Heritage of the Kakatiyas: Hanamkonda, Warangal, Palampet, Ghanpur
The Kakatiyas ruled Telangana with remarkable authority throughout the 12th and 13th centuries, and the two hundred or so years of their reign represent a peak of artistic and cultural achievement across the Deccan. This guidebook, written by Phillip B. Wagoner (a specialist in the art and literature of the region), brings those centuries vividly to the surface. The Thousand-Pillar Temple at Hanamkonda and the Ramappa Temple at Palampet are the obvious stars here, their surfaces alive with intricate carvings that reward careful attention. Then there's Warangal, where the great Svayambhu Shiva temple once stood as a dynastic centrepiece. The temple itself is long gone, but its four ceremonial entrance portals, known as toranas, remain standing and offer a genuine sense of the architectural ambition of the period. It's a haunting kind of presence. Wagoner also draws attention to the Kakatiyas' investment in agriculture, particularly the large reservoirs, or cheruvus, they built to supply water to local farmers, many of which are still in use today. Illustrated with specially commissioned photography by Surendra Kumar, this is the first guidebook to cover the sites and monuments connected with the Kakatiyas, their peers, and those who came after them in and around the twin cities of Hanamkonda and Warangal. Most locations are accessible as a day trip from Hyderabad, making this a practical companion for scholars, students, and curious general visitors alike.
- Author: Phillip B. Wagoner
- Publisher: Jaico Publishing House
- Genre: Architecture
- ISBN: 978-9387944855
- Pages: 144 pages