Monument Name Svayambhu Temple Location Hanamkonda State Andhra Pradesh Timings Coordinates 18.005427, 79.555178 Wikipedia Links http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanamakonda Entrance Fee Other Details Other Langauge Names Hindi: स्वयम्भू मंदिर Telugu: స్వయంభు టెంపుల్

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The Kakatiya capital shifted from Hanamkonda to nearby Warangal during the reign of Ganapatideva (1199-1262). Laid out in three concentric rings, the fortified capital was occupied by the Tughluqs in 1323, following the death of the last Kakatiya king. Captured by Vijayanagara in 1510, and by Quli Qutb al-Malik of Golconda in 1532, Warangal eventually passed into the domain of the Nizams of Hyderabad.

A ruined temple of Shiva occupies the geometric center of Warangal. This extensive and picturesque temple site was originally enclosed by a rectangular wall, pierced by four gates at the cardinal directions (north, east, south, and west). The visitor today will see at least one of the original gates, a confusing jumble of partially-reconstructed edifices, and an extended display of pediments, carvings, etc. that were discovered on-site. The photo above was taken from just inside the south entrance, looking north.

Eastern Torana

This celebrated gate has been compared - in my opinion, ineptly - to the much earlier toranas at Sanchi. Standing 10m (33ft) high, its decorations consist of nature motifs, including lotus buds and birds. Its lack of explicit religious motifs may account, according to Michell, p. 333, for the Muslims' sparing this monument.

Temple Shrine

Looking west, we see a later temple shrine from across its circular dance pavilion. A bearded Shaiva guardian of the shrine (previous page) carries attributes of trident, drum, and rosary (his fourth hand is missing). The stylized, slender figure is typical of sculptures of this period.