Palampet’s Gollalagudi temple earns national recognition
HYDERABAD: The Union Culture and Tourism Ministry has declared the Gollalagudi temple at Palampet in Mulugu district a monument of national importance. It issued the gazette notification on September 1, as reported by DC.
The declaration takes the number of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-protected monuments in Telangana to 10.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, ASI Hyderabad Circle superintending archaeologist Dr Nikhil Das said the ASI would begin conservation work and minor repairs at the temple.
The ASI will also address waterlogging at the site and improve visitor access.
“There is also a water logging issue that needs to be addressed. We will ensure that the temple gets a proper pathway for access,” he said.
The temple stands southwest of the Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, at Palampet.
The Gollalagudi temple follows the Trikutalaya style. An east-facing mandapa connects three garbhagrihas. Sculptures adorn the parapet, while carved hamsas and jali work decorate the entablature and doorways.
Two detached shrines stand in front of the main temple. Intricate carvings and figures of dvarapalas adorn the shrines. Niches on the temple walls feature images of Vishnu, Lakshmi, Ganesha and Mahishasuramardini.
The Gollalagudi temple also forms part of the wider cultural landscape around the Ramappa complex. The landscape includes subsidiary temples, water systems, agricultural fields and other architectural remains.
Historian Aravind Arya said scholars generally attribute the temple to the Kakatiya period, broadly spanning the 12th and 13th centuries CE.
However, its exact date and original dedication remain unclear. Further archaeological and epigraphic studies could help establish both details.
