Having been pipped at the post by Jaipur City last year, the 800-year-old Warangal-based Ramappa Temple, the only temple in the country named after its sculptor Rampapa, has been nominated for the UNESCO World Heritage site selection process for 2019. It is India's only entry this year. The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has written to the UNESCO for its nomination, said sources in the premier conservation agency under the Union Culture Ministry.
Located in Palmapet in Mulugu district, the Ramappa Temple, also known as the Ramalingeshwara Temple, dates back to 1213 AD during the period of the Kakatiya ruler Ganapati Deva. Now the temple, known for its architectural marvel is under the protection of the Kakatiya Heritage Trust (KHT) that has been pushing it for the World Heritage tag since 2012, even before the formation of the Telangana State.
The dossier was submitted to the Centre in 2018 along with the dossier of Jaipur city. Both technically qualified but the Centre chose Jaipur city over Ramappa Temple in 2018. Now, said an official in the ASI, the temple has become the country's only nomination for the World Heritage site selection process.
While many structures of the 1200 AD era are now in poor status, this temple, dedicated to God Shiva seems to have remain untouched by the vagaries of the weather. For instance, there are cracks from the beams on the temple floor but despite this, the structure has not collapsed. “The temple roof (garbhalayam) of the temple is built with bricks which are so light that they can float on water. Also, it is built on the sand box technology, which made it resistant to earthquakes and other natural calamities. Depending on the size and area of the construction, the earth was dug three meters deep for the foundation. It was then filled with sand and for the sand mixture to become strong, it was mixed with granite, jaggery and Karakkaya (Chebula),” said the ASI official.
Another unique feature of the temple is that it was carved with dolomite rocks, which are so intricate that even a hair can pass through it. The pillars have 13 significant carvings, probably indicating the thirteenth century during which the temple was built. Every Shivratri, a Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple witnesses huge congregation of Hindu devotees.
