Thousand Pillar Temple

The Thousand Pillar Temple is a Hindu temple in Hanamkonda district, India, built from gray basalt stone. The site forms a star-shaped plan with three separate sanctuaries for different deities, connected by open columned halls and surrounded by low masonry walls.

King Rudra Deva of the Kakatiya dynasty commissioned construction between 1175 and 1324, when Warangal was an important center of power. The builders followed architectural forms of the Chalukya tradition, which were widespread across the Deccan region.

The name refers to the many columns inside, each showing different ornaments and patterns. Visitors today see a black Nandi statue carved from a single block of stone in front of the entrance, serving as guardian of the sacred space.

The temple lies about 150 kilometers from Hyderabad near the road between Hanamkonda and Warangal, reachable by train to Warangal or by road. Visitors can explore the site on foot, and sturdy shoes help because of the uneven stone slabs.

The builders used a sand box method for the foundation, placing sand as a cushion beneath the stones. This technique helped the structure remain stable for centuries by absorbing ground movement.