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 Pillar 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 definitely 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 is such that no pillar obstructs the devotee's line of sight when they look towards the Lord. The intricate carvings and design on each pillar is 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, who is the holy 'vaahan' 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 of the total 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.
Festivals Celebrated at Thousand Pillars Temple
Various festivals are held at the Thousand Pillar Temple throughout the year. These include Maha Shivratri, Kunkuma Pooja, Karthik Poornima, Ugadi, Nagula Chaviti, Ganesh Chaturthi, Bonalu Festival and the Bathukamma Festival. Every two years, a fair known as the Saralamma Yatra or the Samakka is held at the temple.
Thousand Pillar Temple Timings and Entry Fees
The temple is open to its devotees from 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM, every day including weekends and public holidays.
The temple does not charge even a single rupee to the devotees who wish to seek the blessings of the lord.
How to Reach Thousand Pillar Temple
Located only 150 km from the hustling and bustling city of Hyderabad, this temple lies close to the Hanamakonda-Telangana Highway, and its accessible location is a boon to all the devotees that come here to pay homage to the deities and are in search for a tranquil and peaceful experience.
The Hanamakonda Bus Stop is only 1.5 km away from the temple and is a very convenient way to get there as buses ply to this bus stop from all over the city very frequently. The nearest railway station is Warangal Railway Station at a mere distance of 6 km. It is a quick and easy option to hire a cab or auto from the station, or any other place in the city to the temple too.
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