ramappa-haritha-hotel/
6)It is a great place for the architecture lovers.