Palampet Shiva Temple Gets National Monument Status, ASI to Begin Restoration
HYDERABAD: The Shiva temple at Palampet in Mulugu district, located near the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ramappa Temple, has officially become a monument of national importance. The Union Ministry of Culture, through the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), issued a gazette notification confirming the decision.
With this declaration, Telangana now has nine monuments protected by the ASI.
Earlier this year, the ASI proposed Central protection for the Palampet Shiva Temple and Gollala Gudi under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. As no objections were received during the notification period, the Centre granted national monument status to the Shiva temple.
ASI to Start Restoration Work
The ASI said it will issue a notification for Gollala Gudi soon.
The Palampet Shiva Temple is in a dilapidated condition and requires urgent conservation. Dr. Nikhil Das, Superintending Archaeologist of the ASI’s Hyderabad Circle, said the department has already prepared a detailed project report. The Director-General of the ASI will review and approve it before restoration begins.
“The temple has suffered damage from its foundation to the top of the shikhara,” he said.
The ASI has already erected scaffolding to prevent further deterioration. The Mulugu district administration has handed over nearly two acres of land to the ASI. Officials have also completed fencing and demarcation of the protected site.
As the temple is a non-living monument, the ASI will conserve it under its standard heritage conservation guidelines. The Central government will now take responsibility for its structural stability, conservation and long-term maintenance.
Officials said they will decide later whether to introduce an entry ticket after assessing visitor footfall.
Historians Welcome the Decision
The single-shrine Shiva temple dates back to the 13th century and historians believe Kakatiya ruler Ganapati Deva built it.
Historian Aravind Arya said Kakatiya temple complexes usually include smaller shrines around the main temple. Similar layouts can be seen at the Ghanpur Group of Temples, the Thousand Pillar Temple and the Ramappa Temple.
He said the Palampet Shiva Temple served as a subsidiary shrine within the Ramappa complex. It allowed people from different traditions, castes and sects to worship and was largely built with contributions from common people.
Heritage experts welcomed the Centre’s decision and urged the Telangana government to secure ASI protection for more historic monuments across the state.
Panduranga Rao, trustee of the Kakatiya Heritage Trust, said the declaration was significant because the temple formed part of the Ramappa UNESCO World Heritage site but had no statutory protection until now.
“With the new announcement, the prohibited area will start from the Shivalayam and the entire protected boundary will change,” he said.
