JOIN USTelangana's Ramappa temple conferred UNESCO heritage tag
The architectural magnificence and sculptural splendor of the eight centuries old Ramappa Temple in Telangana is now recognised as world heritage.
The Rudreshwara temple, popular as Ramappa temple after the name of the sculptor of the early 13th century structure, was on Sunday inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has now become the 39th such site in India and the first one from Telangana.
The temple built during the Kakatiya dynasty rule is located at Palampet village, in Mulugu district of present day Telangana, about 210 km North East of Hyderabad.
Ramappa temple, an engineering marvel believed to be built with bricks that float in water, is the only nomination from the government of India for the UNESCO label for 2019.
The decision conferring the world heritage tag was taken at the 44th session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO.
“Just inscribed as World Heritage Site: Kakatiya Rudeshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana in India. Bravo!” UNESCO announced in a tweet.
Expressing his happiness, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to visit the majestic temple complex and get a first-hand experience of its grandness.
"Excellent! Congratulations to everyone, especially the people of Telangana. The iconic Ramappa Temple showcases the outstanding craftsmanship of the great Kakatiya dynasty,” Modi said in a tweet.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao hailed the UNESCO decision. “The spiritual and cultural property developed by the Kakatiya Kings with tremendous creativity, sculptural value has a very special place in the country’s cultural heritage,” Rao said.
Union minister of culture and tourism Kishan Reddy, who is a Lok Sabha MP from Telangana, thanked PM Modi for “his guidance and support” in getting the UNESCO acknowledgment. Reddy also congratulated the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team and the Ministry of External Affairs for the achievement. Reddy credited the success to the "goodwill" PM Modi has built with UNESCO member countries during his tenure.
Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting could not be conducted in 2020. The nominations for 2020 and 2021 are currently under consideration in a series of online meetings. The discussion on Ramappa Temple took place on Sunday.
The recognition of the global cultural organisation is expected to make Ramappa a major attraction on India's tourism map, drawing even international travelers in large numbers.
The Rudreswara temple was constructed in 1213 AD during the reign of the Kakatiya Empire led by Recharla Rudra, a general of Kakatiya king Ganapati Deva. The presiding deity is Ramalingeswara Swamy. It is popular as Ramappa temple, after the sculptor who executed the temple work in 40 years.
The temple stands on a six feet high star-shaped platform with walls, pillars and ceilings adorned with intricate carvings that attest to the unique skill of the Kakatiyan sculptors.
European merchants and travelers were mesmerised by the beauty of the temple and one such traveler had remarked that the temple was the "brightest star in the galaxy of medieval temples of the Deccan".
The temple complexes of Kakatiyas have a distinct style, technology and decoration exhibiting the influence of the Kakatiyan sculptor. The Ramappa Temple is a manifestation of this and often stands as a testimonial to the Kakatiyan creative genius.
The sculptural art and decoration, specific to the time and Kakatiyan Empire, have an outstanding universal value. The distinct style of Kakatiyas for the gateways to temple complexes, and it being unique only to this region, confirm the highly evolved proportions of aesthetics in temple and town gateways in South India.