Thousand Pillar Temple

The Thousand Pillar Temple, also called the Rudreswara Swamy Temple, stands at the foot of Hanamkonda Hill in Hanumakonda district. It was built in 1163 AD by the Kakatiya king Rudra Deva, after whom it is named, and is one of the earliest major works of Kakatiya art, mixing later Chalukyan and early Kakatiya styles. The Archaeological Survey of India looks after the site.

The plan is star-shaped and triple-shrined, a trikutalayam, with separate sanctums for Shiva, Vishnu and Surya. The carved pillars that give the temple its name are said to have taken 72 years to finish. A large monolithic Nandi, pierced stone screens, rock-cut elephants and lathe-turned dolerite and granite work in the mandapa are among the highlights, and images of Indra, Narasimha and Garuda also appear. Maha Shivaratri and Kunkuma puja are the main festivals.